Page 92 of Lucky Hit

FORTY

FIVE AND A HALF MONTHS LATER

OAKLEY

"Morning, baby," Ava murmurs sleepily from her place on my chest. I place a gentle kiss on her head.

I've been up for a few hours now, but she doesn't need to know that. It was nearly impossible for me to sleep last night because today is the most important day of my life.

“Good morning, beautiful."

"Mmm, what time do we need to leave by?" she mumbles, unwrapping her legs from mine to stretch them under our silky sheets.

"Mom wants to have brunch in an hour, then we should have a few hours before we have to head to the Arena."

"She's probably freaking out right now," Ava chuckles. "When she called me from our apartment yesterday, she could barely form a complete sentence."

Oh, don't I know it. When I sent Mom her flight and hotel information, she started crying for a good twenty minutes.

"Thank God she didn't call me, then. I can't take any more tears. I'm already anxious enough."

I've never felt this much anxiety in my life. So many possibilities are running through my mind, and I can't seem to shut my brain off.

"She's just proud of you. Her son is about to be drafted into the big leagues. I know I'm proud." She smiles up at me and kisses me above the beard she still refuses to let me shave.

"Wanna join me in the shower and show me just how proud you are?" I smirk, grab a handful of her ass and squeeze. She lets out a squeak of surprise and playfully swats me on the arm.

"Is that a no?" I wiggle my eyebrows and throw my legs off the bed, stretching my arms above my head. I catch her eyeing my new and improved back muscles. It's times like these I’m grateful for the higher intensity workouts I've been gruelling myself with for the past three months.

"Beat you there," she winks and runs towards the bathroom in nothing but my t-shirt.

Damn, life is good.

???

"How do I look?"

I finish buttoning my dress shirt and look over at her. The wind is knocked out of me as soon as I lay my eyes on my gorgeous girlfriend. I soak in the image of her as she twirls around the middle of the room.

The dress she chose fits her body like a glove. The white material goes well with my navy suit and I find myself staring at the leg peeking through the slit at her thigh. Her shoulders are only covered by two thin straps, and she's showing the perfect amount of cleavage.

"I think we can afford to leave a few minutes late," I growl, not tearing my eyes away from her.

She laughs and grabs my suit jacket from the bed. My gaze follows her every move and when she bends down to pick her heels up off the floor, I have to adjust the bulge in the front of my dress pants. Her perfectly round ass taunts me, and I grind my teeth in hopes of stifling a moan.

Rolling her eyes, she hands me my jacket and sits down on the bed, slipping her heels on. “You have the stamina of a horse, I swear."

"You've never complained before," I smirk while slipping my arms into the jacket. Her phone dings from the side table and she grabs it eagerly.

"Your mom and sister are outside. Gracie said your mom is crying again."

"Can't you just tell them I left early? I really can't afford to get any more nervous."

Something about seeing my mom and Gracie triggers my nerves and I am already far too nervous about this entire thing. I just want to make them proud.

"Like they would believe you left me alone looking like this," she scoffs.

"You're right. You're not leaving my side. I'm serious." My tone leaves no room for argument and I smirk to myself when she rolls her eyes and waves me off.

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