“What about her?” I ask, hoping I don’t have to elaborate. Not for him, but for my own heart’s wellbeing. “Her?” he pauses for a moment, finally catching on he says, “The girl in the video on my socials. We danced. That was it. There was nothing further than the dancing and that unfortunate video. I’m so sorry you had to see that side of me. It’s not an excuse, but I hadn’t drank like that in a long time and I let everything; football, retirement, what to do with both and…us get to my head. I wasn’t myself, Harper, but I can promise it will never happen again. I know what I want in everything, and you are a huge part of that. Is there any way you can forgive me?”
I take a moment to let his words sink in. Making him sweat a little can’t hurt anything, right? “I guess I owe you an apology too. I compared you and blamed you quickly, like you were one of my exes and that wasn’t fair to you. If I had stopped, for even a moment, to think about the Taylor I knew, I’d have known that you weren’t cheating and just needed me to be there for you. Irealize how much stress you were under, and I took some things for granted. So, can forgive each other?”
He nods, his eyes sparkling like a kid who got set loose in a candy shop. “I’d love that, Harper. I really would. And I have so many things to share with you about my plans. But first,” he gestures to the punching bag in the middle of the floor. The one I’ve just now noticed. “We can take out some of our aggression on this bag. Release all our stress. I’ll even put my picture on it if that’ll help you.”
“You silly man,” I say as I step towards him and place both my hands on his face. “I think we can get through this without tarnishing this gorgeous face.” With that, I lean in and press my lips to his. He envelops me in his arms and deepens the kiss.
“Thank you for being a part of my life, Harper,” he says as he pulls away. We continue our make out session for a few minutes, and then the real fun begins.
Tearing up that punching bag.
Chapter 21
Taylor
It’s been two weeks since we met here in my new building, and I got Harper back. I have been holding on to this secret about my future and this building for that long but it’s killing me to tell her. I can’t wait any longer so I’ve asked her to meet me here…again. This time after work, so she has more than thirty minutes to decide.
When she arrives, I’m waiting outside the doors. “Hey, beautiful,” I greet her as I wrap her in my arms. “Hey yourself, handsome. What are we doing back here? More punching stuff?” she asks, the humor and confusion in her voice obvious.
“Well, we can definitely punch things if you’d like but I actually have a little surprise to share with you. Also, I would like to ask for your help. As you know, the season is coming to an end. I was on the fence for so long about what I wanted to do after. Iwas also scared of that future, that unknowing. I’m not anymore. I know exactly what I want, and I have already started making moves towards that.” She looks at me, her mouth slightly agape as if this was the last thing she was expecting. In all honesty, it probably was.
“I’m retiring. After the season ends, that’s it for me. No more worrying about what to do or where my career is heading from here. I know what my future looks like now. I’d like to share that with you.” I turn around and unlock the doors behind me. I lead her into the once rundown building that I’ve been having converted into a lavish gym. Her eyes go wide, shock written all over her face. “Well, what do you think?”
“It’s gorgeous, but what is all this?” she asks, looking everywhere to take in the decor. “It’s my new gym. I’m going to be a personal trainer for real. It’s the next step in my career.”
“That’s great, and I am so proud of you, but what exactly do you need my help with”
“I was hoping you would plan the Grand Opening/Farewell party for me?” She runs up to me, throwing her arms around my neck and smothering my face with tiny little kisses. “I would love to! I’m gonna invite all our new and old friends and maybe even some investors to really make this go off without a hitch! This is great. I have to get started right now! Wait…when do you want this to happen?”
“I was thinking next month when the season ends, the night after our last game.”
“Perfect. That’s plenty of time.” We leave the gym hand-in-hand. I know she’s going to rock this party for me, and I can’t wait to see what she comes up with.
One month later…
We ended the season on a high note. A huge win for my last game was exactly what I needed. I wasn’t even afraid of the press conference after because I got to announce my retirement without being bombarded with questions. Everyone knew it was coming.
Tonight, though, that’s what I’m most excited about. Harper has been working so hard on this party, and I just know it’s going to be perfect. Everything she touches always is. I step into the gym and my eyes widen. There are balloons everywhere and two huge banners. One reads, Congratulations! and the other Grand Opening! They are both simple for the occasion, which I prefer, yet bold and bright and beautiful — just like Harper. There are tables set up for the food and others around for people to sit and eat or chat. There’s a television in the corner playing highlights from this and past seasons’ games. It’s all perfect, just like I knew it would be.
I see Harper across the room putting on the finishing touches of a table setting, and I sneak up behind her to wrap my arms around her.
“The place looks amazing, but I’m starving,” I whisper in her ear.
“There’re little sandwiches on that table over there. You’re the guest of honor, I don’t think it would hurt for you to steal a few,” she says with a smile.
“What I want isn’t on the menu.” With that, my lips land on hers. Our mouths open and our tongues battle for dominance. My hand skates up her skirt to in between her thighs. Her panties already soaked for me. I push them aside, rubbing her clit in circles with my thumb. A little moan escapes her before she grabs my wrist. “We’re on the first floor, there’s windows everywhere. Can we take this someplace a little more…private?” I grab her up, throw her over my shoulder like the caveman she makes me feel like and take her to my private office in the back.
Within seconds my pants are around my thighs, her panties are moved to the side, and I’m entering her in one full thrust. I have her bent over the couch in my office just the way we do it at home. This may now be my new favorite spot. After she screams her release, I pull out and slam back in claiming my own with her. Nothing is more perfect than this woman, and I’m so lucky that she’s mine.
We straighten our clothes and fix our hair just as we hear Jordan enter the building and yell for us. With the small laughter of two teenage kids who just got caught, we leave my office and head out to start the beginning celebration of our next chapter and our future together.
Epilogue
Harper
One year later…
Today marks the one-year anniversary of a lot of firsts for Taylor and me. A year of being together, formally. A year since his retirement, and the start of his new career as a personal trainer. A year since we said I love you out loud to each other for the first time. Tonight, I’m cooking him a special dinner so we can celebrate together and then celebrate again after.
