Our budding relationship is getting harder and harder to hide, but he’s been amazing at respecting my wishes. We’ve had the best month of doing normal dating. A lot of it has been hanging out at his house because we’ll be recognized in a public restaurant, but he sometimes finds creative ways for us to go out. Honestly, I don’t mind staying in with him because he’s so much fun. Plus, being in his house isn’t exactly a chore. His backyard pool situation is fun, I enjoy the serenity of his roof balcony, and I’m obsessed with his dog. BJ can sing in tune. It’s the craziest thing I’ve ever seen. She gets on her hind legs and dances with Daylen while they sing together. Seeing him as the father of my child gets easier by the day. He’ll be everything my father wasn’t. He’ll be present and involved and will make our kid feel so damn loved. I have no doubt.
He's working so hard on us. Without mentioning it, he moved his stuff into the smaller closet and my stuff into the bigger closet, even though I only keep a few things there, though it seems to grow by the day. That closet is my dream come true. It’s massive, with rows and rows of hanging space, shelves, and a whole seating area in the middle. Though I did find a bunch of my lipsticks in the back of one of his drawers. They had gradually been disappearing from my apartment and my purses, and I thought I was going crazy. I can’t manage to be upset with him, knowing he did it because he prefers me au naturale.
He makes sure Chef Benny has all my favorite foods on hand. There’s nothing that man doesn’t think of to make me feel loved and happy. How did I misjudge him so badly when we met? He’s perfect.
I hear Palmer giggle as she stares at her phone. “Oh my god. #HumbleCock is already trending.”
I roll my eyes. Oh, cheez, he’s going to have a field day withthat one. He’s probably already had T-shirts and hats made with the hashtag.
Sulley lets out a laugh as she looks at her phone. “Ha! This post has a picture of him from today and reads:I thought it was a game of inches, not feet. So funny. And this post says the Camels should change their name to the Tripods.”
Shay smiles as she looks at her phone. “This one reads:There’s the Super Bowl and there’s the Super Bulge. One already down for Humblecut. Will he get the other?”
I can’t help but smile. “I’m kind of a genius, aren’t I? I should go into marketing when I retire.”
Palmer sighs. “I could use marketing help.”
My good mood immediately sours. Palmer has been the subject of a hate campaign this summer. I don’t know why, but she’s getting crucified for her body on social media. We haven’t been out much as a big group lately, with the guys in training and our playoffs about to begin, but Beau body slammed a guy at a club last week who was hassling Palmer. I know it’s weighing on her. We’ve been trying to find other fun things to do as a group that are a little less public. It works for me because I can’t drink. It’s easier to stay away from the club scene.
I hate seeing my friend this upset. It’s carried over to the court, with some of the mean girls in the league mumbling comments to her. I’m trying not to get into fights since my suspension, but some of the girls make it hard for me not to retaliate.
Fallon walks over and looks at my phone. She sucks in a breath. “Holy crap. I hope no children can see that thing. It will give them nightmares for weeks.”
She squeezes my shoulder and whispers into my ear, “And congratulations.”
I can’t help but giggle. Yep, I’m a lucky bitch. Hands off, ladies. He’s all mine.
I’m ridingover to the football game with Sulley and her bodyguard, Keith. He’s been with her for a few months. I’m glad I’m only in the famous-ishcategory. Famous enough to get endorsement deals and occasionally recognized, but not famous enough to have stalkers like Sulley. She’s had a few scares of late, and Keith gives her peace of mind. He’s big, bald, and doesn’t say a word. I love having him around. He drives us everywhere, doesn’t bother us, and keeps people appropriately at bay. I’m grateful for the opportunities my newfound celebrity has given me, but sometimes fans can get a little too close for comfort. There’s a time and place for that.
Reagan purchased a suite for all the Camels’ home games and gives us uninhibited use. Is there any better owner in professional sports than Reagan Daulton? I’m pretty sure there’s not.
We’re the only team in the league with a private jet. She said she doesn’t want us to have to be delayed on the whims of the commercial airlines. We’re also the only team in the league that plays to sell-out crowds every single game. Thank you, Sulley, for that. Coming to this team from New York has been the best thing to ever happen to me.
We clinched the three seed in the playoffs tonight. If things go as I hope, we could be on a collision course to play New York in the finals. We have to get there, and so do they, but nothing would make me happier than beating my old team for my first championship. The way our team is gelling right now makes me think it’s within the realm of reason.
Sulley and I chat about our secret relationships. Me with Daylen and her with Vance. She had already told me about her relationship, but I finally opened up to her about Daylen and me a few weeks ago. I think we both needed the ability to talk to someone without judgment, and that’s what we give each other. It’s nice to have her to talk to, and I think she feels the same wayabout me. I’m the only one on our team who knows about the two of them, though I think others suspect it. Vance practically undresses her with his eyes anytime they’re around each other.
I also finally opened up to some of my teammates about the drugging incident on New Year’s Eve. I’m not sure I realized how much it impacted me until I finally confided in my friends about it. They all cried for an hour. Sulley felt so bad for not being in town, and the rest for not noticing. Obviously it wasn’t their fault. It was an unfortunate, eye-opening situation, and I will be forever grateful to Daylen for doing what he did for me. In discussing it further with Sulley, we determined it was the moment things took a turn in my relationship with Daylen. How could I ever again hate a man who did that for me?
The Camels’ game is underway when we arrive. Because I’m with Sulley, we enter through a private, secured entrance and are escorted to a private elevator that leads directly into the suite. Yep, there are perks to being Sulley O’Shea’s best friend.
It’s a back-and-forth, tight game, with both teams not having any trouble moving the ball up the field. I can see Beau fired up on the bench, yelling at the other defensive players. I wouldn’t want to be on Beau Fudd’s shit list. It looks scary.
The Camels have the ball now on their own twenty-yard line. The ball is snapped, and the entire defensive line is running uninhibited toward Vance. I can’t imagine having five three-hundred-pound men running at me wanting to crush me into tiny pieces. Poor Vance.
It’s a screen pass to Daylen just a few yards down the field. He breaks one tackle and then another. One of their cornerbacks grabs onto his waist, but Daylen drags him as if he’s not there until the guy falls off him. Daylen manages to zigzag and stiff-arm defenders until he runs all the way to the other end zone and then unnecessarily leaps headfirst into the endzone, capping it off with a somersault.
He stands and does a little freestyle swimming routine withhis arms, followed by doing the official swim dance move by holding his nose and shimmying down.
He then looks up to our suite with a big smile and makes a heart with his fingers before lifting his jersey to reveal a Beavers T-shirt underneath.
I can’t help but laugh, as does everyone in our suite and the rest of the stadium. I know people assume the heart is for the Beavers, but I’m pretty sure it was for me.
After a winning game, the guys like to celebrate at a nearby bar with the fans. I send Sulley over without me. I want to wait for Daylen at his car. I’m like a lovesick puppy. I can’t get enough of him, and I can’t publicly embrace him like I want to. I’ll do so by his car before we head over to the bar.
While I’m standing by his Jeep, I get a text from Pierce. He was at my game today with my mother and her boy toy. She kept trying to get my attention, but I ignored her. I always do. I don’t know why she keeps trying.
Pierce: Awesome game today. Can you stop by my dorm room? Need to talk.
