I was quickly moved up to game assignments, sometimes even shooting with the lead photographer for big games and during the playoffs as my schedule allowed. It was hard juggling both jobs since the MLS schedule overlapped with the NHL schedule, but my gut kept telling me all this work would pay off.
And it did when the photographer for the Manatees was offered a position to be the photographer for the NBA team in Chicago. He leapt at the chance, and my freelance position became permanent when I was hired as the official photographer of the Miami Manatees. Now I’m always shooting the team, traveling with them, doing things for social media as needed, and I love it.
Aiden was right.
This is what I’m meant to be doing.
I smile as I brush my hair and pull it back into a low ponytail. Aiden will be here to pick me up soon so we can go to the arena together. We don’t live together, since the lease on my apartment won’t be up until December, and we decided that would be a good time for me to move in with him. We know we’re going to be together all the time, we were working together a lot when I had assignments for the Manatees, and there was no reason to rush into the next step. Although we practically livewith each other now—we’re always splitting time between my place and his—we’ll take that next step officially in December.
Aiden took some crap from his teammates in the beginning when they found out he was seeing me, but it was good-natured ribbing. This team is close, and Aiden is respected, and of course nobody was going to say anything about me because, you know, my dad isCoach. I don’t spend time in the WAGs lounge. I know the girls, and I’m friendly with them, but I’m working now anyway, and I always make sure to respect their space, which has worked well.
What also is going well is Aiden’s relationship with my family. Mom and Dadlovehim. So do my brothers. Aiden spent time with them when they came down here to visit in the offseason. He and Ethan even laughed about their fight, which was everything to me.
And all my fears about my new friends being upset that I didn’t tell them about Aiden? That never happened. When I shared our story, and the reasons why I kept it to myself, my friends completely understood. And they were so, so happy for me when they saw how in love I was. Georgie even told me she suspected we’d be great together, and she was thrilled her hunch was true.
Neither Wyatt nor Aiden went home for the offseason—they both stayed here. So did Beckham, so we’ve spent a lot of fun times together, doing everything from cookouts to going to the beach to hanging out by the pool. Beckham and Georgie are the cutest couple, and Wyatt is still … Wyatt. He is enjoying his life as a single man, despite my mom’s attempts to find him a girlfriend. I snicker. Wyatt looks like he’s going to get hives whenever Mom corners him with a potential candidate. I know Wyatt will find the right girl when he’s ready, and he’s definitely not ready now.
I finish securing my hair and leave the bathroom, turning off the light. I say goodbye to Mochi and Matcha and decide to grab a glass of water before I go, and as I head into the kitchen, I study my fridge, which is plastered with pictures. There’s photos of just Aiden, and some of us together. My family. Mochi and Matcha. Milo. Double dates with Georgie and Beckham and nights out with Wyatt.
And there are lots of pictures of my friends.
I still can’t believe I have created such a strong, wonderful friend group here in Miami. There’s Georgie, of course. Hadleigh, but I rarely see her anymore as she’s off traveling around the world with Xavier Williams. But we talk all the time and our chat group is active every day.
Because of Hadleigh, I’ve built strong friendships with Marley and Ava. Then I met Becca through Georgie, and Becca’s sister Abby. Abby and I are really close, and we grab matchas whenever we can.
It’s a life I never would have had if I hadn’t been brave enough to break some rules.
Buzz!
My phone vibrates on the kitchen countertop, and I smile when I see it says “Aiden.” We changed our names in our phones the night we told my parents we were a couple, and I can’t explain the joy I had that we could finally be who we are.
And that’s two people who are madly in love.
I read his text:
Downstairs. Sorry I’m extra early. Anxious to get this season started.
I text him back:
Me too. Be right down!
I grab my camera bag, sling it over my shoulder, and head out the door. Before long I’m stepping outside into the brilliant Miami sunshine, with blue skies overhead, and I see Aidenwaiting in his Lamborghini SUV. He’s being sweet and getting to the arena on my schedule, not his. I have to capture arrivals, and he insists that we drive in together. I open the passenger door and get inside, and the first thing I do is lean over to give Aiden a kiss on the lips. Then I reach for my matcha, which Aiden always gets me before he picks me up to go to the arena.
“Are you ready?” I ask him, taking a sip before putting my cup down next to his, which has acafé con leche in it.
“I’m so ready,” Aiden says. “I have the butterflies already.”
“Me too,” I say, reaching over and resting my hand on his thigh. Even though Aiden can wear whatever he wants to the arena with the new Manatees policy, opening night is mandated to be dressy, so he put on a suit to walk the pink carpet tonight.
And I’ll be right there to capture it.
“We’re going to work together all season,” Aiden says, smiling brightly.
“I know. You might get sick of me,” I tease.
“Nope. I’m freaking lucky I get to work with my girl.”
Talk about butterflies. More take off in my stomach from those words, which I never get tired of hearing from him.
