“Good God,” I exhale through hard-earned breaths. “How?”
How are you real?
How are you interested in me?
How can I make you mine?
She simply smiles at my rhetorical question.
“Come here.” I tuck myself back into my pants as I pull her onto my lap. Holding her to me, I kiss her, tasting myself on her lips. “You expect me to stay away from you tonight after that?”
“I believe in you.”
“I’m a much weaker man than you give me credit for.”
She drops her smiling mouth to mine again, this time in a slow, sweeping kiss. It’s patient in the way she takes her time. There’s longing in the way her tongue slides against my own. There’s care in the way she strokes her fingers through my beard.
There’s no wondering whether she likes me. I know Reese likes me. But the question is, does she want me the way I want her? Because I’m pretty sure I’m willing to put everything on the line for a real shot with this woman.
When she pulls back, I slip her hair behind her ear, running my thumb over her earrings. “Is this the part when you tell me that can’t happen again?”
Reese huffs a small laugh. “Exactly.”
I hum. “Maybe one day I’ll start believing you.”
30
Reese
“All right, you two.” The photographer holds his camera up. “We need a photo. This will be frame-worthy. The previous team owner and the current one.”
I slip an arm around my grandfather as we pose together, getting our picture taken. Maybe it’ll be one that I’ll add to the walls during my own retirement party one day.
The photographer smiles at the screen on his camera. “Perfect.” Then he moves on to take more photos of more party guests, snapping his way through the venue.
I glance around the room again, taking it all in. “Denise did a hell of a job.”
My grandfather looks around with me.
We have an event space at the stadium, and it was only right that his retirement party took place here. So many of his previous players, coaches, and staff have shown up to help him bid farewell to this part of his life, and the whole night just feels really special.
One man’s entire life’s work in one room.
There’s a dance floor in the center and a live band on a small makeshift stage. Multiple open bars are set up along the perimeter of the space, and the remaining walls are covered in photo collages, showcasing all the previous teams and memories my grandfather has made in this exact building.
“This is really something, isn’t it, Reese’s Pieces?” His voice goes thick. “I can’t believe so many people showed up.”
His emotion is evident, but how could it not be? I gained my love of this game and this career choice from him. He was the embodiment of “choose a job you love, and you’ll never have to work a day in your life.”
I run a hand across his back. “You deserve for people to show up.”
I scan the room once again, recognizing so many faces from the past. And of course, plenty of ones from the present.
Our entire current roster is here, all suited up, because, like me, my grandfather enjoys the fancier parts of life.
The lighting is dim and moody. Cocktail tables are peppered throughout the space, as are plush couches for mingling. The food was divine, and it’s clear that no expense was spared.
It’s been special to spend tonight with my grandfather, but I’d be lying if I said that was the only reason I’ve been glued to his side. My self-control is utterly lacking as of late, so much so that I don’t know what I’d do if I didn’t attach myself by a metaphorical leash.
