Third and Long: A Sports Romance

by Caitlyn Maxwell

  “That’s a big question dear,” she says, some tears welling in her eyes.

  “I have to know. You dropped out of school. You got pregnant. You moved to Eden of all places. You took the fall for him. Why?”

  My mom takes a deep breath, looking me in the eyes. “Tam-tam, I did those things because I love your father.”

  “You have to love yourself too mom,” I say.

  “That’s true,” she says. “I’ve never been good at that. I was hoping you’d be better at it.”

  “I’m almost graduated mom. I’m getting my MBA. I’ve got an internship lined up for next year.”

  “That’s wonderful dear! I’m so happy for you,” she says, genuinely smiling in a way that I haven’t seen her smile in years.

  “But why couldn’t you be the same? Why did you give it all up for dad?”

  “I’m not as strong as you Tam,” she says. “I’ve loved your father since the day I met him. That first year I spent at college, I spent every night thinking about him. Missing him.”

  “Why?”

  “Oh Tamber. Love isn’t an answer. Love is the question. It’s how you answer it that matters.”

  Mom looks tired, wearied by years behind bars. Yet there’s a glimmer of hope in her eyes.

  “There’s a boy. He told me he loves me,” I say, leaving out all the details about who he is. There’s absolutely no way I’m telling my mom the billionaire part while she’s stuck on the other side of a prison wall on a drug charge.

  “And do you love him?” she asks.

  I bite my lip, searching my feelings. I told him I did. We absolutely made love, and it was amazing. Some tears well in my eyes too, and I nod my head.

  “But you’re afraid of ending up like me?” mom asks.

  “Yes,” I say.

  “You don’t have to. You can love your man and yourself. I know you Tamber. I wouldn’t say this to your sisters. They take after me too much, but you’re different. You can have everything you want. You don’t need to worry about ending up like this.”

  “Were you happy?”

  “I know you didn’t have the greatest life growing up, but you made me happy every day. You and your sisters. Even though you don’t see eye to eye with your father, I still love him.”

  The prison guards signal that our visiting time is almost up.

  “Tell me about him,” mom says.

  “He’s hot.”

  “That’s a start.”

  “And kind and strong, but sometimes he’s full of himself.”

  “I’d like to meet him someday Tamber,” my mom says.

  The wrinkles on her face seem to recede at the idea that she might be a mother-in-law someday. A mother-in-law in striped prison clothes.

  “Mom?” I ask.

  “Yes dear?”

  “Would you do it all over again if you knew how your life was going to turn out?”

  She considers it for a moment. “Would I make your dad wear a condom?” she asks laughing hysterically. “Maybe.”

  “Don’t worry I’ve got that covered.”

  “Oh boy Tamber there are things you don’t need to tell your mother. Would I go with another man other than your father? No I don’t think so.”

  “Thanks, mom.”

  We both hang up our phones, and she blows me a kiss as the prison guards inform her that her time is up.

  When I step back out into the chill Eden afternoon, Gwen is waiting for me, working on her fourth or fifth cigarette. She tosses me the keys, completely unwilling to drive on roads that she’s never been on before.

  “This place gives me the creeps,” she says.

  “It’s not so bad once you get used to it.”

  “Don’t worry babe, I won’t be doing that.”

  “How’s your mom?” she asks as we get back in the car.

  I kick the car into reverse and pull out of the parking lot. Then I swing it around and pull back onto the highway headed toward Rome.

  “She’s happy for me.”

  “Did she set you straight?” Gwen asks.

  “About what?”

  Gwen slaps my arm. “About getting over yourself and getting on Logan.”

  “I’ve already been on Logan once today.”

  “Yes I envy your position,” she says.

  “I love Logan. I do. But it’s really all up to him. He’s the one that stands to lose something if he takes our relationship further.”

  “But you’re not going to keep throwing up roadblocks?” Gwen asks with the most hopeful look in her eye.

  “No,” I say, a dumb grin spreading from ear to ear.

  Gwen rolls down the window of her car and screams, “Oh thank fucking God!”

  “I’ve got to go meet The Party Girls. We’re presenting our project to Professor Asshole today,” I explain as we near the exit to Rome.

  Gwen sighs loudly. “I don’t not even that position.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  Logan

  Tamber and I spent all night texting each other. By the time I get to Tuesday morning film study, I’m running on about three hours of sleep. We spent the night scheming ways to keep Katerina in New York. The socialite flew back home Sunday morning under the impression that we’re an item now with a formal engagement coming soon.

  Tamber thought that was hilarious. Katerina had to be the subject of our messages to each other because we’re both dancing around the obvious: what do we do now? We made love. What’s the next step?

  At some point in the night we stopped texting each other about Katerina and started sexting each other. I never thought I’d read Tamber describing my cock like that. I can’t believe her dirty little mouth. All along I thought she was this good little girl, but she might be as naughty as her roommate.

  During the second hour of film study on Louisiana State’s defense, I notice something. One of their cornerbacks has such an obvious tell. He kind of gives away the entire scheme depending on where he plants his feet. LSU still has one of the best defenses in the league, but at this point anything helps.

  Then I start thinking about Tamber’s tell. I wish I could get into her head and figure her out. Read her mind. See what she wants. We had hot sex, but she’s still that girl that hates distraction.

  Coach Ainsworth’s words echo in my head. I can have a nice long career in the pros. That doesn’t happen to quarterbacks who need cheap tricks to beat college teams.

  Good quarterbacks don’t rely on tells. They rely on two things: their natural ability and their willingness to take big risks.

  It’s time to take a risk.

  As soon as film study is over, I grab Cam and pull him off to the side.

  “Listen man I need you to get Gwen out of the house tonight. You guys are banging again right? Should be easy.”

  Cam laughs. “Aw shit son, we were just hooking up. She’s over me again.”

  “You can come up with something right?”

  He gives me the world’s most skeptical look as he stuffs his playbook into his locker. I explain to him what I’m up to. He pats me on the shoulder and shakes my hand and promises he’ll occupy Gwen for as long as I need.

  I make him promise not to tell Gwen anything. Even though he agrees, it’s only a matter of time before Gwen gets him to spill the beans.

  In the early afternoon, I wait for Cam’s text. Finally, he tells me that Gwen is on her way to his place, and, more importantly, that Tamber is sitting at home alone. I figure she’s probably working on homework, so I’m hoping she’ll forgive my intrusion.

  At the front door of her apartment, I’ve got a dozen roses in my arm, and a heart full of love. The moment of truth. I knock on the door.

  I hear the world’s grumpiest girl complain that she has to get off the couch. It makes me smile like crazy.

  Tamber cracks the door open and her mouth drops open. She’s wearing loose pajamas, and her mocha hair is tousled and messy. Before she can say anything, I hand her the dozen roses.

/>   “What are these for?” she asks skeptically, like I’ve done something wrong.

  “Oh you know. I was in the neighborhood, and thought I’d stop by and see my girl,” I say.

  “Your girl?” she asks, holding the door and the roses close to her. I’m starting to think that I’m never going to see the inside of her apartment.

  “Yeah,” I say, letting my charm and confidence do all that work.

  “Alright you can come in. But for the record I’m super mad you didn’t call first,” she says.

  Inside her apartment she’s got some soft classical music on. She’s probably one of those people that thinks classical music makes you smarter. There’s a hot mess of sketches and papers surrounding her laptop on the coffee table.

  “Sorry I should have known you’d be working,” I say.

  Tamber walks over to the kitchen and finds a big cup to keep the roses in lieu of a vase. She offers me a beer, and I gladly take one. Despite the fact that we’ve fucked and professed our love for each other. This couldn’t be more awkward. Neither of us knows what to say when so much is standing between us.

  I hope to cut through all that with a knife tonight.

  “What are you working on?” I ask, dancing around the real reason that I’m here.

  Tamber’s eyes light up. She’s more than happy to talk about anything but us right now. She leaps over her couch and turns on her laptop.

  “Professor Castle thinks my idea could be a winner. He’s putting me in contact with some software developers to see about making it happen,” she says.

  “I thought you called him Professor Asshole?” I ask.

  “We all did until the meeting today. The Party Girls and I knocked it out of the park. He thinks it can become a real thing.”

  “The Party-Kit?” I ask.

  “Yeah. Castle loved the idea. Basically gave my group an A on the spot.”

  “Nice one Tam,” I say.

  She looks at me from the couch. She can tell something is on my mind. Her look turns from exuberance to skepticism.

  “Why’d you really come by tonight Logan?” she asks.

  I sit on the couch next to her. If she’s going to punch me in the face, I’d rather she do it from a sitting position. Given that this could be my final moment on Earth, I take a nice long look around the apartment.

  It’s totally cute, definitely the kind of place decorated by two college chicks with completely different personalities. There’s the artfully put together corner that Tamber no doubt designed, and then the mess of beer bottles and gossip magazines that is definitely Gwen’s contribution.

  I take her hands in mine, another defense against getting slapped, or punched, or stabbed. Tamber’s expression drops, looking like I’m about to tell her someone passed away. While it’s not nearly that bad, she may take it that way.

  “Tam?” I ask.

  “What are you coming out or something? What’s going on here Logan? You’re making me nervous,” she says.

  I start laughing.

  “Sorry my anxiety tends to turn into verbal diarrhea.” She’s adorable when she cringes.

  “That engagement ring. The one I gave you for our fake engagement. I—uh—I need it back,” I say, trying my best to keep my confidence, like this is a totally normal request.

  Her nose scrunches up which honestly isn’t the worst reaction she could possibly have. At this point I know Tamber well enough to know that behind those eyes her mind is running through a million scenarios.

  Her fists clench in my hands and then unclench. Her cheeks get red. I hate to put her through this, but I have a plan and I’m sticking to it. No matter how mad she gets.

  She stands up and goes to her bedroom without saying a word. I sit there on the couch realizing that I’m the biggest idiot in the world. What was I even thinking?

  Tamber takes a while, so I get up off the couch and pace around their small living room. Better to be walking if she comes back in with a gun. At least then I’ll have a chance to run for cover. While Tamber’s not the type to own a gun, I wouldn’t put it past Gwen.

  When she comes back in, it’s clear that she’s been fighting back tears. Her face is a bit misty. She hands me the ring. It really is a beautiful ring even though I totally bought it in haste. It turns out when you go into the jewelry store in the rich part of town with a black credit card, they tend to take care of you.

  “So what does this mean?” Tamber asks breaking the silence between us.

  “We’ve had a somewhat of an unusual relationship.”

  She laughs in that full body way that implies so much more than a simple chuckle ever could. She’s fucking pissed, and I’m trying my hardest not to give away the game. As a quarterback I can never give away a play to the other team. I’ve got to stare down eleven guys on the other side of the line with stone cold dead eyes. Yet when the girl I love starts to give me the hard look, I start slipping. She’s perfect.

  “So I’d like it to stop being unusual,” I say.

  Tamber’s about to cry when she stops herself. Looks at me, and says, “What?”

  I drop to one knee and hand the ring back to her.

  “Tamber Long. Will you marry me?” I ask.

  She freaks out.

  She literally screams at the top of her lungs so loud that she nearly shatters my hearing.

  “Is that a yes or?”

  Tears of joy burst from her eyes.

  “Yes! You stupid asshole. You unbelievable asshole. Yes!” she screams diving into my arms.

  I drop the ring and it rolls somewhere, but I don’t care because Tamber tackles me to floor, pining me to the ground.

  Her whole body presses into mine, and I grab her hair pulling her down to me. We kiss as her hands explore my body.

  We’re out of control in love with each other, and we want each other now and all at once.

  I pull her loose pajama shirt up and over her head. She’s not wearing a bra, so those gorgeous perky tits come out to play. Taking each in my mouth one after each other, I taste the delight of her nipples, hardening with excitement.

  She’s saying all kinds of things as I suck on her breasts, but I’m so focused on her body, I can hardly hear.

  My hands travel down to her pajama pants, and I roughly pull them off of her. Her underwear comes with the pants, and in seconds she’s as naked as she was in the locker room.

  Her naked body collapses on mine and we kiss again, two lovers finding each other after long last. Her pussy grinds into my hardening cock. With each thrust of her hips, I get harder and harder. She responds and moves her hips more slowly and sensually. She wants to feel me, the full me.

  When I’m nice and hard, I flip her over in one motion. My biceps flex and pull her close to my heaving chest. She lets out a giggle of delight in the middle of the air, and I let her down gently on the wooden floor of her apartment.

  She spreads her naked legs for me, and I stare at the utterly glory of her incredible body. All this time I’ve been admiring her perfect ass when she’s actually a total goddess, a statue of pure beauty. That I even waited a month to put a ring on her finger was a complete and total waste of her time. I should have proposed that very day I met her on the track.

  “God, you’re so fucking beautiful,” I say.

  “Take off your shirt, stud,” she says with a playful smirk.

  I do as my fiancée, my real fiancée, asks. I pull my shirt up and over my head, and once more she sighs at the sight of my hard packed muscles, forged in the fires of football.

  “Damn, boy,” she says with a look of wild hunger in her eyes.

  I plant my arms on either side of her, deciding how I want to take her. Tamber can hardly wait for me to make up my mind. Her hands grab at my cock through my shorts. She makes this playful little smirk, then bites her lip. Her hands slip into my shorts, and I’m grinning like mad.

  Then I spot the ring under her couch. As she’s feeling me up, I reach over and grab the ring. S
he’s giggling the whole time, hanging on to my shorts. Right when I grab the ring, she pulls my shorts down around my thighs.

  I turn around and sit up on my knees, every bare muscles of my body coursing with power, ready to pounce on my fiancée and make her mine. My cock stands straight up. Tamber sits up on her knees too, facing me, touching my chest.

  “We don’t want to lose this,” I say.

  She holds out her finger, and I slide the ring back on. It’s been there before, but this time it fits just right.

  “Tell me something Logan,” she says while our naked sweaty bodies pull toward each other like magnets.

  “Anything.”

  “You’re a fucking billionaire, you ass. Why didn’t you just buy a new one instead of putting me through all that?” she asks.

  “My dad froze my credit,” I say.

  “Fuck me. That is so hot,” she says.

  “Is that a request?

  “It’s a play call,” she says.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

  Tamber

  “It’s a play call.”

  I can’t believe the words come out of my mouth. They are so cheesy, but he doesn’t even care. Our naked bodies press together as we kiss.

  I’m wearing his ring and this time it’s not fake. I’m wearing his fucking ring!

  We’re both standing on our knees on the floor embracing each other. His cock rubs against my sex, his tongue plays in my mouth, and all I can think about is how I’m going to be Tamber Oliver!

  Like the enormous lion that he is, Logan pins me to the floor. Holding his biceps, I feel his animal-like power flow through them. I belong completely to him, and I couldn’t be happier. The very second that ring slipped on my finger, all cares, all worries, all panic, all anxiety fled from my body, leaving me with nothing but the intense desire to express my love for Logan all over his body.

  I spread my legs for him and feel his cock teasing my sex, wet with desire, begging for the attention that it deserves. His sure and commanding mouth tastes me all over: my lips to my neck to my breasts. His tongue traces an agonizing path down my tummy to my thighs, flirting with my sex.

  Driven wild by his teasing I can naught but run my fingers through his gorgeous brown hair. I grab his hair, holding him in delight as his tongue explores me once more. He looks up the length of my body with those crystal clear blue eyes. They say enough. They say that I belong to him now. I’m his trophy, his prize, his everything.