by Taylor Hart
“You did always do that, didn’t you?”
“Just on top of the covers, okay?”
She scowled at him. “You’re going to stay? On my bed?”
He shrugged. “Listen, you’ve been sick, and I know how your migraines go. Sometimes they boomerang back. But if you want me to crash on the couch, I can do that.” He started to head out of the room.
“Wait.”
He stopped and turned to see tears on her face. “Hey, what’s wrong?” he asked, moving back to her side.
She sighed. “Ugh, you’re so frustrating.”
“Why?”
She swallowed. “Because Harrison has never stayed when I’ve had a migraine.”
DJ didn’t say anything, but if he were counting touchdowns, he’d say he was at least at fourteen points on the scoreboard. “Then I guess you should tell the idiot to quit proposing.”
She let out a light laugh, and her eyes opened slightly. “You think? Always so cocky.” She patted the other side of her bed. “Fine, stay on top.”
He moved to the other side of her bed, trying not to have a bounce in his step. He lay down on top of the covers. Then he scooted to her, putting his arm over her waist. Dang, the woman had that irresistible tangerine smell coming off of her in spades.
She stiffened. “DJ, what are you doing?”
He put his hand over hers and cuddled into her. “Hush now. I’ll stay on top of the covers, but I can’t help but be near you.” He kissed the back of her neck. “I’ve missed out on way too many years of being near you.”
“This is…”
“It’s…life.” He thought about all the mistakes that had led him to so many years of pain.
Aspen was quiet.
DJ forced himself to relax, to accept this moment. Even though the future was uncertain, even though he might not get the girl, even though he was risking his heart again—he didn’t care. This realization dawned on him so fully and with such intensity that he could barely breathe. He loved her, even if that meant she would break his heart all over again.
“You okay, Asp?” he finally asked.
Her hand closed over his. “Uh-huh. Just stay with me.”
His eyes drifted shut. “That’s the plan.”
Chapter 20
The next day, Aspen stood in the cemetery, as she usually did every Thursday at lunch. She didn’t have any flowers. With the current chilly weather and wind, they would be pointless. When her son had been young, she would bring him, too. But the past couple of years, it’d gotten too hard to bring him. Travis understood his dad was gone, and it frustrated him that she would try to talk to this piece of stone.
It used to give her comfort, to pour her heart out to his grave, but lately, she felt restless. Today, she had tears streaming down her face. It was more than just restlessness; it was the fact that the past was colliding with the present, and she didn’t know what to do.
“How much do I need to tell you?” she asked, wiping at her eyes.
Of course, there was no response.
“DJ finally came back. We knew it would take him awhile, didn’t we? But ten years?” She sucked in a breath, leaning her head back and fighting the tears. “It was a long time to wait to find out the truth. Why didn’t you tell me he wanted to ask me to the dance?”
She sat on the bench next to the gravestone—the one his father had made sure was put up after his death. She shook her head and cried. “And why didn’t you tell me that he loved me?”
Chapter 21
DJ had been at his father’s house on the phone with his attorney, trying to strategize about how to get the property back.
His phone buzzed, and he saw a text from an unknown number.
It’s Natalie. Go talk to Aspen at the cemetery.
Of course he’d gone. Now, as he walked toward his brother’s grave, he saw Aspen sitting with her back to him on a bench.
“It’s the craziest thing you’d ever see,” he heard Aspen saying.
He staggered to a stop, ducking behind one of the larger trees to avoid detection.
She laughed, looking up at the sky and wiping her eyes. “Travis loves him so much. Like, hero-worships him. The same way I know he would have hero-worshipped you.”
DJ swallowed hard. His heart was breaking.
“He is so good with Travis and his friends. A couple of days ago, he was teaching the kids drills, and it looked like he had been coaching them for years. Then they tackled him on the grass, and they were all laughing.” She didn’t speak for a long time. “I’ve missed him, Travis. Just like I’ve missed you. And I know we fought about this, but I do love him, Trav. I always have.”
They’d fought about him? DJ’s eyebrows rose.
“And you knew it. You hated it, but you knew it.” She breathed in deeply. “I’d better go,” she said, standing and putting her hand on his grave.
DJ left the tree and moved toward her, determination rising within him. “Wait,” he called out as he approached.
She froze.
“Can I say a couple of things?” He joined her next to the grave.
With a frown, she said, “Okay.”
He stared at his brother’s gravestone. A myriad of memories clamored for his attention, and then he said what he needed to say. “Trav, I’m sorry.” His eyes misted. “I’m sorry for leaving and shutting you out. You didn’t deserve that. It wasn’t your fault Dad did the things he did. I blamed you for so many things, and I realize now it was my fault. I was so stubborn, and I should have told you this a long time ago—I’m sorry for everything.”
Aspen reached out, taking his hand. There were more tears on her face, but she was smiling.
He brushed away his tears with his other hand. “I should have done this so long ago.”
For a moment neither of them spoke.
“What are you thinking?” she asked.
He wiped more tears from his eyes. “I thought I was coming home to fix things with Dad, but then I realized I want to fix things with you.” A tear broke loose and spilled down his cheek. “And now I realize I had to fix things with Trav, too.”
Aspen leaned in, hugging him.
He hugged her too and stared at the grave. “I’m forgiving you now, bro. And I hope, wherever you are, you can forgive me, too.” He found himself crying, but it wasn’t just because of all of the sins from the past; it was because he had so much hope of a future with this woman in his arms.
After a bit, she pulled away. “I’m sorry. I have to go back to work.”
“Wait,” he said. He needed to get this out there. “I want to be with you, Aspen.”
She put her hand on his face, then leaned in and kissed him. It was sweet and slow.
Every part of him reacted to her touch, and he put his hands on her hips.
She pulled back. “I had a conversation with Harrison today.”
Adrenaline spiked through him. “Okay.”
“We’ll talk about it later.” She pulled away.
“No.” He tugged her back to him.
She grinned at him.
“You’re teasing me.”
She let out a long breath. “I’m kind of teasing you, but the truth is…I need some time.”
Unable to stop himself, he pleaded his case. “We’ve loved each other forever, Aspen, and if I’ve learned anything about time, and regrets, and perfect moments, it’s that you have to reach out and catch the perfect spiral. Or no one realizes that it’s perfect.”
Her eyebrows lifted. “You’re using a football analogy right now?”
He grinned at her. “Hey, you used one last night.”
She frowned.
He rushed on. “You’ve always been the perfect spiral, and I’ve never had the guts to reach out and catch you, but I’m trying now.”
She shook her head, taking a step back, running a hand through her hair. “What does being with you look like, DJ?”
He hadn’t expected that question. “It looks like us getting m
arried.”
She frowned. “My life’s in Southport. Travis’s life is in Southport. Would…Would you come here?”
DJ was taken aback. Every part of him wanted to say yes. He thought about his commitment to the team and the fact he’d thought about retiring at the end of this season anyway. Could he really do it? He thought of his brothers on the team. Could he really tell them goodbye? “Could you come to San Antonio?”
Aspen’s expression closed off. “I have a son. I live here.” She pulled away. “Sorry, I have to get back to work.”
Chapter 22
It was almost eight p.m., and Aspen was exhausted. She stared at her computer and tried to finish charting so she could transition the next nurse who would be taking her place.
“So, is Travis coming in for the gingerbread house contest tonight?” Natalie asked, standing at the computer beside her, putting in her own charting information.
“Oh.” That was another thing Aspen had failed at this Christmas—getting the gingerbread house done. “I told Lauren not to worry about bringing him because we didn’t get ours made.”
“Hmm. Hmm,” Natalie said, staring at the front door. “Looks like Mr. Hero is here, saving the day as usual.”
Looking up, Aspen laughed involuntarily as she saw Travis hiked up on DJ’s shoulders, a huge grin on his face, and Lauren walking beside them, holding a huge Texas Rebel gingerbread stadium.
“Mama!” Travis called out, waving.
DJ put him down, a matching grin on his face.
She laughed, coming around the counter and hugging Travis.
He leaned in and whispered, “We made it while you were sick, and DJ kept it at his place to surprise you.”
Natalie moved over to Lauren, gazing at the stadium. “Looks perfect.” She tousled Travis’s hair and beckoned Lauren to follow her. “Quick, in here. They’re about ready to judge them.” In a parting shot, she gave DJ a little shove in the shoulder. “Nice move, football player.”
DJ’s eyebrows rose. “Thanks.”
Natalie moved past Aspen. “He’s the one I vote for.”
Aspen felt her cheeks burn. Natalie talked incessantly about which bachelor she would vote for. Her eyes met DJ’s.
“Are you coming?” Travis asked him.
DJ hesitated, putting his hand out to Aspen. “If your mom wants me to.”
She debated, unsure. Unsure about what the future with this man she’d loved for so long meant. Unsure about everything.
Travis dramatically let out a long breath, took her hand, and put it inside DJ’s. “Come on, Mom.”
“Oh, you think?”
Travis laughed. “You like him.”
DJ grinned his cocky grin.
She laughed too, shaking her head at her son. “How come you two are always ganging up on me?” When both of them laughed, she pointed at them. “There it is—the Rebel grins.”
DJ shrugged. “Hey, when you were just assisted into the end zone, you don’t complain.”
They all walked into the gingerbread competition together. Lauren and Natalie were in the process of making room for the stadium in the middle of the other houses. DJ’s father was standing next to some other residents.
DJ pulled Aspen over to his dad. “Hi there,” he said, putting a hand on his father’s shoulder. “Which one is yours?”
His father gave him a bewildered look. “I don’t know.”
“Grandpa,” Travis said, pointing to the stadium. “We want the stadium to win because your son plays for the Rebels.”
“He does?”
Travis laughed and pointed to DJ. “He’s right here, Grandpa.”
After a moment of confusion, his father grinned. “Of course he is.”
And bam! He was back.
DJ beamed at him. “Hey, Dad.”
His father laughed and put an arm around him. “How long have I been gone?” he asked.
DJ shrugged. “It’s not important.”
Bill Richards walked into the room. Irritation pulsed through DJ.
Aspen squeezed his hand, looking between the men. “DJ, please, don’t cause problems.”
He shook his head. “It’s fine.” And it was fine.
As Bill approached them, DJ nodded to him.
“DJ, I want to talk to you,” Bill said, jerking his head to the side. “Can we talk out there?”
Slowly, DJ followed Bill back out to the main part of the care center.
Bill held an envelope out to him.
DJ hesitantly took it. “What is this?”
“It’s a contract, written up by my attorney, that sells you back the house for double. That was the price you offered, right?”
“What’s going on?”
Bill crossed his arms, looking very officer-ish. “Here’s the thing. I might have wanted that house, because I thought I could somehow talk Aspen into maybe—” He shrugged. “—not marrying Harrison…”
DJ folded his arms. “O-kay.”
With a sigh, Bill admitted, “But I don’t think it’s possible to convince her not to marry you.”
The truth hit DJ like a ton of bricks.
Bill nudged him again. “And maybe you’re an okay dude.”
DJ couldn’t believe it. He had his dad’s house back.
“So I’ll expect you to sign the contract and the funds to be transferred into my account by the end of day tomorrow.”
DJ laughed. Impulsively, he threw his arms around Bill. “Come here, big guy!”
Bill laughed too, slapping him on the back. “Well, I’d rather have her marry you than the idiot.”
“At least we can agree on that.”
Chapter 23
DJ sat by his father’s bedside, listening to him telling Travis a story. “And your uncle and your dad, they just took the state championship—your dad threw your uncle the winning touchdown!”
“Yay!” Travis shoved both hands into the air.
His father laughed and turned to meet DJ’s eyes.
It was amazing, being here and hearing his father’s story. He couldn’t believe Bill had just let him have the house back. It’d been a good day, the kind of day that had him wondering if he could just retire and come home.
Home. That word didn’t sound so horrible now.
He reached over, patting his father’s arm. “You’re tired, Dad.”
His father leaned back, putting his hand over DJ’s. “I am, but I don’t want to sleep and lose you again. Or…lose me.”
DJ squeezed his eyes shut. He felt the same way. “Yeah.” He only had one more day. Just one more day, and then he had to get back to Texas. He would miss seeing his father all the time, and he would miss Travis and Aspen. His heart plummeted. Things weren’t settled in that department, and he didn’t know how they would end up.
“Travis.” Aspen appeared in the doorway, smiling at them. “Time to go home.”
His father turned to her. “Thanks for everything, Aspen Tree Girl.”
She walked over to him, kissing him on the cheek. “Of course.”
Travis moved to his side. “Are you coming to tell me another nighttime story, Uncle DJ?”
“Uh,” DJ said, his eyes shifting back to his father.
His father smiled at him. “Go, son. Tell him some man rules, too.”
Travis giggled. “He already has, Grandpa.”
“Good. Someone’s gotta teach the Madden ways.”
“Travis,” Aspen said, holding out her hand. “We have to go. Uncle DJ can meet us there.”
DJ met her gaze, and just like when he was ten years younger, his heart raced and he felt excited and nervous and happy, all wrapped up into a ball.
“Okay,” Travis said, taking her hand.
With hugs all around, Aspen and Travis left.
DJ stayed next to his dad, his hand still on his. He didn’t know when he’d get to talk to his father again, or if his father would come back.
“DJ,” his father whispered.
“Yeah, Dad?
” DJ stood, leaning in.
“I wish I had more days with your mother. But I don’t.”
He nodded, his throat closing. “I know, Dad.”
His father squeezed his hand. “So go be with her and convince her to finally be with you. You know it’s time.”
Caught off guard by his father’s directness, DJ laughed.
“Night, son. If I don’t see you again, I love you.”
Leaning down, DJ held his father, feeling so grateful he’d come home. “I love you, too, Dad. I love you so much.”
Later, DJ walked up the steps to Aspen’s house, unsure what to do. Should he propose? He wanted to. But her question kept coming back to him. What did being with him look like for her and Travis?
Everything between them seemed uncertain. He thought of today at the graveyard and all of the healing they’d been through over the past couple of days. The boy would be thrilled if they got married, but would he want to move to San Antonio?
Determination coursed through him. He knew one thing for sure: they were going to have a moment of clarity about Harrison. He sputtered out a breath. That guy needed to be long gone.
DJ knocked, and when Aspen opened the door, he was surprised to see she’d changed out of her scrubs into a red Christmas sweater. She’d put on lip gloss and her scent filled him. “H-hey,” he stammered.
“Uncle DJ! I’m waiting!”
They both laughed, and she moved aside. “He’s been waiting,” she deadpanned, lifting and lowering her shoulder. “Sorry he’s so demanding.”
DJ shook his head and took her hand for a second. “I like demanding. I like being needed.” He leaned in, brushing his lips to hers.
“DJ,” she breathed out, confused. “Don’t.”
He was in no mood for anything except loving her. He searched her face. “I want this. I want him. I want you. And I need to know what you and Harrison talked about.”
She cocked an eyebrow. “You do?”
He didn’t want to be pushy about it. Okay, yeah, he wanted to kick the guy to the curb, so he guessed he wanted to be pushy. “Yeah, I do.”