I looked over at Alexa. Her eyes were open wide. I could tell that her dad didn’t state his approval very frequently.
“I want to apologize to you too, dear,” he said to his daughter. “We haven’t handled things very well lately. I want you to know that I am always willing to support you financially.” He reached into his suit pocket and pulled out his wallet. “Take this card for emergencies. I know you want to be independent, but it’s here just in case.”
She hugged her dad, tears misting in her eyes.
Alexa’s mom emerged, looking slightly calmer.
“Craig, I think it’s about time we were leaving,” she said.
“It was so nice to meet you, Martin,” he said. “I hope we’ll see the two of you very soon.”
I shook his hand again, Alexa hugged her parents, and then they were gone. The second the door shut behind them. We both let out a huge sigh of relief.
“We made it,” she said, giving me a celebratory kiss. I wasn’t sure if she was talking about the college graduation, or meeting her parents. Either way, it was a successful day for the both of us.
Alexa
I felt incredibly relieved once my parents left. It was hard seeing my mom act so cold toward Martin, but the fact she stuck around at all meant something, however small the gesture. I was thrilled to be able to talk to my dad. I was really worried that he was upset over the proposal gone wrong.
He said that after I ran out of the restaurant, Sebastian threw a tantrum. I guess he wasn’t used to not getting his way. Sebastian smashed a few glasses on the ground and stomped out of the restaurant.
I didn’t think that he was like that. My mom blamed me for his reaction and that’s why she was so embarrassed and mad at me. My dad was pretty horrified by his reaction and didn’t want Sebastian to be part of the family anymore.
I was too pleased to hear about his little meltdown. I was also really relieved that this would be the end of the Sebastian drama. I just hoped he wouldn’t show his face at the summer home.
I wanted him to find happiness in his life, he wasn’t a bad guy, but he needed to learn how to take no for an answer.
After my mom cut me off, my grandparents found out. Apparently, my mom’s dad threatened to cut her out of the will. It’s not like she needed the extra money, but it would have been really embarrassing for her.
My dad told her that she was taking things too far and got me a new credit card.
I think my mom was offended that I wasn’t begging at her feet for her fortune. My dad was proud of me for wanting to be independent and make my own money. He had a normal childhood, so he felt proud that some of his values were instilled in me.
He thought I was so responsible and mature. I’m just glad they didn’t see me freaking out when I found out I had no money. I was going to try my best to use his credit card less, though.
My dad seemed to really like Martin. I forgot how much my dad liked football. He never had a son to play with, and my mom refused to let me play. I could just picture him parading Martin around social events.
“What did you think about them?” I asked Martin.
“Your dad was really great,” he said. “I don’t think your mom liked me.”
“Don’t take it personally. She wouldn’t have liked any guy that I liked.”
“Are we going to join them at their summer home?” he smiled.
“I’m not sure if you’ll want to go. Do you think you want to spend an awkward week with my mom?”
“I’ve never been to someone’s vacation home. I’d like to see how you people live.”
“Maybe we can go back to the house while they’re away. We can have it all to ourselves,” I winked.
“That sounds nice,” he said.
I grabbed his arm and pulled him toward me, making him wrap his arms around my waist. He kissed me on the head.
Sasha and Gia opened the door to the dorm and walked inside; they were whispering to each other and didn’t seem to notice us standing there.
“What’s the secret?” I asked.
They jumped. “Nothing,” they said together.
“There’s a party tonight at a bar downtown,” Gia said.
“It’s the same one we went to after the championship game,” Sasha added.
Martin laughed. “I’m in, as long as I’m not carrying anyone home.”
“Hilarious,” I said sarcastically.
We agreed to go and arrived at the bar around ten thirty as things were just starting to heat up. Martin, Reg, and Sam went to the bar to get drinks for everyone while Sasha, Gia, and I found a table.
Gia was telling us about the hotel she and Sam were staying at for the draft. The whole thing sounded like a lot of fun.
“Why don’t you come with us?” she asked.
“Martin never mentioned it to me,” I said. “I think he wants to go alone. Anyway, I’m going to stay with Sasha for a little bit.”
I hadn’t officially made plans for the summer. I could stay at Sasha’s all summer if I wanted. We even talked about getting our own apartment together. My parents were allowing me to come home, but after our fight, I didn’t know if I could stay there for long without losing my mind.
There was also the option of spending time with Martin, but we wouldn’t know where he was going for a few more days.
I wanted to go to the draft with Martin to support him, but also because it sounded amazing. They were staying in a fancy hotel, getting all dressed up to be on television, and going to after parties.
They were going to be amongst the best football players in the country and would be treated like royalty. Secretly, I also wanted to be there to deter any hot girls that might want to latch on to my boyfriend.
The guys returned with the drinks. Reg was also carrying a tray full of shots.
“Let’s celebrate. We made it through four years of college. We all managed to graduate without flunking out, having a kid, or dying of alcohol poisoning. I call that a win,” Reg said.
“To our futures,” Gia toasted as we held our shot glasses together.
We all drank, sputtering at the after taste.
“What was that?” I asked.
“I don’t know,” Reg said. “I just asked for a shot of their cheapest liquor.”
“Will Alexa be picking up the tab again?” Gia asked.
“Those days are over,” I laughed. “We can all split the bill tonight.”
They groaned, their days of free booze were over. That was, until football groupies picked up the bill.
The guys talked about how they thought the draft would go. Reg was sure they would both go in the first three rounds. I really hoped so. Reg was applying for scouting jobs with just about every team.
He had interviews with a few in the next couple of weeks. I know that Martin hoped that he would be able to see Reg and Sam often, either by playing each other’s team, or by being part of the same team.
“Oh, I almost forgot,” Martin said to me. “I have an extra ticket for the draft. Will you come with me? I think we can still get you a plane ticket.”
I beamed. “I would love to.”
I had been to tons of charity balls and fancy galas over the years, but I had never partied with professional athletes and celebrities like this. I was incredibly excited.
“Is it okay if I stayed with you the following week?” I asked Sasha.
“Fine with me, I’ll be around all summer,” she replied.
“What are your summer plans, Gia?” Martin asked.
“Well, I’ll probably spend a few weeks with my family and a few weeks with Sam’s. Once we decide where we’re moving, I’ll look for a job and we’ll buy a house. My degree is in Finance, so I can find work pretty easily.”
“When’s the wedding?” I joked. Sam clenched his jaw and Gia just laughed.
Sam quickly pulled Gia out to the dance floor and Martin nudged me in the ribs.
“Sam’s proposing tonight. Gia can’t know.”
“He’s going to take Gia home early and ask her at his dorm. Reg helped him set up candles and flowers and all of that stuff earlier today,” Martin said. “Very romantic.”
Things were working out for everyone. Just four years ago, we were all scared freshman who didn’t know anything. Now we knew where we were going in life. Well, everyone except for me.
I wasn’t too worried though. My savings account provided me with a cushion to fall back on. I wanted to make sure I made the right decision with my career. The others didn’t have the option of not working right away.
We took turns ordering rounds of drinks. We kept skipping over Reg because he always ordered the nastiest shots. Just like Martin said they would, Gia and Sam left early.
I gave Gia a big hug. “Let’s grab lunch tomorrow before we leave.” I had to release her before I got too emotional and spoiled the surprise.
We continued to order drinks and make various toasts. We toasted to Gia and Sam, to each of us, and to random strangers in the bar. We had been wound pretty tight from stress over our last finals so we finally let loose.
“Show me some of your famous dance moves,” Martin said.
I grabbed him by the wrist and pulled him out to the dance floor. I was shaking my hips to the beat and Martin was standing a few steps back, watching.
I backed up into him, and he held on to my hips and we grinded together to the music. Drinks kept appearing in our hands and I lost track of how many I had.
“Is this number five?” I asked Martin.
He shrugged. “I don’t think we have to worry about limits tonight,” he said. “Just don’t throw up.”
“Deal,” I started to slur. I didn’t care. I was totally comfortable with Martin. I wasn’t afraid to embarrass myself.
The group chugged one last drink at final call and we stumbled our way back to Martin and Reg’s for one last drink together.
Martin pulled out a bottle of champagne from the refrigerator. We cheered as he popped the cork. We each had a few glasses as we brought up memories from our times together.
“That reminds me,” Sasha exclaimed. “Alexa, Martin, there’s a present for you in Martin’s room.” We all walked in to his nearly empty room.
“I don’t see anything,” I giggled.
“It’s under the sheets,” Reg said.
Martin and I pulled back the covers and looked at each other, quizzically. There was nothing there.
The door slammed shut and we heard the jangling of a lock. They had locked us in again.
This was our gift. We had one last night together at college. We had no reason to leave each other.
“This brings back fond memories,” Martin said. In rare form, he was pretty drunk. “Remember how mad you were at me?”
“Only because I thought you had sex with me while I was basically unconscious.”
“I bet you feel pretty silly now that you ever thought I would do something like that.”
“You had to earn my trust,” I said.
“Did I ever tell you how nervous I was the first time we slept together?”
“You were nervous?” I said, amused.
“Absolutely. I wanted everything to be perfect.”
“And it was,” I noted. “Usually the first time can be really awkward, but you did well.”
“So did you,” he said.
“We just make a good fit,” I said.
“Would you let me fit it in you right now?” he cackled.
“That’s the line you want to use on me?”
“Did it work?”
“Yeah,” I said. “But I would have wanted to have sex with you anyway.”
He flicked off the lights and we both ran to the bed. We wildly tore each other’s clothes off in a drunken frenzy.
“I hope I’m not too drunk for this,” he said.
I felt below his waist. “Nah, I think you’re good.”
We made love for the last time as college students. It was sloppy, but passionate. By this point, we knew each other’s bodies well. I knew that breathing in his ear drove him wild and he knew that touching my breasts got me going.
When we were finished—which was fairly soon after we started—we laid back on the bed. He had his arms stretched out wide and I nestled into his chest.
We just laid in silence, enjoying each other’s company. I listened to his breath and felt the rise and fall of his chest. It was soothing to me.
“Sam and Gia better have us in their wedding party,” Martin said, out of nowhere.
“Can you imagine how much fun that would be?” I said.
“I bet that Gia will pop out a kid not long after the wedding,” he added.
“I can see that. Can you imagine having a kid at this age? I wouldn’t have any idea what to do.”
“Me neither,” he said. “I’ve always wanted kids, though.”
“Me, too,” I agreed. “One day.”
We were starting to sober up and I was parched. I filled up a glass of water in Martin’s bathroom sink. He found a slightly stale bag of chips and we had a little bedtime snack.
We continued to lay in the dark, talking about anything that came to mind. I could do this forever, I thought. I hope I get that option.
Martin
“Let’s play the question game,” I suggested. I liked being able to ask her anything, without her being able to avoid the subject.
“Sure,” she said. “You start.”
“How many kids do you want?” I asked.
“Maybe like four or five. What about you?”
“I think two is enough,” I said.
“I like kids,” she said. “I always wanted brothers and sisters to play with.”
I agreed. “Your turn,” I said.
“What’s your biggest fear?” she asked.
I thought for a second. “Probably something bad happening to my mom. Or spiders. I really hate spiders. You?”
“Being buried alive,” she answered immediately.
I laughed. “That’s such an irrational fear.”
“Yeah, but that doesn’t mean I can’t be afraid of it happening.”
“I promise,” I said. “When you are presumed dead, I will double check before you can be buried.”
“Thank you,” she said, giving me a peck on the cheek.
“What do you want to do for a job?” I asked. I knew she was stressed about her future, so I didn’t ask many questions but I was curious.
“I want to be a teacher. And I’d like to be a cheer coach, too.”
“I know that, but are you planning on applying for jobs right away?”
She hesitated. “To be honest, I want to know where you’re going first. I don’t really have ties to any one place in particular, and I can be a teacher anywhere. If I can choose where I want to live, I want to choose wherever you are. Is that okay?”
That was more than okay. I had been wondering how to bring up this topic with her. I knew she was fiercely independent and didn’t want to insult her by asking her to follow me around. I just couldn’t bear the thought of her not being close to me.
A life with me wouldn’t always be easy. If I couldn’t get on a team this year, I wouldn’t have much money coming in. I didn’t think the two of us could get by on a teacher’s salary. Especially since Alexa had a lifestyle that required more cash.
“I would love for you to come with me. Nothing would make me happier. I just want to make sure you know what you’re in for. There could be a lot of money, or there could be no money at all. I might not be around a lot. Is that something you can handle?”
“That’s not a problem,” she said. “You’re the most important thing to me. I want to make this relationship work.”
“What if you don’t get a job right away?” I asked. “If I go pro, you can travel to my games. You could try out for the cheer team.”
&n
bsp; “That would be fun,” she said.
The thought of Alexa being on the sideline while I played pro games was better than I ever imagined in my future fantasy. Eventually, she would get tired of going to all of the games and want to start a career. Then what? Marriage? Kids? I was so lost in my daydream that I didn’t even hear her question.
“Martin, did you hear me? I wanted to know what your least favorite foods are. If we’re going to live together, I need to know what I shouldn’t buy from the grocery store.”
I could see her smile in the moonlight coming through the window blinds.
“I hate bananas. I love just about everything else. We’re going to be doing a lot of grocery shopping. When I lived at home, my mom went three times a week.”
“Oh, great,” she laughed. “What did I get myself into?”
“What would your dream house look like?” I asked when it was my turn. “I need to know in case I get a million dollar contract.”
“It doesn’t have to be too big, but I want a nice backyard,” she said. “I want to be able to plant flowers and fruits and vegetables. I also want lemon trees everywhere. There has to be plenty of open space for a soccer and football field. Maybe a concrete slab for playing basketball or tennis. Oh, and a fence so we can get a few dogs.”
“Is that all?” I chuckled. “What kind of dogs?”
“I like Corgis. They have cute little legs.”
“I like Golden retrievers,” I interjected. “We can get one of each.”
“Perfect,” she said.
Things were happening so quickly, but I wasn’t even scared. I used to shudder at the prospect of marriage or starting a family. Now, I could see myself doing so in the next few years.
For now, I just wanted to have fun with Alexa. We could travel to places I’ve never been before and explore new things. I could teach her everything there was to know about the sports she never got to play, and she could teach me all about the places and cultures she experienced in her youth.
“Do you feel like you’ll be missing out on the professional athlete lifestyle now that you have a girlfriend?” she asked.
“What lifestyle?”
“You know,” she said. “You always hear crazy stories about athletes that party hard and have sex with a models and actresses. I bet you could have that if I wasn’t hanging around.”
Second Chance Draft: A Second Chance Sports Romance (Pass To Win Book 6) Page 25