by Kim Koby
“Sure, no problem.”
He was already up and out of the booth with the phone by his ear. “Yeah, give me a second. I just want to step outside.”
When he returned, Brandy wasn’t quite sure what to make of the expression on his face. “What’s going on? Is everything okay?”
He nodded. “I need a moment is all.”
“Okay.”
“I was offered a job, and I’m not sure if I want it or not. I’ve got a lot to think about before I make any decisions, but it was definitely something that got my attention.”
“Can you tell me more?”
“I will. Soon. I need to toss some thoughts around first before I discuss it. I hope that’s okay.”
“Whatever works best for you.”
The moment was interrupted by the arrival of their food. Jett thanked the waitress, then reached over for the bottle of ketchup that sat by the salt and pepper shakers. He shook it up, then squirted some on the side of his plate.
Brandy studied him. “You’ve been doing that for ages.”
“I guess I have. Let me ask you something…”
“Go ahead,” she encouraged.
“When you think about ten years from now, what do you see?”
“That’s a big question.”
“It is.”
“Okay,” she said. “I need a few moments to think on it.”
“Fair enough.”
She slid her knife into a small packet of whipped butter and spread it across her pancakes. “These look amazing.”
“You look amazing,” he answered.
She couldn’t wipe the smile from her face. Brandy’s cheeks flushed over. “The future? I guess you and me, a couple of kids, a big backyard with a swing set. Maybe a dog or cat. More than anything, I see us together.”
“Do you see us working a lot? On vacation? Still in Texas? What about our kids? Are they in private school? Homeschooled? Where am I? What are you doing? Are you working at a private practice, at a hospital? Staying home with the kids?”
Her eyes opened wide. “I haven’t given it that much thought. Growing up I did, but right now, I’m just trying to enjoy the moment. What’s going on, hon?”
“The opportunity that was presented to me would change things. I’m not great with change, but it could be a chance to transition while I’m coming to my peak. I’m not old by any means, but in my line of work, I’m one of the senior guys.”
Brandy reached over and placed her hand on his. “Whatever you decide, I’ll support you and be by your side, Jett.”
He nodded. “Thanks.”
Jett ate his breakfast and was quieter than usual. He hadn’t expected the call, yet it was one he was glad he’d taken. If he took the position, it meant changing a lot of things in his life, more than he might be ready to. It meant stepping away from being a defensive lineman. It meant leaving his teammates and beloved team. It meant walking away from his hometown. It meant taking a chance. It could mean securing a solid future, and yet simply playing another couple of years with the San Antonio Rebels meant a huge paycheck. If they kept him.
Sure, he was good. Considered one of the best. But he was also well aware that approaching thirty meant that his professional days could be behind him soon, and he wasn’t interested in keeping a bench warm.
With the average age of his team members skewing younger, it was a harsh reality. More rookies were on the field, and the older members were being pulled off. Sometimes it was related to salaries, others a change due to injuries. Twenty-five was the median on his team. Twenty-five. He’d passed twenty-five three years prior.
And when they’re paying massive salaries to a handful of players, rookies coming in around the age of twenty-two meant the team has a better chance of staying within their salary caps while keeping their best players.
Some guys’ careers lasted in the range of three to five years. He’d been lucky to be on his sixth year, having been drafted at twenty-two himself. Yet, it was more than apparent fewer and fewer players over thirty remained on the team.
After breakfast, they walked to his truck.
“What are you thinking?” Brandy asked.
“What am I not thinking about?”
“The phone call,” she said.
He nodded. When they got to his truck, he leaned on the rear bumper and pressed his back to the tailgate. “How do I know what the right decision is?”
“You’ve always trusted your gut. Why not this time?”
“Maybe it’s too soon. I need to give it more time. I mean, I’m not required to give them an answer immediately, but the sooner I figure out what I want, the better. With my brother, it was a different kind of decision. We knew the outcome wouldn’t be good. We had months to think about things. And even then, I was afraid of making the wrong choice. I was afraid that my actions or thoughts would be wrong. That was the biggest decision I ever had to make. Transitioning to supporting Eva’s choice was huge, and my parents…well, anyway…while this isn’t life or death, it could be life changing, for both you and me.”
“If it touches my life, why not tell me what it’s about? We can make a decision together.”
He inhaled deeply. “I’d like to know what I want before I discuss it. Then we can have an informed discussion about the pros and cons, rather than go back and forth between the choices.”
She sighed, then leaned into him. Jett wrapped his arms around her. “We’ll talk about it later.”
He nodded, already lost in thought.
Chapter 22
New Year’s Eve.
Exhausted, Brandy made her way home. She’d pulled a shift and a half after a coworker called in sick. She wanted nothing more than to grab a nap but had promised Jett she’d spend the rest of the evening with him.
She could at least run home and get a shower. If she was lucky, she’d make it until midnight, but the chance of that happening was slim. A twelve-hour day was enough to knock her off her feet. They’d recently put restrictions on double shifts, so another coworker had to pick up the last four hours. There were times in the past where she’d put in sixteen-hour days, but the hospital capped it to twelve hours in most circumstances to help keep the rate of errors down. Surgeons were a different scenario, but often during long surgeries, there was more than one doctor in the operating room.
Brandy changed out of her scrubs and freshened up. She pulled on her favorite pants to lounge around in and a soft, warm sweatshirt. While others might have been dressing to the nines in sequins and sparkles, she wanted nothing more than to curl up on the sofa with Jett and relax.
Thankfully, he wasn’t into the party life. He’d visit with friends time to time, but staying home was his favorite thing to do, other than tinkering with his barbecue sauce recipe and grilling up slabs of ribs. She smiled at the thought. It’s not like he was magic in the kitchen, but he certainly had a handle on the double-decker sized smoker and grill out back.
She gathered her purse and headed over to Jett’s house. Brandy smiled as she looked at her keyring, holding a shiny, new key. He’d really given it to her. She hadn’t used it yet, not wanting to take advantage, but just knowing he’d offered it to her filled her heart.
When she arrived, he was waiting for her. He greeted her with a massive hug and a sweet, tender kiss. His kisses never grew old. Each one was more perfect than the next. She loved being in his big, strong arms when he pulled her close. It was the one place in the world that felt better than anything else.
They moved to the kitchen and picked out a couple of snacks.
Jett wrapped his arm over her shoulder. “Tell me about your day.”
“It was a long one. Luckily, things weren’t too busy. We did get to send Baby Matthew home today. That was amazing. I’m always so happy when they’re discharged.”
“That’s great news.”
She nodded. “It really is. He was so tiny…well, still is, but the changes in him have been miraculous. That he can sustain him
self now is wonderful. We weren’t sure if he’d make it early on. He was touch and go when he was first born, but after weeks of care, he finally got to leave with his parents. They were beaming with pride. It was beautiful. Those are the moments that make my job worth it, even the long hours.”
“You’re an amazing woman, giving so much to those babies.”
“Thank you.”
He reached into the fridge and pulled out a shrimp tray. After placing it on the counter, he turned to Brandy. “Can you grab the cocktail sauce out? It’s on the inside of the door, probably about the second shelf down.”
“Sure.” She turned to get the cocktail sauce, then screamed.
Jett laughed. It was a better reaction than he’d hoped for. He’d placed a diamond engagement ring atop of it. A smidge of tape held it in place.
“Are you serious?” she blurted out.
When she turned around, he was on one knee. “Brandy, will you marry me?”
“You really mean it? You want to do this?”
“I’m one hundred percent sure I want to do this. So, what do you say? Will you be my wife?”
“Yes!” She jumped up and down, then into his arms.
He helped Brandy put the ring on, then led her into the family room. “I was hoping we could talk about the future. Since it will be our future, and not just my future, I thought you should have a say in this too.”
She cocked her head to the side. “What do you mean?”
“Remember that call yesterday? The one I needed some time to think about? I’ve thought about it. If you’re okay with the changes it will mean, I’d like to accept the offer. If when you hear the details and you’re not happy, then I’ll say no and continue what I’m doing. I’ll be honest, either path is fine. I think this could be a great opportunity, but accepting it means that life would change, and we’d have to move. The job isn’t in San Antonio.”
Curious to know more, she sat beside him. “Tell me.”
He drew a deep breath. “Well, future Mrs. Warren…”
She giggled. “I like that.”
“Me, too.” He paused to reflect for a moment. “A friend of mine who owns a large medical supply company recently bought a football team. His name is Bryson Kingston. You may have heard of Kingston Global Med Supplies.”
“Yeah, wow, I have. We get some of their stuff at the hospital.”
“Right. He used to live in Texas, but recently moved east. He bought a football team with his wife.”
“Go on…”
“They recently moved the Syracuse Sidewinders out of New York. When they bought the franchise, it was on the provision that they’d make some changes. They’re now based out of Virginia. Their new moniker is the Long Valley Vipers.”
“And he wants you to play for them?” she asked, hanging onto his every word.
“Not quite.” He drew in a deep breath and continued. “See, the thing is, I probably only have a few more years to play. Maybe two, though the way I’m playing this year, I’m not sure my contract will be worth as much as it’s been. My brother’s situation really hit me hard. While I have good moments, I’ve had a few bad ones as well.”
“Understandable,” she added.
“Okay, here’s the thing. He wants me to come coach for the team. He’s offering me the position of the defensive coordinator. Here’s where the struggle comes in. I make more money playing ball, being on the field, and having an elite status. That means, if I stick around, I have the chance to bank a big chunk of the next two or three years. On the other hand, this is the chance for a future career that could continue well past two years. While the income would be a pretty sum with a big sign-on, the real bonus is that I’d have a solid five-year contract, no questions asked. At the end of those five years, if I’ve got a proven record, I sign back on, renegotiate and double my salary.”
“So, it comes down to money? Either way, the kind of money we’re talking about is enough to live on comfortably for years.”
“Yeah, but I love playing ball and being on the field. On the other hand, one injury and I’m out. My age is working against me. And my future is uncertain. If I make the transition, I’ve got job security for the next five years, but at a lower cost. There is a ten-million-dollar sign-on, which is nothing to sneeze at.”
“What do you want to do?”
“I want to keep playing ball. Yet, the smart thing to do is take the deal and think of the future. All these issues with concussions, I’ve been fortunate so far, but what if something happens that messes with my health? If I’m going to be a husband and father, I need to think of the safer option. This would be the smart choice.”
She nodded. “I see what you mean. Your heart is on the field. Your head is looking long-term.”
“And it means leaving Texas, where I’ve been all my life, and taking a chance on an area I may not love.”
She chimed in. “I’ve actually been to Virginia. That’s where I was prior to Texas. What part of Virginia are you talking about? Maybe I can help.”
“Not far from Virginia Beach.”
She clapped her hands. “Sydney lives there! She’s my best friend. Oh, I’d love to be able to hang out with her again. I loved it out there. I mean, I love Texas too, but it was a nice change of pace.”
“So, you’d be okay with picking up and moving? What about your mother?”
Brandy groaned. “Good point.”
“And mine.”
Brandy sighed. “Whatever you decide is fine. All I know is that I want to be by your side, share a family with you, and anything else will fall into place. If I’ve got you, I’ve got all I need.”
He leaned over and kissed her forehead. “I’m so happy you’re back in my life. I’ve missed you, girl.”
She looked up at him and got lost in their smoldering gaze.
“Kiss me,” he whispered.
They came together in a heated rush, their lips meeting with desire and need.
“I love you,” he murmured.
“I love you, too.”
When they broke free from their kiss, he asked, “Will you move to Virginia with me if I take the job? We can get married, start a family, and find a new place to live. I won’t be starting until after this season ends with the Rebels. He’s going to buy out my contract if I take the position. I’m pretty sure the Rebels will agree to let me out of my contract. There are younger guys ready to fill in my position, younger guys who are gunning for a chance to break out and take things to the next level.”
“I’ll follow you anywhere, baby.”
“To the wedding altar?”
“Especially there.”
Chapter 23
June.
Mr. and Mrs. Warren settled into their new home in Virginia. While they planned to start a family soon, they decided to wait at least a year, so they could enjoy the bliss of being newly married and explore their new hometown.
Brandy was looking into a position at a local hospital and was thrilled to see her friend Sydney again.
Jett golfed with Bryson as often as time allowed and talked stats and other details. Even if Bryson bought the team, it was his wife who ran it. All final decisions went through Angie.
Jett and Brandy promised to stop back home twice a year, and Brandy’s mother, along with Jett’s parents, would make a trip east at least once a year. They threatened to move closer when grandchildren came along.
THE END
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Also by Kim Koby
Clean Billionaire Romance Reads (series)
Small Town Brides (series)
The Billionaire's Curvy Girl Romance
Copyright 2019, Kim Koby
About the Author
Bio:
Kim Koby is a writer from New Jersey. She loves to weave tales of love and renewal. Kim's books share traditional family values. Her focus is on sweet, clean romance that comfor
tably allows you to recommend a book you've read to your daughter or grandmother.
Website: https://www.kimkoby.com/