"Mo boyo!" My dad grabs me in a tight hug as soon as I step through the front door, causing me to drop my bag on the floor. He's never been shy with his affection for me. He offered to pick me up at the airport but I got a rental car instead. Its always a hassle because of my age, but I like the idea of not being dependent on my parents for anything. Call it lingering insecurities from trying to be my own person for so long.I pound him on the back a few times as we embrace. "Good to see you, Da.""I missed you, mac," he says and kisses me on the cheek, pulling away as my mom comes racing over."Rowen! I'm so glad you're here. Take off that darn cap and give me a hug." She snatches my beanie off my head and throws it across the room, then wraps her arms around my waist and I hug her back tightly. My habit of covering up my hair always irritates my mother. I expect I won't see that beanie again until I head back to Houston in four days."Me, too, Mam." I lift my head and take a deep br
"What do you want to know?""So you aren't going to deny that you're seeing her?""Why would I? I like her." He releases me and we move into another stretch. He's helped me do this so many times for so many years, it just comes second nature."I just know ye had some concerns in the beginning because of her lifestyle. I'm curious what's changed.""I'm not sure anything's changed," I say with a strained voice as I deepen my stretch. "I don't like how much she parties. I think she thinks she just has friends with benefits. And I think they treat her like shit and she doesn't even realize it.""But can you handle knowing she does it?""Not does, Da. Did. We had a long discussion about where I stand and how I can't share someone with my teammates. She agrees with me, one hundred percent. When she's single, she likes to go out and have fun. I mean, I guess that's her idea of fun. It's not mine. But when she's in a relationship, she's faithful."I stretch my arms up and lean forward, my dad
Compared to other sports, the off-season for soccer is very, very short. Only a couple months long, depending on a team's playoff schedule. But this past couple of months have been some of the most fun I can remember in a long time.On the party front, things died down a lot. The players who are married with families tend to go on a lot of vacations during the off-season and spend a lot of time at home while they can. And most of the single players head to their home town during that time. It's easier to save money when they're living with their parents and doing their off-season training at a local gym.Rowen, however, stuck around. And I suspect it had to do with me.We spent those months really getting to know each other. We explored tourist spots all over the city. We went to Galveston for a day trip. We did a lot of people watching.We went to almost every museum in Houston including my favorite, the John C. Freeman Weather Museum. There's so much to see and do there, including a
The thought hits me out of nowhere. I knew I liked him. Really, really liked him. It just never occurred to me until now that I love him. But I do. I love him with everything in me."Hey," he says cupping my cheek. "You okay?""Yeah." I shake my head of these new thoughts, not ready to confess my feelings at this point. "Sorry. My thoughts just ran wild for a second."He kisses the top of my head and we make our way into the apartment."Hey, Rookie!" Christian yells as he walks his way towards us, stopping to give Rowen a fist bump and me a hug. We've seen him a few times during the off-season and I know he and Rowen have become friends."How was the trip to Hawaii, man?" Rowen asks.Christian holds a hand over his heart. "It was fucking beautiful. Amazing. Probably the most romantic place I've ever been and I'm not a romantic guy.""I don't believe that," I chide. "I bet you're romantic with the right person.""I was treating my mama to this trip to Hawaii. That's not the time for rom
I watch Tiffany from across the room while I nurse my beer. A smile lights up her face as she chats with one of the newest players, a rookie who just came to us from Tulsa. Darren something-or-other. No doubt they're talking shop. She always looks happy when she's talking sports. She's so damn beautiful. And of all the guys she could have chosen, she chose me. Unbelievable.She hasn't made eye contact with me since the incident with Mack. I knew she would turn him down. At least, I really hoped she would. But I can't figure out how I ended up being the bad guy in that exchange."What are you doing over here while your woman is over there?" Daniel sits down next to me, slapping me on the back in greeting."Hey. What are you doing here? Quincy let you out of the house?""She's having a girls' night with Geni or something. Besides, I always come to the first party of the year.""Really?"He shrugs. "Just to make a showing. Team unity and all that shit." I nod and suck in my beer some more
I wind my way around the stadium, watching the signs as I go. I'm so used to sitting in Section 100 that I've never been to this area before. Even after four seasons of games.It takes me a few minutes to find it, but finally I'm pushing through the door of the box reserved for the wives and girlfriends, more commonly known as WAGs.When Rowen suggested sitting here, I had to really think about it. I like sitting close to the field. But since we're in the middle of the last cold snap of the year, I decided it was a good time to check it out. There are a dozen or so people standing around, chatting. Most of them I don't recognize, but I assume they are family members. Especially the kids. What looks like a fully stocked bar is off to my right, the bartender busy wiping down the counter. Against the wall there is a long buffet table set up, just waiting for food to be brought in. With it being an evening game, I'm assuming dinner will be provided later.As the door clicks shut behind m
I hear the commotion as people surround us and feel my head ricochet back when her fist connects with my mouth. Immediately my hands are on my mouth and I taste the blood on my tongue.Within seconds, she's being ripped off of me. Her legs are flailing and she's screaming for the man to put her down. And she's holding a chunk of my hair."Let me go! She's a fucking whore and she doesn't deserve to be here! Let me fucking go!"Quincy is almost immediately by my side. She puts her arm around me and leads me to the door. "Come on. Joe! Take us to the training room. You know where it's at?""Yes, ma'am," the bartender says and opens the door, stepping out in the hallway with us following behind him. There's blood all over my hands and my head feels like it's been pounded with nails. We walk about a hundred yards before security joins us and leads us the rest of the way around a maze of hallways. We end up in a brightly lit room where three or four guys in Mutiny staff uniforms are loungin
Rowen stalks over to me, cleats tapping the floor as he walks. He takes my face gently in his hands and looks me over from head to toe."It's worse than it looks," I say holding onto his forearms. "It's a lot of blood for a split lip.""And be careful of her head," Quincy says as Rowen goes to pull me closer. He draws back at her words and looks at me again, noticing the state of my hair for the first time. "She had a good chunk ripped out of the back. It's not bleeding anymore.""Fuuuck," I hear off to the side and look over to see Daniel watching the scene unfold before him. He looks at Quincy and raises his eyebrows."Jessica," she says to him. He sighs and squeezes the bridge of his nose. "Okay." That's all he says before turning around and walking away."Jessica Funderling?" Rowen asks Quincy. She nods and crosses her arms before looking at the floor. He looks back at me with a look of concern like I've never seen before. "Does it hurt bad?"I shrug. "A little. But not as much as
"Oh my fucking… uuuggghhh… You are never allowed to give me a blow job again this is so much better…" My words are practically incoherent. There's nothing I could possibly say that could even describe how it feels to make love to my wife."Rowen," she whispers and her breath catches. I realize she has tears in her eyes. I immediately still."What's wrong, baby," I ask as I kiss the tears that begin sliding down the sides of her face. "Why are you crying?"She tries hard to hold in a sob, but she can't hide the emotion from me. "Nothing's wrong. Don't stop," she says and I start moving slowly again. "I just never knew it could be like this. This… connection.""Oh baby." I smile at her. "This is what it's supposed to be like."A laugh bursts out of her and I kiss her again. I kiss her while I thrust in and out of her, feeling her hands touch me everywhere. I kiss her while I feel my orgasm building, and building quickly."Tiff…" I groan. "I want you to come with me. But I don't think… o
I groan deep in my throat and wrap my hand around the back of her neck, pulling her closer to me. After several minutes of a lewd make out session that we'll see pictures of later, courtesy of our photographer, we break way and catch our breath."Are you ready for me to de-flower you?" she asks with a grin. I smile back."I've been waiting for it my entire life."We say our goodnights to the photographer and make our way back to our bungalow. She gives us a knowing smile as we walk away. Normally, I might be embarrassed by someone knowing what Tiffany and I are up to. But not tonight. Tonight, I'm going to make love to my wife.As we walk through the doors, I turn to close them. And if I'm honest, I'm trying to keep my hands from shaking with nerves. I want this to be good for her. Will she compare me to the others?No. There is no place for them here. She is my wife. She is mine. I turn around and see her standing next to the bed. Her long dark hair flowing over one shoulder. She lo
"This… " I say pulling it out of the box. "…was my grandmother's engagement ring. She wore it for fifty-seven years, until she passed away. And now, I'm hoping you'll wear it for fifty-seven more."She slowly moves her sunglasses to the top of her head, like she doesn't want to make any quick movements. "Tiffany, I love you. So much," I continue. "I love your brain. I love your beauty. I love your resting bitch face." A giggle bursts out of her and she quickly slaps a hand over her mouth. "I love your strength and your wit and your love of sports. I love that you work so hard at your job because you love it so much. I love your loyalty. I love your heart.""I… how did you get this ring?"I smirk. "My mam sent it te me a few weeks ago. When I told her I wanted to marry ye. My Maimeó gave it to her a few months ago, before she passed away, so I could give it ye."She looks up at me. "Your accent is coming out.""I'm a little nervous.""Why are you nervous?""Because I don't want ye to t
8 months later…The warm breeze blows through the open balcony doors, making the sheer white curtains billow out. It looks like a picture you would see in a magazine. But I barely notice. My focus is on the beautiful, naked creature in my bed.Tiffany is sound asleep on her stomach facing me. Her beautiful brown hair fanned across the pillow her head is on. I can't stop staring at her, listening to the puffs of breath coming from her as she sleeps peacefully. This is what we needed. To get away from everyone and everything. The season had been stressful. Not just on me, but on Tiffany as well. After the picture scandal broke, she couldn't sit in the stands anymore. Anytime she did, people would surround her, taking pictures and making comments. It'll eventually die down, we hope. But soccer fans never forget anything. It'll take some time before she will feel comfortable in Section 100 again.In the meantime, she sits in the box with Quincy and the other WAGS. She says it was a little
"I promise, Mom, I'm doing great," I say into the phone as I grab my last minute script changes off the printer to take downstairs. "It was rough at first and I still have my moments. But I feel stronger every day."She sighs. "I just wish you had come home instead of gone to Detroit. I would have taken care of you.""I wouldn't have even gone to Detroit if Rowen hadn't practically man-handled me into the car." Grabbing my head seat, I make my way to the stairs and the newsroom. "Besides, I didn't want you to see me like that. I was too ashamed.""Honey, you should never be ashamed around me.""That's easier said than done and you know it. I never wanted you to find out those things, Mom. I know you and I have a good relationship. But some things your mother never needs to know.""I know, I know. Just promise me you'll come home soon to visit. It's been too long.""I promise. But hey, I have to go. I've got about five minutes until my show starts.""Okay dear. I love you.""Love you, t
We spent four more days in Detroit. Tiffany rested and relaxed. I, on the other hand, got my ass kicked by my Da on a regular basis. I was grateful, though. I had royally fucked up and let down my team. I wanted to be in tip-top shape when I got back on that field to make up for it.I discreetly monitored the sports news while we were there. I didn't want Tiffany to see anything that would throw her back into a tailspin but I needed to know the worst was over. Things got very quiet, very quick. It actually surprised me who fast it was over. The biggest news after Daniel's interview was Shivel's suspension and subsequent demotion to the practice team.I wanted to laugh at the mess he's created for himself. His skills were already declining. If he'd wanted to stay on top, he needed to spend less time worrying about sabotaging others and more time working on his game. But he didn't. And it caught up with him.We finally made it home about a week ago. A rode out my last days on suspension
"Absolutely not. And neither did Ryan. We would never violate Rowen's trust like that. Or yours. Actually," she says as she throws some butter into the potatoes, "I never look at those pictures when they are leaked. If I'm going to subscribe to the belief that it's a violation of someone's privacy, I need to give anyone in this situation the same kind of respect."I clasp my hands together in my lap and look up at her, tears in my eyes. "Thank you," I say quietly. She smiles.Suddenly the back door opens and the guys walk in, faces flushed from the cold."Hey! Close that door! You're getting my food cold," Denise scolds.Ryan slams the door behind him, stalks over to her and wraps his arms around her. "Bangers and mash," he says as he kisses her on the neck, making her squeal from the chill. "I knew there was a reason I kept you around, Mo grá."She smacks him on the arm. "I didn't do it for you, I did it for your son.""Then he needs to come home more often.""How was your work out?"
I stretch my arms over my head and realize I've been asleep. Really asleep. No nightmares, no interruptions. I feel a lot better.I reach my arm to the other side of the bed and find it empty. I wonder how long I've been out.I rifle around in my bag until I find a light jacket and pull my pants back on. Padding down the stairs and to the kitchen, I find Rowen's mother cooking again."Good morning," Denise says brightly as she drains some potatoes in the sink. "Did you sleep well?""Yeah, I really did. How long was I out?""Uh, I'd say about four hours.""Really? I haven't slept that well in a few days.""That means you feel safe here. That's good."She sets the pot on the stove and begins mashing the potatoes. There's a sauce simmering and I can smell some sort of meat cooking as well. "Can I help you with anything? It looks like you've got your hands full.""Oh I'm doing just fine, but thank you. Why don't you have a seat? Do you want something to drink?""I really could use some wa
Da lets out a deep belly laugh. "Yer mam is right. Yer getting' married."I throw a napkin at him as my mom laughs."What did I miss?" Tiffany asks as she walks back into the room."Nothing. My dad just thinks he's a funny guy." I push back my chair and stand up. "Come on. It's only five thirty our time. Let's go take a nap."We trudge up the stairs and I take her to the guest room because my old room still has a single bed in it and this one has a queen."Your parents are okay with us sharing a room?" she asks."This time, yes." She furrows her brows at me in question. "Normally my mam would object because she wants to make sure we don't 'have any temptations we can't control'." I use my fingers to make the quotations marks and Tiffany begins to giggle. "But they're making an exception under the circumstances. Come here."She steps over to me as I sit on the bed. I put her hands on my shoulders to steady herself while I undo her shoes and take them off. Her socks and pants go next. Fi