Page 21 of With Every Breath

“Tacos it is.” Dex started scanning the menu. After a few minutes, he called in our order, and we began the age-old act of trying to decide on something to watch.

Dex wanted to watch some action movie, and Madi wanted a cooking show. I really didn’t care. I just wanted them to stop arguing. “You realize that she’s going to pick mine.” Madi glared at Dex. “I’ve known her longer.”

“Well, she’s my girlfriend,” Dex fired back.

“You two sound like toddlers.” I whined as there was a knock at the door. “Food’s here.” I jumped up to answer, Dex on my heels with his wallet. This gave Madi a chance to swipe the remote. She turned on her cooking show, and then hid the thing so we were stuck.

Dex passed out our food, and as I faced my burrito head on, his and Madi’s TV argument took a backseat. The cheese and refried beans that were about to be demolished were all I cared about.

“Just tell me where you put it.” Dex shook his head.

“It’s under the couch,” I mumbled around the bite I’d just shoved in my mouth. “It’s where she always hides it.”

Dex dove onto the floor, and came up with the remote. He quickly changed the channel and then gave a smug smile to Madi.

“I can’t believe you gave me up.” Madi turned surprised eyes on me.

“He’s my boyfriend.” I shrugged. “I always side with you. I needed to make it equal.” I reached over to where Dex had set the remote on the coffee table, and handed it back to Madi. Before Dex could say anything, I stared at him with a knowing look. “I’ll make it worth your while to watch this.” I wagged my brows and went back to my burrito.

“You know, for an only child, you sure know how to keep the peace,” Dex muttered.

“I just want to eat my food right now, and not listen to you two,” I murmured as I licked beans off my fingers.

ooooooooo

Over the course of the next two years, Madi, Dex, and I were like the three musketeers. We spent most of our time together, and Madi started coming on some of our adventures. Dex learned that there was nothing I wouldn’t try, and he attempted to challenge me more with each date. We went bungee jumping, more cliff diving, he took me scuba diving after we both had some classes, and our most recent adventure… tandem skydiving. I didn’t think he could surprise me any more than he already had until we landed in this giant field. Our instructors released the clasps holding us together, and Dex dropped to the ground. When he held up the box containing the diamond that now sits on my ring finger, I almost fell myself. We were defying odds together, and the last thing that would cross my mind was the idea of something happening. I kept telling myself that I almost missed this because of my stubborn beliefs. I almost gave up having a future with someone who understood me better that I understood myself. Dex was my future, a future I never thought I would have or deserved.

Chapter 10

Three Years Later…

Dex

If you would have asked me five years ago where I saw myself now, I never would have pictured this. Bailey graduated last spring, and we moved into a condo on the beach. We’re supposed to get married this summer, and we’ve never been happier; well, I’ve never been happier. Bailey has been working as a youth soccer coach, and there’s one kid on the team whose parents are driving her crazy.

“Ready for today’s game?” I yawned as I rubbed my eyes while shuffling into the living room. Bailey was rummaging through her duffle as if her life depended on it.

“Not really.” She sighed before tossing it to the ground and giving up her search.

“What’s wrong?” I went into the kitchen to pour myself a cup of coffee.

“It’s Mr. Nasier…Tom. He thinks that the team shouldn’t be co-ed. What he fails to realize is, some of our best players are girls.” She flopped back against the couch and crossed her arms over her chest. “I hate people like that.”

“Maybe he just doesn’t understand the game like you do,” I offered.

“I know he doesn’t. He shouts commands at his kid, and messes up plays all the time. Poor Alan doesn’t know what to do. If he listens to me, his dad yells at him. If he listens to his dad, we end up giving up the ball.”

“Sounds like a nightmare. I feel bad for Alan.” I moved closer and sat in the chair across from her.

“It is. I played with kids like him. I guess I’m too nice. I need to tell his dad to shut it or leave. I hate sideline coaches.” She kicked at her bag.

“What were you looking for that got you all torqued up?” I smiled. I needed to lighten the mood in the room. Bailey was always more successful when she was happy.

“My clipboard. I must have left it in the car.” She huffed.

“You mean this clipboard?” I held it out.

“Where’d you find that?” She scowled as she took it.

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