Page 110 of Friend Zoned

Jeannie

“You need to take a pain pill,” Layla whispers in my ear right before she shoves another eggroll in her mouth. I don’t know how she can eat. My heart’s in my throat. This is the fourth quarter of the fourth game. If they win this, it’s over. He gets on a plane home tonight, and we have our few months together. Not even the stinging pain in my wrist can bring me down. “You keep wincing.”

“I’m fine.” I rub the cast. “Why aren’t you fangirling over Vickie or Tara?” Layla’s been here for both away games. She even spent the last couple of nights with me.

“I like them, but you’re my main girl.” She bumps her shoulder with mine. The living room erupts in cheers. I turn to the big screen TV and see Wakowski gyrating his hips in slow motion. Layla rolls her eyes at him. Aiden’s on the sideline cheering the team and hugging an assistant coach. There are only two minutes left, and the Mischiefs are up by three points, but I’ve watched enough games to know that two minutes is a lifetime when it comes to basketball.

Denver calls a timeout, and I become so tense, I feel I might snap. “Our boys have got this,” Vickie says. Her apartment is full of her family, mainly women, and the kids. Her dad, brother, Colt’s brother, and Ethan are all in Denver for the game. Vickie grabs my good hand and gently pulls me to the middle of the living room. She wraps her arm around mine, and because she’s a few inches shorter than I am, she rests her head on my shoulder. “But even if we don’t win, they’re three games ahead. This is our year.” Her words relax me, and I take a deep breath. I want nothing but to call Aiden now and offer him words of encouragement, but I know he's too busy, and this isn’t about me. He has a tremendous amount of stress on his shoulders, and I’m going to support him by not calling right now.

“Oh my God. It’s starting,” Tara yells. Everyone, including myself, is wearing Chastain jerseys. The clock starts ticking and when Colt makes a basket, the apartment is pure pandemonium. The boys jump on the couches, and Tara and I hug. I look over and Layla is hugging Colt’s mother.

I don’t think I breathe for the next six minutes, which is how long it takes for the Mischiefs to win by three points. We all stand there mute when the clock runs out. We look around, and all of a sudden, we all burst into cheers and hugs. We watch the post game interviews, and Aiden looks exhausted but so handsome in his suit and white shirt. He and Chastain answer questions from reporters until one asks Aiden something personal.

“Coach Walsh, you were seen in New York City a few days ago when you should have been here in Denver. Can you tell us why?”

“I had a personal matter to attend to. Any questions about the game?” he asks.

“Does it have anything to do with Jeanine Dubois who was seen with a cast on her left wrist?” the pushy reporter asks. My stomach drops. The only times I’ve left the house was to come here to watch the games, but I guess that’s all they need. I never thought anyone would be actively watching me.

“Any questions about the game, Hannah?” Aiden asks.

The questions turn to more appropriate topics, and about half an hour later, I leave, and the driver drops me off. Layla goes home that night, knowing that Aiden will be back in a few hours. I do my best to wrap the cast so I can shower, and I manage to put on a lacy red nightgown, but I’m so antsy. Just as I sit on the bed, my phone vibrates, and it’s Aiden.

“Hey, baby,” I say, smiling into the phone. “Is this the big bad football coach? I think you just got my city another championship.”

It’s noisy wherever he is, and I imagine all the guys are celebrating the win. I’m surprised he’s waited this long to call, but this is his night and a culmination of all his hard work.

“I just boarded the plane. Headed home to you.” There’s shouting, and I think I hear popping of champagne bottles.

“Hurry,” I yell. “I love and miss you.”

“Me too. I’m counting the hours.”

It’s a four-and-a-half-hour flight from Denver to Teterboro. I can’t sleep at all. After two hours, I give up and head downstairs to watch TV. I barely pay any attention to what’s on. Instead, I watch the clock and count the minutes until he gets home. It’s after five o’clock in the morning when I hear a car door slam. I jump off the couch and peek through the window. It’s him. I swing the door open the instant he gets to the top step. He walks over the threshold and tosses his bag into a far corner before lifting me off my feet.

He takes me straight to the bedroom and gently lays me on the bed. My little nightgown has ridden up my thighs, and his eyes don’t leave my body for a moment while he strips himself of his clothes. He slowly rolls down my thong underwear and climbs on top of me. I thought he’d take me right away. He knows my body. He knows I’m ready for him, but he takes his time. He takes the nightgown off and kisses me thoroughly. I’m dripping wet by the time he fills me.

“Oh, Aiden,” I sigh.

***

Hours later, he rolls off my sweaty body for the third time and pulls me to him. It’s eight o’clock in the morning, and we’ve gotten no sleep. I cuddle into his side and put my good hand on his hard stomach.

“Welcome home,” I say with a yawn. My eyes start to get heavy, but he takes my chin in his and I’m forced to look into his eyes.

“I want us to spend every night together from now on,” he says.

“We made that deal when we agreed to be together, remember?”

“It’s more than that, Jeannie. Look at me,” he says. I open my eyes and fight the sleep that’s trying to pull me under. “I want all your stuff here. Everything.”

My eyes widen at that. “Are you asking me to move in?” I try to calm my beating heart. This place feels more like home every single day.

“No,” he says, and my heart drops to my feet. “We already live together. Haven’t you noticed? Whether we’re here or your place, we live together. We sleep in the same bed. My job was in the way, but it’s not anymore.” He slides out of the bed, and I sit up, unsure of what he’s trying to say. I try to wrap myself with the down comforter, but he takes it from me, leaving me naked. “Don’t hide. You’re beautiful.”

“Come back to bed, Aid.” I pat his spot. “You wore me out, and since you’re not asking me to move in…” I pout and bat my eyelashes.

“We’re beyond that, and this is already your home.” He surprises me when he drops down to one knee. “I’m asking you to marry me.” He takes both my hands in his and says, “I want to spend the rest of my life with you, and I know it won’t always be this perfect, but I’m going to try every day to get pretty close to perfect. A few months ago, you were a girl I saw at a wedding having some weird boxing match with your mother. In that short time, you’ve become my entire world. You are my every breath. My every heartbeat. You’re my first thought in the morning and my last as I fall asleep at night. I dream of you. Without you, I would die, Jeannie. It’s like I was walking through life in a fog until my eyes landed on you. I want you to walk through this crazy life with me. I want you as my best friend, my lover, my wife, my confidante and most of all, my dance partner. Will you marry me?”

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