Page 111 of Friend Zoned

My hands fly to my throat, and I feel tears pool in my eyes. He’s taken the very breath out of me, rendering me unable to speak. “I know,” he continues. “I know you have reservations about getting married again, but—” I inch closer and put a finger to his lips. I see his Adam’s Apple bob while he waits.

“I also told you I wasn’t bringing any of my past into this. That was a lifetime ago, Aid, but do you realize that there’s a possibility that we might have to take one or both of my parents in at some point in the future?”

His upper lip twitches at my question and he says, “Yes, I’ve considered that, and I’m asking anyway. Jeannie, will you marry me?

“You’re my one in a billion, baby. Hell yes, I will marry you.” I think it takes him a moment for my words to sink in and make sense, so I scream, “Yes!”

“Yes?” he asks.

“Hells yes!”

“And babies,” he says. “I want babies. Enough to make a basketball team.”

Tears roll down my face and my voice hitches in my throat. “I can give you two, but I want you all to myself for the next two to three years.”

“Deal.”

He picks me up and spins me around the room while we both scream in joy. I’m dizzy by the time he puts me down.

“I don’t even have a ring,” he says with a laugh. “I was going to get one this week and propose over the summer, but I couldn’t wait.” He laughs again and runs a hand through his hair.

“It’s okay. I can’t exactly wear a ring right now.” I lift my cast, and for the first time since he got home last night, I see a flash of anger in his eyes, but he hides it. He takes my left hand and kisses my fingertips.

“Wear it on your right hand for now, but I’m getting you one.” He slides into bed, and I cuddle into him. “There’s more I want to tell you,” he says. We turn to our sides and look at each other. I stare into his eyes until he says, “After our win, I talked to the owner and asked to be let out of my contract. He reluctantly agreed after I assured him I’d be leaving the team in good hands.”

I stare at him, unsure that I heard right. “Aid, I would never, ever ask you to do that. It’s work, and I promise I can do another year of this. I can do this for as long as you want to be a coach.” I put my hand on his chest.

“I know, but I can’t do it anymore. I’ve been thinking about this a long time, and decided to leave before I met you, but I can’t do it anymore, Jeannie. Me. I want to be here with you. I’m tired of the schedule and the traveling. I’ve been tired of it for years, and I don’t want to spend another night without you.”

I move closer and climb on top of him. His arms go around my waist, and he squeezes me.

“Okay, then. Prepare to be sick of me,” I warn him.

“Never.”

Chapter 60

Aiden

We celebrate our engagement by sleeping for five hours. It’s one o’clock in the afternoon when Jeannie’s phone wakes us up.

“It’s your mom, baby,” I say as I hand her the phone. I know that Myra will only keep calling until she picks up.

While she talks to her mom, I slip into the bathroom and take a quick shower. By the time I return to the bedroom, she’s up and doing her best to slip on my robe. I walk over and help her.

“We’ve been summoned. Mom cooked a feast to celebrate your Superbowl win.” She yawns and stretches.

“I don’t know if that’s endearing or annoying, but I’ll tell you one thing. She’s going to watch some damn basketball games with me this summer.”

“You’re cute, baby. Myra does what Myra wants. Remember that.” She pats my cheek and goes into the bathroom. While I dress, a call from Wakowski comes through.

“Hey,” I say, putting him on speaker.

“I’m fucked, Coach. Fucked up the ass with a twelve-inch dildo and no lube.” I don’t need this shit on the day of my engagement, but Wakowski has no one else to dump on. How I became his confidante, I’ll never know.

“What happened, Seth?”

“The paternity test came back. I knew I should have ignored your advice and left it alone. I’m the father. To a fucking girl. She’s two months old and I’ve never even seen her. What the hell am I supposed to do now?”

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