Page 76 of The Husband Diet
‘Who cares? Just about everybody who meets you, Julian. You’re a big name. If you don’t play anymore, you could at least do something. Maybe write another book or something. Didn’t you like it?’
He looked at me and I read nostalgia in his eyes. ‘I loved it.’
‘So why not continue? Just because you don’t play pro anymore doesn’t mean you can’t talk about your experience or teach a punk or two what it’s like to work so hard for your dreams.’
Julian huffed. I’d never seen him huff until now. This thing was obviously a thorn in his side.
‘Can we forget the compliments and go straight to my favorite part, where you let me make love to you again?’
‘But I don’t understand. You’re a talent.’
‘Sweetheart, really. Come a little closer, will you?’
I nestled in the space between his arm and his hip, determined to use sex to ply him. If it worked, I could get away with murder here.
‘Up until now, you’ve been helping me,’ I began.
‘I like helping you,’ he argued softly.
‘I know and I’m so, so grateful, Julian. But I want to help you back.’
‘By pushing me to write another book?’
‘By reminding you that you love sports and writing. Hell, evenIloved your last book and I absolutely hate sports.’
At that he chuckled and squeezed me.
‘I’m not joking, Julian. You’re an amazing writer. Why waste your talent looking after a bunch of unruly schoolkids?’
He eyed me dubiously. My magic was starting to work.
‘Anybody could be a principal. Well, almost anybody, but you’re way too talented.’
He sighed, almost as if to say,I know you’re right, but I don’t want to admit it.
I caressed his strong chin. Every day I knew him a little more and it dawned on me that he was wasted here. ‘Just promise me you’ll think about a new book. Then, if it doesn’t come, it doesn’t come. Think about yourself, how you started out and all your dreams. Think of how you’d inspire and help rising talents.’ Man, I was good.
‘It’s not all a bed of roses, Erica. There are a lot of dangers following a sport like mine. Doubts. The prospect of drugs and booze and you have no idea.’
‘That’s why you need to have your say. If I could have my say, I’d boast about how cool it is to sleep with a champion,’ I giggled. ‘A sex champion.’
Julian grabbed his opportunity to get out of dodge and get back to more impelling issues – in other words, sex. So I let go of my bone. For now.
‘It’s nice to sleep with a redhead,’ he grinned.
‘I’m sure you’ve had lots of redheads in your past.’
‘Not real redheads.’ He grinned again, and I slapped him playfully on the arm.
‘Some gentleman you are, spilling the ladies’ secrets.’
‘I’ll tell you a secret,’ he said, pulling me close.
‘Your hair is died, too?’ I offered, and he whispered into my ear.
‘Ti amo, Erica. I love you.’
And I love you, I wanted to say. If I could do that, it would be like the first breath I’d taken since I was born, as if I’d been living my life underwater. Just one last obstacle and I’d have broken the surface.
