Page 26 of The Scorpio Skyy
God was like, “nah, little buddy.” He paired me up with Travis and sat me right the hell down. Travis wasn’t preachy or judgy. He never made me feel like I couldn’t participate in debauchery. It was just watching him walk in his faith, looking so much like my dad in his love for the Lord that inspired me to be better. I still engaged in college shenanigans, but I stayed much closer to my faith than I would have, had I not established a friendship with Travis.
Travis and Kelcie owned a modest home. A lot of people were shocked when they visited the medium-sized, two-storyfor the first time. Travis was a highly sought-after quarterback with record-breaking stats and a reputation that was above reproach. He was the face of several popular products and was always being vetted for endorsement opportunities because of his squeaky-clean image. None of that fazed Travis. As the son of an investment banker, one thing Travis knew was how to make money work for him. Being flashy wasn’t his thing—saving and investing were his things. When he left football, he and Kelcie wouldn’t have to worry about money for the rest of their lives. And neither would their children, their children, or their children. Travis’s main focus behind God, his wife, and football was creating generational wealth for the Woodson progeny to come.
Skyy and I walked into the backyard, holding hands. It was lush with both greenery and flowers. The deck was outfitted with outdoor furniture that looked more comfortable than modern, and it was strung with those fairy lights that women seemed to like so much. The backyard gave off a “homey” vibe that was cool.
Before we could even make it to the deck, Skyy and I were approached by Phoenix Avondale and his wife, Sage. I played with Phoenix in Portland. He’d been a good player and a cool teammate. He was traded after one season, to the Londynville Leopards. He stayed there for three seasons, and now he was starting his second season with the Coyotes.
Phoenix wasn’t one of Skyy’s players, so while she “knew” him, she definitely didn’t know him well.
I shook Phoenix’s hand, while Skyy gave his wife a friendly hug.
“Welcome to Chicago, man,” he told me.
“Thanks. I’m looking forward to getting on the field and racking up some wins.”
“Me, too. Me, too.”
“Congratulations. I heard you two got married.” Sage gushed.
“Yeah, you’re a lucky man, McKissick.” Phoenix pulled his own wife into a side hug. “There’s nothing like the love of a good woman.”
Sage melted into him.
“Facts,” I said.
Skyy leaned into me, so I put my arm around her.
Phoenix agreed. “Well, y’all should probably go grab some food before Travis gets into his word for the night.”
“We’ll catch up,” I assured him, taking Skyy’s hand in mine and heading toward the deck.
“They’re so cute together. Every time I see them, he’s doting on her,” she commented. “Like married couple goals.”
I gave a little shrug. “We’re married couple goals. Now, let’s go get this food so we can get this prayer.”
The week flew by too fast,and before I was ready, it was time for me to drop Jaxxon off at training camp. After Travis’s get-together, Jaxxon and I spent most of the rest of the week laid up together. When we weren’t trying to crawl into each other’s skin, we were putting our place together and making it a home that reflected both of our styles.
“It’s two weeks, Home.” He took my chin in his hand as the two of us stood outside of my sky-blue Mustang. We were in front of the facility owned by the Chicago Coyotes that was used for practice and training camp. “I can see your mind racing. Stop overthinking. By the time you even start to miss me, I’ll be back.”
“Lies, because I already miss you.”
He bent down and kissed my lips. “Two weeks.”
“No weeks.” I pouted.
He chuckled. “I love you. I’ll video chat once I get settled in.”
“I hate this.” I pouted some more.
“I know, but it’s the sacrifice we make for me getting to do something I love for a living.”
I straightened my posture and fixed my face. “You’re right. This is your job . . . your livelihood, and I support it.”
He kissed my lips again. “What’s on your agenda for today when you leave here?”
I wanted to tell him that I’d scheduled two hours of ugly crying over his absence, but I didn’t want him to feel like I resented the fact that he needed to fulfill his contract obligations. Instead, I said, “I’ve been neglecting my own obligations.”
And it was true. With the wedding, the honeymoon, and just wanting to spend uninterrupted time with him before this moment, I had dropped a lot of my responsibilities on Paris and Adam. It was time for me to reclaim my athletes and get back to business as usual.
