Page 56 of Love's Instant Replay
“Nope. Don’t add any conditions. It’s too late to renege because my ears, dick, and heart heard you loud and clear, my baby.”
Shaking my head, I lean forward until our heads touch while staring into Kaeden’s eyes. “All I was gonna say was I need a little time to get things together. I have a whole house with a mortgage, or did you forget?”
“No. I’ll arrange for whatever you want to be moved with us, and everything else can go to a storage facility that I’ll pay the fee for. As for your house, rent it out so it can be an additional source of income for you. All of that money can be banked or used toward expanding Echoes of Kyelle. It doesn’t matter what you do with it, because you’ll have no expenses after moving in with me.”
“Wait, what? I can’t move in ren?—”
“You will. If you just gotta pay for something, then you can do groceries every six months.”
My mouth drops because clearly this man has lost his mind with what he’s posing as our living arrangements.
“That’s not fair, Kaeden. I can’t expect yo?—”
“Your man has a lot of money. I don’t need your money or contribution to continue making shit shake in my house.”
“But what if you?—”
“Stop worrying about irrelevant things. I’m very savvy with my money, so we’re gonna be good. Hell, if you want to spend your money on something, let it be a wedding dress, because that’s coming soon.”
My eyes balloon, and my mind spins at hearing Kaeden’s words, letting me know where we’re heading. Tears slip from my eyes from the overwhelming joy surging through me at the knowledge that our endgame will cancel every negative feedback that’s caused me to doubt our relationship.
“Okay.” I whimper.
At this point, I refuse to dispute or refute Kaeden’s words because if he has marriage on his mind, then all I’m going to do is await his proposal.
“I was supposed to be the one encouraging and speaking life into you today. How did you manage to hijack my plan again?”
“Encouraging you always fills me with life, so trust me, you did what was necessary tonight. The only complaint is I’m not sure my dick works after that ice bath.”
Smirking, I stare at Kaeden as his eyes fill with challenge. “Oh, I have a remedy for that. Follow me to the bed, and I’ll show you what I have in mind.”
“Say less, my baby. But make sure you make it sloppy.”
A Year Later. . .
“I have a question for Kaeden.” A smile upturns my lips at my eyes connecting with the sports anchor for Ribax 8 News, Leandra Potts, because she’s been following my career for a while now.
“Go ahead, Ms. Potts,” I say, nodding.
“With the start of a new season, how do you plan to keep your head on and in the game? Last season, your name stayed in the headlines for things unrelated to football,” Leandra asks.
Disconnecting my gaze from Leandra and the sea of reporters gathered for this media coverage, I take a minute to determine how candid I want to be before nodding and resuming my focus on the press.
“To keep it a buck with you, . . . my drive will be the same as it always is. My reason for hitting the field this season is the same as it is every season. My family depends on me to excel in this game.”
“Are you saying that you’re one of the players carrying his family on his back?” another member of the press asks before Leandra can acknowledge or respond to my statements.
“Nah. My people are good and don’t need me to supply for them, . . . or at least not anymore.”
Kyelle moved in, and Jaleel moved out, allowing Mica, Kyelle, and me to settle into our new normal. However, Jaleel often comes over to check on Kyelle and Mica on the days I’m away for out-of-town games. An image of Mica and Kyelle flashes before my eyes, causing me to smile as another reporter asks a new question.
“I, too, have a question for Kaeden.”
“All these Bobcats players on stage and y’all are focusing on me. Y’all ain’t asked our QB about his game play or his personal life when the team is gonna need him on his game this season. Why the interest in me?” I ask, smirking after connecting eyes with Jaelon as he gives a bored expression because he hates media days.
“With all due respect, Kaeden, you were the Bobcats player with the most controversial season last year,” the same reporter states, shrugging.
“You’re right. Go ahead and ask your question, man.”
