Chapter 25
With my back pressed against the front door and my eyes shut tight, I tried to say goodbye on Wednesday morning.
“I need more time with you,” Lamar growled, before crashing his lips against mine.
Minutes passed, and it was clear we were both getting riled up. I placed my hand on his thick erection that stretched his boxer briefs enticingly.
He moaned into my mouth. “Don’t start what you can’t finish.”
Pulling out of the kiss, I stared up at him. “If I didn’t have to work, I’d stay longer. If you didn’t have to work, I’d stay all day.”
He gave me a soft kiss. “I was thinking … this weekend’s game is in New York …
But next weekend is a home game. You could come up on Friday”—he kissed one cheek—“and you could just stay here and chill until I get back from practice on Saturday, and then we could do whatever”—he kissed the other cheek—“and then you could come to the game on Sunday.” He kissed my lips. “What do you think?”
“It gives me more time with you, and it marks another thing off my list,” I said with a grin. “I think I like that plan very much.”
We finally said goodbye, and he watched me until I drove away. I was downright giddy as I headed toward the highway. It was a fifty-eight-minute drive to Richland, and I probably smiled the whole way as I replayed the night in my head.
As happy as I was, it was still a long day.
But as soon as I left work, I called Aunt Addy.
“Addison, your favorite author is on the phone,” Monica announced when she answered. “Jazmyn, your aunt and I were reading those chapters you sent all day yesterday. We’re ready for that final chapter. We need to know who did it!”
“Thank you!” Grinning, I felt a mixture of pride and excitement as I turned onto the main road. “Hey, Aunt Addy!” I greeted her. “I’m going to be done with the book tomorrow. I didn’t have time to work on it last night, but I’m almost finished.”
“Addison is smiling,” Monica reported. “We’re on the edge of our seats!”
“I’m so glad you liked it.” The tiredness that had plagued me all day temporarily evaporated as my pride and glee gave me a rush. “Now tell me about your day.”
“Addison had some breakfast, took a nap, and now she’s watching some game shows. She’s pointing at the football, so I think she wants to know about your beau.”
Snickering, I shook my head. Even though Monica was speaking, if my aunt could’ve said it, she would’ve. “He’s not my beau! But Lamar and I did go out last night. It was a double date with his best friend. It was really nice.”
“Met his family. Met his friends. Go on dates. Yep, sounds like ‘just friends’ to me,” Monica teased.
“Haha,” I mocked. “Aunt Addy, I just called to check on you, and Monica has jokes!”
“Addison shook her head because she agrees with me!” Monica laughed lightly. “But Addison has been doing well, is getting her rest, and she’s got plans to see Rose tomorrow.”
“I like what I’m hearing! I’m glad you’re doing okay and feeling okay, Aunt Addy. I love you, and I’ll call you tomorrow.”
Saying goodbye, I sat in my sadness for a moment. It felt like I hadn’t heard her voice in forever.
My heart ached.
And then I thought about her enjoying my story, and I smiled.
Even though I was tired, I went into my apartment, pulled out my laptop, and worked on that final chapter.
I had high hopes of finishing on Wednesday, but I was asleep by seven thirty. But I did finish Thursday night, and I sent it off to Aunt Addy’s email account. And Friday after work, Monica called and told me that they loved it. I didn’t realize how happy and fulfilled I felt hearing the praise.
I told Lamar when he called and got the same reaction.
“I’m proud of you,” Lamar told me as I curled up in the bed. I had him on speakerphone, propped up on the pillow next to me. “You said this was something you’ve always wanted to do, and now look at you. That’s what’s up!”
“Thank you.” I grinned, letting the warmth of his words coat me.
“Now, when are you going to send it to me?”
“I don’t know…”
“You could send it to me, and I could read it on the flight.”
“Let me get it edited and clean it up for you.”
“I would love it just the way it is.”
I put my hand over my chest and exhaled. This man.
“If you didn’t have to wake up early, I would’ve asked you if you wanted some company tonight,” I said sleepily.
“If the company is you, the answer will always be yes,” he replied.
“You say that now, but you’d feel funny if I were waiting at your place when you got home.” I giggled.
“I would love that shit.”
The lack of amusement in his response sucked the laughter from my body. What?
There was thirty seconds of dead silence.
“You never told me what you were doing tomorrow,” he pointed out, changing the subject.
“I have a hair appointment that I almost forgot about, and then I’m going to clean up and chill. Sunday will be church and then watching you kick ass.”
He laughed. “I like that plan. Who does your hair?”
We talked for about an hour before his yawns got the best of him.
“You need to get your rest,” I told him.
“Yeah,” he agreed. “Send me a picture of you after you get your hair done.”
“I will. I’ll send you a few of them. Let me know when you land in New York.”
“I’m letting you know when I get to the airport.”
Grinning, I nodded. “Yes, please.”
“Aight, I’ll hit you up in the morning.”
“Okay, have a good night.”
“Good night, Jazz.”
The grin on my face felt permanent.
Even my loctician made a comment as she dyed and then retwisted my hair the next day.
“You look happy,” she noted as she turned me around in the chair.
And I was.
“What made you finally decide to try something other than the honey-blonde highlights?” she wondered, inspecting my midnight-blue locs. “A breakup or a new guy?”
“Neither, actually. My aunt and I made lists of things we had to do and dyeing our hair was one of them. So here I am.” I smiled at my reflection in the mirror. “This is the eighth thing off my list.”
“Is there some special meaning to dyeing your hair?” she wondered.
“Yeah,” I said, looking down at my phone. Seeing the notification of a text from Lamar, I smiled. “This is me being bold and standing out. And it’s a great fall/winter color.”
“Mm-hmm,” she said as if she’d caught me doing something I wasn’t supposed to be doing. As soon as I looked up, she smirked. “Good to see you getting back out there.”
I knew I looked goofy with how hard I was smiling, but I couldn’t keep it together. “What?”
“New man,” she concluded, answering her earlier question. “You have a glow.”
So even though I didn’t confirm or deny anything, she knew.
“My hair color is about my aunt, not about a man!” I argued.
“Maybe the hair color is about your aunt. But that glow … that’s a man.”
I couldn’t do anything but laugh.
The highlight of my Saturday was getting my hair done. The highlight of my Sunday was watching Lamar kick ass.
“Well, hello, Mr. Playmaker of the Game,” I greeted Lamar when he called me Sunday night.
He chuckled. “Hello to the beautiful Ms. Jazmyn Payne. Did you see that blitz?”
“Did I?” I reacted. “I screamed! I know my neighbors were concerned, but when you recovered the ball after Jones knocked it out, I was on my feet.”
“When they called that play, you instantly popped into my mind. I try not to think about anything but football when I’m on the field. But I saw your face immediately, and I…” He paused. “I wanted to tell you that before we catch this flight.”
I bit my bottom lip. “Well, I think about you constantly … just so you know. Like I said in my message to you this morning, you’re really special. On the field and off the field.”
“Those messages you send before the game put an extra battery in my back. So thank you.”
“You’re welcome, but you don’t have to thank me for showing you love. I believe in giving people flowers while they’re here and can smell them.”
“If you’re trying to convince me to come straight to your place when we land, it’s working.”
“I wish.” I giggled. “I’d love to see you soon though.”
“We’re still on for Friday, right? You’ll stay with me for the weekend? Go to the game on Sunday?”
“Oh absolutely.” I was just hoping sooner. “I’m looking forward to it.”
“Good. Because I need to see you.”
My stomach fluttered. “I need to see you, too.” I heard a commotion in the background. “I know you have a lot going on, but I’m glad you called. Text me when you land.”
“Even though you’re usually ’sleep, I always do.”
I grinned. “You know me so well.”
“I do.”
We said good night, and I put my phone to my chest and exhaled. This man.
I got on social media to see if the Monarchs had posted any postgame interview clips yet.
I wanted to see any and all interviews with Lamar.
The first one that came up was a short one, a sideline interview that I hadn’t seen when it aired live.
He was so sexy and charismatic. I found myself smiling at my phone screen.
I got it bad.
Just as I was about to put my phone down, a familiar name popped up in the search results.
Lemon Drop.
The image was the group photo cropped to show just me and Lamar, which was a change from what had been happening before. I clicked on it tentatively and read the caption.
After doing some digging, it would appear that Hollywood Anderson may not be single after all.
An inside source has confirmed that the breakout defensive star was seen canoodling with the woman in this photo.
Apparently at this event, an end of the summer birthday party, the two spent the whole night together.
We don’t know if it’s a friendship, a one-night stand, a date, or a relationship, but we do know he’s not married yet so he’s still fair game. What do you think about this pairing?
My stomach churned as the comments caught my eye.
She doesn’t look like an athlete’s girl. She doesn’t fit the aesthetic. Hollywood needs someone like me!
If she got him at that size, then why am I in the gym five days a week and single?