40. Emmy
FORTY
“Whoever decidedto pair wine and pizza together is a genius.” I take a giant bite of my slice of pepperoni and wash it down with a sip of red. “This was a great idea, Lexi. Thank you for doing it on a night when we don’t have a game the next day so I can really enjoy.”
“I needed some friends to commiserate with. I had the worst date last night, and I don’t want to see another man ever again.” Lexi tops off Piper’s glass and leans back on the couch. “They all suck.”
“What happened?” Maven asks. “And how did you meet this one?”
“At the grocery store. We both reached for a package of oranges. He made a joke. I laughed. And that was the last time he made me laugh. I didn’t tell him I’m an athletic trainer, and we went to a sports bar for dinner. A basketball game was on, and the female sideline reporter was interviewing Colton Clark—you know that guy from Orlando? Anyway, this man turned to me, looked me dead in the eye, and said, I really wish women would stop talking about things they know nothing about.”
Piper gasps. “He did not.”
“Swear on my life. I sat through the meal because I’m too nice of a person, but I blocked his number the second I left. It’s so frustrating. Where are all the good men?” Lexi groans. “I’m thirty-one. There aren’t any winners left.”
“This is why I’m staying far away from dating. I downloaded an app on Saturday night just to poke around and see what’s out there, and I deleted it within minutes. Two separate people asked me to come over and sit on their face.” Piper blows out an irritated huff. “Being thirty and divorced sucks, and I wish I could find the man of my dreams by running into him on the sidewalk.”
“That stuff only happens in the movies.” Maven pulls a clump of cheese off her pizza and pops it in her mouth. “Not to sound like a bitch, but I’m so glad I have Dallas. I remember the headaches of dating, and they are not fun. I have enough horror stories to fill an entire book.”
“I once had a guy tell me he wanted to be referred to as King in the bedroom,” I say. “I thought I was transported back to regency London.”
“The audacity. Can you share your perfect fiancé with us, Mae?” Lexi asks. “I don’t even need a physical relationship, just someone of the opposite sex to have a civilized conversation with every now and then.”
“I wish I could, but he can barely handle me and June. I’m afraid of what it’s going to be like when she’s a teenager. Add in three more women, and he’d probably run off in the night and never call again.”
“No way.” Piper throws the end of a breadstick across the table. “That man is a saint, and he’s obsessed with you.”
“Seriously obsessed,” I agree. “He gets this dreamy look whenever he talks about you. When you come into a room, he lights up. It’s cute.”
“You want to talk about dreamy looks? How about Maverick and the way he was staring at you the other night when he wore your jersey to the arena? The tension in that hallway was insane.” Maven sets down her wineglass and rests her elbows on her thighs. “Did you know he waited there so he could surprise you?”
I swirl my drink around and blush. “No. I didn’t.”
It doesn’t surprise me, though.
That’s who Maverick is, I’m learning.
In the week since we put a label on our relationship, he’s been perfect. It’s such a cheesy and stupid word to use, but it’s true.
He bought me flowers and cooked me potatoes three different ways for dinner. He answers my texts almost the second they go through, and after I told him I was craving a sweet tea, he went to four different stores until he found the brand I like.
I tried to tell him he doesn’t have to do those things, that this isn’t an all or nothing arrangement, but the man picked up one of my romance novels, flopped on my bed, and told me he was learning how to be the perfect boyfriend by reading my books.
For having the reputation of a playboy who never spent more than a couple of hours with the same woman, he’s nailing this partner thing.
I’m doing my best to keep my guard down with him. I’ve stopped anticipating when something might go wrong, and my trust in him grows every time he smiles at me.
He’s nothing like the men in my past. I know that, and the more time I spend with my hands in his hair and his lips against my forehead, listing all the things he adores about me, the closer my heart comes to falling out of my chest.
“I have a confession,” I admit. “But it cannot leave this room.”
Maverick and I haven’t talked about sharing our relationship with other people, but these women are my friends. They’ve shown me so many bits and pieces of themselves over the last couple of months—the good parts and the messy ones too—and I really want to gush about him for a second.
“Swear,” Piper says.
“On my life,” Maven adds.
“Your secret is safe with us,” Lexi agrees.
“Maverick and I are sleeping together,” I blurt out.
“What?” Maven yells. “I thought you only kissed on New Year’s!”
“You kissed on New Year’s? You said you were staying in!”
“Is that why he came into the athletic trainer’s office the other day and complained about a sore hamstring? Because you two tried a new sex position?”
“Oh my god.” I bury my face in my hands. “I take it all back. I hate that man, and I’ve never seen him naked.”
“We want details.” Piper pulls my hands away and grins. “All the details.”
“It’s been going on since November and?—”
“November? That’s months ago!”
“Time flies when you’re getting fucked,” Lexi says, and I can’t help but laugh.
“Who initiated it?” Piper asks.
“He did. Maybe I did. I don’t know, it was a blur. One minute we were arguing in my hotel room after a game, and the next he was kissing me against the wall.”
I think back to that night, the excitement that rippled through me and the way he tasted for the first time. I felt that same giddiness this morning when he bent down and kissed me before slipping out of his bedroom to hit the weight room before practice.
“Damn, that’s hot,” Lexi says.
“It was only meant to be a one-time thing, but it happened again. Then again and again. The sex turned into sleepovers and hand holding and feelings I kept trying to avoid, but he’s impossible to resist. The other day we decided we didn’t want what we’re doing to just be physical. We’re dating now, and I’m…” I take a deep breath. “I’m so happy.”
“This is so much to unpack. I live with you,” Piper says. “How did I not know this was happening?”
“We’ve been smart about our sneaking around, and a lot happens on the road. As for the night he wore my jersey… “ I trail off and hold back a grin. “I understand why guys go feral when they see their girls in their clothes. It was the hottest thing in the world.”
“Can I ask the question we’re all wondering? How is he in bed?” Lexi asks, and Piper squeals.
I blush. “I’m not going to get into detail, but all the rumors are true. Size. Satisfaction level. Selflessness. Everyone else I’ve been with has been doing it wrong up to this point.”
“And the multiple orgasms?”
“The truest of true.”
“I need another glass of wine,” Piper says. “You lucky bitch.”
“What comes next?” Maven asks. “That man has never been in this situation before, and I’m curious what you all are planning to do.”
“Take it day by day, I guess. My contract is only for this year, and Finn is eventually going to come back from his injury. I’m not sure there will be a spot for me on the roster long-term, and that’s a little scary. I’m usually a runner and always looking for the next thing, and it’s been fun to slow down and enjoy the now. To not worry about the future and what comes next. That’s what I’m doing with Maverick, and it’s kind of perfect,” I say.
“Why am I crying?” Piper wipes her eyes. “It’s so good to see someone so deserving of love finally receive that love.”
“Blame it on the alcohol,” Maven says. “That man once told me he’d rather die than ever settle down. I knew it was going to take a special girl to rein him in, and it was.”
Lexi grins. “What he needed was someone who wouldn’t put up with his shit, and that’s definitely Emmy.”
I laugh. “Slow down there, everyone. We don’t need to be tossing out the L word just yet.”
“Maybe not. But he’s head over heels for you. We can’t help who we love, and if you’re going to fall in love with anyone, he’s the best choice,” Maven says.
“Yeah.” I rub a hand over my chest. It feels like a piece is missing there, like Maverick’s taken a part of my soul and tied it to his. “He is.”
“A toast.” Maven lifts her glass in the air. We all follow suit, and she smiles. “To the good men with good dicks who treat us right. And to the good dicks out there who haven’t found their way to us yet. May they hurry up and get here so everyone is happy and satisfied.”
“Hear fucking hear,” Lexi says, and we knock our drinks together.
For so long, I’ve felt like I was alone. Chasing after something I couldn’t quite reach and running until everything in me ached.
When I’m in Maverick’s arms, I think I’ve finally put my feet on the ground. I think I’ve found someone who might help heal that loneliness that’s followed me for years.