Chapter 13
Eddie Decker was one of the most famous American football players of all time. I knew they would have a nice house. Dominic had told me a story or two that took place there, but I didn't have enough of the details to picture anything.
The family property was in a gated subdivision and their house was surrounded by trees, making it impossible to see from the road. The house itself was sizeable and nice, but it was cozier and more comfortable than I expected for someone like Eddie Decker. He was totally approachable. Sure, he was a natural-born leader and larger than life, but his big smile was warm and welcoming, and he leaned in when he spoke to me.
He and his wife, Caroline, were both so down to earth and easy that I forgot to be intimidated by them or the fact that Eddie was next-level famous. I wondered if maybe he had gotten famous because he was so cool and easy to be around. He definitely had magnetism.
All this to say that meeting the Deckers was way less intimidating than I ever thought it would be. My first twenty minutes had passed in a fun flash where we told them about the scarf. They knew how Dominic had rescued it for me. They knew more about me than I thought they would. We told them about our meeting today. Dominic did most of the talking. He added parts like the way I stared at the scarf when he gave it to me. He enjoyed my reaction to receiving it, and I thought it was sweet when he told those sorts of details from the story.
"What'd I miss, and what's for dinner?" EJ said, coming in with one of his friends. "I smell home cookin' in here."
We were all situated in the big family room. "That's Thad. He plays for the Phillies," Dominic said turning to me and filling me in quietly. "He also played baseball at Northwestern with my brother," he added, speaking a little louder.
"Chicken and rice," Caroline said. "Benny cooked veggies, too."
"I smelled that broccoli! P.U. Hit me right when I came in. It smells like dad's lettin' em rip in here."
"EJ!" Caroline said, scolding her son, but everyone was laughing.
EJ looked at me as he crossed through the living room. "I'm joking, it smells good. Marley, this is my buddy, Thad," he said. I smiled and looked at the guy who came in behind EJ. We gave each other a wave. He was a muscular athlete just like Eddie and his boys.
"When are you leaving for spring training, Thad?" Caroline asked as she gave him a hug.
"I leave tomorrow," he said.
Dominic and I were situated on bar stools at the counter, and EJ walked over to that end of the kitchen with us. Thad followed. The boys shook hands.
"This is that famous scarf," EJ said, looking at me. Dom told me you were coming over here, and I was telling Thad about it."
I tried not to be nervous, but I was on the spot and I felt myself shaking a little as I took the scarf from the counter and held it up. I had the other one with me, too, but I kept it folded and on the side. The current work in progress had a needle and a ball of yarn attached to it, but the original one was unhindered, and I spread it onto the bar in front of me.
It was an interesting scarf, and Thad smiled and came over to it, checking it out. He leaned over and really stared. "EJ said it was made by that lady who played in Stonehollow Bridge. That's one of my favorite movies. Robert Redford."
"Mariam Waterson," I agreed, nodding at him. "It's funny that you said that movie because that one's my Pa Frank's favorite. He was the one who first met her. She gave this scarf to my grandma years ago when I was a baby, and then I got it as a gift on my tenth birthday. Mariam knitted while she traveled and made movies."
"Dom found it last year, and he didn't know how to get in touch with her… no last name or anything. He had it in his closet this whole time," EJ said to Thad.
"How did he find you? What happened?" Thad asked.
"I was on his social media, and I saw a photo of the scarf he posted when he first found it."
"He posted another one today," EJ said.
"I saw that," Thad added, nodding. I looked at Dominic who gave me a quick knowing nod.
Had he posted me on his social media?
"It looked like you were on the ice," Thad said.
"I took it when we went skating at the gym earlier," Dominic agreed, nodding. "It was her first time."
"Ever?" Thad asked. "How'd you do?"
"She did amazing," Dominic said.
"Roller skating's the closest experience I had to that, so I felt like Bambi out there, but…"
"No broken bones?" Thad said.
I smiled and held up my hands to demonstrate that everything was in working order. "All good, I'm happy to report," I said.
"My family lives here, and I got them all memberships to ETC. My brother skates all the time. He played hockey for a few years, and he loves skating. Me, not so much. I find that I take better to cleats and dirt."
"Me too," Eddie agreed. "You will not catch me on that ice. Even back in the day, I couldn't. Management would make us sign a waiver about skating on our off time. They didn't want us breaking a wrist doing something like that when it can be avoided. I know that's still the case."
Thad nodded. "Yes sir, you won't catch me out there on the ice. I have no desire." Thad turned to me. "So, that's how you got the scarf back… you looked at his social media and saw it there?"
I nodded. "I was sitting at the dentist's office a few days ago. The dentist, he must've been a sports fan because he had several jerseys and things displayed in his office. I was staring straight at this football that Dominic's dad had signed and it made me think of Dominic, so I looked him up. I scrolled for a minute or two on his feed, and I was suddenly staring at my long-lost scarf. We met for lunch today so I could get it back. I didn't believe it was real until I had it in my hands."
"She was learning to knit so that she could recreate it," Eddie said. "That one right there was her practicing at replacing it."
"Aw, really? That one? She's close," Thad said.
Dominic readjusted on his stool, and his leg hit mine. It stayed there, touching me. I wanted to glance at him, but it was all I could do to keep my composure and talk to everyone while he was leg-brushing me.
"Thank you," I said to Thad, trying not to skip a beat. "I see all the mistakes—or differences—but I was having fun trying. Those ladies at the yarn store are my friends now. They've been helping me learn techniques and find yarn from photos."
"Are they going to be happy to have the mystery solved?" Eddie asked.
"Oh, so happy!" I said. "It would still be a challenge to recreate the feel of the yarn, even with it in your hand. Speaking of hands… is there a restroom I could use to wash my hands?" I said this because I knew we were waiting on EJ before we ate and that we were about to get started. EJ was currently by the stove, looking into the dishes.
"I'll show you where you can wash your hands," Dominic said. He touched my leg as he stood up. I hesitated just because I liked it there. I glanced at him, and he stared at me with a look of challenge. There was heavy flirting, and no one noticed because they turned their attention to dinner. We walked down a hallway.
"That's the restroom right there," he said, stopping in his tracks like he was going to wait there and let me go ahead. "What?" he asked when I looked at him with a confused expression.
"Nothing, I…"
I didn't finish my sentence, and he said, "You what?"
"I-I guess I just thought or, uh, assumed that you were coming back here with me because you wanted to…" I trailed off again, and he stared at me.
"Wanted to what?"
"I don't know, I thought you might have other intentions besides just showing me the bathroom."
He stepped closer and tilted his head at me. He was taller than me and he looked down, standing over me. He was gorgeous, all perfect lines and symmetry. He smelled amazing, too. I was putty in his hands.
Dominic put a hand on the back of my head and kissed me so hard that our teeth hit. It was hot and greedy, possessive, and just what I needed. I felt a warm wave of something at my core and I moaned gently when he pulled away.
"We're going to get caught over here," he whispered.
"Yeah, I'm a lady, and you can't get me caught kissing you like that in the hallway."
"You started it."
"I know, but I didn’t know you were going to do it like that."
"Like what?"
"Where you do that and make me feel all funny inside."
He did it again. His mouth was open and I felt his tongue, warm and silky, slide into my mouth. I was achy and wanton and I held onto him, tightly gripping the fabric of his shirt in my fists.
It happened for several long pulsing seconds and then he pulled back, both of us trying to quietly catch our breath.
"I've wanted you from the second I saw you, Marley."
"I want you, too," I said, meaning it so much.
I touched the side of his cheek lightly with my fingertips.
"I want you to know that I'm going to want to try to continue seeing you."
I hesitated for a second, but then I said, "Good. I hope so. That would be great."
"Not to be pushy, but I was hoping you would not see anyone else."
"You mean see them on a date?"
"Yes, like on a date. You can physically look at people. And, really, you can do whatever you want. I would just prefer if you'd…" He stared at me. "If you'd never look at anyone else the way you're looking at me right now."
"Why would I want to?"
I touched the bottom of his mouth, gently brushing the edge of it with my thumb.
"What was it?" he asked.
"Nothing. I was just looking at your mouth, and I wanted to touch it."
He let out a long sigh like he was pained by the words. "You drive me crazy, Marley. I want you to say you're mine." He gazed at me, his dark eyes protective, possessive.
"If you want me, I'm yours, Dominic." I whispered the words and he grinned at me.
I blinked up at him. I wanted to live in this moment forever. I wanted to marry him and have his babies and be next to him like this forever. I was out of my mind with anticipation. I didn't care about the possible broken heart that was awaiting me. I didn't have any more time to think about it because we heard footsteps approaching.
Dominic casually stepped away from me just in time for his dad to come around the corner. "It's right there," Dominic said, pointing nonchalantly to the bathroom as if he had been about to tell me that all along.
"Thanks," I said smiling, going inside, and pretending that my heart wasn't about to beat out of my chest.