16
CELINE
"Everything you need is in this bag." Marie hands over a large cloth tote that's filled to the brim with all the things a toddler might require.
Lonie is in her highchair, using her fork to carefully stab pieces of the omelet my sister made her. After missing three pieces, she drops her fork in frustration and picks up her piece of bread and butter, stuffing it into her mouth. Her eyes widen as she chews, focusing on me.
I grin at my beautiful niece, desperate to wipe her face. Marie is a great mom, don't get me wrong, but she's way more laid back than I would be. Then again, Lonie seems capable of a lot of things other toddlers seem to struggle with. Maybe Marie's relaxed approach has contributed to that.
"I'm aiming to be back at around six."
"Six?"
When I agreed to babysit, it was on the basis that I'd be able to make it to watch Elias and Dornan's game.
"Is that the earliest you can get back?"
"Yeah. Why? Is there a problem?"
"I've got a game to go to. Am I okay to take Lonie?"
"Sure. Make sure she has a good lunchtime nap. I'm sure she'll love all the cheering and excitement and those big men in their tight pants." She winks and grins, then finally bends to wipe the food from Lonie's sticky face.
"Marie!"
"What? She's just like her aunt. A terrible flirt."
"You got me!"
"So, is Eddie playing?"
I grit my teeth at the mention of the scumbag who I'm trying to banish from my memory. "Yes, but I'm not going to watch him. He can fall over and die in a ditch."
"Who are you going to watch?" She lifts Lonie from the chair and sets her on her feet. Lonie toddles off to her play corner and finds a board book to leaf through or destroy, depending on her mood.
"I may or may not be having a fling with a couple of the team."
"A couple?"
"I'm sowing my wild oats."
"Men sow the oats, Celine. Women get plowed."
I grin, shaking my head at all the delicious memories still fresh from an afternoon tied to Travis's bed. They did things to me that I swear are illegal in at least a few states.
"You have no idea."
"Do they know what you're up to, or have you taken a leaf from Eddie's book?"
"Oh, they know about each other…they were all present. And I'm not a cheater."
"All?" The way Marie's mouth hangs open inspires me to push up her chin with my finger.
"Three of them. I've gathered my own casual harem for three times the pleasure."
She shakes her head, folding her lips over a smile. "How long have I been married? I swear things like this weren't a thing when I was single."
"When were you ever single?" I snort. "You were a child. Then you met Aiden. Then you got married."
"Yeah. That's it, pretty much. And he is more than enough man for me. I just…what do you even do with three men?" She immediately holds her hand up with her palm facing me. "Scrap that. I don't want to know. You'll only create images in my head that I don’t want to carry around with me for the rest of my life."
Lonie shouts for her momma, and Marie heads over to kneel next to her daughter. As she points to a duck in the book, she swivels to face me. "Two football players?"
"And my friend's brother."
"Is he the size of a football player?"
"Almost." A flash of a memory of Travis, Dornan, and Elias all staring down at me from the end of Travis's bed flashes into my mind. Naked, erect, and potent, they were enough to make me swoon.
"My god." She shakes her head. "I'm not sure that I should be letting my daughter out with her sexually corrupt auntie, but I really need a day for myself."
"It's fine. It'll all be very wholesome. She can wave a flag and eat healthy snacks from your mega-bag-of-doom."
"Okay." She bends to kiss Lonie's sweet head. "I'm going to get ready. You should read this book to her…distract her from the fact that I'm leaving."
"She loves me," I reassure. "We'll be fine."
As I squat down and read “Duck Swims in the Pond" to Lonie, I say a silent prayer that we're both going to make it through the day in one piece.
"Are you serious?" Gabriella exclaims when I take my seat next to hers. The stadium is packed, and the rumble of so many people talking excitedly before the game has Lonie looking around with wide eyes.
"I'm totally serious," I say, dropping Marie's huge bag onto the floor and dropping into my seat, adjusting Lonie so her legs are facing Gabriella. "Marie asked me to watch her, and I didn't want to miss the game."
"She’s totally gorgeous." Gab touches Lonie's cheek and then her red curls, which sit like a halo around her sweet, elfin face. "She looks just like you."
"She did before I dyed my hair."
"I still think you're crazy for doing that. Your natural hair is gorgeous."
"I feel good like this." I touch my brunette curls, bringing one in front of my face to study the color. "I feel like a different me."
"I liked the original you." Gab reaches into the bag and pulls out a stuffie. "Who's this?" she asks Lonie.
"Mimi." Lonie snatches the fury creature and squashes it possessively to her chest.
"I love Mimi." Gabriella presses her hand to her heart and sighs. "I swear my ovaries just popped out an egg in readiness."
"And what would your men think about that?"
"Dalton's ready. Blake and Kain, not so much."
"And what about you…Jesus…how come I didn't know this?"
"I'm not ready, either. Not really. I mean, I can imagine our cute little babies in my head, and I can see how awesome their daddies are going to be, but I can't see myself as a mom yet. I'm still recovering from seeing Ellie's splintered nipples a week after she had Noah."
I wince at the reminder. They didn’t look good.
"And forget about the damage to her lady garden. I swear, she was out of action for weeks."
I squirm, clenching my legs together in the imagination of a shared pain. "Yeah. I'm definitely nowhere near ready for that."
"But we're spending a lot of time practicing, you know." Gab's exaggerated wink and grin make Lonie laugh.
"Yeah, the practicing is the part I enjoy, too."
"You still messing around with Dornan, Elias, and my brother?"
"I am."
My words are lost beneath the cheering as the team runs out onto the field behind their mascot. Lonie, spotting the costume-clad person skipping along with a flag, reaches out like she wants them to come to her. Gabriella claps and whoops, pumping her right fist in the air. I'm limited by Lonie's warmth on my lap, but I still yell out my support.
I spot Dornan first by his number, then Elias. A thrill travels up my spine and settles between my thighs at the sight of their sheer size and power. The tight pants leave nothing to the imagination, not that I need to look to remember what they’re packing underneath all that spandex.
Eddie is towards the back, waving like he's the sole reason everyone is cheering like crazy. My teeth grit of their own volition as the marching band plays and the cheerleaders whip up the crowd into a frenzy.
Elias and Dornan stand at the forefront, their faces etched with determination as they exchange nods with their teammates. What must they be feeling? Excitement? Anticipation? Fear? The opposing team is huge, but Elias and Dornan don't have to worry about that.
Lonie, sensing the anticipation, squirms on my lap, her wide eyes filled with wonder at all the excitement in front of her.
A hush falls over the stadium as the national anthem plays. The crowd stands, and I struggle to my feet with Lonie, who is a heavy weight in my arms. She stares down at the field, but her gaze is still drawn by the mascot, who looks uncannily similar to her stuffie.
Our team is set to play offense first, and my heart skitters as the referee's whistle pierces the air.
"They've got a good chance," Gab says as we retake our seats.
I say a silent prayer, knowing that if they lose, Dornan and Elias will be in a terrible mood for days after.
The game is exciting. Each team pulls ahead but is quickly caught. With the score tied and the tension palpable in the air, the spotlight falls on Josh, the quarterback, as he takes command of the game. The stadium echoes with the roar of the crowd, their collective breath held in anticipation. He surveys the field with a steely gaze, the weight of the moment evident in the determined set of his jaw.
As the ball snaps, Josh drops back, skillfully evading the defensive linemen with a graceful dance of footwork. I hold my breath, the suspense building with every passing second. In the periphery, Elias, always attuned to Josh's movements, sprints down the field with lightning speed, creating an opening in the opposing defense. With a swift glance, Josh locks eyes with Elias, signaling a play. Josh unleashes a powerful spiral, the ball hurtling through the air with precision. Elias leaps into the air, fingertips grazing the ball. The crowd erupts into cheers as Elias secures the catch, landing gracefully in the end zone.
"Touchdown," Gab yells, on her feet, jumping up and down, the moment of triumph setting the stadium into a frenzy of celebration. I want to yell too, but Lonie's ears are likely already overwhelmed with the shouting around us.
In the midst of the celebrations and high-fives, pride surges in my chest. Lonie claps as Dornan throws his arm around Elias's shoulder and presses their helmets together.
"Ah, look. There's a new bromance building." Gab grins. "Must be your pussy of unity."
"Yeah. It's the thing that can bring about world peace."
Lonie grabs a fistful of my hair and pulls it, making me squeal. I think all the excitement is becoming too much for her, and she must be tired, too. I'm wrecked from my time spent taking care of her. I make a mental note to offer to help Ellie out more often. I forgot my friend has this level of responsibility around the clock, and she's still studying, too.
"Shall we head out?" Gab asks me as the teams leave the field.
"Yeah. Elias and Dornan want me to wait around."
"Okay. Let me help you with the bag."
We make our way down, and Lonie insists on walking with her sweet little hand clutched in mine and her stuffie trailing in the other. Everywhere we go, people stop to tell me how adorable she is. We grab sodas and ice cream for Lonie to keep her quiet, and I message Dornan to find out where they are. It takes them over an hour to shower, change, and handle all the post-game expectations. He asks me to meet them outside and sends me a location, and with Gabriella's help, I somehow make it with Lonie and the giant bag through a quieter stadium.
"Hey." Dornan's smile is warm enough to melt chocolate as he eats up my outfit with his baby blues, cut off jean shorts, and a team shirt tied into a bow at the front. My Converse are new and super cute. "Who is this gorgeous girl?"
"You know who I am," I snort, then lift Lonie to greet him as he laughs. "This is Princess Lonie, my niece."
"Does everyone in your family have red hair?" Elias asks, appearing behind Dornan.
"Not everyone, but a lot of us."
"Not you anymore," he points out.
For the first time since I had my hair dyed brown, I feel a wisp of regret. Having family similarities has always made me feel securely rooted. Now, I could be mistaken for Lonie's nanny instead of her auntie.
"I got her this." Elias bends down and hands Lonie a fluffy bear wearing the team's jersey. Lonie quickly looks up at me, seeking permission to take the gift. When I nod, she hands me Mimi, then uses two dimpled hands to grab the bear. "I think she likes it."
Elias watches as Lonie presses three vigorous kisses onto the bear, which includes some ice cream residue.
"Have you seriously been watching her all day?"
"Yes." I swat his shoulder with Mimi, insulted that he has so little faith in me.
"Hey, Dornan." A man in his forties, with blonde hair like Dornan's, lumbers over.
"Dad."
I do a double take as Dornan and his father embrace, slapping each other enthusiastically on the back. He passes his son a bag filled with bags of chips, candy, and other snacks. "For you and the team." His smile is the same as Dornan's, except his front teeth cross over a little.
"Thanks, Dad." Dornan opens the bag wide, whistling at its contents. "That's awesome."
"You played well."
"You think?"
"You won, didn't you?"
"Elias got the winning touchdown."
Dornan's father's attention drifts to Elias. "That was a great play, son. Your family must be very proud."
Elias, who should be puffing his chest out with pride, instead looks like he could crush steel with his teeth. His masculine jaw pulses at the side, and his dark eyes flash. "You wanna get out of here?" He tips his head in the direction of the exit.
Dornan frowns at the snub of his father's kind comment, but I step in to answer Elias quickly before anything can be said. "I have to get Lonie home. Her mom should be back by now."
"I'm going to get pizza if you want to come?"
"I could eat pizza. Luizos?" Dornan rests his hand on his dad's shoulder and steers him away from us, leaving Elias staring after him, annoyed.
"Jeez, Elias. He was only trying to be nice. What's with you?" I hiss.
He focuses somewhere over my shoulder. "Do you want pizza or not?"
I should say no. I don't like how he's talking, but then Eddie walks past, fixing me with scary wild eyes that prompt me to twist so Lonie's out of his way. "Pizza would be great." My voice is artificially loud, and Elias seems confused until he spots Eddie's retreating form.
"More games, Celine?"
Lonie drops the bear, and Gab, who has remained silent until now, bends to scoop it up and hand it to Lonie again. "I'm going to head off, okay?"
"Yeah. Sure. Say hi to your men from me."
Straightening, she leans in to kiss me on my cheek and whispers. "Don't settle for another red flag, Celine," in my ear as a parting thought.
Is Elias a red flag? Sometimes, he acts that way, but then I remember all the effort and care he put into coaching me and the sweet aftercare he provides after we've had sex. When he thought I needed help to get revenge on Eddie, he didn't even think before volunteering. That doesn't fit with the traditional toxic archetype in any way.
I watch her leave, but Elias's attention never drifts from me.
"I'll see you at Luizos, then. In thirty minutes."
"See you there."
Elias drifts away while I hoist the tote onto my shoulder and pray that Lonie will walk.
"See you at Luizos?"
Dornan tears his attention away from his dad and waves. "See you there."
Marie is home, and Lonie is asleep in the car seat. I help my sister lift Lonie out and take the bag into the house. "How was your day?"
She nods with an expression of serenity that hadn't been present this morning. The miracles of a spa day. "The game?"
"They won."
"That's great."
"I'm going out for celebration pizza," I say.
"Followed by celebration group sex?"
"What?" Aiden sticks his head around the living room door into the hallway.
"Nothing." Marie waves him off, then presses her fingers over her lips. "Shit. Sorry."
"It's okay." I kiss Lonie's sweet forehead, but she nuzzles into her momma's neck, no longer interested in me now that her best buddy has returned.
I say my goodbyes and drive to the pizza place Dornan suggested, finding Dornan, Elias, and Travis waiting at a table. They must have gotten hungry because the table is already dominated by three tire-sized pizzas, already missing a few slices.
"Hey, Celine. Dig in."
Sliding next to Travis, I don't waste any time. The first bite is a slice of heaven and pepperoni. "Oh my god," I moan around my mouthful. "This is like the best kind of sex."
"I like pizza, but I could never compare it to sex." Travis shakes his head. "Especially not the kind of sex we've had."
"Ahh…" I rest my hand on his arm, flattered, even though it's a strange compliment.
"Eddie wasn't happy." Elias wipes his mouth on a serviette and tosses it onto the table.
"I don't give a fuck about Eddie."
His eyebrows rise with disbelief. "Really. Then what are we all still doing here?"
"It's called hanging out for a beer. You know, socializing with friends."
"Friends?"
Elias doesn't say, 'you're not my friends', but his comment comes out that way. I don't rise to it, though, because the truth is that he wouldn't be here if he didn't want to be. He likes this as much as the rest of us.
"You did good today, Elias. That play was insane."
He studies me, and I see the flicker of uncertainty in his expression. He was expecting me to bite back, but instead, I gave him a compliment. He's trying to work out if it's genuine. I get the feeling he isn't used to positive affirmations.
"I did what any other player would do."
"She's right." Dornan drops his half-chewed crust and picks up another loaded slice. "The drills you've been working on with Coach paid off."
"I wish I'd been able to watch," Travis says. "Sounds like a great game."
"It really was," I tell him. "It really was."
For the rest of the evening, we eat and talk, and Elias goes from being a grumpy bear to sharing our laughter. Travis tells us funny stories about his time at college and even funnier ones about his antics with his neighbor's best friends—Gabriella's boyfriends—and their mission to tease Gabriella mercilessly.
Dornan shares many embarrassing tales from high school when he was a geeky, skinny dude who had to struggle to grow into his Adam's apple. I can't imagine it, but there you go.
I show them one of my high school pictures, and they laugh their heads off at my crazy, frizzy orange halo hair and weird heart-embroidered jeans.
Elias laughs and jokes, but it's not until I'm home and in bed that I realize he never told us a thing about himself.