Chapter 22 #3
As the Jets table came onto the screen, I clenched my jaw. “Malik, this is it.” I bit my thumbnail.
“I know, babe.” He glanced at his phone resting on the coffee table. “If that fucking phone goes off—”
Buzzing filled the air, and he snatched his phone, fumbling with it.
“Fucking hell.” With trembling hands, he answered the call, pressing his phone to his ear.
“Hello?” He swallowed hard. “Yes, this is Malik Thompson.” He nodded, and a smile swept his lips.
“You got it. Thank you so much, sir. Bye now.” He ended the call and tossed his phone onto the table. “Fuck yeah, I’m in.”
The draft hosts announced the Jet’s pick of Malik on the television.
Tex jumped off the couch and grabbed us both in a group hug. “This is fucking awesome!”
“Damn right.” With my heart swelling, I kissed his cheek. If nothing else, I’d marry an NFL running back.
“Okay, okay, we still have to wait for Grey. We can’t celebrate too much yet.” Malik beamed at me as Tex freed us.
“We can celebrate a little.” I drank some beer and dipped my forehead into his hair. There was never a time he didn’t think of me. Every day, he showed me I’d made the right choice in making him my fiancé.
We waited a grueling half hour before the Giants were up. I took a few gulps of my beer and picked up my phone, staring at it and willing it to ring.
“Babe, it won’t happen any faster with you looking at it. You know what they say, a watched pot doesn’t boil.” He chuckled and drank his beer.
My phone lit up with a number I didn’t recognize. “Oh yeah? Well, this pot boiled.” I started the call with my heart hammering against my ribs. “Hello?”
“Greyson Moore? This is Roland Donahue with the New York Giants. We spoke at the combine.”
“Yes, I remember. How are you?” I winced. What a stupid question to ask.
“I’m great, thanks. Listen, I only have a few minutes here, but we’d like to bring you into the Giants organization. I’ve got a contract for your agent if you accept.”
“Yes, of course. I’m honored to be a part of the Giants, sir.” I glanced at Malik, holding his fist to his chest and looking as if he’d burst.
“Great, we’ll be in touch. Talk to you soon and congratulations.” He ended the call.
“Get the fucking whiskey, Tex.” Malik faced me and shook my shoulders. “See? You did it. I knew you could.”
As my vision hazed, I said, “You never wavered in your support of me.” Hooking my arms around his shoulders, I buried my face in his neck. Whatever life threw at us, we’d make it together.
“Dudes, whiskey.” Tex stood in front of us with three shot glasses filled with caramel-colored liquor. “Congratulations.”
Malik and I grabbed our shots, tapped our glasses together and then downed them. With a hiss, I said, “Can you get me another?” I chuckled and handed my empty glass to Tex.
“Sure.” He smirked and walked off.
My phone vibrated in my hand. Was it Dennis? But he hadn’t called Malik yet. I peered at the screen as Dad scrolled across the top. With my heart picking up speed and my gut knotting, I said, “Malik, it’s my dad.”
Tex, pouring new shots at the kitchen island, halted and said, “Dude, don’t look at it, take the call.”
“Yeah, take it.” Malik grabbed my biceps. “I’m right here.”
With a lump crawling up my throat, I answered the phone and raked my fingers through my bangs. “Hello?”
“Greyson? This is your father.”
I swallowed hard. “Yes, hi, Dad.” Had he seen my draft pick? “How are you and Mom?”
“We’re, uh, well, we’re proud of you, son.
I see you and Malik will play for New York teams and…
” He released a long exhale. “I’m sorry.
I was wrong about…well, a lot of things.
You’re a much stronger person than I gave you credit for, and you earned this all on your own.
” He paused. “I’ve done a lot of thinking over the last few months.
Well, and your mother and I talked a lot.
We’ve missed you, and we don’t want to lose you. ”
As I swiped wetness from my eyes, I said, “Thank you, Dad. Apology accepted.” Did he know about—
“Julie told your mother you were engaged to Malik. Is this true?”
“Yes, it’s true. We got engaged with his family in Santa Fe on Christmas Day.” I glanced at Malik, all his attention on me. “We love each other, Dad, and it’s right for us. I proposed to him.” Warmth wrapped my heart as the memory came back to me.
“I see. Well, congratulations on that and on making it to the NFL. Can your mother and I come out for your graduation in May? We’d love to spend some time with you before your move home.” He huffed a sigh.
“Yes, Dad. We have a lot to discuss, and I’d like to have you both there.” I bit the corner of my lip. Was I dreaming? How could so many things in my life unfold so well? Malik—it was all him.
“Of course. I’ll make the arrangements, and I love you, son.”
“So do I.” Mom’s voice threaded through the phone. “Julie really loves you as well, son. In fact, she’s the one who talked some sense into us. We’ve been such fools. But…we’ll talk more when we see you next month.”
“Yes, thanks, Mom.” As my eyes stung, I wiped them again. Mom might have been behind me all along, well, with Julie pushing her. They’d both pushed Dad into calling me and apologizing. I’d learn more at graduation.
Malik’s phone rang on the coffee table with a call from Dennis.
“Hey, I have to go. Our agent is calling us, probably with the details of our NFL contracts.” And I couldn’t wait to hear them.
Malik answered his phone. “Yep, he’s right here.” He lifted his brows at me. “Babe?”
“Okay, see you soon. Bye now.” Dad ended the call.
“Holy fuck.” I rubbed my brow. Today had proved both amazing and stressful. “Tex. Whiskey.” I held my hand up, and Tex set a fresh shot into it.
“I have a feeling we’re getting drunk tonight.” Malik arched a brow and set his phone on speaker. “Go ahead, Dennis. I’m having shots with my fiancé.”
“Go easy. We have details to work out.” Dennis chuckled.
“Details like how I’m going to live my best life with the love of my life, playing football?” Malik pressed a slow kiss against my lips.
As the kiss broke, I said, “Every day, all day, only the best with you.”