Holding On – HL Miller #5
Abby talks excitedly about her job for several minutes, and a smile creeps over my face as I experience her enthusiasm.
She’s so cute when she’s absorbed in marketing.
She enjoys her major and classes far more than I ever did.
Construction management was something I studied because I couldn’t major in football.
My phone beeps with a text.
“Who is it?” Abby asks. “If it’s Grey, tell him you beat him to asking me to move in. He should hurry up and ask Emmy already.”
“It’s Reed.”
Abby frowns, her eyes narrowing as her shoulders tense. “Tell him you’re too busy to watch film this weekend. It’s my turn with you.”
I chuckle at her jealousy. “His wife, Mackenzie, wants to meet you. They invited us for coffee. Want to go?”
“You told him I was here?”
“Of course. I had to explain why I was grinning like an idiot when I left early to pick you up.”
Abby eyes my t-shirt, the only thing she’s wearing. “I don’t much feel like getting dressed.”
“Mackenzie offered to take you to training camp tomorrow. It’ll be good for you to meet her tonight. She’s really nice. You’ll like her.”
Abby frowns at her bare legs. “She had better be nice enough to make putting on pants worth it.”
“They’re from Georgia, so they’re super friendly. I heard she makes killer pie.” I pull her up. “Come on.”
Abby lags behind me as I lead her to my bedroom. “I’m pretty full. Not sure pie is that inspiring.”
I run a hand through my hair, tugging slightly as I summon patience. Abby isn’t one to avoid socializing. It’s probably my fault. I haven’t been the boyfriend she deserves, and after a month apart, she probably wants more of my undivided attention.
“We don’t have to go if you don’t want to, but it’ll be good for you to make friends. I want you to feel at home here.”
She tilts her head, unconvinced. I pull out a one-piece outfit from the drawer and toss it on the bed. It’ll be easier to coax her into a singular piece of clothing. “You can wear that.”
She holds up the sleeveless pink onesie. “This romper looks so cute and comfy. But when did you have time to go shopping?”
“Not that I know what the fuck a romper is, but I hired a personal shopper to get you some winter clothes since you’ll need more for the season. I sent her pics of you so she’d know your style. She also got you some summer stuff.” I wave at the closet. “You can check it out later.”
Abby drops the outfit on the bed and slips her arms around me. “You can be unexpectedly sweet sometimes, Micah. Thank you.”
I pat her back, my fingers tangling in her hair. “It’s important to me that you’re happy here, since you haven’t seemed to enjoy it much so far.”
“I don’t totally hate it here. I like how green it is. It’s a nice contrast to L.A.” Abby releases me, and with a soft smile, unbuttons the front of the romper. “I didn’t realize you arranged for me to watch practice tomorrow.”
“You know I love showing off for you.” My words are cocky, but true. I enjoy having Abby watch me play, and she hasn’t seen what I can do with my new team.
Pulling on a shirt, I study her in the mirror as she steps into the romper. Seeing her here, in my space, makes everything more real. It’s not just a visit, but the start of something bigger. It’s been too long since we’ve had this, and I don’t want to go that long without her again.
Tonight is the first step in making Abby part of my new life—introducing her to my friends, making this place home for both of us, and building our future together.
ABBY
I sigh, fumbling with my apartment keys.
It’s only Thursday of the third week of January, but the weight of this final year of college has already drained me.
Winter break was spent traveling to see Micah and watch his games, which only added to my exhaustion.
Monday night, I froze my ass off in Chicago, watching him lose in the playoffs.
Not that my suffering comes close to his disappointment.
It’s surreal—just like that, his season is over, swallowed by the frigid wind off the lake.
He’s been disappointed since the loss, and I’ve done my best to be there for him—as much as I can, with half a country between us.
But soon, he’ll be back in L.A., and the long-distance part of our relationship will be over.
I can settle in and enjoy my last semester with my boyfriend finally by my side.
Once I get the door unlocked, I step inside my apartment and drop my sunglasses and keys on the table. The TV plays in the living room, and I call out a greeting. “Kayla, Janelle, you’re back early from class.”
I pull my backpack off as I step into the living room. It slips from my hands, landing with a loud thunk . My eyes widen. “Micah?” The word stumbles out, barely a whisper. “What are you doing here?”
He tries to smile from where he’s lounging on the couch. The corners of his lips barely rise as the weariness of surviving his first season in the NFL weighs him down. “Surprise. I’m back. Your roommates let me in.” He turns the TV off and tosses the remote aside.
A rush of excitement floods through me. “You’re back!” I launch myself at him, laughing as I tumble into his lap. “I thought you wouldn’t be back for another week, at least.”
I grasp his face, the stubble pleasantly scratchy beneath my fingers, and press kisses to his cheeks and lips.
His hands steady me, pulling me closer, grounding me.
My chest aches, pressing against his. His scent, musky and familiar, weaves around me, filling in the gaps that the time apart created.
Micah laughs at my enthusiasm until I accidentally bump him in the side where he took a big hit Monday night. “Careful, babe.”
Before I can apologize, he tugs me in for a deep kiss, and my heart is light at being able to share affection and love with him in person again. No more long-distance. No more wondering if we can make it. It’s just us together again.
He pulls back, smiling. “Glad to be back with you for good.”
I caress his chest. “Thanks for hurrying back to me. I’m impressed that you managed to wrap things up with both the team and your condo in two days.”
He catches my hand and squeezes it. “Of course. I missed you.” He toys with the diamond necklace he gave me—the one with his jersey number—before letting it fall beside my A- initial pendant. “Come with me to tour some places to live tomorrow afternoon?”
“You don’t want to stay here with me?” My smile falters as my heart dips. I thought after Micah’s season was over, we’d finally be able to live together like he asked me six months ago. But I guess I never asked him specifically about his plans for the off-season.
His brow wrinkles. “Your roommates are a lot.”
I cock my head. “What did they do?”
“So much sexual innuendo. And they tossed handcuffs and glow-in-the-dark condoms at me on their way out.”
I wince. “I’m sorry. If I’d known you were coming, I would’ve skipped my study group.”
“Didn’t want to spoil the surprise.” He takes my hand, running his thumb slowly over my knuckles before brushing his lips against them. “Stay with me in the new place. I want us to have our own space. No more roommates.”
My heart flips. “Yes, I will!” I wrap my arms around his neck, hugging him tightly. His body is solid against me, his warmth seeping through my clothes. My pulse quickens, his presence drawing me in. I kiss the sensitive spot below his ear, inhaling his scent. “I’d love to finally live with you.”
He exhales softly, his hands sliding down my back, holding me close like he doesn’t want to let go. For a moment, we stay like that, wrapped up in each other, until he grins and nudges the shopping bag on the floor toward me. “Their gifts weren’t all bad.”
I gingerly move the tissue paper aside, exposing the lacy lingerie in deep purple, like the Northmen’s team color. Micah trails a finger over the lace, his touch slow, deliberate. The nearly sheer fabric looks delicate against his rough hands, the bruised knuckles a stark contrast.
He glances at me, eyes darkening. “You’ll look fucking hot in this.” His voice is husky as his hands slide up my thighs, squeezing enough to make me shiver. “You should put this on for me now.”
I smile, loving the heat in his smoldering gaze. I’m all in for this celebration. “Sure. Let’s go to my room.”
He shakes his head. “No, let’s stay here. I like the idea of you riding me while I lean back and watch.”
I glance toward the door. My roommates could come in at any moment. “I’m not into putting on a show for them. Though they’d probably enjoy it.”
Micah pulls me closer and I straddle him. He runs a slow hand down my spine, and a shiver runs through me as I settle against him, his body firm beneath me. The heat between us is almost unbearable. His breath warms my lips before he captures my mouth. Desire pools low in my stomach.
“Come on, babe.” His voice is rough, coaxing.
“You know I always love having you on top after games.” His fingers slip beneath my shirt, brushing the bare skin at my waist, making me suck in a breath.
“And we didn’t get to do that in Chicago.
I promise I’ll make you come hard enough to be worth it.
” He smirks, tilting his hips into mine.
“Plus, your roomies assured me they’d be out until midnight. ”
Soon enough, I’m wearing a stupid grin along with the wispy bits of lace as I bounce happily on his hardness.
Micah leans back and gives me a contented smirk, the weight of his season fading away.
I forget everything other than being able to share this closeness and pleasure with my boyfriend as our gazes linger on each other and he cups my hips.
He’s all mine now. I need this, his touch, his presence, after the endless months of separation.
We’re finally here, and the pain of long distance fades away.
Micah holds me close and kisses me tenderly after we both come. “Love you, Abby sweetheart.” He presses a kiss on my forehead.
My smile is wide as I cuddle closer. “Love you, too.”
My phone beeps from where I left it on the table, and I have no desire to move. “Grab that for me, babe.” I press my cheek into Micah’s pec, reluctant to lose contact with his muscular body.
He checks my phone. “It’s Emmy, asking when you’re coming over.”
“I forgot that I was supposed to go see Emmy and Grey tonight. I can cancel.”
He squeezes my arm. “No, let’s go. It’d be good to see Greyby again. I barely got to talk to him for more than a few minutes in Chicago.”
I straighten. “You mean you haven’t seen him since you’ve been back?”
He shakes his head. “No, I came straight here from the airport.”
I raise my fist. “Yes, I beat out Greyby! You came to see me first. I win!”
Micah chuckles. “You’re cute when you’re being ridiculous.” He pulls me in for a hard kiss. “Of course you’re my number one.”
I lower my arm so I can wrap it around his neck. “Recall last summer when you called him more than me?”
Micah groans. “Yeah, I was a fucking idiot.”
“Just making sure you remember that.” I slide off his lap and grab my clothes to head to the bathroom.
He pats my butt as he passes me the delicate thong. “Put this back on.”
Fifteen minutes later, I squeeze Micah’s hand as he leads me to his Jeep, which he left parked at my apartment. It starts right up, and he grins as he pats the dashboard. “You took care of my baby. Thanks.”
“I had Grey drive it occasionally. You know I don’t like to.”
“I owe him one. Let’s grab some takeout for everyone.”
I text Emmy about our plans to pick up our favorite tacos and sit back, watching the sunset over the water. The wind rushes through my hair from the window Micah lowered.
Micah breathes in deeply as we’re stopped in traffic. “I missed this, the ocean air and seventy degrees in January. That’s just right. Not fucking zero degrees and snowing.”
He adjusts his old SCU hat he’d found in my room and my heart swells.
He looks like the SCU student I first fell for.
I squeeze his thigh, soaking in the moment.
I have everything I need. My boyfriend with me for good after one crazy, difficult, long separation.
We’d stumbled in the beginning, but we figured it out and survived.
Micah was a man of his word and called me every day after I saw him in July.
In return, I visited him and went to as many games as possible.
“You want to rent a house with a pool?” Micah asks as he slows to make a right turn. “I think that would be fun. Some outdoor space to grill would be nice.”
I smile at him. “I’m good with anything, as long as I get to be with you.”
He smiles back, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “You, too, baby. From now on, we’ll only be apart if I’ve got an away game.”
“Sounds perfect.”
Micah takes my hand, and I lean back, warmth spreading through me.
I wasn’t sure we’d make it. The wind rushes past us, but with his hand in mine, all doubt vanishes.
No more second-guessing. No more waiting.
No more wondering. This is it. The next chapter of my life is here, and he was worth the wait.
HL Miller is a romance author who draws inspiration from both sports and love, blending the two in her steamy novels featuring cocky, irresistible athletes.
Residing in the DC area, she is a loyal Commanders fan.
When she’s not immersed in reading or sports, she enjoys indulging in Asian dramas and sci-fi adventures.