Chapter 7 | Carter
Carter
The festive atmosphere at the Beverly Hilton, the fake snow falling on the perimeters of the ballroom to protect guests from slipping, engendered a white Christmas in a city that didn’t snow.
I owed Mama Gwen a trip to anywhere her heart desired for suggesting I bring Brooklyn to the ESPN gala.
I’d pictured her on my arm at one of these events next year.
I’d been too consumed with being with her alone in the limited time we had because of our busy lives to invite her to an event I’d already nixed.
Since the afternoon in the hospital cafeteria when I overheard her conversation and could hear her loneliness, I’ve been hooked.
From morning to night, thoughts of her consumed me in ways that I didn’t feel for anyone else.
I’d never been afraid of relationships, but after my life with Joi soured, I started to second-guess whether I would ever have the deep love I’d envisioned for myself.
Had a glimpse with Darren, which is why we married, and I didn’t with Joi, which is why we didn’t.
Brooklyn inhabited my body, heart, and soul.
I had yet to tell her that I’d already fallen in love.
She might think it was too soon. I knew differently.
Tonight, she’d been the consummate partner for an event such as this.
Deferring to me, engaging in light banter, enough to show that she had an intelligent mind of her own, and that she belonged anywhere she chose to be.
Our tryst in the car gave her an extra glow, making her almost ethereal.
She had to be the most beautiful woman in a room full of pretty people.
She might have been the woman on my arm at a celebrity event, but Dr. Brooklyn Kelley upgraded me.
I was the lucky one. She reminded me why I was always more than an athlete and who loved science and challenged my opinions in a way that gave me pause.
Brooklyn loved football and hearing my NFL stories like my biggest fan.
We could talk nonstop or be silent. Do crossword puzzles together or play video games.
I genuinely liked Brooklyn as a person, and she was becoming a friend with whom I could confide.
She loved hearing about my children and my worries that they saw me as the good father I’d always wanted for myself.
In the picture that her mother showed me, Brooklyn exuded happiness and a sexy confidence in the simplest of outfits because her heart hadn’t been shattered yet.
The woman I met had resolved to live her life alone, though she hadn’t yet made peace with that resolution.
If she had, she would be the same person as in that photo.
I was even more determined to show her what love would be like with the right man.
We’d mingled for the last hour, and she’d managed to smile and talk with others, though I toyed with the app periodically.
Her grip tightening on my arm or hand was the only sign she gave of being pleasured.
She rushed to the restroom at one point to either relieve the pressure or clean herself.
Now her head rested on my shoulder at a table for two, and we sat close enough that I could finger her if I chose to.
Too worried that some old teammate, athlete, or sports rep would approach and want to shake my hand kept me from doing so.
Instead, the egg took care of Brooklyn while I pointed out different people to her, introducing her to my world.
I chuckled whenever her eyes rolled or she closed them briefly.
She whined, sounding like a petulant teenager. “When can we go? Because I don’t see anywhere we can slip away and fuck.”
I bent my head to hers. “You have been so aggressive this whole night. Even the alcohol didn’t relax you. I love you like this.”
She gritted her teeth. “No, the alcohol did nothing but make me want you more. Seriously, Carter, you play way too much to be all Fifty Shades on me at a crowded event.”
“Don’t pretend like I can ever make you do something you really don’t want to do.
” I sipped on expensive champagne. I’d never been a big drinker, and truth be told, it didn’t take much for me to get drunk, so I steered away from it.
“I turned it off a while ago. You’ve come so much tonight, I’m surprised you still want more. ”
Brooklyn tugged on my beard. “And I’m surprised, you don’t.”
“Trust, I can’t wait to get you alone. Just want one dance with you.”
She wrapped her arm around mine. “Not really a dancer.”
I kissed her forehead. “Not a dancer either. Want to hold you. Come on.”
Through the crowded dancefloor, I caught a glimpse of Darren.
I squinted and moved my head slightly to see if I did see her or if it was my imagination.
Over the ten years or so that she and I have been apart, we would run into each other at these events ever so often since her husband was an Olympic Gold medalist.
“Time does heal wounds,” I murmured when the crowd parted enough for me to see her and her husband.
“What?” Brooklyn asked.
Gesturing with my flute, I pointed toward where Darren and Grey danced. “My ex-wife and her husband. Used to hurt to see them together. Now, I can say I’m genuinely happy for them. They have loved each other since high school.”
“Then how did you and she end up together in the first place?” She sipped from my glass.
“He hooked me up with her in college because she crushed on me, and he wasn’t ready for a relationship. Another story, I don’t mind telling you at another time.”
Brooklyn tiptoed to kiss my cheek. “I like that we have time.”
“Me too...” Darren and Grey were headed our way. “They spotted us.”
I raised a brow. “You really ready to be in my life?”
Her eyes sparkled. “Yes.”
“Then let me introduce you and have one dance before we go upstairs to the suite I got us.”
Brooklyn squealed. “I was hoping and wishing once I realized we were at a hotel. Best news I heard all night.”
“Celebrating?” Darren asked with a curious smile. She looked pretty in a strapless blue velvet dress that coordinated with Grey’s crushed velvet tux.
“In a way...Darren and Grey, this is Brooklyn, my lady.” I smiled at Brooklyn.
Grey and I shook hands, and he pulled me in for a man hug. “St. Patrick.”
“Grant,” I called him by his government name to mess with him since he preferred Grey. Back in the day, whenever he called me by my last name, he was angry with me. Now, he did it to fuck with me. “How was the coaching camp? You know the reporter told me.”
He chuckled. “Elle got to spread the news about the family. It was good. You probably need to look into the camp. It wasn’t specific to track and field, and the universities are always looking for former NFL players to coach after what Deion has done for Jackson State.”
“Might have to just to see what coaching is all about. For now, the animal clinic keeps me busy.” I stepped to the side, and Grey greeted and hugged Brooklyn while Darren embraced her longer and whispered something in her ear.
Brooklyn’s slight frown line disappeared into a smile. “True.”
Nudging Grey’s shoulder, I teased, “Can you get your wife before she poisons my woman against me?” I took Brooklyn’s hand and pulled her to my side. “Don’t listen to her.”
Darren placed her hands on her waist. “I’m the best person to listen to. I’ve known you forever, and don’t you tell him what I said, Brooklyn.”
I placed Brooklyn behind me, playfully protecting her from Darren. “Yeah...yeah...yeah. We’re about to dance and head out. We’ve been here for a while. What time do you want me to stop by and bring the gifts on Christmas? My mother will be with me.”
“We’re home all day, and E is spending the night. Come over anytime. Would love to see your mother.” Darren smiled at Brooklyn. “You’re more than welcome to come with him and have dinner with us.”
“I have to work on Christmas. Hazards of being an ER doctor.” Brooklyn genuinely sounded disappointed, which buoyed my spirits. She then looked at me. “Another time?”
I nodded. “Of course.”
The four of us hugged again, and I led her away to dance with me.
She slid her arms underneath mine, rested her chin on my chest, and gazed up at me.
“I didn’t expect your ex to be so nice. Even her husband seemed cool.
That you can spend time with them and your children together is the ultimate sign of maturity.
My parents hate each other, and his new wife can’t stand me.
Maybe my father would’ve been more in my life if the parents in my scenario had put aside feelings for the sake of their child. ”
“Darren and I worked at it because we’d hurt our children enough with our past actions.
And even if I hated Grey, which at times I did, no one could keep me from my twins.
I used to make excuses for my father until I became one and recognized that he didn’t deserve any consideration I’d given him.
Children didn’t ask to be here, and they come first.” I swayed with her to the old-school music playing.
“My, my, my, you sho’ look good tonight. ”
“You sound good, baby.” The love she hadn’t professed stared back at me.
Instead of declaring my love, I thought of the next best thing.
“I know it’s our first New Year’s Eve together.
.. thinking I want my children to spend it with us since you can’t be with us on Christmas.
E might have plans, but I can convince him to stop by for a little while.
Elle and Sekani are more homebodies, so they’ll spend the night. ”
“The first time I saw you in the ER three years ago, you were frantic with worry because of Sekani. I started to like you for the man you are and not the athlete I’d known you to be.
To know all of you means to accept that you come with children.
I would love to meet them whenever and wherever you want me to meet them. ”
I grinned and boasted, “Oh, so you’ve been checking for me?”