Chapter 14
MICAH
I’d been making plans for weeks, but things were finally falling into place.
I’d spent this past week quietly finalizing the details, working the phones in the dark while she slept against my chest, talking to a friend of a friend who owed me a favor.
Rylin had no clue what I’d been doing, and I just hoped she wouldn’t be pissed that I’d kept it from her.
That she’d understand I wanted to protect her from the disappointment and heartbreak if things didn’t work out.
Rylin hadn’t said it out loud, but I’d seen it in her face, felt it in the way she curled tighter in my arms at night, how she lit up when she got a text from her sister, and how she always looked defeated and sad at the end of it.
She needed Reese close, not just to protect her, but because she simply missed her sister.
It killed me to see Rylin worrying about Reese, constantly fighting the guilt she felt at leaving her behind.
Even though Reese understood that Rylin had done what was best for both of them.
Reese saw in Rylin the same things that I did, the person I was hoping she was beginning to glimpse through my eyes.
The place I found for Reese was tiny and nothing fancy.
I knew neither of them would allow me to set Reese up in a luxury apartment.
It was a 250-square-foot studio with scuffed hardwood floors and paint that needed a little love.
But the neighborhood was solid, and it was a five-minute walk from The Tight Line.
And by some fucking miracle, it was rent-controlled and affordable enough that Reese could handle the rent while working at the delicatessen.
Although I had every intention of eventually pushing for Reese to attend college full-time.
Once Rylin was moved in and had a ring on her finger, I’d be able to whip out the “what’s mine is yours” argument.
Because her family was my family. And I reserved the right to take care of my family.
Now, everything was set. Paperwork signed. Deposit handled. Utilities transferred. I’d even stocked the place with groceries. Not much, just enough so her sister didn’t walk into a dead fridge.
It was finally time to tell Rylin about the plans I’d put in motion.
We were snuggled up on the couch, enjoying our last night together before I had to fly out for our next game. I wrapped my arms tighter around Rylin and placed a soft kiss on her neck.
“I have something to tell you,” I confessed.
She turned her head slightly and blinked as she leaned back, her forehead wrinkling. “Okay. Is something wrong?”
Shaking my head, I murmured against her ear, “No. Although I’m not sure if you’re going to be mad at me for overstepping.”
Rylin’s confusion was clear on her face, but so was her suspicion. “Micah Daughtry, what did you do?”
I decided to simply be blunt. “It’s time to go get Reese.”
“What do you mean?” she asked, her brow rising.
“I mean, I found her an apartment here in the city, Close to The Tight Line. Close to us.”
“Wait, what?” Her voice was breathless. “You found her a place?”
“It’s all set. The place is hers. I picked up the keys today.
” I explained about everything, including that Tammi had been completely on board with hiring Reese so she’d already have a job when she got here.
And the sisters would get to work together.
“We’re going to pick her up and move her in once I’m back from the game. ”
Rylin was still in my arms, her lips parted, eyes searching mine like she was trying to figure out if I was messing with her. “You’re serious.”
“Of course I am, baby. You think I would fuck with you about this?”
“Holy cow!” She launched into me, her arms twining around my neck as her whole body wrapped around mine like a vine, and she buried her face under my chin. “You—thank you. I mean it. Thank you! I didn’t know how I was going to pull it off.”
“You were going to try, though, weren’t you?” I murmured, grinning as I tucked a hand under her ass and sat back deeper on the couch, cradling her in my lap.
“I...” She sighed. “I thought maybe I had enough saved up to at least get a small truck and bring her back. But I didn’t know what to do with her since my tiny studio is already so crowded.
And I didn’t think my roommate would be okay with yet another person taking up the limited space.
I thought maybe she could get a job at the deli, but I didn’t want to assume.
And I had no idea how the heck I would be able to come up with an apartment deposit—which I will totally be paying you back for.
” Her eyes were narrowed, and her tone said she wasn’t going to cave on the issue.
Not a fucking chance in hell. But I just nodded. “I figured. That’s why I didn’t wait. Just made it happen.”
Her hands cupped my jaw, eyes glassy and bright. “I can’t believe you did this for me, Micah. Having my sister safe, close to me, it’s…I have no words.” She popped a quick kiss on my mouth and smiled. “You’re kind of perfect, you know that?”
“I mean, I wouldn’t say perfect…”
“You’re a sexy, generous pain in the ass,” she muttered, dragging her fingers through my hair. “But yeah, also kind of irresistible.”
My brow lifted, heat coiling low in my body. “Irresistible, huh?”
She rolled her eyes and giggled, then kissed the smirk off my face. “Is that all you got from what I said?”
“No.” I brushed my lips down her neck. “But I think we should focus on that part anyway.”
The following morning, she helped me pack for the trip. Her eyes were a little too shiny when I zipped the duffel closed, and I caught her fingers clenching on the hem of my hoodie like she didn’t want to let go.
“You okay, baby?”
She nodded fast, then shrugged and glanced away. “I just…I’ll miss you.”
“Hey.” I tilted her chin up until her gaze met mine. “You don’t have to. I’ll only be gone for two days. And I’ll call, text, even send filthy voicemails if that’s what gets you through.”
Her eyes twinkled. “Promise?”
“On my fucking life.”
She stretched up and kissed me again, and when she pulled back, her voice dropped into something lower and steadier.
“I love that you get to do what you love, Micah. Even though I’ll miss you, I’m so happy for you, and I would never wish for you to stay and give up what you’ve worked so hard for.
Especially when you’ve been nothing but supportive of my dreams.”
My throat tightened as I gripped her waist and yanked her against me. “Dammit, Rylin. I don’t deserve you.”
“Sure you do.” Then she winked adorably. “As long as you win the game.”
I laughed, then kissed her like I was marking my territory and headed out before I gave in to my desire and got fined for being late to the plane.
The game was hard and rough. The other team fought for the win, but the Nighthawks were a force to be reckoned with, and we fucking crushed them in the end.
But damn, it had come with a price. Not one guy who’d been on that field wasn’t feeling the pain, not that it would stop us from giving our all again in game six.
The minute the game was over, I texted her and asked if I’d earned a reward for all my hard work.
She’d responded with a picture of a negligee laid out on our bed that had my head spinning.
Well, fuck. If that was what I earned for giving everything I had on the field, every ache, bruise, and injury would be so fucking worth it.
Pulling up in front of Rylin’s childhood home, the heartbreak and desperation were clear.
I didn’t need to go inside to feel the damage.
The whole place reeked of it—pain soaked into the walls, bad decisions stacked in corners, and silence where there should’ve been laughter.
But I’d planned ahead, making sure that this went as smoothly as possible, with no drama, and no opportunity for the relationship between Denise and her daughters to be fractured even further.
She wasn’t home. I’d gotten her out with a job interview across town—a real one.
Someone owed me a favor, and I’d cashed it in without a thought.
I needed her to be gone for a few hours, but the truth was, I actually hoped she got the job.
Maybe she would get her head out of the fucking bottle and put the pieces of her life back together.
Then perhaps, one day, she could begin to repair what she’d broken and have some kind of relationship with Rylin and Reese.
For now, it was time enough to pack Reese and get her the fuck out.
Movers showed up ten minutes after we did.
They were fast and efficient. I supervised the activity while Rylin helped her sister gather the things she wanted to take in the car with us.
Their eyes kept darting every time a box was carried out the front door, like they still couldn’t believe this was actually happening.
Reese was smaller than I expected. A few inches shorter than Rylin, with a daintier frame, but I saw the same steel under Reese’s soft exterior that lived in Rylin.
Reese’s eyes were also hazel, and they had the same brown hair, but she had a sassier mouth.
She had a bright, crooked smile that made me want to ruffle her hair and tease her as any big brother would.
On the drive back to Manhattan, Reese asked what felt like all the questions.
“So you just…found me an apartment? Like, poof, here’s a place to live?”
“I don’t do poof.” I flicked a wry glance at her through the rearview.
“You really think I can afford the rent?”
“I’ve taken care of the first month, but you should be able to take over after a few weeks working at The Tight Line.
And though it’s not necessary, you can pay me back.
Also, it’s rent-controlled, so it’s cheaper than most places in the city and won’t ever get more expensive.
” That had been a little tricky, since rent-controlled apartments were technically only allowed to be passed to a family member who had also lived there for at least two years.
But I’d promised the landlord that if Reese lived there for more than two years, I would pay the difference between her rent and market value.
Then, once Reese moved out, he could officially raise the price, and I would pay it until he had a new tenant in place.
Once we had an agreement, he’d fudged the paperwork—not something I felt either woman needed to know at the moment.
“And it’s in a safe area, close to work, and an easy train to our place. ”
“Our place?” she drawled, her tone full of amusement.
Rylin jumped in with a nervous laugh. “No, um, he meant his place. It’s just that I stay there a lot and, um, you know. Slip of the tongue.”
“No, it wasn’t,” I grumbled. “If you weren’t so damn stubborn, you’d already be living there full-time.” My mouth kept running without my permission. “And just so you know, it’s going to happen. Sooner rather than later. Told you, I’m not letting you go.”
Rylin’s jaw dropped, and Reese grinned wide. “Wow. You really are in love with my sister.”
Rylin groaned beside me, pink blooming in her cheeks as she buried her face in her hands. “For crying out loud, Reese…”
“What?” her sister giggled. “He’s head over heels. Look at him. Guy’s probably already picked out a ring.”
I didn’t deny it. Reese was one hundred percent correct. But I just smiled and took hold of Rylin’s hand, resting our intertwined fingers on my thigh. Letting her stew on the idea while her sister continued giggling in the back seat.
Later that night, after Reese was settled, I walked into our bedroom with a small bag hanging from my fingers.
Rylin sat on the edge of the bed in pajama shorts and one of my old Nighthawks hoodies, brushing out her damp hair. She looked up, sleepy but curious.
“What’s that?”
“Something for you.” I winked as I handed it over.
She pulled out a jersey and unfolded it slowly, her breath catching when she saw her name on the front and mine—along with my number—on the back.
“You made me a jersey?”
“Figured if you’re gonna come to your first game, you should be repping it properly.
” I stepped between her knees and wrapped my hands around her waist, helping her to her feet.
Then I curled my arms around her and smirked as I stared down into her gorgeous eyes.
“Besides, this way, everyone knows you’re mine. ”
Her smile lit up the whole damn room, then she sniffed haughtily, making me chuckle.
“Who said I was coming?” she sassed.
I grinned. “You’ll definitely be coming tonight, baby. But I also want you at the game. I want you in the stadium, screaming for me as your whole world depends on it.”
She flushed. “You think I’ll be able to focus on the game now?”
“Probably not,” I murmured, dragging my mouth over her jaw. “But I’m okay with that. As long as your focus is on me.”
She clutched the jersey tight to her chest, then looked up at me through her long lashes. “Okay.”
I kissed her, showing her my gratitude and giving her a taste of all the promises I hadn’t made yet out loud.
But I would. Soon.
Because this woman was everything. And she was mine.