Chapter 30
Cal
The second she said she was madly in love with me... my heart damn near stopped.
I stared at my phone long after the call disconnected.
She loved me.
Nia loved me.
I replayed those words over and over.
She was drunk, yeah, but alcohol didn't create feelings.
It just gave people the courage to say what they'd been too afraid to admit.
"What happened?" Jalen asked as he walked over with a beer in his hand.
I looked up.
"Nia."
His expression immediately shifted.
"What about her?"
"She's drunk."
He chuckled.
"I figured."
"She just told me she's in love with me."
He blinked.
"She what?"
I was already grabbing my keys off the counter.
"I'm going to get her."
He didn't hesitate.
"Go."
"You sure?"
"My bachelor party will survive without one groomsman."
Jalen clapped my shoulder, a proud grin on his face.
"Go get your girl."
The drive across Houston felt like the longest twenty minutes of my life.
Every red light pissed me off; every slow driver suddenly became my enemy.
My foot stayed pressed against the gas while my mind replayed her final question over the receiver: How in the hell do you think you can leave me knowing I'm madly in love with you?
I tightened my grip on the steering wheel.
Los Angeles.
ESPN.
The biggest opportunity of my career.
For weeks, I'd gone back and forth.
A national audience, a permanent seat on one of the biggest sports panels in the country—everything I'd worked for.
Everything I'd dreamed about.
But somewhere between hearing her tell me to leave a month ago and hearing her tell me she loved me tonight, the decision became unbelievably simple.
None of it mattered if I lost her.
A career could be rebuilt.
Dreams changed.
Money came and went.
But there was only one Nia.
If loving her meant turning down Los Angeles, I'd do it without thinking twice.
Twenty minutes later, I pulled into the private lot behind the club.
The bass practically shook the pavement beneath my feet.
A security guard pointed me toward the private event room after hearing Mars's name, and the moment I walked through those doors, I forgot how to breathe.
There she was, standing on the stage, laughing harder than I'd seen her laugh in years.
Jesus Christ, my mouth literally watered.
This woman did it to me every damn time.
Her curls—the curls I'd spent years running my fingers through—were gone.
Her hair fell straight down her back, silky and smooth, swaying every time she danced.
She looked absolutely stunning.
No...
She looked sexy as hell.
That little black leather dress hugged every curve I'd spent years pretending not to notice.
Her long legs stretched for miles beneath it.
Exactly how I liked them.
God help me, she was going to be the death of me.
For a second, I forgot why I came.
I just stood there watching her laugh and dance, watching the woman I'd loved since we were teenagers finally look free again.
Work wasn't weighing her down; stress wasn't stealing her smile.
She was just... happy.
I'd missed this version of her more than she'd ever know.
"Wooo!" she yelled as she spun around the pole.
I laughed despite myself.
She was absolutely gone.
I made my way through the crowd, stopping briefly to dap up Jalen's cousins and embrace Pepper Swanson, before heading straight for the stage.
Before Nia could even protest, I wrapped an arm around her waist and lifted her clean off the stage.
She squealed.
"Cal!"
The next thing she knew, she was slung over my shoulder.
"Where are you taking me?" she laughed, smacking my butt.
"Put me down!"
"No."
She smacked me again.
"I said put me down!"
"Nope."
She giggled into my back, her resistance melting completely.
"I don't like you."
"Liar."
"I do like you."
"I know."
She grew quiet for a second, her cheek resting against my spine.
"I love you."
I closed my eyes for the briefest moment, a fierce rush of emotion tightening my chest.
Lord... don't let this woman forget a single thing she says tonight if she doesn't mean it.
I carried her out to the parking lot, carefully set her on her feet, and opened the passenger door.
She looked up at me and smiled.
"What a gentleman."
I reached across her and buckled her seatbelt while she watched me the entire time.
"So handsome," she mumbled.
I shook my head, fighting a smile, before walking around to my side and starting the truck.
The second the music came on, she cranked the volume all the way up.
"Oh no..."
I groaned.
"Oh yes!"
She started singing at the top of her lungs, completely off-key, dancing in the passenger seat like she was headlining a sold-out concert.
I couldn't stop smiling.
This was the woman I loved—every single version of her.
The stubborn one, the competitive one, the brilliant one.
The one who challenged me every chance she got, the one who laughed until she snorted, and the one currently butchering Beyoncé at full volume without a single care in the world.
I glanced over at her as she belted out another lyric with both hands in the air.
God, I loved her.
Tonight, I was making this right.
Once and for all.
When we finally reached the long, winding driveway to my house, I shifted the truck into park and hurried around to her side.
I opened the door, and one long, toned leg stretched out first before she slipped her hand into mine to steady herself.
She let out the cutest little yawn as she stepped onto the concrete.
"Whew," she sighed dramatically.
"Being the next up-and-coming singer is exhausting."
She lifted one eyebrow as if she'd just finished selling out an arena tour.
I couldn't help but laugh.
"You've had quite the concert tonight."
She nodded proudly.
I smiled, shaking my head as I laced my fingers through hers and led her toward the front door.
The moment I unlocked it, Brookie came barreling down the hallway, her tail wagging so hard her entire body moved with it.
"There she is!" Nia squealed.
Brookie jumped onto her hind legs, and Nia immediately dropped to her knees, peppering kisses all over her face while giggling.
"I missed you too, girl."
Brookie answered with a happy bark before licking the tip of her nose.
"I know."
Another kiss.
"I missed you too."
Watching them together made my chest tighten.
Even my dog adored her.
Nia kicked off her heels with a relieved sigh, leaving them by the front door before padding barefoot across the hardwood like she'd never stopped living here.
She knew exactly where everything was.
Without asking, she wandered into the kitchen, opened the refrigerator, grabbed a bottle of water, and took a long drink.
She looked around the room thoughtfully before a slow grin spread across her lips.
"You know..."
She pointed the water bottle at me.
"I remember the last time we were standing in a kitchen like this."
I leaned against the island, already knowing exactly where her mind was heading.
She was thinking about the night at her townhouse.
She smirked.
"You couldn't keep your hands off me."
I laughed, rubbing the back of my neck.
"Alcohol really makes you honest, doesn't it?"
For a split second, my mind drifted back to the heat of that counter, but I quickly shoved the memory aside.
Tonight wasn't about chasing another physical distraction.
It wasn't just about chemistry or desire; I wanted something bigger.
Something that lasted after the butterflies settled and the adrenaline wore off.
I wanted her trust back.
I wanted her heart.
More importantly, I wanted her to know she already had mine.
She tilted her head, studying my expression.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
I smiled softly.
"Because I've missed you."
Her playful smile faltered.
"So much, Nia."
She slowly lifted the bottle back to her lips, taking another long sip before capping it and setting it on the island.
"Wanna take a dip?" she asked casually, turning toward the sliding glass doors leading to my backyard.
"Nia..."
She only smiled over her shoulder, completely unbothered by my hesitation.
"I've missed this pool."
I followed behind her, a familiar blend of amusement and anticipation kicking into my ribs.
The backyard lights illuminated the heated pool, steam dancing across the surface as the cool November air rolled through the trees.
She stopped right at the edge of the stone patio.
Without an ounce of hesitation, she let her black leather dress slide from her shoulders, stepping out of it entirely.
I rubbed a hand across my jaw.
Lord, have mercy.
Thank God for privacy fences.
She laughed at the look on my face before diving into the water with a graceful splash.
A few seconds later she resurfaced, pushing her hair back.
The silk press was already surrendering to the water.
Slowly...
Her curls began reclaiming their place.
I smiled to myself.
There she is.
The woman I'd fallen in love with.
I kicked off my shoes, peeled off my shirt, and climbed into the pool after her.
The warm water instantly wrapped around me.
She dipped beneath the surface again before emerging a few feet away.
Water rolled down her face as she brushed her curls away from her eyes.
Those big brown eyes settled on me.
Soft.
Sleepy.
Yearning.
"You know..." she said with a teasing smile.
"I'm not as drunk as you think I am."
"Oh yeah?"
I drifted closer.
"Yeah."
I stopped just in front of her.
"Okay."
"What did you say to me on the phone?"
She didn't even hesitate.
"About how I couldn't believe you'd leave me here knowing I'm madly and utterly in love with you?"
My heart skipped so hard it almost hurt.
"Yeah..." I said quietly.
"That."
She held my gaze.
"I meant it."
The world around us disappeared.
The music.
The party.
Los Angeles.
Everything.
It was just us.
Floating beneath the glow of the backyard lights.
Face to face.
Close enough that I could feel her breath every time she exhaled.
"Nia," I said softly.
"I don't know how much of tonight you'll remember tomorrow, but I need you to hear me anyway."
She never looked away.
"I said it once, Nia, and I will spend every day of the rest of my life proving it to you if I have to.
I am so deeply in love with you.
I'm not just asking for a chance; I’m asking for the privilege of holding your heart.
I want every single version of you.
The brilliant woman who challenges me, the one who laughs until she cries, the one who works herself to exhaustion, and the vulnerable one who tries so hard to pretend she’s stronger than she is.
I don't just want the easy parts.
I want the life that comes with loving you—the quiet, ordinary Tuesdays, the holidays, the arguments, and the celebrations.
I want all of it.
Because a life without you isn't a life at all.
I need you."
Her expression softened.
The teasing disappeared from her face.
"How can I trust that you won't hurt me?" she whispered.
Tears gathered in her eyes.
It had been so long since I'd seen her cry.
A lot of people saw Nia this strong and unbreakable woman.
But, I knew better.
I'd seen every side of her.
The fearless competitor.
The little girl who cried because the boys on our block said basketball wasn't for girls.
The woman who carried everyone else's burdens before her own.
I gently reached up and tucked one damp curl behind her ear.
"I can't promise life won't hurt us."
"I can't promise we'll never disagree."
"But I can promise you this."
"I will never intentionally be the reason your heart breaks."
"There isn't another woman on this planet who makes me feel what you make me feel."
"I've spent weeks thinking about Los Angeles."
She searched my face.
"I already made my decision."
Her eyebrows pulled together.
"What?"
"If the choice is between the biggest opportunity of my career..."
I took both of her hands in mine.
"...or the chance to spend the rest of my life with you..."
I smiled.
"I'm choosing you."
"Every single time."
"Cal... I can't make you choose between me and Los Angeles."
She slowly shook her head.
"That wouldn't be fair."
I smiled.
"You still don't get it."
She frowned.
"Then help me understand."
"I don't need to sit on a panel with a bunch of elites to prove I know sports."
"I've already done that.
My platform is mine.
My voice is mine.
I built every inch of it from the ground up.
I don't need another network to tell me I'm good enough."
She searched my face.
"My life is here."
"My family is here."
"My career is here."
I reached for both of her hands beneath the water.
"And the woman I love is here."
"I'm not leaving Houston and I'm not leaving you."
Fresh tears spilled down her cheeks.
"Cal..."
Before another word could leave her lips, she closed the distance between us.
Her mouth found mine.
Soft.
Sweet.
Gentle.
There was no urgency.
No desperation.
No fire threatening to consume us.
Just two people who'd finally stopped running from what had always been right in front of them.
A wave of peace settled over me unlike anything I'd ever felt.
I slowly looked up toward the night sky.
"Thank you, God," I whispered.
She pulled back just enough to smile.
"What?"
I laughed softly, resting my forehead against hers.
"I prayed for this moment.
I prayed for you."
She smiled through her tears.
"I prayed that somehow God would bring us back to each other."
Her eyes glistened beneath the pool lights.
I brushed my thumb across her cheek.
I kissed her forehead.
Then her nose.
Then her lips again.
Slow kisses.
Patient kisses.
The kind that spoke louder than words ever could.
For the first time since all of this started...
There was no fear between us.
We stayed in the pool until our fingers wrinkled.
Eventually we climbed out, wrapped ourselves in oversized towels, and ordered enough takeout to feed an entire basketball team.
She stole fries off my plate after insisting she wasn't hungry.
I pretended to be offended.
She laughed so hard she nearly choked on her drink.
We curled up on opposite ends of the couch.
Five minutes later she was tucked against my side anyway.
SportsCenter replayed J5's return game while we debated every possession like we always had.
She argued one of the late fourth-quarter calls while I told her she was absolutely blind.
She shoved my shoulder, and I couldn't help but laugh.
It felt so normal, so us, like the last month had never happened.
Somewhere during another replay, her head slowly found my shoulder.
The room fell quiet as I glanced down to find her fast asleep, completely at peace, like she'd always belonged there.
I kissed the top of her head and pulled the blanket a little higher around us.
This was what I'd been chasing all along.
Not television contracts.
Not bigger stages.
Not Los Angeles.
Just this.
The quiet moments.
The ordinary nights.
The woman I loved asleep beside me.
Maybe that was the lesson hidden beneath all the dreams I'd spent years chasing.
Sometimes life isn't about making the safe play.
Sometimes you have to risk everything for what matters most.
Sometimes...
You spend years preparing for the biggest opportunity of your career...
Only to realize the greatest decision you'll ever make is simply playing for a shot at the woman who's owned your heart all along.