Chapter 29 Nolan

Chapter 29

Nolan

The playoffs were already the best part of the season. There was an elevated energy about those few weeks that everyone brought—the fans, the players, the rest of the organization—and I felt like I was floating on cloud nine not only because we'd secured the first seed, but also because I'd gotten to wake up almost every morning after New Year's to Lottie's beautiful face while she slept next to me in bed.

Every morning I got to roll over in bed and watch her sleep, so peaceful and unburdened from any of the responsibilities that she carried throughout the day. I noticed I was beginning to see Lottie grow less guarded as the days passed and, in turn, I felt the same happening in myself.

The normal pressure that came with the postseason wasn't there this year. There was only a mixture of excitement and acceptance—excitement for the weeks to come and acceptance that the biggest and most important chapter of my life was coming to an end within these next few weeks. But most importantly, excitement for the first time in years for what was next.

"Do you want a coffee?" Lottie asked from my kitchen where she was getting ready to head to the training facility.

I finished tying my shoes before walking out of the bedroom to greet her. Somehow, this early in the morning, Lottie looked like she was ready to walk a red carpet. Her hair was pulled back into a sleek ponytail, her face was clean and glowing, and she somehow made her workout clothes look like high fashion. I wanted to thank my lucky stars that somehow the universe had decided I could finally convince Lottie I was worthy of her time after working so hard to be patient enough to let her come to that decision on her own.

"I'd love coffee," I said as I came up behind her as she reached up into the cabinet where I had my travel mugs. She stretched up onto her tiptoes, the hem of her sweatshirt rising to show off a strip of skin on her stomach. I gently slipped one hand along the exposed skin as I reached above her to grab the travel mugs she was trying to reach.

"Thank you." She gave me a smile over the side of her shoulder that had me wishing the two of us could ditch our responsibilities for the day and stay in bed.

"You are very welcome," I told her as I dipped my nose into the slope of her neck and shoulder before placing a gentle kiss just under her ear.

Lottie turned around in the small space she had between the edge of the counter and my body. She draped her arms over my shoulders and her fingers threaded themselves in the hair at the nape of my neck. She pulled on the back of my neck until her lips fit perfectly into mine. I had been a ship lost at sea until I realized that Lottie was my shining light in the distance, bringing me home.

In one quick movement, I lifted her onto the counter. She hooked her legs around my waist and pulled me nearly flush to her body. My hand caressed her cheek down to the swoop of her shoulder and the curve of her waist until she decided to playfully bite at my lip.

Game on.

"I think we have a few minutes until we need to leave," I mumbled against her lips.

Lottie playfully swatted at my chest to try and put some separation between the two of us again. "Nolan, we have to get your run in."

"Running is just cardio, and I have a better idea for how we can get some cardio in."

Lottie barked out a laugh at my poor attempt to convince her to stay home and steal just a few more moments for the two of us.

"Nolan, we can't—" Lottie tried to get out between kisses.

I pulled back again and gave her my best devilish smile. "And who says we can't?"

"Me!" Lottie gasped when I slid my hands underneath her ass and lifted her off the counter. "I say we can't."

I placed a kiss on her lips with each step I carried her back toward the bedroom. By the second kiss, Lottie was no longer protesting skipping our morning run in lieu of something a little more … fun.

The second we passed over the threshold of my bedroom, the rest of the world faded away. It was only me and Lottie and there was nowhere else in the world that I wanted to be.

Now that she and I had finally decided to give us a shot, I wanted to savor every moment we had together. So even though we did have to be at the training facility within the next hour or so, I was about to take advantage of every single second that she was willing to give me.

The sweatshirt Lottie was wearing was the first article of clothing to be discarded. Shortly after mine followed. A trail of clothing followed us to the bed as our hands scrambled over each other, yanking at each piece of clothing after the next. Lottie's thighs hit the bed and she fell back onto it, breaking our kiss.

Her ponytail fanned out around her head like a golden crown and her lips were swollen from where I'd nipped and pulled on them. She looked like a goddess that myths would be written about. I paused for just a moment as I stood above her. If it were possible to keep a mental image forever, this moment with Charlotte Thompson would be the one I'd want to have.

All the worries I had over the legacy I wanted to leave behind slipped to the back of my mind as I realized Lottie was the only person I cared about to know me wholly and truly.

"What are you waiting for?" Lottie asked me.

"Nothing anymore now that I have you," I told her as I sank down on top of her.

The two of us together was like a dance that I had never had to learn. I knew exactly how she would move before she did. Our bodies moved in sync as her fingertips dug into the skin on my lower back to pull me closer to her.

I had never understood what it meant to make love to someone until Lottie held me in her arms with fervent intention. Only then did I understand what it meant to share something so intimate with another person.

Lottie trailed kisses across my collarbones. "We should probably get dressed," she told me.

"Just a few more minutes," I replied as I curled myself into her side and relished the feeling of her fingers running through my hair. My favorite place in the world was quickly becoming my head on Lottie's chest—the only place I felt all the stress I carried with me slowly disappear.

"Okay," Lottie whispered as her fingers continued to comb through my hair. "Just a few more minutes."

"You look like you've got a new pep in your step," Derek observed as he sidled up next to me in the hallway on our way to the practice field.

"It's playoff week. Of course I'm excited." I cast him a sideways look.

Derek's eyes narrowed as he looked me over from head to toe. "I'm not sure that's all this is. You look put together—freshly shaven, fresh haircut"—Derek leaned in closer—"and is that perfume I smell?"

The glint in his eyes told me everything. Derek was more observant than everyone gave him credit for, and he might as well run his own NFL gossip account for the way he was gathering dirt on me.

My friend gave me a pat on the back as we emerged out onto the practice field and the cold January air. There were a few flakes of snow falling from the sky, but we would still be expected to practice since Gateway Stadium was exposed to the outside.

"Tell Lottie that I know your wardrobe and I could tell the sweatshirt she's wearing today is yours," Derek leaned in close to tell me before he ran off toward the other tight ends.

My mouth dropped open as I watched him run away from me, but not before making a mental note to never leave Derek unattended in my home again.

"How are we doing, buddy?" Hawthorn asked as he sidled up next to me. Most practices Hawthorn never did more than a few kicks, but he was fully dressed for today to work with the slippery conditions from the snow.

I could tell by the look in Hawthorn's eyes what he was getting at. "Just taking it all in," I told him. "You don't have too many of these left either."

Hawthorn shrugged. "Maybe a few more. But hell, if we happen to win it all this year, I think I may just leave it all behind and go out with you. The kids are getting older and I don't want to miss out on any more of their firsts than I have. Plus, it's time that Sarah got a chance to take on something she wants to for once instead of sitting in the backseat like she has all these years."

"You two have managed to make it work," I told him. It was amazing watching the sacrifice and love that those two showed each other year after year.

"We have," Hawthorn agreed. "But only because we understand when it's time to stop choosing ourselves and start choosing the other person. It's a give and take. We both know we each need our moments to focus on our wants and goals, but often that comes at the other person sacrificing theirs. It's time that I choose Sarah's wants and goals."

The two of us stood next to each other quietly for a few minutes as we watched the rest of the team start their warmups. "It's been an honor watching and learning from you and Sarah over the years. And it's been an honor to be able to call you a teammate and a lifelong friend."

Hawthorn stuck a hand out for me to shake before he pulled me into a hug. "The feeling is mutual. I'm excited to watch what's next for you, but I know you're in good hands."

I followed Hawthorn's gaze to where Lottie stood on the sidelines.

"You would make a fantastic coach, Nolan, and I think the two of you may just be the backbone of this team next year."

Warmth flooded my body at his compliment. "Thanks, man. That means a lot."

"Now, let's go get this shit done. It's too damn cold out here," Hawthorn told me as he pulled his helmet on.

I chuckled.

He'd never kick the stereotype of kickers being soft.