Chapter 43

: Brandon

W hat the hell is taking her so long?

I mean, she was a total mess. I’ve never seen her that uncontrolled. Not when she wiped out on the treadmill. Not as the crowd was booing her walking onto the field during her first game. Not as Seamus O’Marra was groping her in front of 20,000 fans plus a live televised audience.

Something must have gone terribly wrong in Atlanta.

Andi finally walks in with a sheepish grin on her face. I don’t even let her speak. “We’ll fight this. We’ll sue. Don’t worry about lawyers. I’ll pay for them.”

She tilts her head, creasing her eyebrows. “For what?”

“Did they fire you? We’ll sue.”

Andi shakes her head.

“Why were you hysterical in my driveway?”

“Because you weren’t here.”

“I was on my way to you. I was running late.”

She laughs. “You know I hate it when people are late.”

I hold up my hands. “This time, I swear it wasn’t me. The entire flight was late. Blame the crosswinds. I know I’m full of hot air and all, but even I don’t make enough to change the flight pattern.”

“Where were you?”

“On a job interview. In California.”

Andi nods, sinking down onto the couch. “Right. The Sacramento Saints.” She blows out a long breath. “We’ll figure something out. I mean, that is, if you want to. No pressure. This isn’t really a thing. Forget I said anything. I should be going.”

I cross the room in three steps and squat down in front of her, effectively blocking her from standing up. “You’re not going anywhere. And neither am I. Not yet at least.”

“What about the Sacramento Saints?”

“If I went to the Saints, what would that do to you?”

She looks down at her hands, tightly twisted together in her lap. “I’d miss you. Long distance is hard.”

My heart catches. “What about your job? How would you ref a game if I was playing?”

She looks up at me. “I wouldn’t. I’m not going to be reffing for the MUSSL anymore.”

Shit, that’s why she’s so upset. She lost her job because of me and then thought I deserted her. “Andrew, you cannot give up your job for me.”

“It’s already done, so don’t worry about it. And before you try to tell me differently, you’re worth it. I’m not gonna say it’s fine, because we all know it’s never fine when I say that. It’s good. They’re adjusting the pay, so I won’t be making less in the WUSSL. I also won’t have to deal with assholes like O’Marra, so it’s actually good. We both win.”

I feel my face fall. How am I going to tell her?

Her expression matches my own. “Oh. Oh ... I see. I ...” She stands up, pushing me out of the way, practically climbing over me. “I didn’t mean to assume that we would be together. But I had to be upfront with them. There was a lot on the line for a lot of people, and I didn’t want to jeopardize it all by hiding us.”

“Andi, you didn’t need to do that.”

She swallows, looking around. She spies her bag in the corner and moves across the room to pick it up. “I’m sorry that I dragged you into this. Don’t worry about me. It’ll be better this way. You won’t have to see me at your games.”

She won’t let me get a word in edgewise. “Andrea, stop!” I yell, if only to get her to cease talking. “Would you let me speak?”

Her mouth snaps shut, her eyes growing wide. I’d better take my opportunity while it’s here.

“I wasn’t out talking to the Sacramento Saints. You didn’t need to sacrifice your role in the MUSSL because I’m done playing soccer.” I hold my hand up to her lips. “And before you tell me I shouldn’t have done that, yes, I should have. Soccer isn’t my passion. It never has been. And if the choice came down to you having the job of your dreams or me being in a job that I’m ambivalent about, then it was an easy decision. Anyone can see that. Even if you don’t want to be with me, you should be doing the thing you love.”

“I want to be with you,” she breathes.

That’s all I need to hear.

“Good. I want to be with you. We are together. It’s official. So as long as we’re done jumping to conclusions, can we jump into bed?”

Andi laughs. “You really are a Neanderthal, aren’t you?”

I pick her up, slinging her over my shoulder. “Let me show you the ways.”

––––––––

A NDI PULLS HER HAIR up into a ponytail, using my favorite red hair tie. “I’m never getting that back, am I?”

“Some girls steal hoodies. I steal hair ties.”

“Is this a thing you do?”

Andi laughs. “I’ve never been with anyone with long hair before. If you’d have asked me a few weeks ago, I’d have said the man bun was a deal breaker.”

“And now?” I’m propped on my elbow, our bodies flush. My hair is a mess, and in all honesty, I could use a hair tie too.

“Almost everything I thought about you was wrong, Brandon Nix.”

She’s piqued my curiosity. “What did you think about me?”

“I thought I hated you as much as I hate raisins masquerading as chocolate chips in cookies.”

I put my hand over my chest, feigning shock. “You hated me? Do you still hate me?”

She lifts her head off the pillow, her lips meeting mine. “I definitely don’t hate you.”

“I don’t hate you either.”

“Since we agree on that, are you ever going to tell me what you’re working on for a job, or are you just going to keep distracting me with your sexy body?”

“Is that what I’m doing?” I trail a line of kisses along the length of her collarbone. “I’d say you’re distracting me.”

“Brandon, just tell me!” she shrieks.

I squint at her, trying to figure out how to best deliver the news. “It’s not 100 percent finalized yet, but my agent—”

“Your dad?”

“No, I fired him. My new agent, Justice Williams, is working to get me a reality TV show deal, so it’s a good thing you told the USSLRA about us. Otherwise, they’d find out when they turn on the TV this spring.”

“What if I don’t want to be on TV?” She looks a little pale.

“You can be on as much or as little as you want.”

Andi props herself up on her elbows, forcing me to back up. I don’t like having to put space between us. I’m not sure I ever will. “What are you doing that necessitates a TV show?”

“Necessitates is a strong word.” I’m purposely being evasive because I can see how she’s chomping at the bit to know.

“What is the TV show about?”

“Me.”

“What about you?”

“You know, this and that. What I’m up to on a daily basis. That sort of thing.”

“Brandon ...”

“Andrew ...” I match her tone and expression. Except I can’t hold her stony look anymore and I start laughing. “I’m going to attempt to make history by being the first professional soccer player to also start in the National Football League as a placekicker. The show is going to follow my journey as I train and then do the combine and hopefully get a job.”

Andi sits up. “You’re going to be a football player?”

“I’m trading in my football cleats for football cleats.”

“Why?”

This is easy. “Because this way, I can do what I’ve always wanted to do instead of what my parents wanted for me. You can do what you’ve always wanted to do instead of what your parents wanted for you.”

Her eyes grow wide as her mouth falls open. I’ve rendered her speechless. For once. Time to put that ball right between the goalposts.

“And we can be together. This way, everyone wins.”