Page 129 of Foul Territory

“Let’s celebrate the same way we did our last graduation night except this time I’m keeping you in my arms forever and never letting go.”

28

KOA

“Baby,” I call out for Syd as I enter our apartment with my arms full of groceries. It’s only been a month since we moved in. It’s taken us some time but we are slowly making it our own.

I was able to get a lot of our stuff unpacked and organized when we first moved in while Sydney focused on work. I’m so fucking proud of her. I didn’t expect our guest bathroom and kitchen to turn into a science lab but I love watching her work and coming up with new products.

Working with Jade and Zoe has fueled her passion. She comes home from work with new ideas and concepts for her business. I’m back to being the thirteen year old boy hanging on her every word.

“Baby,” I yell again.What is she doing?I unload the groceries and put everything away that I won’t need for dinner. We’re still figuring out this cooking thing. We’ve managed to make a few basics like spaghetti and tacos edible. Although, even those get burned or overcooked on occasion.

I walk through our living room, passing our couch that has more blankets than available seating, and admiring all the plants she has managed to add in a tiny room.

My girl can’t cook but she can keep plants alive. They seem to multiply overnight. Every day I come home from practice or workouts and find new plants she’s ‘rescued’ from the nursery and at least two or three cups with plant clippings.

I go to our room and check the bathroom, but both are empty. Walking back to the hall, I open the door to the spare room. We haven’t been able to do much with this room yet. We’ve ordered bookshelves and a chair but everything is still in boxes.

My plan was to work on it while I waited to hear from the Cardinals. However, the call ended up coming a lot faster than we anticipated. I haven’t played a game yet but I do practice and dress for them.

As predicted, the contract wasn’t as good as the one I passed on with Colorado. But I got the better deal with the life Sydney and I are building together.

Which is proven once again when I see what Sydney is doing. “Fuck me,” I mumble to myself.

Sydney is on her knees leaning over an open box of one of the bookshelves and reading the instructions. Her ass is on full display in tiny bike shorts.

Dinner and everything else might have to wait. I readjust myself and walk into the room. She has headphones on, no doubt listening to an audiobook.

Before I can get too close, she removes her headphones and looks at me over her shoulder. “Hi,” she says, standing and slipping her arms under my shirt and around my back.

“How did you know I was in here?” I ask.

“I can feel you when you’re near me. I just know.” She shrugs. Lifting to her tiptoes, she kisses me. My hands go to her ass and I give it a pat and a quick squeeze.

“Do you want me to help you put these together?” I ask, glancing around the room.

“I don’t think so. The last time you ‘helped’ me with my bookshelves they fell apart.”

“That wasn’t just me,” I remind her. “Your brother was also to blame for that mess.”

“Oh, sure, blame the best friend,” she teases. “How come he didn’t help fix it then?”

I snag her by the waist again. “That’s because your brother doesn’t care about making you happy like I do. I don’t like seeing you upset about anything.”

“You’re too good to me,” she says. “I’m going to work on this. Unless you want my help with dinner.”

I chuckle. “No, I’m good. I’m just doing steak, potatoes, and salad.”

“Sounds yummy.”

“Come get me if you need me to hold a board or something. I don’t want you to hurt yourself,” I say, kissing her forehead.

She waves me off. “I’ve got it.” She goes back to reading the instructions and I admire her ass one last time.

Turningon some music, I busy myself in the kitchen marinating the steaks and preparing the vegetables. Sydney joins me a half hour or so later and slams her palm on the kitchen island.

“Extra pieces,” she says with a grin. I throw my head back laughing. “Do you think manufacturers do this on purpose to mess with your head?”