Fair Catch (Love and Sports Series) (32 page)

             
After they fully satisfied themselves, Lexi planted herself on top of him. Her head was on his chest and her hand was making circles on his bare skin.

“I’m sorry.” She softly said. “I don’t handle
unplanned situations very well and was scared, scared as to what was going to happen to us.”

             
He kissed her head, losing himself in the scent of her hair. “It’s ok baby but next time can we try to act like rational adults?”

             
She giggled into his chest. “But then we wouldn’t be able to have amazing make up sex.”

             
He laughed. “We don’t need to get in a fight to have amazing sex and you know that.”

             
She playfully swatted his chest. “Are you implying I am a bit of a slut, Mr. Taylor?”

             
“No, not at all.” He said while tickling her sides. She squealed and lifted off his chest. He instantly missed her warmth. “Hey, where are you going? I was comfortable.”

             
She sashayed over to the bathroom and said, “I feel like taking a shower.” She winked at him over her shoulder and turned on the shower. He shot out of bed, grabbed another condom and followed the love of his life into the shower, where they made love again. Jake thought afterwards when he was holding Lexi in his arms how he was going to propose to her. It had only been a couple of months for them but being with her had been the best couple of months of his life.

             
He wasn’t going to propose right away, no he would propose as a graduation present. Until then, he would soak up every last bit of Lexi and remember the free moments they had together because once he was drafted, he knew he was going to be away from her more than he wanted but since she would be with him, he knew everything would be alright.

                                                        ***             

              Lexi popped out of the shower, put on her boxer shorts and a tank top. She threw her hair up in a towel and put some lotion on her face. She ran Jake into the ground today at the indoor track. She joined him for about seventy five percent of his workout but then held back since her season was beginning so she didn’t want to wear herself out.

             
She had Jake do timed fifties and in between he ran through ladders, small hurdles and hoops so he could work on improving his footwork, something that saved him while trying to find a receiver to pass to. After the workout, they both went to their separate apartments to get ready for the school week. Lexi felt empty not having Jake around but knew it was good to have some time apart. Margo was tucked away in the room, most likely getting ready for the school week as well. They had a lot to do before their trip to Texas.

Luckily Lexi was able to get a jump start on her classes during the break like she always did before the season. If she started ahead of time it was hard for her to fall behind during the
season because she was already a step in front of her classmates.

             
Lexi pulled off her towel, ran mousse through her hair and then twisted it up into a messy bun. Her hair would be in perfect waves in the morning. She brushed her teeth and went to get in bed when she stopped in her tracks and raised her hand to her chest.

             
“Jesus, Jake you scared me.”

             
Jake was lying on her bed, wearing his gym shorts and t-shirt with his hair wet clearly from a shower. She could smell his soap from where she stood and it was intoxicating as hell. It was like it radiated off his body, wrapped itself around her and pulled her in.

             
“Sorry, babe.” He held out his hand for her to come to him. She reached out and he pulled her down on the bed.

             
“I thought we were going our separate ways tonight.”

             
“That was a stupid plan.” He said while nuzzling her neck, sending chills down her legs. “So I made the executive decision and came here. Do you mind?”

             
He was so cute, he looked so concerned, it tore at her heart. “Of course I don’t mind. This is a lovely surprise. Did you get all you needed to get done though?”

             
The Scouting Combine was in a week, while she was in Texas of course and they both worked hard at getting ready and making sure their classes they were missing were being recorded for them.

             
“Everything is done, except for one thing.”

             
She pushed at his chest so they were sitting up on her bed. She put some space between them. “Jake, we said we would get our stuff done tonight. What did you need to get done?” She felt like his mother but she didn’t care, she was trying to take care of him.

             
He smiled at her and pulled something out from under her covers. “The last thing I had to do was give this to you.” He handed her a velvet box.

             
She looked up at him in shock to meet his face which was grinning like a gorilla. “Jake, what is this?”

             
“Open it and find out.” He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her back into his chest so he was looking over her shoulder while she opened the gift.

             
She tore the ribbon off that was wrapped around the special box you could only get at a jeweler’s and opened it slowly. She knew it wasn’t a ring because the box was too big and also because that would be crazy. Too crazy but she thought about how her answer would be yes, an instant yes. She didn’t even have to think about it. She had known for a while now that she would marry Jake. One day she would be Mrs. Lexi Taylor. She liked how is sounded.

             
She opened the top of the box and saw a brilliant diamond heart necklace in the box. She choked on her words. She didn’t know what to say. The necklace was white gold and the heart had individualized baguette diamonds layering on the inner part of the heart making the light reflect beautifully off the piece of jewelry.

             
She covered her mouth with her hand and shook her head. “Jake, I don’t know what to say.”

             
He took the heart out of the box and put it around her neck. “Say you like it.”

             
“Jake, I love it and I love you.” He clasped the necklace together and kissed the side of her neck. She grabbed his head from behind and brought his lips to hers while she leaned back into his chest. She lost herself in his lips, relishing in the fact that she had an amazing man who cared for her and cared enough to buy her such a precious gift.

             
When their lips parted for a second he said, “I love you too, baby. Now when we’re a part, you will still have my heart with you.”

             
Lexi touched the necklace and looked into his eyes, his beautiful green eyes. “Thank you so much. This means so much to me.”

             
He leaned in and stole another kiss. “I’m glad. You better not forget about me now when you are on your long trips away from me.”

             
Lexi laughed and spun around so she was straddling his lap. “I could never forget about you.”

             
“I hope that’s the truth.” He pulled her tighter against his body and they lost themselves in each other. They spent the rest of the night, not relaxing like they told each other they were going to do, no they spent the rest of the night losing more calories than ever. A skill they perfected masterfully together.

Chapter 14

              “You all ready to go?” Mason asked Jake when Jake let Mason in his apartment.

             
Jake surveyed his bags and let out a long breath. “I think so.”

             
“Did Lexi take off already?”

             
“Yea, she is on a plane right now headed to Texas. I was clocking her the other day around the bases and she had some of the best times of her career. She is ready for the season.”

             
Mason grabbed one of Jake’s bags and headed out to his car. Jake followed right behind him while locking up his apartment.

             
“When is she not ready for the season? You have never seen her play before have you?”

             
Jake shook his head in shame. He hated how he never knew Lexi until their last year in college. He was mad at himself for being so self-absorbed for not attending any other games outside of basketball. He should have been going to track meets, soccer games, and everything else. Instead when he wasn’t practicing he was partying, no wonder he never really ran into Lexi. Her work ethic was completely different than his up until this year. She rubbed off on him and made him work harder than he ever had before. He knew he was ready for the Scouting Combine because of her and Mason, of course.

             
“I’ve never seen her play. It kills me that I’ve been such a bastard the past three years.”

             
They threw his gear in Mason’s trunk and got in the car. When Mason turned on his car, the newest Pitbull song came blaring through the speakers. Mason quickly turned down the music and turned to Jake. “That’s embarrassing.”

             
Jake just laughed and shook his head. “Pitbull? Really?”

             
Mason shrugged and pulled out of the parking space. “What? He’s worldwide, he gets me pumped up.”

             
“Maybe try some Queen or classic rock.”

             
“Oh please, you can’t tell me you don’t like listening to Pitbull especially at the bars when you’re dancing with hot chicks.”

             
“I’m only dancing with one hot chick these days.”

             
Mason nodded in agreement. “And she is one hot chick. I didn’t know the girl could get any more toned until I came back from break. Does she have a twelve pack or something?”

             
Normally Jake would punch Mason’s lights out for talking about Lexi’s body but Jake was distracted about the thought of her being naked in his arms. She was toned but then curvy in all the right areas. Her stomach was flat and chiseled as well as her arms but her ass was a perfect little bubble and her breasts were amazingly plump for her size. Jake felt himself get aroused just from the thought of her.

             
“Earth to Jake.” Jake shook his head and tried to forget about Lexi being naked since he didn’t want to embarrass himself. “Dude, you’re so gone with her.”

             
Jake agreed. “I am. I can’t help it. I’m going to ask her to marry me.” Mason almost crashed the car on the side of the road from Jake’s proclamation. “Watch it man. I would like to make it to the airport in one piece.”

             
“Are you really? You’re going to ask Lexi to marry you?”

             
“Yes.”

             
“When?” Mason’s voice went an octave higher when he asked the question. It was as if he was the one doing the proposing, not Jake.

             
“You know you’re not the one doing the asking right?”

             
“No shit, dumbass. It’s just a very big step. I’m not even there with Brooke, yet. Close but not there.”

             
“Why not?”

             
Mason ran his hand through his hair. “I’m just not ready for that kind of commitment. I mean I love her, more than anything but I’m not ready to tie the knot.” Mason paused for a moment and drove in silence. Then he spoke up, “Plus, we haven’t been as close as we used to be. She’s been acting weird lately. I don’t know if it’s because of graduation or what but she’s been distant lately.”

             
Jake did notice that Mason had been hanging out solo a lot more than he used to. The last couple of nights it had been him, Lexi and their third wheel Mason. They didn’t mind but Jake and Lexi had to start setting boundaries if their nights were going to continue like the way they had been. Jake enjoyed Mason’s company but he enjoyed Lexi’s a lot more and he enjoyed Lexi’s “special” attention a lot more which she couldn’t give Jake when Mason was around.