Running Home to You (The Running Series) (55 page)

With three full floors of living, all surrounded by thickly wooded trees and shrubs, I decide to nickname our new home The Chateau.  It’s luxurious, spacious, and we’re just here as visitors.

I make us both a big glass of freshly squeezed lemonade, and we sit out on the veranda while Maddy romps around in the backyard.  “So, tell me about your travel plans.  You’re still flying out to see Lucas, right?” I ask.

“Hells, yeah.  My flight leaves late Saturday night.  I won’t be able to join your little group at Evan’s game.  Take lots of pictures and send them to me, okay.  I wish I could get to see the inside of that fancy suite he’s got.”

“I know, but there’s going to be lots of games for us to see together.”  I think about all Auggie and I have been through together.  He has always been there for me through all of it.  I would do anything for him.  He’s one of the most important people in my life.  Suddenly, I have an idea and I can’t wait to blurt it out.

“Auggie, will you be my Man of Honor?  When Evan and I get married, I want you there, beside me.  It will be perfect.  You’ll make sure I don’t turn into one of those Bridezillas.  And I know you’ll organize the most amazing shower ever.  Please say yes.”

“Jepetto, nothing would make me happier.  One question, though.”

“Anything, ask away.”

“Who’s going to tell Emmy?  She’s already planning your bachelorette party, just so you know.”

I explain to Auggie that Evan and I haven’t even chosen a date yet, so there’s plenty of time to work out the details.  Deep down inside, I can’t help but think that maybe letting Emmy handle the bachelorette party isn’t such a bad idea.

We spend the remainder of the day wandering around Freehold Mall leisurely collecting all the things I might need.  By the time we leave Nordstrom’s, both our arms are full of bags and boxes.  I can’t help but wonder if Evan is going to regret giving me my own Visa Black Card.

Auggie drops me off at Rush.  I’m not cooking tonight.  Evan is already here, waiting for me at the bar.  A hot shiver trickles  through me when I see him.  When he spots me, he smirks, and I know exactly what he’s thinking.  He turns to welcome me, arms wide open and lips curled.  I press my mouth to his as his lips part and his tongue reaches for mine. I can’t help but drink him in. 

Forgetting we’re in a public place, I caress the nape of his neck as he holds me tightly.  “God, I’ve missed you,” he breathes onto my lips.  “I need to get you home and in bed.  It’s been entirely too long.”

“Oh, really?” I tease, feeling every bit as anxious as he.  “What do you have in mind?”

“I thought maybe you could be Little Red Riding Hood and I’d be the Big Bad Wolf trying to sink his teeth into you.”  Evan kisses my neck and nibbles on my ear.

“I don’t know,” I hiss into his ear, “the way I heard it the Big Bad Wolf was very big and very bad and he needs to be punished for his behavior.” 

Evan’s eyes grow wide with excitement.  He runs a finger seductively across my lips, down my chin, over my neck, and into the valley of my cleavage.  I grab his finger and admonish him.  “That’s exactly what I’m talking about.  This is a public place, and there will be none of that in my restaurant.”

“Uh-oh,” Evan mocks.  “I have been bad.  And I need to be stopped.  The sooner the better, before anyone gets hurt.” 

My mind drifts to images of him holding me, flesh against flesh, pressed firmly against the bed.  “Food first, I want you in top form,” I warn.

Evan grabs me by the wrist and drags me to the nearest table, a man on a mission.  “Order food, now,” he demands.

As we sit in the restaurant that we built together, sharing a meal, a warm flush runs through me.  I look into his piercing blue eyes and see him looking back at me with all the love and devotion every woman desires and deserves.  I whisper, “I love you.”

Evan grins and whispers back, “I love you more.”  It’s little moments like these that make all the difficult times bearable.  It’s because of the darker times that we have had to endure that I know how good the good really is.

The moment we finish our meal, Evan hurries me to his car and he wastes no time in bringing us home.  As he drives, his hand drifts beneath my skirt and skims the thin fabric at the juncture of my thighs, teasing me with tiny strokes.  “Drive faster,” I urge him.

Evan sits on the edge of the bed, waiting.  I slip into the en-suite bathroom to change into one of Emmy’s sexy selections.  The soft white lace reminds me of the white petals of my gardenias.  She even included a matching pair of strappy stilettos, which I know Evan will love. 

When I step out, Evan is stripped of everything except his boxers, waiting patiently for my entrance.  He watches every step I make in silence, unmoving.  I walk right up to him, hoping for a reaction, but he just stares at me, biting his lip. 

“Damn it, are you going to sit there and stare at me all night or are you going to do something?” I grumble.

He stands, looks deep into my eyes and confesses.  “Juliette, I’m trying to find the words to describe what I’m thinking, but there are none.  It’s always been you.  Even before we met, it was you.  I will never want anyone the way I want you.  I will never need anyone the way I need you.  It’s only you.  You belong to me and my heart belongs to you.”

Evan covers my lips with his and plunges his tongue deep into my mouth.  I close my eyes as a lightning bolt of energy rips through me.  My fingers dig into his skin as I kiss him back, drowning in the taste that is uniquely Evan.  His hands travel up and down my body, until I become crazed with need, until the only thing left is a painful ache to have him inside me. 

I rip his boxers from him and bring him down to the bed with me, a painful combining of needs, intense and primal, as I revel in the intensity of our lovemaking.  Pleasure crashes over me in waves, and I can hear Evan cry out as he joins me, and in that moment we are one.

He rolls over and pulls up a blanket to cover our bodies as I curl up into him. No thoughts claim me in this moment, and I treasure the deep peace I find, safe in his embrace.  I slide effortlessly toward sleep, held tightly and loved completely.

W
e arrive at the stadium in plenty of time before the kickoff.  The suite has more than enough room for the Rivera family, the Marise family, and our rather large gathering, all joined together to cheer on Evan in his debut home game. 

I tried to convince Jill and John to join us in the suite, but they flat out refused.  “I’ve been watching my boy play from the stands since he was eight years old,” John explains.  “Sitting in the stands and listening to the roar of the crowd is my favorite part of the game.  There are no better seats in the world.” 

Evan gives them his two complimentary tickets to every game.  I doubt I will ever see them up here in the suite, even in the cold throes of winter.  They are professional football fans, and it takes a lot more than cold temperatures to deter their resolve and dedication.

Shaun’s parents, brother, and sister-in-law are here.  Shaun introduced Reese to his family about a week ago.  She liked them, but she didn’t seem overly enthusiastic about it.  I think they were a little too uptight for her liking.  Mrs. Marise is a librarian in an elementary school and Mr. Marise is a Certified Public Accountant.  They are both lovely people, but painfully reserved.  I can see how Shaun developed his quiet ways.

Carlo Rivera’s wife Willow is here with her in-laws, too.  They all agreed to let Evan have the majority of the space in the suite this week.  Today, there are nine guests in our party:  Callie and Dean, Emmy and Adam, Camilla and Marcus, Reese, Derek, and me.  There’s a skeleton crew working at Rush tonight, and Marcus keeps calling the hostess to check in.

“Come on, Jette.  The best seats are outside on the deck.” Willow opens the glass door and escorts Reese and me to the private outdoor stadium seating.  “It will be too cold in December, so enjoy it now while it’s warm out.”  There are eighteen seats outside and nearly just as many indoors, too. 

“Can I get you ladies something to drink?” our waitress asks as we sit.

“I’d love a Long Island Iced Tea,” Reese requests.

“Oh, yes.  Me, too,” Willow interjects.

“Make it three.”  Seems like the perfect drink for football and fun. 

Our drinks arrive just as the team makes their way onto the field.  It’s hard to tell most players apart as they all come jogging out of the tunnel and across the field, all wearing their red jerseys, royal blue football pants, and matching helmets.  Faces are unrecognizable.  But there is one player who needs no introduction.  Leading the team is number sixteen, Evan “Big Mac” McGuire.  Emmy, Reese and I are jumping up and down screaming his name.  But our voices are drowned out as the stadium erupts into cheers and applause, chanting, “Mac A-ttack.  Mac A-ttack.”  It’s exactly as I imagined. 

By the kickoff, most of the guys have joined us on the deck.  Emmy, Camilla, and Callie stay inside and watch the game on the huge flat panel displays in the air-conditioned suite.  The Sentinels lost the coin toss, and now Troy Duffy takes the field for kickoff.  Again, the stadium explodes with excitement as the Jaguars catch the ball in the end zone.  Once the excitement dies down, we all sit back down again, watching the defensive team take the field.  I can’t take my eyes off the gorgeous quarterback standing on the sidelines, watching each play.

“You know, Jette, the game’s over there,” Derek teases, pointing to the line of scrimmage.  “Most people come to watch the game, not ogle the players.”

“Oh, yeah?  Then how come it’s okay for you to stare at the cheerleaders the whole time?  Shouldn’t you be paying more attention to the game yourself?” I point out. 

Derek just shrugs his shoulders and laughs.  “Yeah, but I’m just a guy.  I can’t help it.  We’re pigs.”  Reese rolls her eyes and gives a big huff.  She puts on a good show when it comes to Derek, but the big grin splashed across her face can’t hide how she really feels.

My heart pounds as I watch Evan strap on his helmet and take his team onto the field and into a huddle.  Evan takes his place behind the line of scrimmage and I hear his voice booming throughout the stadium, “Right arrow, right arrow, set, check check check.”  He looks up and down the field then calls, “Blue 25, Blue 25, hut, hut, HUT!”  The ball is snapped and I’m on the edge of my seat, my eyes fixed on Evan. 

Emmy grabs my arm and points to the stadium’s huge video screen focused tightly on Evan as he scans the field.  I can see the look of determination in his face as he searches for a receiver.  I feel like everything is happening in slow motion.  When he spots an open man, I see his biceps tighten as he reaches back.  Quick as lightening, he releases the ball and sends it barreling towards Shaun.  It’s a little high and Shaun has to jump for it, but he easily swipes the ball out of the air and comes crashing down under the crushing weight of two defensive tackles. 

Reese’s breath catches in her chest and I don’t see her breathe again until Carlo offers him a hand up.  Shaun tosses the ball to the refs and rejoins Evan and Carlo in the huddle.

I turn to Willow and ask, “How many more times is that going to happen?”

She laughs at my naiveté and chuckles, “Oh, not too many.  Only about sixty more plays to go.”  She sees the shock in my face and tries to calm me.  “I know it seems like a lot, but you get used to it ... eventually.”

“Sixty?  You’re kidding, right?” Reese asks, her face ashen.

“I wish I were.”

The first quarter passes by so slowly it is painful.  My heart stops with each impact, wondering which blow will deliver the most harm.  How is it possible to take three quarters of an hour for the game clock to move only fifteen minutes?  And how much punishment can one body take?

The second quarter is no better.  In fact, it’s worse.  Evan is tackled hard when he tries a rushing play through the line.  I see him struggle to get up.  Although he puts on a brave face, I can tell he’s hurt.  He hides his pain well, sucks it up and keeps on playing.  When the team leaves the field for halftime, the Sentinels are losing to the Jaguars ten to seven. 

Our waitress returns with trays of appetizers.  She barely puts the tray down when the guys attack.  You’d think they’ve never seen fried ravioli or pulled pork nachos before. 

The girls and I are tempering our drinking with rounds of bottled water.  As I begin passing out the ice-cold bottles of Perrier supplied in the suite, my phone rings.  It’s Auggie.  His plane must have landed in Alaska.

“Hey Jepetto.  We just landed in Anchorage.  I only have a minute before we take off for Seward.  I’m watching the bags while the girls get us a rental car.”  It sounds like he’s super excited.

“How was the flight?” I ask.

“Long.  I’m just glad to be on solid ground.  I can’t believe that in about three hours, I’ll be in a national park on a glacier with Lucas.  Can you believe it?”

“Call when you land, please.  And don’t forget to send pictures,” I remind him.

“You’re being very bossy for someone who was supposed to send me pictures of Evan’s fancy suite,” Auggie teases.