The End Zone: SPORTS ROMANCE (Contemporary Sport Bad Boy Alpha Male American Football Romance) (New Adult Second Chance Women’s Fiction Romance Short Stories) (83 page)

“Alright! Let’s get this party started!” Jameson, one of the guys from the team had a round of shots passed out to the table. We didn’t go to any club, just a regular cigar pub.

“That win was crazy! The way you stole that ball at the last fifteen seconds and brought it back down the court for that gentle three! Man that was awesome!” Neal clapped me on the back and I shrugged a bit modestly.

“It was a tough game, but I prayed and a miracle happened,” I said and my teammates all mocked me good naturedly though.

“Yeah you prayed and then the lord stepped into your shoes, that’s what happened Miles,” Brown said sarcastically and then the guys got on him for being an atheist. A few more rounds of shots and a couple of cigars later our conversation had gone from teasing and joking to talking about real stuff. We weren’t going to get Neal to open up or tell the truth if any sort of questioning came out of the blue.

“I met the little man, Caleb. He’s the coolest five-year-old I ever met,” Jameson said, he actually did meet Caleb on Saturday because he dropped by with his own family for burgers and a good time around the pool.

“Yeah…his mom is raising him good,” Neal said and it was clear to see the guilt all over his face. “I uh…I should’ve never left him…or her. Miles you—you have a really great woman you know that?” Neal said and I nodded, it was all serious at our corner. I was starting to really realize that I was wrong about Neal.

“I came back because I can provide for them now, if she needs help with anything…I got it you know? It was the whole reason I left and I was just so focused on work that I lost sight of what I ran to England for and I was just after the money. Then it hit me, there’s no substance in a mindless pursuit of success or wealth. So I got a transfer, I came here for Caleb, you know…” Neal practically poured his heart out and I realized that he just wasn’t the type to talk about his feelings or express them too much. It’s why that whole first encounter was so off…

“Damn man, I feel you. It’s a good thing you didn’t realize this too late. Be in your son’s life as long as you can you know?” Brown said and we all nodded, including Neal and kinda had a moment of silence.

“And look I know that you and Christina are pretty much knit…I don’t want to mess up her happiness and what you two have at all. But I just have to tell you that I
will
be there for Caleb, I’m not leaving again.” Neal didn’t seem even slightly drunk when he said that, he looked me in the eye and spoke to me man to man.

“Alright man, I feel you,” I said and Neal nodded, he sniffled only once, though actual tears didn’t fall. “We should probably get going…” I said and Neal nodded, the guys all murmured and mumbled the same sort of thing too. I was sure everyone wanted to be with their family after all that.

Neal and I took a cab to Christina’s, it was late, but I wanted her to hear what he told me.

“Why are we going to Christina’s?” Neal asked me and I clapped him on the shoulder.

“You gotta show her how sincere you are about this. That’s what she’s been missing this whole time,” I said and Neal nodded, I could tell he was nervous.

“The alcohol helps,” he said and I laughed.

“Man admit it; you aren’t even drunk. After shot number two you started passing them to Brown,” I said and Neal smirked.

“He can really throw them back,” he said and I laughed, Neal had
no
idea. Come the end of post season, Brown was a different man altogether.

“I’ll call Christina,” I said when we pulled up to her house. I was surprised she was still awake, in any event she answered on the second ring and I told her to come outside. A few moments later she was tiptoeing onto the small front porch and glancing in between Neal and I curiously.

“So Neal has something to convey to you…and I’d just like to say that he’s a good guy.”

After that I let them talk and went inside to change clothes and climb into Christina’s bed. She came back about thirty minutes later and snuggled right up to me.

“Thanks for doing that Miles…” she said and I hugged her close when I heard the emotion in her voice.

“I don’t think I’ve ever…seen Neal be so humble, but he’s changed so much and now I know that’s he’s for real…he’s all in with Caleb,” she said and I kissed the top of her head. “Thank you…if it weren’t for you—well I’m pretty sure I would have let my suspicion get the best of me and things could have gone a lot differently,” she said and then looked up at me.

“You know I care about you, I
had
to make sure Neal was legit,” I said and she nodded.

“He’s sleeping on the couch by the way,” she said and I smiled.

“We gotta get him set up on a date or two,” I said and Christina laughed.

“You know you’re pretty much it for me,” she said and I grinned at her.

“Right back at you baby,” I said and then pressed a soft kiss to her lips.

THE END

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