Page 61 of Over Time Advantage

She shakes her head. “Conversation is overrated. Fuck first. Talk later.”

A round of deeply satisfying bathtub sex later, we’re in her bed with my head on her bare stomach as she aimlessly runs her fingertips through my hair. Her nails gently scrape across my scalp over and over while my hand runs up and down her thigh in reverence. It’s wholly intimate. It’s my own personal paradise.

“What were you like in high school?” she randomly asks. “Were you the object of every girl’s affection?”

“I did alright.”

I can’t see her face, but I know she’s rolling her eyes. “Alright?” she says with incredulity. “A hot quarterback with tons of scholarship offers and a direct pipeline to pro football probably does more than alright.”

“You think I’m hot?” I ask cheekily.

“I think you are undoubtedly the sexiest man in existence. You look like a fuckboy, but you’re not one. I’m just wondering if you were at some point in time.”

“What’s a fuckboy?”

She giggles. “You’re also from the Stone Age. A fuckboy is what it sounds like. A guy who moves from woman to woman without any type of commitment. A boy who fucks a lot of girls.”

“Hmm, I suppose I was a little bit of that. More so in college, when it became clear I was going to get drafted and make a lot of money. That’s how it is for a lot of the better college players. It’s not as glamorous as it sounds. Women throw themselves at you just for the chance to ride your coattails. You never know who’s in your life for the right reasons.”

“And Ginny?”

“The queen of being with me for the wrong reasons. I refuse to use the word regret when it comes to her because of my kids, but my life is full of…remorse. If I could go back, I’d do it completely differently, from the woman I chose to the type of father I was when my kids were little. I’m the reason they’re both so fucked up.”

“I doubt that,” she says softly. “You seem very involved with both of them.”

“I am now, but I wasn’t when they needed me the most. I hated being home so I threw myself into my job. I basically buried my head in the sand. The damage is done, and now I have to pay the piper. Pierce is a mess. You have to walk on eggshells around him and his fragile psyche. Kennedy barely tolerates me. More me than Ginny, but if it weren’t for Pierce, I know I’d never hear from her again. She’s so full of anger. It’s my fault. I should have been around and, honestly, I should have left Ginny earlier than I did. It would have been better for the kids. I would have spent more time with them.”

Her fingernails move down to the back of my neck, giving me chills. “Don’t be so hard on yourself. None of us are perfect. You’re a good man. I know you wish you were closer, but Kennedy is a superstar. She’s a successful, dynamic woman. You did something right.”

I’m pretty sure that’s in spite of me, not because of me, but I don’t want to harp on this any longer.

“What about you?” I ask. “I’m sure you were the most beautiful girl at your school. Were you a fuckgirl?”

She lets out a laugh. “That’s not really a term, but I did…alright.”

I pinch her leg, and she giggles. “Not a fuckgirl. I had a serious boyfriend throughout most of high school.”

“Was it the quarterback?”

“Nah, I prefer basketball players. Know any?”

I pinch her leg again, loving the sound of her laughter. Our playfulness is so fun and different for me.

“Not funny,” I pretend to whine.

“I prefer football coaches now. Tall, broad, muscular coaches with monster cocks and even bigger hearts. Oh, and hairless balls.”

I chuckle. “Much better.”

She sighs. “Getting back to the pre-sex topic, I wanted to tell you I got an interesting job offer today.”

“I didn’t realize you were looking to make a change.”

“I wasn’t, but this one appeals to me. It impacts you. Us. I want to talk about it before I accept it.”

I turn my head to look up at her. “Me? Us?” I can’t imagine what it could be.

“Yes,” she nods. “It’s with the Beavers. They need a new team trainer. The money is great, but it’s not really about that. I have plenty of money. I think it would be exciting for Harper. Before Bailey’s accident, I don’t think she ever truly understood what it is that I do. She understands better now, but I know she would be over the moon about the access to the players and spending time behind the scenes.” She toys with a lock of my hair. “And I wouldn’t mind getting out of the hospital. It’s gotten a little depressing for me. I was in a rut before Bailey’s accident. A little time away has given me that perspective. It might be a good time for a change. There’s obviously a little road travel during the season, but the off-season affords me so much flexibility it’s worth the trade-off.”