Today, I made a huge breakfast and we played in the pool again until Davis was exhausted. He fell asleep in the truck before we got out of the neighborhood.
Sophie promises to come over this week to help me get ready for the barbeque. Amy will be here Wednesday and I took Thursday and Friday off. Of course, as soon as everyone at work knew about Reed, I had to add even more people to our growing guest list.
Katy is waiting on us when we drive up. She jumps into the passenger seat and wants to see everything. Reed takes a still sleeping Davis to bed and unloads our stuff. Then he gets in the backseat and listens as I describe all the features.
Reed’s quiet when we get inside and I get nervous when he opens a beer. He sits on the sofa and pats the seat for me to join him.
“Is something wrong?” I ask hesitantly.
“We need to talk about something. I saw your face last night when Bobbie mentioned me going back to Jacksonville. We haven’t really discussed my schedule, but I go back to camp the Monday after the Fourth. I’ll be going back and forth for a few weeks, but I have to give the beach house up August first. Preseason games start in five weeks. I think it’s time we talk about where we go next.”
“How will it work? Will you live in Jacksonville during the week and we’ll see each other on weekend?”
“Fuck no! We need to figure out a way to be together full time. None of this long distance shit. We sleep together every night.”
“But how? My life is pretty much here, my job, Davis’s school, Grandma Katy, my friends.”
“I guess we have our answer then. I’ll be here.”
“I can’t ask you to do that. Your life is in Jacksonville.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. My job is in Jacksonville. My life is you and Davis. So I’ll be where you are.”
“What about your house?”
“What about it?”
“I love your house! I love being there.”
“We’ll spend weekends there. I have ten home games if you count pre-season, so we’ll be there anyways.” He shrugs and takes a sip of his beer.
“Reed, this is huge. Haven’t you considered this before now? What about your so-called ‘plan’?” I use air quotes to emphasize this master plan I keep hearing about.
“Yes, I’ve considered a lot of different scenarios. All of them have us under the same roof at night. The drive’s not that bad.”
An idea pops into my head and I make a mental note to check into something tomorrow. “I don’t want you to resent me.”
“For what?”
“You have all this luxury at your house and your friends are there. I don’t want you to feel like I’m making you be here.”
He sighs and throws his head back. “Arianna, you aren’t making me do anything. I fucking love you, and this is our life now. You have a good job you love, friends, and family. Couples do this all the time. It’s give and take. I’ll give up the convenience and take you in my bed every night.”
“But we’re not like other couples. I mean you’re you and I’m just me!”
Anger clouds his face and he stares at me with wide eyes. “What the fuck does that mean?” he growls.
“It means you’re rich and famous. People idolize you.”
“Yes, and I idolize you! Don’t do that. Don’t throw my money and fame in my face. I don’t flaunt it. The only thing I have done is buy you a car. Hell, I’d buy you a hundred cars if I got to see that look of excitement again. We’ve gone over this Ari, you and Davis are my life now and we will be under the same roof every night.”
He’s hissing by the time he finishes talking. His words sink in and I realize I am being a bit of a bitch. “Okay, baby, we’ll figure it out and do it together. Let’s try your idea first. You travel during the week and we’ll all be at your place on the weekends.”
He relaxes, yanks me over to him, and holds tight.
“One more thing and then we’re done talking about serious shit tonight, I want you to look at my portfolio. There are several different investments that I’m unhappy with and am not sure why they are stagnant. I don’t understand any of the terminology but bottom line—I think my money is sitting in the wrong places.”
“I’ll be happy to look at your statements but I don’t really handle multi-million dollar accounts on my own.”
“Maybe not, but I trust you.”
“Okay, we’ll do that this week.”
“How long do you think until Davis gets up? I’m feeling a little tense and think you can help me out with it.”
“No way, mister! He’ll be up in a few minutes and I don’t want a repeat of this morning.” Heat creeps up my cheeks thinking about when Davis walked in seconds after Reed gave me my second orgasm of the morning.