You Get It

Combust, Part 3

11pm on Saturday, two days post fight.

Spencer's POV:

Time. It was what he needed to make sure that he felt his way through and sorted through the emotions of the past few days. He knew he had messed up and he knew that the hurt wouldn't get any better by pushing conversations. He had learned long ago that anger wasn't going to solve the deep issues he felt from the events of his childhood. The mark that his father left wasn't ever going to completely heal and hearing the one person he trusted most compare him to Corey, someone who hurt him that deeply, was a painful blow. Spencer knew that if he wanted to make things right with Olivia, his ego had to move to the side and he had to hear her words for what they were. Her expressing fears that they had both communicated long ago and tried to always support each other through. He also knew that he had to find a way to truly show he was sorry for not only, not being his best self and his priorities being mixed up, but the hurtful words he had thrown back at her. Knowing his woman well enough to know that sweet words only went so far, he decided to take action.

Thinking of things that he knew could show his remorse and desire to have a real talk to sort through this mess, he came up with an idea that he'd hope would work. First step to this was to get a few others on board.

"Hey D. What's up, man?" Spencer said through a FaceTime call to his teammate and longtime friend, Darnell.

"Spence, what's good boy? You look like shit." Darnell answered with a wide grin.

"Thanks, bruh." Letting out a small laugh, Spencer knew he could count on his friend to clown him and help him feel better. "I just needed to talk. I think outside of Dillon and Liv, you're the only one who really gets it when it comes to Corey."

"Corey? What about him?" Darnell asked with a puzzled look.

"Me and Liv got into a few days ago about me missing an important parent meeting for Maddy and it kinda blew up in our faces. She eventually said she just wanted me to stop acting like our dads and specifically me acting like Corey. I don't know, man. I can't lie, it hurt deep. I thought I had made peace with this a long time ago but hearing those words" he trailed and looked away to take a breath and collect himself.

"Made you feel like you were right back to square one?" Darnell finished for him.

"Yeah. And it's crazy because after all these years, it shouldn't have that kind of weight. Especially with my wife."

"Says who? Healing isn't some straight line. Growth isn't just one thing being completely solved or just one way. Just because you've gotten older or have worked on it, doesn't mean it can't still hurt. You just gotta get back to leaning into the growth you've made and back into leaning into Liv like y'all usually do."

"When did you become the wise one? I'm supposed to be schooling you." Spencer said with a smile.

"I've tried telling you- I'm the cooler one." Darnell replied with a shrug.

"I wouldn't go that far."

"I mean- Kia thinks so." Darnell cracked making Spencer glare right at him.

"And we're moving right along. I actually had something else to ask."

"What else?"

"So I was wondering when you got traded a few months ago and we ended up playing together again, if there was some bigger reason. I think this is why. I got named captain and it's a huge deal. I can't lie and say it wasn't great to get honored that way and to have that kind of pull. But when I think about it, football was always a way to connect to my Pops and to one day provide for my family. I got to do both and can keep doing it without it being all consuming like when I was younger or had more to prove. I got a good life and can keep playing ball without feeling like I have to prove something."

"What are you trying to say, man?" Darnell questioned, having an idea of what was going to be asked but not one hundred percent sure of what was coming next.

"Like I said, I got enough pull now and I want to take a small step back. I'm asking if you would want to take over as captain. NFL captain of a Super Bowl team is a good look and you got the skills. If I talked to Coach, would you want to take over?"

"You serious? I mean, of course I would. But are you sure? You not gonna regret this, right? I don't want you to make a huge decision now out of trying to fix something else and I'm sure Liv would say the same."

"Nah, I'm not gonna regret this. It's not me walking away from anything, just getting my focus back. I'm still gonna kick anyone's ass on that field, I just don't have to be the one giving up other things to do it. I've never wanted that and these past few months shouldn't have changed that but I'm fixing that now."

"If you're sure man and Coach approves it then yeah. I'd definitely love to be able to finally be in charge of you."

"Chill with all that. One step at a time young one." Spencer said before laughing. They hung up and Spencer reached out to his coach to put the remainder of the first part of his plan in motion. Pleased with the progress he made, he moved on to sending his wife a message with a location.

241 Moreno Drive

Beverly Hills, CA 90212

Ummm, Spence....why are you telling me the address to Beverly?

Girl just meet me there tomorrow morning. I got Maddy covered.

Pushy. 🙄 But fine. As long as we can still have our talk.

I got you.

Putting his phone to the side, he turned in the bed of the guest bedroom, determined that this would be the last night of him sleeping in there. He was gonna make this right. For real. He had to. He loved her too much not to.

A/N: I definitely appreciate the reads, comments and conversations on my stories. Let's always keep it respectful! I'm not a writer by any means but I appreciate anyone reading my work and just want to have fun with it. 🙂 Happy Holidays everyone 💚❤️