on deck; a. judge

17.

[e]

"That's just so crazy that he said all of that. Never would've expected to see a soft side from him." My sister says to me over FaceTime as I sit in my room.

"It honestly shocked me. Twice in just a short span of time, too?" I furrowed my brows. "I knew something was up. Him and I were talking during dinner the other night because I made him sit in the living room with me and he said something about him being more comfortable to talk about his feelings since...y'know..." I laugh, shaking my head.

It was so odd to me when Aaron became so vulnerable. Moving in the place and seeing his initial attitude, I thought for sure I would've been up and moved out by now. I guess something changed in him, and I didn't want to leave him anymore. I wanted to stay here and be with him.

"That's crazy. So you two are just like, fine now?" She asks me and I nod.

"Yeah, I guess. I mean, I didn't exactly tell him the feeling was mutual, but the feeling is definitely mutual. The day I met him I thought he was so attractive but his personality turned me away from him. But, being able to hang with him one-on-one and just see how he is alone and how he actually cares about me? I think that's what really made me change my mind." I say before taking a drink of water. "It's really nice to come home and have someone to talk about your day with."

"Well, I'm happy for you. And if he's the guy that's gonna make you happy? Then you deserve it."

I smile at my sister before I hear the front door open and shut. It was silent. No girls. Perfect. "Hey, I gotta go. He just got home. I'll text you later." I said bye and hung up, going back to whatever work I was doing.

Aaron walked into my room, leaning down to kiss my cheek. "Hey you, what are you up to?"

I look back at him, he looks absolutely exhausted. "Just finishing up reports from the game. How are you?"

He shrugs. "I'm alright. My back is kind of so so I was gonna go try to take an epsom salt bath." Aaron tells me.

I begin talking before I stop myself, smiling. "Mind if I join you?"

Aaron looked almost shocked that I asked. "Wait, really? Like, no shit?"

"No shit. I would love to relax." I say as I stand up. "I can even bring a nice little candle in there and we can just relax and talk." He's quick to nod at the idea as we both walk into the bathroom.

I put my hand on his arm before going back into my room, grabbing some candles as I hear Aaron start to run the bath. I walk back in and look back at Aaron as he's stripping down and gets into the bathtub.

"Ooo, look at you being all fancy." He says with a smile as I set the candles down, lighting them. I strip out of my own clothes and see Aaron practically drooling over me as I climb into the tub, sitting so my back is against his chest.

"Candles are always a great touch to some relaxation." I tell him, looking back at him before I tied my hair up into a messy bun and leaned against him.

"This definitely will calm my muscles down.." Aaron says as he kisses my shoulder lightly.

I look back at him. "Does your back always hurt after games?" I ask him, this beig the first time he's really expressed any sort of pain.

He shrugs. "It really depends. I could have an awesome game, performing great, and then I get home and I feel like my body aged like 50 years. Or, I could have a shit game, fuck up something in my body and then feel like absolute shit. Or, I could have a great day and not a single muscle in my body hurts." He chuckled. "Depends on if my body wants to hate me on that day or not."

I nod, listening to him as he explains the pain. "But, that must suck. You really have to listen to your body when it comes to shit like that."

"Yeah, unfortunately. But, I think it's starting to get better. I'm hoping not to miss a lot of games. I'm trying to get that MVP award, and beat records. Missing games at this point would not help my case." Aaron says as he wraps an arm around my waist. "I like this...Never thought about doing this."

I smile at him, leaning up to kiss his cheek. "Me too.." I reply before being cut off by his lips against mine. I can't help but smile against his lips, my hand settles on his cheek and my thumb grazes across his cheek before I pull away and just stare into his eyes. "Have I ever told you that you have pretty eyes?"

"Kind of got the assumption from you staring at them all the time.." Aaron chuckled and I splashed him lightly, laughing.

Once we get out of the bath, Aaron helps me out and wraps me in a towel and I follow him into his room. "Wait, I gotta run upstairs and grab some clothes." I tell him, going to turn around to go back up into my room.

"You can always just wear my clothes.." He tells me and I turn back around to face him.

"I need underwear, Aaron.." I laugh.

"Nah, sleeping naked is better anyways. I heard it's better for your health." He says and I just shrug, stripping myself of the towel and grab one of his shirts, pulling it over and notice how it falls to the middle of my thighs. He really did tower over me and it showed with his clothes on my body.

Aaron slipped on a pair of sweats and climbed into bed, patting the spot next to him. I smile, getting in bed next to him and cuddled against him. "You're warm..." I whisper, kissing his chest gently.

"Good, can't let you go freezing in the night." Aaron says as he pulls the blanket up to our chins and wraps both arms around me, pulling me closer in his embrace.

"Goodnight, A.." I say quietly before closing my eyes.

"Good night, Ells." He replied before we both drift asleep and I am wrapped safely in his arms.

I wouldn't want it any other way.