First and Ten

Chapter 30

                                                                           Jax

It took some getting used to falling into a new routine that didn't involve going to football practice all week and playing games on Sundays, but I like my new gig. There was a great flight schedule that allowed me to fly out early on Sunday mornings so that I could still be at my apartment in the city ready to watch all the football games of the day and be home with Blair and the kids early on Wednesday mornings.

Blair had a new job as well. Besides her social media and blog and assisting Bri at the Franklin shop, she was also helping Bri open a second but smaller location of her coffee shop in Leiper's Fork as a test for Bri expanding further in the near future. In addition to those, she was developing a line for Free People of some good basics that were reasonably priced. She was full of life and excited about getting to take on two creative projects as well as balancing those with motherhood and wedding planning. I let her and Bri take over all wedding decisions because I didn't care about decorations or any of that stuff. All I cared about was making Blair mine forever in every way possible.

I was sitting in the office one Friday morning working when Blair got back from taking the kids to school. She handed me a coffee from Bri's with a kiss to my cheek as she sat down in my lap becoming a welcome distraction. "Hi."

"I need to come to New York with you on Sunday."

"We can arrange that. I would love for you to come with me. What has you desiring a trip to the big city?"

"I just got a call to come try on my wedding dress," she smiled.

"Do I get any hints about it?"

"Nope."

"That's okay. I know you will look incredible," I replied onto her lips.

We arrived at our apartment in Manhattan Sunday morning. We purchased the small, three bedroom in the city after accepting the new position because I preferred having my own space when I was here instead of staying at a hotel every time and also liked having the extra bedrooms so that the kids could come with us on school holidays and for when my parents visited. I was looking forward to showing it to Blair in person and talking about ideas for turning a bedroom into a sort of bunk room to fit all three kids.

She was such a good sport watching football with me all day. I know she loves the game, and I'd be lying if I said I didn't enjoy watching it with her because she is so cute when she gets into it and starts yelling at the television. The woman knows football, and it's sexy as hell!

During a quick break between games, we got the chance to talk about some plans for the apartment. "Do you like the space?"

"I do. It feels bigger than the pictures made it look. I like the outdoor area too."

"I knew I had to have outdoor space which is hard to come by in Manhattan. What do you think about the kids' room? Can we do some sort of bunk bed thing in there?"

"Definitely. I'll look into some contractors that can build us something custom if I can't find anything already made that might work. I'll do that while you work," she smiled with a kiss.

After hours of football, we changed out of our more comfortable clothes and into fashionable dinner attire and took a car to one of my favorite restaurants in the city, that also happened to be owned by a friend of mine, for a late dinner. He was waiting at our table with a bottle of wine to say a quick hello when we arrived, and I was glad to get to introduce him to Blair.

After dinner, and as a thank you for understanding my being distracted keeping up with all the NFL games throughout the day and even watching the end of the last one during dinner, I surprised her with a trip to Laudree for macarons knowing how much she loves them before we went back to the apartment for me to prepare my notes for filming.