The Rookie and Me: Second Chances (COMPLETE)

Moving Forward

Like a child that got everything he wished for for his birthday, Tyler could not stop smiling from the second I said I would stay with him. And if I'm being honest, I couldn't either. Within minutes, we arrived at his house. He comes over to the passenger door and reaches for my hand. He leads me into the house, just like he always did. It feels like nothing has changed, even though everything has changed. 

"Do you want some dessert?" He asks as he opens the refrigerator and places our food inside.

"I'm okay for now, thank you." I say as I slowly walk through the kitchen, taking in every inch of this beautiful house that I once lived in.

I make my way into the living room, looking at every picture on the wall. I stop when I notice a framed photograph that I wasn't there before. It's our very first picture that we took together. It isn't the greatest quality and the lighting wasn't very good either, but it's ours. I remember the night that we took it. Tyler, Cameron and myself were laying in bed, eating pizza and watching movies all night long. I was wearing one of his t-shirts and a pair of boxers. Cameron had a mouthful of pizza but made sure to smile anyways, no matter how gross it looked. We couldn't stop laughing. Tyler said this is what he wanted all of his nights to be like for the rest of his life, so he took a picture so we could never forget.

"I know it's not a professional looking picture, but it is one of my absolute favorites." He says as he makes his way over to me. 

Through my smile I say, "It's perfect..."

Tyler kisses my cheek then pulls away to look at me, "What's wrong?" 

"What do you mean?" I ask, completely oblivious to the fact that I shed a tear or two while looking at the framed picture.

He wipes the tears from my cheeks, "You're crying."

"I just wish it could always be like this..." I softly mutter to him. 

He wraps his arms around me and rests his chin on my shoulder, "It can be, baby. It can be like this for the rest of our lives."

I gently shake my head and walk over to the couch, "I don't think it can, Ty. I think you know that too. You just won't admit it to yourself."

He comes over to the couch and sits on the ottoman in front of me. He grabs my hands and says, "Ali, can you please just talk to me? Tell me what it's going to take to make you stay and I will make it happen. Anything you want, it's yours. Please..." 

I look up at him through my wet eyelashes, "It's not that simple, Ty. I can't risk putting you through more and more shit. I mean, with your family, with your career... and now you're going through legal shit because of me. I just don't understand why you would even want to keep me around when this is all your life has been ever since I came into it."

He sighs, "Because I love you, Ali. More than life itself! And my family knows that and whether they like it or not, I am going to be with you. And if I'm being honest, the only people in my family that have a problem with you are my dad and my sister. That's their own problem, not ours. My mom has been calling me every day since you came home from the hospital, just to ask how you're doing. She's been worried about you ever since you and Cam left."

I let the tears fall as he continues, "And as for my career, I wasn't fired. I was only suspended for the sake of the NFL's image. The board of directors even said they don't think I'm at fault for anything. They're rooting for me just as much as you are. And the legal shit is not your fault, at all. Obviously it sucks that we have to go through this, but we will get through it. And if I'm being honest, you only got a letter because of me..." 

I looked up at him, surprised by his last statement, "What do you mean?"

He takes a deep breath in and sighs, "I'm sorry, Ali. But my attorney thought that having you as a witness would help us win this case. Reveal the true monster that Joe is. I told my lawyer I didn't want you involved, but they insisted."