Burreaux

Draft Night

April 23rd, 2020

Karleigh stood in the kitchen nervously watching the draft. She had followed Joe home from college knowing this might be the last summer she could spend with him before she landed a job and he went to play in the NFL. She looked into the living room hearing cheers and celebrations ....Joe had just been drafted in the first round by the Cincinnati Bengals. She knew what this meant but didn't have the heart to tell Joe. This would ruin his night and she couldn't bear to crush him. She waited for the appropriate time to walk in and celebrate with her boyfriend and when she finally strolled in his arms wrapped around her waist and lifted her high in the air.

"I did it, baby! We're going to Cincinnati!" He shouted. She swallowed the lump in her throat and forced the best smile she could. Earlier that day Karleigh got the best job offer she could have ever asked for. She had just graduated from nursing school and was applying to jobs where she could work in sports medicine. Texas.... Huston, Texas. She knew she loved Joe but she needed to follow her heart and career, she wasn't ready to drop everything she had worked so hard for just to follow Joe around from one city to another. She knew this day would come but never let herself think about it.

The celebration led to drinking. Karleigh desperately needed to drown out her thoughts and enjoy the time she had left with Joe before they parted ways. She stood up to walk over to her boyfriend and immediately felt the effects of the 4 beers she had finished. He pulled her down into his lap as she giggled.

"I love you and I can't wait to start this new chapter of life with you" he whispered in her ear softly as he gently rubbed circles in her back.

"I don't want this chapter to start... I don't want to..." she said quietly with her voice trailing off.

"Shhh don't you worry about it baby girl we will be fine." He cooed.

A sudden wave of bravery struck her and she leaned her head down and softly kissed his neck while her hand snaked around his back and under his shirt. He shifted awkwardly knowing his parents were just in the kitchen. She started to nibble on his neck in just the right spot knowing that it drove him crazy.

"You need to stop before I pick you up and take you to bed." He said in a stern voice as he squeezed her thigh. Her only response was a soft giggle and a wiggle of the hips. Knowing what she meant he swiftly stood up, keeping her in his arms. Taking long fast strides eager to get to his room. The door opened and shut in a split second.

"Are you ready to celebrate properly?" He said in a low voice trying to stay quiet. She nodded in agreement. With Joe back at his parents' house they had to be quiet but that had always been a problem for Joe who was always very vocal in bed. Their clothes made their way to the floor and the sheets were tousled in a whirlwind of love, passion, and desperation. As they lay in bed wrapped in each other's arms nothing separating their bare skin Joe started to kiss her head and play with her fingers. That was a sign he had something he wanted to talk about but was nervous to bring it up. Karleigh nudged him to urge him to speak his mind.

"Karleigh... There has been something I have wanted to talk to you about and I know this isn't the right place or probably time but somehow it seems like the perfect time. We have been together for a few years now and we both knew I was aiming for the NFL and now that I have been drafted I think I'll be able to give you the life you need the life you..want." He said as he reached over into his nightstand and pulled out a velvet box. "I have had this for a few months not knowing when the right time would come but it's now....Karleigh will you marry me?" He asked with a hopeful gleam in his eye.

Her heart shattered in that moment. Knowing that her dream job was waiting for her reply and that she would have to choose between Joe and everything she worked so hard for. For Karleigh, it felt like just seconds but for Joe, it felt like years since he asked with no response.