Ocean Blue Eyes || TJ DeFalco's Secret Child

Chapter 2: Finally Back

I am driving to TJ's house at the moment. My heart beating just as fast as the first time we did this.

We were not in a romantic relationship, more like a friends-with-benefits one. I have been with this team to know that having a relationship with a player breaks my contract and the job that he has just is not meant to coincide with having a girlfriend.

I mean, fair dues to Matt, David, and Micah and all of the other men that are able to not only have a relationship but also children in this chaotic lifestyle. It's just not meant for me.

TJ and I came to terms with it right before we left for the 2020 Olympics that we would never be more than friends-with-benefits.

To be completely honest with y'all though, it breaks my heart every year that we leave our separate ways. We fool around for the 3-4 months we are together and then we'll maybe say 20 words to each other while he is overseas for 9 months playing for his international team.

That is the true reason I will never tell TJ my true feelings for him. I cannot move to a different country every nine months or stay home by myself for nine months at a time.

That could be selfish, but I was raised in Texas. I know I deserve better than to have the love of my love gone for over 3/4s of the year.

So what's the next best thing? To live in secret of being in love with my friends-with-benefit partner but at least I still get to interact with him.

Holy fuck, I have been sitting outside TJ's house for at least 5 minutes without even realizing it. He only lives 15 minutes away from the training center. I must have drove here on muscle memory alone because I do not even remember leaving the training facility.

I slowly walk to the door, not because I was scared but because I was nervous. This is the first time we have been together since he got back from his international league.

The nerves hitting me at full force, the doubt of 'am I good enough', 'what if he doesn't like this arrangement anymore'. The underlying question, 'what if this is our last time ever'?

Before I know it, my finger is pressing the Ring doorbell. I think to myself that I really hope that I had not been standing on TJ's porch like a fucking idiot for too long.

I am greeted by the best look in the world. TJ DeFalco. That's it. He opened the door slightly to allow me come in. He was in light grey sweatpants and no shirt. I could tell he just got out of the shower.

I don't hear any noise from his roommate Micah Ma'a room. Yeah, not only are they roommates on the road but roommates at home. They rent the house out while they are overseas which helps with the payments but it is still very expensive to live alone in Anaheim, California. I am just rambling because I am nervous I think to myself.

I put my shoes by the front door and follow TJ into the living room. I hate when he is like this. I wish he would just take charge and not let it play out. He greeted me at the door with no shirt for fuck sakes. We both know how tonight is going to end and it is not going to be with us sitting on the couch watching a movie.

"Why did you choose us to interview today", he asks 

I looked at him with disbelief.

"You, Aaron, and Max are the most secretive people on the entire team. People have been wanting to know more about y'all for so long", I answered.

"Yea, but you could have interviewed Max and Aaron. Why me?", asks TJ.

"Maybe because I wanted to see you without having to ask you, I said while throwing my legs over his lap."