His Proposal

His Proposal - 32

The photographer walks into the football stadium and looks around the crowd for Jai.

He leans back in his seat. "I hope they don't spend all night walking around trying to find me."

Touching his arm. "It was bound to happen sooner or later. Jai, you are the most photographed male." I look around. "Anyone here could have tipped them off. Call your parents and tell them you're bringing a girl home and that she was photographed with you tonight. That way, they won't be the last to know."

Jai pulls his phone out of his pocket. "I don't want anyone to know about this, without me going public first. I want to take a selfie with you." I lean against him, and he turns the camera toward us. He takes the photo. "I'm going to upload this to Twitter and my Facebook page. I'm also going to send it to my parents. That way, everyone will know before the pictures hit the stands tomorrow or the day after."

I give the phone to Aleysa. Can you take a photo of Jai and me? He wants the world to know about us."

She smiles. "It's about time."

Jai looks at her. "I wanted you to have your privacy, Aleysa. People don't need to know that you have cancer. During this time, you need privacy."

The paparazzi guy sees us and starts taking our photo.

"Shit!" Jai looks at the guy behind us. "Can you give the girl your scarf, please?"

He takes his scarf off and gives it to Aleysa.

Aleysa looks at me. "What do I do with the scarf?"

The girl next to Aleysa puts the scarf on her head. "You wear it like that, " she says. She looks at me. Do you want me to pretend that she's with me?"

Nodding my head slightly, I try not to catch the attention of the paparazzi.

Jai holds my hand. He leans into me and whispers. "Right now, they think I'm kissing you."

Pulling him towards me. "Why don't we put on a show for them?" My lips touch his. I deepen the kiss, and people cheer. I pull away and look at the field. I see Nate standing at the side of the try line.

He raises his hand in the air, places the ball on the holder, and kicks it over the post.

Nate's teammates run over to him and slap his back. His team gets the ball and starts running down the field.

One of the guys throws the ball to Nate, and he catches it. He runs down the field. As three guys are about to tackle him, he passes the ball to another player. That player runs down the field and scores a try. Jumping up, I start cheering with everyone for my brother's team. I see a flash at the corner of my eye.

These guys have enough photos of us now. Why can't they leave us alone?

Jai looks at me. "I will be right back. I'm going to ask them to leave. They have taken enough photos for their magazines and newspapers." He rises and walks over to them.

They walk away, but I feel they will be around when they leave, and they will photograph us with my brother.

When the game was over, the lady sitting next to Aleysa said that she would keep an eye on her while we went to get my brother. A few guys from Nate's team stand beside him as Jai walks over.

One of the guys hits Nate's shoulder. "Hey, dude. You didn't tell me you knew Jai Marshall. He's one of the best football players I've seen around."

Jai pulls me into his side and says, "I was a football player for six years. An injury made me give up the sport I loved the most in the world. I went on to my second dream, which was owning a nightclub. I don't regret anything that's happened in my life. That's just the way life is."

Nate looks behind us, and he whispers. "Where's Aleyssa?"

Whispering, I say. "Paparazzi are here; we don't want them to know about her. They will make up lies about me, and Jai doesn't want that to happen. He's very protective of her."

Nate hugs him. "Thanks,"

Jai smiles. "I will do everything I can to protect the ones I love, that includes Aleysa and you."

A guy walks over with a microphone in his hand. He stops in front of Jai and me. "How long have you two been dating?"

Jai ignores the question. He looks at the guys. "That was a great game tonight. When I get back from my parents' place, you boys should come over, and I will show you a few tricks. You can practise them during the week, and hopefully, you will have it perfected by the next football game."

Josh steps forward. "I'm Josh. It's great to meet you, Jai. I am a huge fan."

Jai smiles. "Of course you are. I should ask your coach if I can sit through a practice with you boys. What do you say?"

Nate nods. "That would be awesome."

The coach walks out the door. He stops in front of Jai. He crosses his arms and looks down his nose at Jai. "We'll look at what the footy gods brought in. It's Jai Marshall. What brings you to this part of Los Angeles?"

He squeezes my hand. "My girlfriend and her brother."

Coach looks between Jai and me. Then he looks at Nate. "Why didn't you tell me you knew Jai Marshall? We could have used his help for the past couple of weeks."

"Coach, I didn't want anyone to know I was with his sister. We deserve privacy like normal people do. I will see you on Tuesday for practice, Coach."

He smiles. "That would be great. I will make sure that it's a closed practice. I normally have it open to the public."

Nate stands next to us. "I'm ready to go." Jai, Nate and I make our way through the crowd to the car.

Looking around the parking lot for Aleysa, I don't see her. My eyes meet the woman from the stadium, and she points to the car. "Thank you, " I say.

She nods.

"Aleysa's in the car. She's waiting for us."

Jai lifts me and carries me to the car.

I see a few flashes as we make our way to the car. Nate climbs into the backseat, making sure that no one can see our little sister. Nate and Jai are very protective of her.

If anyone finds out about her, there will be hell to pay.

Jai puts me in the car. He rounds the car and climbs into the driver's seat. He looks at us. "When we return from my parents we must move into my place. There will be better security there than at the flat."

Looking at Aleysa, I say. "She's going to need it."