The QB and his girl.

23. Our son

'Marcus, get your elbows off the table.' Jade ordered.

Marcus' eyes went wide with innocence, before dropping his arms. 'Sowwy mommy.'

'It's okay baby.' Jade smiles and continues to eat her pasta.

'I'm not a baby.' Marcus mutters under his breath. He looks around the table to see if anyone heard him, when he meets my eyes he smiles. I chuckle softly and wink at him.

'How is the NFL treating you Blake?' Jade's mother, Denise, asks me.

I swallow the food in my mouth before answering. 'Amazing, I own a house in Charlotte, North Carolina. I love playing football, the money's just a bonus.'

Jade watches me speak with adoration.

'Can I come watch you play?' Marcus pipes up.

'Of course, you and your mom can come stay with me for a little..' The words fly out of my mouth before I have a chance to think of what I'm saying.

'Yes!' Marcus hops up from his chair, jumping up and down in excitement. 'Can we mommy? Can we? Can we?'

'Marcus sit down.' Jade spits, 'We will talk about it after you finish your food.'

Marcus frowns and plops down on his chair with a defeated look in his eyes.

I turn to Jade and lower my voice, 'That was a little harsh.'

She raises an eyebrow at me, 'You are so not telling me how to correct my kid.'

I glare at her but say nothing as I sit back in my chair.

The rest of the lunch in close to silent. Other than the small talk Denise forces, there's nothing.

Once the dishes are clean, I walk out to the living room where Marcus is watching cartoons. 'Marcus, I'm gonna get going.'

He jumps up from the couch and runs too me, hugging my leg. 'Don't go.'

I pick him up and look into his big blue eyes. 'I'll come back tomorrow okay?'

'Promise?' He holds his pinky out for me. His pink lips are drawn into a pout and his eyes were sparkling with hope. Hope that I'll come back to see him.

'I promise Marcus.' I wrap my pinky with his.

His smile resembles mine, when I'm overly happy. He jumps into my arms and I hold him tight to my body.

'I know you're my daddy, Blake.' Marcus whispers in my ear. 'I hope you want me to be your son as much as I want you to be my daddy.'

I pull him back a little until I'm looking into his eyes. 'I didn't know that I wanted a son right now. But since I've met you I've fallen in love with you.'

His blue eyes fills with tears. 'I love you too daddy.'

I feel my eyes burn so I bring him close and wrap him into the tightest hug I could muster.

'What's going on?' Jade comes out of the kitchen.

Marcus looks over my shoulder to his mother. 'Blake is my daddy.' He smiles while her eyes panic. 'And he loves me like you love me mommy.'

Her eyes look to mine silently asking if this is true.

I smile and nod. 'Marcus, baby, go help Gammy with the dishes. I need to talk to mommy.'

Marcus nod and takes off to the kitchen.

Jade walks up to me and I see the fear in her eyes. 'Please tell me you aren't playing a joke on us. Tell me you're being serious.'

'Of course I'm being serious, Jade. What's not to love about this kid. He's just like I was when I was growing up.' I smiled.

'He's a trouble maker like you were, that's for sure.'

I laugh and grab her hand in mine. 'I'm sorry for undermining your authority with Marcus at dinner.'

She shakes her head. 'You're his parent too.. Its just always been me. I have to get used to it.'

I kiss her forehead. 'I am serious about you guys coming to stay with me. Maybe off season?'

She nods. 'I'll think about it.'

'That's all I can ask for.' I lean down, her chin in between my fingers, and kiss her softly. 'I'll come pick you two up for breakfast.'

She nods with a dazed look in her eye. 'Okay.'

'Get ready baby, because I'm going to date you right out the door.' I smile teasingly.

She laughs and shuts the door behind me.

*~*~*

The next morning I show up at Jade's house at nine o'clock. I'm showered, shaved and dressed in nice jeans and a tight button up flannel. The ones Jade loves. My hair is gelled and I even used cologne. On the way to her house I picked up a bouquet of flowers for Jade and a box of chocolates for Marcus.

I knock on the door twice before it swings open. My eyes cast downwards to meet my beautiful little boy.

'Hi Blake. Mommy said she's not ready yet, but you can come in.'

I smile and follow Marcus inside. 'Here you go buddy.' I hand him his chocolates.

He tears open the package and begins eating some.

'Only one, right now. You can eat some more after supper tonight.' I tell him.

He nods and sits the box on the counter. 'Are those flowers for mommy?'

I nod, 'Do you think she'll like them?'

He smiles a large and contagious smile. 'She'll love them!'

I hear the sound of footsteps above me, so I look to the top of the stairs and my mouth dries out. 'Wow.' I utter as my gaze flies over Jade's royal blue sundress and white sandals. Her soft brown hair flows naturally around her shoulders and her blue eyes pop with the color of her dress.

'Good morning.' She smiles.

I blink a few times and approach her. 'Good morning. These are for you.'

She smiles and takes them. 'Thank you Blake. I'll go put these in water and then we can go.'

'Are you all ready to go Marcus?' I ask him after Jade leaves.

He nods and grabs my hand just as Jade comes out of the kitchen.

'Ready mommy?' Marcus asks with his free hand held out.

'Yes.' She smiles and we both hold one of Marcus' hands.

*~*~*

After a sweet breakfast with Jade and my beautiful son, I drive them home.

'Marcus, go inside while mommy and I talk.' I say gently.

He nods and hops from my truck and runs into the house.

Jade's mom lets him in and then smiles at us.

'What's up?' Jade asks me.

I smile. 'Nothing.' My hand comes up and caresses the side of her face. 'I've missed you Jade.'

Her eyes flutter closed. 'I've missed you too.'

I lean in and our noses brush. 'I love our son.'

She looks into my eyes, trying to find a trace of a lie. Her own eyes cloud over with fresh tears. 'I'm so glad.'

I press a soft, almost nonexistent, kiss to her lips. Only a breath away, I whisper. 'I've never stopped loving you.'