MELROSE

CHAPTER 22

Don's POV

"Focus Mancini, focus!" Coach yelled for the thousandth time.

I couldn't. I just couldn't.

My mind was far way from practice, reeling around the fact that I'd finally told Tigress everything.

I was relieved and terrified at the same time. Relieved because I'd finally gotten it off my chest and terrified of what her attitude towards me would be from now on.

Would she avoid me more?

Would she keep hating me?

Would she possibly like me too?

I hit myself at that last thought.

She fucking has a boyfriend Mancini, get your grip together.

The ball hit me square on the head. I turned to scowl at whoever had done it, only to find Fletch staring me questioningly.

"Mancini. Get the hell out of there." Coach said, more than annoyed with my behavior. I couldn't blame him, I was annoyed with me too. The team looked at me in sympathy as I went out of the field, trying not to shiver at the chilly air. It was December, school was almost over, everywhere was fucking cold and Coach was still making us practice. Typical.

"I'm fucking losing you kid. You're my best player but you're playing terribly. You okay bud?" Coach slid down next to me and fixed me with a stare that dared me to lie to him. I couldn't if I wanted to because he acted like a dad to me since mine wasn't around to do it.

"When the fuck have I ever?" I replied.

He stared at me oddly. "Tough question. Alright boys practice's over."

My teammates sighed in relief.

"For today."

They groaned.

"Come on you lazy asses, go home."

Fletch sent me a telepathic message. Something's up with you. We'll talk later.

I nodded.

When all the boys had gone, he turned to me. "Now tell me what's really bothering you."

I didn't skip a beat. "Have you ever been in love with a girl you know you can never have?"

He smirked. "Has the almighty Don fallen for someone?"

"He did, two years ago."

He blinked. "Well that's new information. Who is it?"

"Have you?" I prompted.

He smiled. "Hell yeah."

"How the hell did you deal with it?"

"To be honest, I don't know, but I do know that she is going to be pissed if I get home late."

My mouth hung open. "Your wife?"

"Yep. I married the girl I thought I knew I could never have."

On the ride back home, I kept thinking about what Coach said. I knew even entertaining the idea that Tigress and I could get married was stupid but it didn't hurt to imagine. So imagine I did.

I imagined her relaxing in a bikini on the poolside of our house, tanning her sexy body and legs that went on and on because she was fucking tall, headphones on her ears, nose stuck in a book.

I imagined her pregnant and craving sex and me all too happy to oblige.

I imagined her busy in the kitchen, her hair in a messy ponytail and me trailing kisses on her neck. She would protest weakly to leave her alone, let her cook and a little me would run into the kitchen and demand to know what we were doing.