Lover

Chapter 20: The Ex

Week 3 of 2019 Season.

"Undefeated!" I happily say to James as I get into bed with him
"That's right." He proudly says.
"I'm so proud of you baby, all the work you've put in and it's paying off."
"It's a team effort." He reminds me. "But yes I'm great." He says making me laugh. He holds me tighter against him comforting me in a way I love.
"I had a thought." He says.
"Hmmmm?" I tiredly ask.
"Wanna move in with me?" He asks and my eyes open wide. We haven't dated for that long, this is too fast right? I mean time wise yes but I love him so much my heart is screaming yes.
"Really?" I ask turning to look at him. "You want me to move in with you?" I ask to be sure.
"Yes." He laughs.
"Hmmm." I think out loud. "Yes!" I say leaning in to kiss him.
"You make me so happy." He says making me smile so big.
"You make me so incredibly happy." I say.
"Hey." He complains when I one up him.
"Promise me we'll always make each other this happy." I ask.
"I promise." He says making eye contact with me.
"Pinky promise." I say as I hold my pinky up to him. We lock pinkies and kiss on it before I turn back around he pulls me close to his chest and I close my eyes.
"Goodnight baby." He whispers near my ear.
"Goodnight mio amore." I reply back before falling asleep.

I wake up to an empty bed because the team is reviewing last night's tape this morning. I look through my fridge and decide it's time to go grocery shopping.
I get dressed in some yoga pants, a 49ers top and some sneakers before heading out.

I grab a cart and head for the pasta aisle because my god can James put pasta away.
"Kit kat?" I hear a familiar voice ask and my heart DROPS. I turn around and see Dylan.
"Dylan?" I ask before smiling when I realize it is him!
"Oh my god!" He says as he gives me a hug. "It's been too long." He sighs against my hair.
"What are you doing here?" I ask still not believing it was him.
"I'm developing an app with a company here. What are you doing here?" He asks.
"I'm a cheerleader for the 49ers."
"Of course you are." He teases making me laugh.
"I'm so happy to have bumped into you, are you free?" He asks. I look at my empty cart and then back at him.
"Yeah." I smile.

We walk to a cafe that was in the shopping center we were already in and I can only smile at him. He looks so different, so grown.

"So tell me! How's the cheerleading gig?" He asks.
"Oh it's great, it started off rough with Nick being my brother and the girls thinking I was handed the spot, but other than that all good." I say.
"Nice to see Nicholas only gets bigger." He says making me laugh.
"What about you? Mr. App developer." I tease.
"Oh you know, it varies but we've had a lot of success and hopefully we'll keep at it." He smiles.
"I'm really happy for you." I say. "I remember how hard you busted your ass in college, you really do deserve all the success in the world."
He smiles warmly at me and suddenly I feel like I'm 19 year old Katie with 20 year old Dylan in the Thompson library.
"I've really missed you Katie." He says making me smile. "Your brothers just scared the fuck out of me." He says making me laugh.
"Yeah they do that to guys, but I've missed you too Dylan." I reply.

We spend the next hour and a half reliving our college memories and laughing, I didn't know I needed this, but I'm glad I got it.

"We should meet again, I'd love for you to meet my girlfriend." He says as we stand up from our seats.
"Oh yes!" I smile. "I'd love for you to meet James."
"Your boyfriend?" He asks.
"Yeah." I nod.
"I'd love to meet him. Does Friday night work for you?" He asks.
"Yes sounds great." I reply.

We exchange phone numbers before he leaves. I go back to grocery shopping and when I return home I see boxes littered around my apartment.
"Honey?" I loudly ask.
"Oh hey there." I hear George say.
"Kittle?" I ask furrowing my brows together.
"What are you doing here?" I ask with a laugh.
"He's helping me move your stuff." James answered coming out of my bedroom.
"Why?" I ask.
"You're moving in with me." He smiles.
"Oh right right." I laugh nervously. I thought that would be later like not a far later but I assumed like in a month or two from now, this is crazy. I want to tel him it's crazy but he looks so happy as he packs up my apartment, I don't have the heart to tell him.

Three hours of packing and George decides to call it a day.
"I'll be sending you my bill, I don't work for free." He teases as he leaves.

"How was your day?" James asks as we sit on the coach and watch TV.
"It was great actually. I bumped into my e—friend from college."
"Your e—friend from college?" He questions raising an eyebrow.
"My ex." I admit. "Dylan."
"Hmmm, why do you smile when you say his name?" He asks as he pokes my cheek.
"I did not." I say bringing his hand down away from my face. "But it was nice bumping into him! He actually wants us all to have dinner soon."
"All of us?" He questions.
"You, me, him, and his girlfriend." I say and watch him visibly relax.
"I'm down for dinner." He nods.
"This Friday?" I ask.
"Yeah that works for me." He says. I clap my hands together and we focus back on the movie, the princess and the frog.

"Why did you two break up?" He asks.
"Well I told you, my brother didn't want anyone around so when he was brave enough to be around and Nick found out, he beat him up pretty badly." I sigh. "Nick would have been kicked out of Ohio state, but the football coach fought like hell to keep him."
"Oh wow." James says. "So you broke up with him because of Nick?" He asks trying to fit the pieces together.
"No he broke up with me because he was suddenly terrified of my brother." I say with a smile but remember back to how sad it made me feel.
"He was your first?" James asks. I nod shyly and he makes a face for like half a second. "The one you lost your virginity to?" He asks.
"Yes James." I say hating that question.
"Hmmm." He loudly thinks. "So we've both seen you naked."
"James, please don't think about it that way." I groan.
"No no I know, but it's just a thought that came up." He says trying not to laugh. "But yeah dinner would be great, I can meet this nerdy ex boyfriend of yours." He smirks.
"Why do I not like the look on your face!" I ask.
"Oh, I don't know." He playfully says. "I think this Dylan and I can be great friends." Oh god please control this man Friday night.

Authors Note: Look at the "cast" section to see who plays Mr. Dylan Rogers (;

Also if you haven't already make sure to check out my new Jimmy G book called "Love on the Field"  it would mean the world to me❤️