Love At Last (An Edelmandola Fanfiction)

Chapter Two

Julian's PoV

"Goodnight guys," I said as I dropped off both Tom and Rob off at Tom's house. I knew that they had been together as a couple now for over 2 years. Tom's marriage with Gisele was really just a cover-up. Danny still didn't catch on. Then again, he was passed out in the front seat.

This guy. The new guy. He's really fun to be around. When we first met, he was kind of shy. I tried to lighten the situation. There's something so very different about this guy, but I just can't figure it out.

I drove his Superbird back to my house. It was a really nice car. "I should ask him where he got it." I whispered out loud to myself. The roads were really nice. No heavy traffic. No ice. No snow. Then again, it was only October. Snow would be plentiful in the months ahead.

This is Boston, after all.

We were back at my house in a matter of 25 minutes. I smacked Danny in the chest with the back of my hand playfully.

"Hey man! What the hell?" I heard a hoarse voice come from the passenger seat.

"Too much to drink there shorty?"

"Who you callin' short?" He sat up, though it didn't make him any taller.

"You think that's gonna help you gain anymore inches?"

"I already have all the inches I need. You wanna-"

"Woah man. Hold it right there. I don't think so. You're so drunk man. Don't do something I won't forgive you for."

"Or what?"

"I just might have to ship you back to St. Louis."

"You wouldn't." He was still slurring.

"Don't try me Amendola."

"You're no fun."

"You all were drunk off your asses and I had to help you all out to the car."

"I don't recall any of it."

"No shit." He was really out of it. "Let's get your ass inside and into bed. It's two in the morning."

"Yeah." He looked up and over at me expectantly.

"What?"

"Carry."

"I'll help you, but there's no way in hell I'm carrying you." He was more drunk than I thought.

He smiled like a little kid. I rolled my eyes. I got out of the car and opened his door. He was really wobbly. I held onto his drunken ass and him and I both walked up the stairs to my house. He almost fell over onto me twice. My heartbeat quickened each time he did so. I don't know why. Maybe it was because I almost fell over the railing of the steps, twice, but maybe it was something else. Nah. "This is ridiculous," I thought to myself. I got him to my spare bedroom. I only had about 5 of them.

"Get to bed hot-shot."

"Thanks Jules." He managed to slur out and I left him to go to sleep.

"God. He's gonna be the next Rob Gronkowski. Drunk off his ass every night. Should be fun." I then walked to my own room and fell asleep as soon as I hit the bed.

I woke up the next morning and found him still passed out in the bedroom.

"Sleep all day why don't you..." I quietly mumbled to myself as I slid down the stair railing. Coach called and left a voicemail. He had called off practice because something went wrong at the training facility and it's a safety hazard now. I was snapped out of my thoughts when I heard the slam of a door. Danny walked down the stairs and into the living room where he plopped down on the couch and rolled his head back.

"Morning sunshine. How you feelin'?" I asked to start conversation.

"What the hell happened last night?"

"Oh man. It's that bad?"

"Yeah. All I remember was that I took another drink after Rob took his shirt off and started dancing and then nothing after that."

"Oh. Yeah. There are certain reasons I like to stay sober. That is not one of them." We both laughed.

"Do you remember asking me to carry you inside like a little kid?"

"I actually asked you to do that?"

"Yeah, quite cute to be honest." I regretted the words as soon as they left my mouth.

"Shut up."

I should, but I won't. "Honestly. It was." Wow I need to learn how to shut up.

"You didn't actually do it did you?"

"No, but I wish I would have." Fuck! What the hell is wrong with me?

"And why would that be?"

I almost didn't have an answer. "Cause it would have been a hell of a story to tell you this morning." I started to imitate a baby's voice. "Aww Julian! Carry me? Pweeease!?!?!?"

"I didn't say it like that!" A smile crept onto his face and he started to blush.

"Pretty damn close."

"I'm sure I wasn't that drunk."

"Really? Cause you threw your phone up in the air when we were at the club."

"What? Why the hell would I do that?"

"You said it was on airplane mode." I couldn't help but smile.

"Now you're just fucking with me."

"Am I?" I now stood in front of him with my arms crossed and eyes expectant.

"Well, to be honest, I wouldn't doubt it." He paused for a moment. "Seriously though, man. I never get that drunk."

I started to walk over to the kitchen. "How about some coffee to help wear off that hangover?"

"Yeah man. That sounds great."

While I was pouring the coffee, Danny got up and came over by me. He leaned onto the counter's edge and watched as the black coffee spilled into the mug.

"What do you like in it?" I asked.

"So majestic. The way it flows like a waterfall. It looks so beautiful." Danny was still half out of it. I could tell.

"Black it is."

I couldn't tell if he was still genuinely half-ass drunk, or he was just trying to be cute. Either way, I didn't mind. I have had many of girlfriends, one after another actually. They were nice, but there were certain things they couldn't make me feel. Like happiness. Or alive. After the party last night, I think that I am really starting to see the big picture. I never thought that I could love a man, but yet here I sit. falling for one of my teammates. Maybe I'm confused. Maybe I'm wrong. One thing is for sure though. I am not going to let this go.