I jolt awake with a warm thigh branding my ass, and a hand on my hip. He must have moved and I woke up. Everything is cloaked in darkness, and the clock glows 3:08 a.m. I can’t believe I fell asleep again after sex. He gives me everything I need, and it wears me out.

His breathing is soft and steady, so I know he’s asleep now too. I push my ass and back against him, skin-to-skin, every inch of my body touching him within his embrace. His hand slides a little and grips my hip. He’s awake and twines his legs with mine, caging me in completely. He gathers my hair and lays it higher over my pillow, giving him access to my neck. He trails warm, wet kisses up my shoulder to that soft spot near my ear.

We lay there for hours, falling in and out of sleep; touching, rubbing, and massaging each other, content with just being together again. When the sun breaks across our pillows, he gets up, telling me to stay in bed. I can hear the water running into the coffee pot. He knows me so well. A few minutes later, he walks in juggling two coffee cups and my phone, saying “Good morning,” as he bends down and kisses my lips.

“I’m starving,” I announce. “My stomach is growling like I haven’t eaten in a week.”

“Drink up, then. We’ll go get a full breakfast and start our adventure with Miss Paege,” he says.

“You really want to go with us today?” I ask.

“Yes. I want to spend as much time as I can with you. I have six months to catch up on,” he admits.

He jumps in the shower after me, and I sit contemplating our week together while I get ready. I notice my phone light beeping green with a message. I swipe across the screen wondering if it’s from Jenna, but it’s from Kyle. All five messages are from Kyle starting at 10:44 pm and going up to midnight. I continue sitting there smiling. I get all giddy and shriek like a teenage girl, stomping my feet in place on the carpet.

He wants me to move to Denver to be with him. Without hesitation, my mind says yes. I quickly search the gif files on my messenger app and reply with a yes, going with my gut reaction. It may sound reckless, but it feels right and I’m doing it.

He comes back into the bedroom in yesterday’s clothes. I completely forgot about his lack of luggage. “I feel bad for throwing my tantrum at Nick’s yesterday,” I say. “It kept you from getting your things.”

“Nah. I could have grabbed my stuff, but I was more worried about you. It’s only stuff. I’ll get it today,” he says, grabbing his phone and immediately sliding it into his pocket. We leave a little while later without him referencing my response. I guess he still hasn’t seen it.

After breakfast, we arrive early to pick Miss Paege up. Jenna has her baby bag ready with everything we need, and then some. This will be an adventure. Even though I’m a woman and this is my niece, I know for a fact that I don’t always know what I’m doing with babies. I just pray that nothing bad happens today, and we arrive home safe and mentally stable.

Nick moves the baby seat into my car, double-checking that all straps are tight. They provide instructions on how to unseat the cradle from the base, how to open the stroller, and how to prepare her formula…oh my gosh; baby’s come with a lot instructions. Whew! I’m exhausted just from trying to remember everything.

Kyle and I both promise to guard her with our lives, but they both look incredibly anxious. I understand— we’ve got their most precious possession and we’re about to go tootling around a very large city with her. Well, as my mom used to say, the proof is in the pudding. We’ll show them that we are responsible adults with their child.

We head off into the city, and stop first at Crocker Galleria. It’s a beautiful, sunny day and this mall is open to fresh air on both ends—it’s great for strolling and shopping. There’s a slight delay when Kyle didn’t pay close enough attention to what Nick was saying about the stroller opening.

“What the fuck did he say about this lever again?” he asks. “I’m holding the button and pushing it down to force the seat open, but nothing’s happening.”

“Um, I kinda don’t know. I was too busy listening to how to make the formula. Sorry, babe,” I explain.

“I swear I listened. I’m pretty fucking good at listening to instructions. Just ask Coach,” he growls. Throwing his hands up in the air, he does a little circling mini-walk in frustration. His puts his hand to his chin and stares at the contraption, thinking. He wrinkles his forehead. “How the fuck am I college-educated and can’t get a baby stroller open?”

I hand him the baby carrier, and walk over to the stroller, push the button in, release it, push down on the handle, and voilà; it opens. “I’m simply magical. You’re welcome,” I laugh.

“Woman’s intuition?” he asks.

“I wish. I’m just as lost as you are today, babe. I think your frustration got the best of you. No big deal. Let’s go,” I say.

“I like you calling me babe,” he chuckles, swatting me on the ass as I push the stroller.

We stroll through the mall, stopping several times to let women of various ages peek at Paege. I don’t know what it is about babies, but people are drawn to them. Every compliment that is thrown at her, Kyle accepts it and responds with thank you. He’s walking tall showing her off, making me happy and proud.

There’s a lady following us with a camera and I’m trying to decide if she’s with a news organization or paparazzi. I point her out to Kyle so he can be aware of his actions. I’ve seen Nick get devoured by bad press, and I won’t let that happen with him. He doesn’t seem worried, which is a trait that I admire. He’s a good man.

Peage starts to cry and get restless in her carrier, so Kyle picks her up and strolls along holding her, pointing things out to her and tapping her little diaper butt. She never takes her eyes off him. I know exactly how you’re feeling, my little Pebble Bug. I can’t keep my eyes off him either. He’s mesmerizing.

We stop and feed her, and more people gather around us, admiring the baby or noticing who Kyle is. He signs a few autographs. So this is what it would feel like to be a family—with him. I’m bursting with happiness.

I watch him take out his phone and swipe across the screen. He pushes buttons, and then looks up at me with those beautiful honey-brown eyes. He’s smiling wide and his eyes are gleaming. This is what pure joy looks like on his face. I’m so glad I didn’t miss it.

“Yes, really?” he asks. His body squirms in his seat with excitement.

“Yes, really. I’d never lie to you,” I laugh.

He stands, wrapping his arms around Paege and me from behind, hugging and rocking us both together. “We need ice cream to celebrate. Let’s go,” he announces.

He drives us to Ghirardelli Square. “I love this place with the view of the Bay,” he says. “I used to come here after every winning game to celebrate and think about how different my life is here compared to Denver.” We get some ice cream and walk outside to sit in the plaza.

“So you think you won today, with my ‘yes’?” I ask.

“Yes, winning you back is the biggest win of my life,” he confesses. “No matter what happens with my career, you will always be my best win.”

“Kyle,” I say, making sure he’s looking at me. “I love you.”

“I take my previous statement back,” he says, twining his fingers into mine. “There’s my win, in those words. I love you back, Blaze. Forever.”

We finish our ice cream, packing Paege and all of her stuff up to drive her home. My heart is whole again after spending this day with him. All of the cliché words used to describe love float around in my mind, but none of them seem quite good enough to explain how I feel.

The song “Pusher Love Girl” by Justin Timberlake comes on the radio, and he reaches over to turn it up. Kyle starts to sing along, tapping my leg every time it gets to a strong part about his woman being his need—his addiction. He’s singing to me, and I can’t fall more in love with him than I am right now. Jenna always says to find a guy that can understand the lyrics to a song because that’s where the love is. I finally found him.

We pull into the drive and Jenna is planting flowers in her garden bed while Nick mulches the trees. They both rush up to the car to take their daughter back, kissing and cooing to her. “Gosh guys, we didn’t break her. I swear, you act like you haven’t seen her in days,” I tease them. It melts my heart to see them so happy in love with their new family.

“Oh, just you wait,” Jenna chimes. “You’ll have a family one of these days and you’ll know exactly how we feel.”

“Speaking of that,” I say. Nick’s head pops up, completely intent on hearing my next words. Jenna is smiling and waiting with bated breath. “Kyle has asked me to move to Denver with him, and I’ve agreed.”

“That’s great, sis. I’m happy for both of you,” Nick says, hugging me hard and slapping Kyle on the shoulder. “I’ll see if I can get more Denver assignments and visit often.”

“Yes, you do that, and we’ll visit often,” Jenna says, teasing him.

“I’ll still be traveling here and there for photo shoots. Don’t worry. I’ll be around,” I explain.

After unloading everything we bought little Miss Pebble bug from the car, we head home to start planning our life together. I’ve got a million things running through my mind that need to be accomplished for this move to happen, but for now— I’m gonna sit back and enjoy the rest of our time together this week. Hopefully, we spend most of it in bed.