Epilogue
Hailey
It was a beautiful day for a wedding in Miami, and having a beach wedding was expected when you were in such a beautiful location. I had dreamed of getting married on the beach my whole life and couldn’t believe that it was actually happening.
Matt and Mandy, of course, were standing up for us and they were all that we needed by our side. We had talked a lot about the wedding and had decided together to take the plunge before we had the baby. I was four months along at that point, but due to my slim figure, I still wasn’t showing very much, so I was able to get the dress of my dreams and not cause the scandal that Caleb’s parents were worried about. People would eventually find out, of course, but by then we would be married for five months, and it wouldn’t matter so much.
Caleb had been right about his mother: she was just over the moon about everything. She was thrilled that her son had a partner who could tame his wild ways, and the fact that she had a grandchild on the way just tickled her pink, mainly because she was sure that we were going to have a little girl.
I was waiting in the beach house Caleb’s family owned, in a room set aside for me and Mandy. Our parents had flown in from Europe for the wedding and had been absolutely stunned to find out that I was getting married and having a baby with the Caleb Harris the famous pro-golfer. They were thrilled in the end after the shock wore off. I was doing well in my career, and well, who wouldn’t be happy to find out that their daughter was marrying a wealthy man?
I stood in my gown looking in the mirror when Mandy came in the room. “I have your earrings,” she said as she came over to me.
“Thanks,” I said, taking them from her.
“You look so beautiful, Hailey, and no one would ever guess you were pregnant.”
“Well, that’s a relief.” I was so happy, but I also felt jittery. I couldn’t believe that the day had finally come that I was about to marry Caleb. It was all just so hard to believe, but I was accepting my fate as a happy bride and soon-to-be mother.
“How do you feel?” Mandy asked me.
“I’m nervous.”
“Really? Well, you wouldn’t be the first bride to say that. Everything really is going to be okay. Caleb is a great man, mainly because he loves you so much. He would do anything for you, Hailey. That man will spend his entire life doing whatever he can to make you happy.”
I smiled as I glanced at myself in the mirror again. The dress was absolutely gorgeous. Vera Wang had done well for me, and she had been willing to do it during our massive time crunch. There were certainly benefits to marrying a celebrity. Or maybe I was a celebrity now, too. Just thinking about it made me smile.
“I know. I’m not nervous because I have doubts. I guess I just can’t believe it’s all happening so fast. It’s crazy you know?”
“Oh, I know. The baby part was truly shocking for me. I can’t believe you kept it a secret from me for so long.”
I laughed, “Well, I was pretty freaked out and didn’t know what to do.”
“It’s okay; it all worked out and now look at where you are. You are in love and about to embark on a pretty incredible life.”
“Yes, I am.”
Mandy looked down at the designer watch that hung delicately from her wrist. I had given it to her as a maid of honor gift. She looked up at me and smiled. “It’s showtime.”
Now, I was very excited. I was about to walk down the aisle and marry the man of my dreams and, oh, was he dreamy.
“I’m ready,” I said.
We left the room and made our way to the patio doors. I looked outside to all our guests seated in chairs facing the ocean. It just all looked so beautiful. The company that had decorated had done a magnificent job. I could see Caleb standing in the front with the pastor and Matt. He was just standing there, waiting patiently for me.
Mandy opened the doors and the wedding music started to play. I watched as she made her way down the porch and then eventually down the aisle. Matt met her halfway and then brought her to the front. They looked good together, and I hoped that their friendship would one day blossom into something else.
It was my turn now, and my heart was beating through my chest. I couldn’t believe this was happening to me. I was there at the beach house about to get married, and my little baby was right there with us. It was going to be the start of a whole new life, one that I had never even known of or dreamt of before. A few months ago, I would have laughed if someone told me that I would be married and have a baby that year. I had not even considered such things a few months ago – it hadn’t even been a thought in my head. But there I was; so much had changed in such a small amount of time that it was hard to keep up.
I made my way outside, and everyone stood up from their seats. I delicately walked down the stairs, careful not to slip. I made my way towards the aisle and then walked slowly down it. I looked at my guests as I passed and enjoyed all the happy looks around me. I faced forward and met Caleb’s gaze, and his never wavered from mine for a minute. He looked so in love with me, and I felt exactly the same way.
I walked to the front of the aisle and stood there before him, before the man I was going to call husband for the rest of my life. He came to my side and kissed me on the cheek. The pastor got into his speech, and all I could do was look into Caleb’s eyes and feel all the love that he had for me there. When it came time for us to kiss, he stepped before me and placed his lips gently against my own. But no, that would not be good enough for our first kiss as man and wife. I grasped his neck and pulled him in further, and our kiss grew more passionate. There were some hollers around us, and we laughed as we parted.
“I will love you forever,” he said to me.
“As will I,” I whispered.
And just like that, we were man and wife. We held hands as we made our way back down the aisle towards our future.
QUARTERBACK’S SECRET BABY
By Ivy Jordan
This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places and incidents are products of the writer's imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2017 Ivy Jordan
Chapter One
Cade
Three Years Ago
Involuntarily, my eyes squeeze shut. Maybe when I open them, I’ll be alone again.
Wishful thinking in an NFL weight room, I think.
Opening my eyes again, I grunt out a greeting at two of my younger teammates as I adjust my position, a baggie of ice wrapped in an ace bandage around my shoulder. Jake Austin and Malcolm Green are chatting excitedly about the Super Bowl, and I want nothing more than for the room to open up and swallow me whole.
Don't get me wrong. Playing pro football is a hell of a way to make a living. And, I've made a damn good living doing it. Everyone knows who I am. Cade Thomas is household name even in households that don't watch football. I'm the face parents want their daughters to bring home, the man other guys wish they could be, and every woman's fantasy.
I’ve got more endorsement deals than any athlete in any of the major sporting leagues. Name a record... I’ve set it. I've led my team to more Super Bowl s than any other quarterback. In another week, I’ll be playing in another one, and yeah, we’ll probably win and you can add it to the lengthy list of accomplishments I’ve managed to compile.
Doesn’t mean my life is fulfilled, though.
Putting on a smile, I try to get caught up in the two second-year pros’ excitement.
Jake is spotting Malcolm as he works through a rep of bench presses when I walk over.
“Dude,” Jake starts, “I can’t believe we’re going to the Super Bowl. I dreamed about this since I was a kid.”
“Yeah, how long ago was that, two years?” I teased him good naturedly. At thirty-eight, I know I’m nearing my end, that there’s no guarantee for another season. But Jake, he’s just getting started.
“What’s it like?” Malcolm asks, sitting up on the bench.
I look between the two of them. They each played for rival schools in college and came into their first training camp with old, bitter memories that had them thinking they were enemies. Now they were best friends, like brothers.
“It’s the best feeling in the world,” I admit. “Nothing else like it.”
“We’re gonna get so much tail,” Jake says, exchanging a high five with Malcolm.
“There’s more to life than just good tail,” I point out.
“Sure, there’s bad tail, too,” Malcolm laughs.
I shake my head, but the truth is, there isn't anything other than good tail in my life, either, and the thought nags at me. I push it aside as the two rookies continue talking.
“I hope I catch the winning pass,” Jake says aloud. “Not only will there be tons of women wanting to get with the hero, but the money will roll in, right, Cade?”
I shrug. “The endorsements are a definite plus. A big, fat paycheck for a few hours of your life to show up and tell people to buy an energy drink ain't a bad way to make a buck.”
“How many endorsements did you get after your first Super Bowl win?” Malcolm asked.
“Three or four small deals, I guess, but I landed my Under Armour deal after that win,” I tell them. “I've been set for life since I signed that.”
“Man, I hope I get a deal like that one day,” Malcolm says.
“You will after we win this game,” Jake tells him. “We’ve been money all year, right, Cade?”
The team has been on fire all season, I think to myself. We have not only one of the best offensive lines that’s been seen in years, but our defensive line as just as impressive. We’ve been nearly unstoppable.
“Don’t get too ahead of yourself,” I offer as advice. “Keep with it one play at a time and everything will happen just like coach says, you know? If you get too far ahead of yourself, then you set yourself up to fail... But yeah, we got this in the bag.”
They’re both still laughing as I leave the weight room and head for the locker room. Discarding the bag of pretty much melted ice in the trash, I get dressed and grab my things to head out. I wave to a couple trainers and security staff on my way to the parking lot and climb into my matte black Ford F-150 pickup truck. Lots of guys have expensive SUVs and sports cars, but I don’t need a flashy car.
Playing for the Los Angeles Condors has been the best thing about my life for a long time. It’s the team that drafted me, it’s been the team I’ve won with. I really don't have any doubts about winning again this year, either. We are truly the best team this season, one of the best the NFL has ever seen.
But something doesn't feel the same anymore.
I’m still on top of my game, and yeah, going to the Super Bowl is a big deal – but I’ve already got more rings than I do fingers on my left hand. Three years ago, we went to the Super Bowl as underdogs. Three years ago, no one thought we’d make the playoffs. We scraped our way through the season, barely making playoffs as a wild card. Every week, I made it my own personal goal to win that week, and we steamrolled through the competition. When we won our conference championship, my goal became setting the record for number of Super Bowl wins. It ended up being my easiest win to date.
Now, looking back on a career I knew was slowing down, I wondered what I was really living for anymore. I had had it all, and then some. But I didn’t have anyone to share it with. Sure, I had a girlfriend, but did I love her? Not particularly. I didn't even have a best friend. I had fame, fortune, and football. But not love, or friendship, or hell, even a family.
Waiting on traffic to turn out of the parking lot, I lean my head back with a sigh. Maybe I didn't have it all. Maybe I've been wrong. Because what kind of life is a life with no meaning?