Page 34 of Allure
Mahalia smiled. “Tell me all about it. I need to live through someone.”
I laughed and told her about all the different surprises he had in place. The locals we met when we went into town, all the foods we tried, and more. By the time we had eaten and I ordered his food, it was dark. I was ready to be home with my man and I wasn’t ashamed to admit that.
We got the check, then she dropped me off at my car. The ride back home was quick since I didn’t live far from the shop. The moment I walked through the door, I saw Niko watching Martin on the couch in the living room. He looked to be freshly showered and chilling. I rushed inside with his food, making him my first stop.
I leaned down and kissed him a few times before letting him know I was placing his food in the kitchen on the island and that I was going to go get in the shower, then come back. He nodded, so I went upstairs and got myself cleaned up. By the time I made it back downstairs, he was lounging on the couch again, still watching the show. I brought a blanket down with me and immediately got on the couch with him, lying down.
I threw the blanket over both of us and cuddled up as close as I possibly could.
“How was your day?” I asked.
He released a sigh. “Eventful. I went to see my agent and he let me know the team doubled the money on my contract if I come back. Don’t get me wrong, I know I could play another successful few years of football, but I don’t think this is what I want anymore.”
I turned around in his arms so I could look directly at him.
“You don’t have to make a fast decision; the ball is in your court. If this isn’t what you want, money will never make you happy, no matter the amount. But I know you will choose what’s best. Now, is that the only thing?” I asked.
He seemed to have more weighing on him than the money. He released a sigh, then looked back down at me.
“I stopped by to see my mom today and she wants to invite your parents and us for a family dinner this weekend but I told her I needed to check with you. If you got something else planned, I will gladly tell them we can’t make it.”
I laughed. “Are you trying to use me to get out of this?” I asked.
He chuckled. “Maybe. Those folks grind my gears sometimes.”
“Well, I’m not letting you use me. We might as well see how the family acts in one space,” I said with a shrug.
“If we must,” he replied dramatically.
I pulled myself up his body slightly and wrapped my arms around his neck as he gripped my ass with both hands. I pecked his lips a few times before lying against his chest.
“Damn, you must have really missed me.”
“Did you doubt it?” I asked.
“Nah, the way I be feeding this body, I can already tell you feeling your boy hard,” he said while rubbing his chin playfully.
I lightly bit his shoulder, pulling a groan out of him.
“Girl, you better stop before I give you something to talk about,” he replied.
I giggled and laid down with him as we fell into a comfortable silence. I couldn’t remember the last time I had laid with anyone like this but this man was beginning to feel more and more like home to me.
I woke up to the gentle vibrations of my phone on the nightstand, accompanied by the soft, rhythmic snores of Lore beside me. She always claimed she didn’t snore, but I found the sound endearing, a reminder of the love and comfort we shared. Groggily, I reached for my phone, squinting at the bright screen that illuminated the darkened bedroom. It was a call from So Sports, the network that had offered me a position as a sports anchor.
Carefully, I slipped out of bed, trying not to disturb Lore’s peaceful slumber. As I made my way to the living room, I couldn’t help but smile at the thought of her adamant denial of snoring, despite the evidence to the contrary.
I answered the call, and the producer’s voice greeted me with enthusiasm. “Niko, good morning! I hope I didn’t wake you. We wanted to touch base and see if you were still interested in the anchor position we discussed.”
I paused for a moment, my mind drifting to the recent offer from my previous team. They had doubled the amount, tempting me with a lucrative contract to return to the field. It was a decision that had been weighing heavily on my mind, but as I glanced back at the bedroom where Lore lay, her gentle snores a reminder of our life together, her words echoed in my thoughts. She encouraged me to do what was best for me, reminding me that happiness couldn’t be measured in dollars.
With a newfound sense of clarity, I responded, “Absolutely, I’m still very much interested in the position. It’s a dream I never imagined I’d be able to do. I’m excited to start this new chapter with So Sports. Thanks again for the opportunity.”
The producer’s joy was palpable through the phone. “That’s fantastic news, Niko! We’re thrilled to have you on board. In fact, we’d like to set up a tour of the studio today, so you can get acquainted with the team and learn the ropes. How does that sound?”
I couldn’t help but smile at the eagerness in her voice. “That sounds perfect. I’m ready to dive in and give this my all.”
After ironing out the details of the tour, I ended the call with a sense of excitement buzzing through my veins. However, I knew there was one more important call I needed to make before I got back in bed. I dialed Marcus’s number, my agent who had been with me through thick and thin. I knew he wasn’t going to be happy with my choice but it was mine to make. That sentiment was becoming more clear the more I thought about it.