Long: A Secret Baby Sports Romance(72)

Gibson was there to help, at least. Gibson Evans, my champion quarterback, one of the top prospects for the NFL draft.

I glanced back over my shoulder and saw the few reporters Coach Taylor had let into Gibson’s apartment. They were sitting around and looking bored, waiting for Gibson’s turn in the draft. We had a pretty good idea when he was going to get picked, but we weren’t positive. Nothing was certain in the draft, and that terrified me.

“Relax,” he said to me. “It’s going to be fine.”

“Easy for you to say.”

“Why?”

“You’re always calm.” I rocked Jax in my arms.

“Here. Give him to me.”

“No. It’s okay. You should be ready. It’s starting soon.”

He laughed. “Fuck the draft. Give me my son.”

I smiled and handed Jax over. Gibson rocked him and made faces.

Gibson was a better father than I could have ever imagined. He was attentive and he was patient and he was caring.

And best of all, he still loved me. He still undressed me slowly and licked every inch of my body, his tongue on my clit, his cock between my legs. Gibson still made me feel incredible, as amazing as the very first time.

The man was insatiable, which was good, since I couldn’t get enough of him.

We had moved in together about halfway through my pregnancy. Coach Taylor found us a little apartment in a new building just off campus, not far from my old place. Harper visited practically every day, especially after I had Jax.

While Gibson was in season, he worked part time cleaning the locker room. Nobody knew he did it at the time, but the money he brought home was a huge help. And after he won the national championship at the head of Mater Dei, journalists went crazy about the quarterback janitor. His name was all over the world, and he went on a crazy tour of talk shows and interviews.

It also helped his brand when I published my paper on him. “Long-Term Effects of Diet and Exercise on Top Athletes: A Study by Avery Carpenter” was published in Science magazine to universal acclaim. Of course, I couldn’t have done it without my biology professor, who immediately recognized how important and serious my study with Gibson was. That study only made Gibson that much more serious and wanted.

But he always had time for me. Whenever I needed him, he found me. Whenever I wanted him, he came to me. Gibson always put me and Jax first, no matter what.

Today was no exception. He could have gone down to the actual draft and sat in that beautiful room, but he insisted on staying at home for the draft with me and Jax. That was all he wanted. Coach Taylor made sure that happened.

“What do you think?” Gibson asked me. “Am I going to be a pro football player soon?”

I laughed. “I sure hope so.”

“Same, but I guess it’s no big deal if I’m not.” He bounced Jax. “I could always go back to cleaning the locker room.”

“The media would love that.”

“They sure would.”

The draft got started. In the first round, some linebacker from Michigan got picked by the Cleveland Browns.

My stomach was a knot of anxiety and worry. Coach Taylor came over and sat down in the chair next to us.

“Ready, Gibson?” he asked.

“I’m ready, Coach.”

“It’s going to happen soon. I feel it.”

“Well, I hope so. According to what I’ve heard it is, at least.”

“You’ve done well, son,” he said. “Real well. I’m proud of you no matter what.”

“Thanks, Coach.” Gibson grinned. I reached over and took Jax back from him.

The reporters all flocked back over. Cameras and lights booted up, pointing at Gibson, Jax, and me.

It felt weird to be on live TV, but I did my best to pretend like we weren’t being watched.

A man walked up to the podium. He opened up a card.

“And the Philadelphia Eagles, with the second pick in the draft, choose Gibson Evans, quarterback.”

The room erupted in cheers. Someone shoved an Eagles hat on Gibson. He hugged me, kissed Jax, and then hugged Coach Taylor.

I felt like a huge weight was lifted from my shoulders. We had known it was probably going to happen, but there were never any guarantees with this sort of thing.

I felt so light and happy. Gibson had made it. This was his chance to play at the highest level, to make his dream come true. He was finally going to do what he’d always wanted to do, and all the while he’d take care of me and Jax.

Because he could. Gibson was a man, stronger than other men, better. He made me feel right whenever he was around.

The reporters swarmed for the next half hour. Gibson answered questions, smiled for pictures, and did the whole media thing. Coach Taylor stayed by his side, and I took care of Jax, watching and feeling so incredibly proud.