Mr. Fiancé(157)

So things should be great, but for some reason, they're not. Last night, for the first time since we moved in together, she was offish, not wanting to even cuddle on the couch. I chalked it up at the time to stress. I mean, we've both got reports and finals coming up pretty soon, but still, it's on my mind.

Walking by the Pavilion, I see Tyler Paulson. He didn't get drafted, but afterward, he got an invite to sign a contract with Toronto of the Canadian League. "Hey, Tyler. How's it going?"

"Not bad," Tyler says, waving. "Just got off the phone with the guys up in Toronto. They're sending down some stuff to help me find an apartment. No way am I moving up there full time. That city is stupid levels of expensive."

"What, you don't like T-dot girls?" I tease, and Tyler laughs.

"I hate that fucking nickname, and I haven't even moved there yet. As for the honeys, oh, that city is crazy hot, but I can do that still being a part-timer. Remember, we're now famous professional athletes!"

"Yeah well, you can enjoy that particular side for the both of us. I'm off the market."

Tyler slows, and I stop. We're next to the big statue that's outside the stadium, put up back in the seventies after the basketball team won the national title two years in a row. Tyler turns to me, a half-smile on his face. "That serious, huh?"

I nod and reach into my jacket pocket. I pull out the little black case and show Tyler the diamond ring inside. "What do you think?"

"I think that you got it too small," Tyler says after he gasps, "but I'm touched. Of course I'll be your quarterback for life, Duncan! I didn't know you thought of me that way, but—"

"Oh shut up, asshole." I laugh. "Seriously, what do you think?"

Tyler looks at the ring for a second, and his smile widens. "I think it's great, man. Question, though, and don't get pissed, I'm just asking. Is this because of the distance? J-ville's a long way from Cali, you know."

"No. At least, not all of it," I reply. "I mean, I want to be with her forever, you know what I'm saying?"

"I had two girlfriends last month while prepping for the Pro Day. I have no idea what the fuck you're talking about," Tyler jokes, then grows serious. "But it's cool if you do. I’m just not there yet, man, but when I do, I hope it's with as good a girl as Carrie. When are you going to ask?"

I shake my head, shrugging. "I don't know. I mean, I was thinking of doing it last night, but she was a bit off, just not her normal self. I guess I'm looking for the right time to ask, that's all. I just picked up the ring yesterday from the jewelers. It took me nearly two hours just to pick it out online and put the order in."

"How many game checks is it costing you?" Tyler asks, and I shrug again.

"It could cost me my entire signing bonus, and I'll count it as worth it."

"Careful, you're going to end up broke on the side of the road before you know it."

I laugh and punch Tyler in his left shoulder. "Hardly. Actually, I got some good advice and the name of a good investment banker from one of my new teammates. I figure if he's good enough to handle Troy Wood's money, he can handle mine too."

"You got to hang out with Troy Wood? I hate that guy! He picked me off twice that Western-Clement game we played him!" Tyler rebukes me with a laugh. "Don't tell me you're buddy-buddy with the guy?"

"He's a good dude. Had me over to his house to meet his wife and two kids. He let me really bend his ear, just find out what it's like as a pro. Anyway, one of the big things he advised me to do, and it makes sense after what happened to my dad, is to just live below my salary. I'm not saying the man's a tight ass, but he and his wife drive used cars, and their only real splurge is his house, which even then isn't even one year's worth of his contract. He's put away huge amounts of his income, some saved, a lot invested, and he's got a guy who's beaten the market by ten percent each of the past three years. I'm going to be giving him a call soon."

Tyler nods and chews his lip in thought. "I see. You got the man's number?"

"Yeah, back at my place. I'll email it to you. But I'm going to do the right thing for Carrie. I love her, and yeah, I want to marry her."

Tyler shakes his head in disbelief and smiles. "All right, then. It's a good ring. I'll even be nice for you and not tell her you showed me a ring. How's that?"

"Thanks. I'll see you later. I've got lunch with Carrie in about twenty, and I don't want to be late."

I head off and get to the restaurant just before Carrie and I agreed to meet up. She had a lab this morning, and I want to give her a chance to relax after a stressful morning before we start our afternoon classes. It's been kind of nice this final semester of college to actually have classes that start late and end late, with no need to duck out early to make practice.