“Tyler, is that you?” Carrie asks, and Tyler comes around the table into view of the camera on our laptop. “Hey, long time no see surfer dude. Heard you got lucky.”
“You can say that again. I see you're getting ready to pop.” Tyler sits down next to me and puts his arm around my shoulders. Damn that feels good. “How's the big man?”
“He's doing great. In fact, we were just talking the other day. Duncan's got games all the way through January, like you know. The Wildcats are pretty much a lock for the playoffs, and if we can go deep, there's a chance we could go all the way. Pretty good for a rookie.”
“Damn good. Better than us,” Tyler says with a touch of disappointment. We'd lost our playoff game, not due to him, he put out another great effort, but our defense collapsed again, and three touchdowns by Tyler just wasn't enough. Next year, though. “So you guys are going to be busy for the first half of the winter.”
“We are, but Duncan and I really want to go to your ceremony, so we were kind of thinking . . . what about you two coming down here for the ceremony?”
I look at Tyler, who raises an eyebrow. “It’ll be warm.”
“And you can leave on a honeymoon of the Caribbean as soon as the whole thing's over,” Carrie adds. “We were thinking though that maybe you'd like to hang out for a game? I mean, I know you're committed to Toronto and everything, but it'd be cool to see you again, and Troy and Whitney are super geeked about the idea of meeting you. I mean, we all do share the same financial planner and everything.”
“Speaking of financial planning, that was what I just came back from,” Tyler says excitedly. “I got the endorsement deal.”
“Really?” I ask, excited. “They really signed you that quickly?”
“Their offer was good, and there's no reason not to do it,” Tyler says. Seeing that Carrie is confused, he explains. “One of the big sporting goods companies in Ontario has been looking for a new pitchman, and after my performance this year they offered me an endorsement contract. Two years, quarter million total.”
Carrie grins. “What's that, about fifteen bucks American?”
I glower, but laugh. It's an old joke. “Very funny, Yankee girl.”
Carrie sticks her tongue out at me and blows a big raspberry, but we're both smiling. I've never met her face to face, but I like Carrie Hart. “Ooooh, Yankee girl. I like it. I'll make sure to tell Duncan, he can call me that from now on.”
I can't help but laugh. “Point taken. Actually, I'm looking forward to meeting you and Duncan. You can tell me all sorts of embarrassing stories about my soon to be husband.”
“Oh, for sure. In fact, remind me to have Duncan tell the one about the time Tyler went down to Mexico and got drunk in Tijuana.”
Tyler groans, and I glance over, raising an eyebrow.
Carrie laughs. “What about baby names, have you thought of any for your baby? I mean, I know it's going to be a while before you need to, but you know.”
I look at Tyler, who nods. I smile and look at Carrie, who is still looking on expectantly. “If it's a girl, we're going to name her Marie, after her grandmother. If it's a boy . . . Gavin. That was Tyler's grandfather's name.”
“Those are beautiful. Hey, do you guys want Duncan to give you a holler when he gets home? The boys are prepping for New England this week, if you rush I might be able to get you two tickets.”
Tyler shakes his head and grins. “Nah . . . but pencil us in for your next home game. April and I need to firm up some plans with the folks here who we're inviting for the wedding, and my Mom too, but whatever it is, we'll for sure want to do a home game.”
“Bank on it. Congrats again Tyler. And April, I am looking forward to meeting you in person. And Duncan will give you both a holler tonight.”
Carrie signs off, and I look over at Tyler, who's still smiling. “Home game in Jacksonville, huh?”
“And from there we can go on our honeymoon,” Tyler says. “But, if you want your Mom to attend, maybe we can do two ceremonies? One with a J-P for her, one in Florida for everyone else?”
“Let's think about it. Now, what's this about a quarter million dollars?”
Tyler nods and smiles. “Three commercials, one day of photo shoots for print ads, and the same next year. I was going to call Cory about that tomorrow, and invest it all. No matter what, our future is going to be secured.”
A secure future. A baby on the way, and the man of my dreams next to me. “I can live with that. You know, this apartment's going to be pretty small in a couple of years.”
“A couple of years, yeah. Until then . . . I'm thinking long term, and long term, we have plenty of time to find the perfect home for our family.”
I smile and give Tyler a kiss. “Think we have time for a quickie before Duncan calls?”
Tyler pulls me in closer and twists, laying me down on the couch. “If we don't, he can leave a message. I'm going to make love to my soul mate.”
“Say that again,” I whisper as he kisses place on my neck that makes me shiver in desire. “My soul mate.”
I like the sound of that.
Make sure you check out the other books in this “world”.