“Hey, Mom.”
“You ready for your game tonight?” she asks.
“I’m leaving the stadium now. We had an early morning workout. I’m headed back home to take Paisley out for breakfast. We’re going to celebrate.”
She gasps. “Cameron Joseph Taylor, did you propose and not tell me?”
I can’t help but laugh. “No. I promise when I ask her to marry me, I’ll tell you first.”
“Deal. So what are you celebrating?”
“I just left the GM’s office. I got a contract.”
“What!” she shrieks. “Cameron, that’s amazing,” she says, her voice cracking. “I’m so proud of you.”
“Thanks, Mom.” I go on to tell her what Drew said about my agent and how he raised my contract price without negotiations.
“That’s unheard of,” Mom comments.
“Yeah. The Blaze is a good team. A family. Drew is a solid guy.”
“And you’re dating his niece.”
“I’d like to think that’s not the only reason, but yeah. I’m sure dating his niece helped.”
“You’re only going to be an hour from me.”
“Perfect-case scenario,” I agree.
“Call me after you talk to the new agent, and let me know how it goes.”
“I will. Hey, I just got home. I’m going to jump off here so I can go tell Paisley.”
“She doesn’t know?”
“Nah. I called you first.”
I hear her sniffle. “I love you, Cameron. I’m so proud of you,” she tells me again.
“Love you too, Mom. Talk soon,” I assure her, before ending the call. I turn off the truck and grab my bag. I left Paisley sleeping peacefully in my bed when I went to the stadium, but I’m sure she’s up by now. I rush to my place and unlock the door. I find my girl standing in the kitchen in nothing but one of my Blaze T-shirts.
“Hey, babe.” She smiles as she brings the cup of coffee to her lips.
I drop my bag by the door, and my feet carry me to her. I lift her onto the counter and take the coffee cup from her hands, setting it to the side. Then I slide my hand behind her neck and kiss the fuck out of her. The kiss is bruising, but my girl doesn’t seem to mind. She wraps her legs around my waist, and her hands grip my shirt. Needing air, I pull back, resting my forehead against hers.
“What’s gotten into you?” she murmurs.
“I got called into the GM’s office today.”
She pushes back at my chest so she can look me in the eyes. “Cameron?” There’s hope in her voice, so much like my mom’s. I’m surrounded by strong, beautiful women.
“Hastings is retiring. They offered me a three-year contract.”
“Oh my God!” She does a little shimmy on the counter and wraps her arms around my neck, pulling me into a hug. “I’m so damn proud of you.” She gives me a loud lip-smacking kiss as she giggles. “We have to celebrate.”
“I was thinking I could take you to breakfast.”
She grins at me. “Yeah. We could do breakfast,” she says, not really committing to the idea. “Or—” She tugs me close and whispers in my ear, “You could take me to your room, and I could show you how proud of you I am.”