Aaron and I are empty nesters now. It’s hard to be in the quiet all the time, but I’m grateful for the time we have together. I’m now over four different therapy clinics within the East Texas region and Aaron is now the director of athletics at the university twenty miles from us. He never thought Christopher Groveton would call him, but he did five years ago, and that’s where he’s been ever since.

While he hated to leave the high school, it was time. He won fifteen state championships and saw three of his students go on to be professional players. We still host our annual homecoming parties for all of his past students to come be with us during homecoming week. It’s helped the family bed and breakfast to bloom to the point Kaylee has had to open two more locations.

Lennox is now married with two children of his own. It’s crazy to say that I’m a grandma, but I love it when he comes home with his precious family. Emberley is a doctor like me and works fifteen minutes from home. I begged her to stay home, but her girlfriend said she would take care of her. Which she has done so very well.

Brayley is my wild child. He is the exact opposite of his twin sister. An artist with no chance of settling down, I’m surprised he moved to Arlington to start his own art studio. Aaron swears that it’s because of a girl, but I’m not so sure. He’s never dated, and he certainly hasn’t ever shown interest in being in a relationship.

“Sugar Plum, what are you doing?”

I look up from the photo book in my lap to see the man I’ve loved my entire life. “Just looking at the baby pictures.”

He chuckles and sits down next to me, putting his arm across the back of the couch. “Are you feeling lonely again?”

“No. I wanted to look at the pictures because there’s this one spot you and I used to go to, but I can’t remember the name of it.”

“You aren’t old enough to be forgetting things, Julie.” His hand rubs along the back of my head and I lean into him.

“I know, A-bear. But it was when we were kids.”

Aaron perks up and looks at me. “And what were you wanting to do at this place?”

A blush, even after all this time, creeps along my cheeks. “It’s the only place we haven’t done it.”

His hand grips my hair, and he forces my neck back and my face toward him. “You want to get naughty in the river bottom, Sugar Plum?”

“Yes,” I whisper right before he kisses me.

“Such a naughty little whore for me, aren’t you?” He doesn’t need me to answer because I show him by climbing into his lap and pushing my mouth tongue into his mouth.

We’ve had a lifetime of fun, memories, and love. I can’t wait for the next twenty-five years to come and go with the man that’s my entire world.

LENNOX

THE BEGINNING OF HIS LOVE STORY:

Mom and Dad are off to the Bahamas. The twins are in college and I’m home alone. Not that I mind. Hell, Dad left me in charge of the summer football league so he could have some time off with Mom. If you ask me, it’s silly how much in love they are after all this time.

All through high school and college, I looked for the one. The one that would complete me like Mom and Dad do it for each other. I’ve yet to find her. At this point, I’d take a man too. Maybe that’s my problem. I’ve been looking in the wrong places.

Walking the field, I pick up a cup one of the players dropped and roll my eyes. “Excuse me, coach?”

Squinting my eyes in the hot July sun, I see it’s Kaden. He’s been nothing but trouble the entire school year and summer. Gritting my teeth, I nod. “Yeah?”

“I need tomorrow off. I got to take my girl to the doctor.”

He doesn’t have a girl. It’s one of the rules dad told me to enforce while he was gone. While he runs the summer leagues, I run the high school program and I’m in agreement with him. Distractions aren’t a good thing.

“You shouldn’t lie, Kaden. You aren’t allowed to have a girlfriend.”

He scowls at me, perturbed I’ve called him out. “Fuck, can you not be a dick for like two seconds?”

The urge to take him over my knee and spank his ass is crazy. I growl and step into his space. “You’ve been nothing but a pain in my ass since you came to this school. What’s your deal?

Kaden bows up and steps back from me. “Personal space, Coach.” He gives me that smirk I some times wish I could wipe off his face.

“Why do you really need tomorrow off?” I take my sunglasses off and stare at him. Pitch black hair, piercing yellow eyes, and a lickable lip. Goddamn I need to stop. Its against rules and laws to want your student.

“None of your damn business. I won’t be here.”

“I can have you thrown off the team, Kaden.”

“Do what you gotta do.” He turns away from me and I get the feeling I should leave it alone, but I won’t.

Shit, I’m going to follow him. It’s against what I should be doing, going home, cooking dinner, and watching the dogs play outside. Instead, I get to the parking lot to see my brand-new truck and his old motorcycle side by side.

“Kaden, where’s your sedan?” I’m worried he could get hurt. He usually drives a blue clunker to school with his little sister.

“Fuck, Coach. Just leave it alone alright?” He turns around and his eyes are wide. “Seriously, just leave it alone. I’ll see you next week.”

Before I can stop him, he’s on the bike and driving off. My mind tells me to leave well enough alone. But my heart says he needs me.

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