Mark tugged on Colton's pajamas. "Come on." Colton followed reluctantly.
"You get to hang out with Kip and Corey all day tomorrow. So cheer up and get a good sleep." Colton flashed a smile at her and ran off. She wasn't sure who Colton idolized more.
She knew which one she idolized more. She sighed and leaned back into the headboard, focusing her attention on her lesson plan.
Mandy felt like she'd just fallen asleep, when she heard the front door open. She blinked sleepily in the dark, listening. Shoes came off, coat was put away. The slow, heavy footsteps on the stairs. His bag dropping inside the door of the bedroom. She turned over, unable to make her body sit up. "Hey sweetie," she said, groggily, lifting a hand.
"Hey babe," he whispered. He bent over the bed and kissed her. "I'll be back." She closed her eyes. A few minutes later he came back. She listened to his clothes drop on the floor, and then he paused. He picked them up and put them in his hamper. Then he crawled into bed next to her.
She moved into him, breathing his warm scent. "I'm so glad you are home," she said.
He wrapped his arm around her and kissed the top of her head. "I'm glad you were waiting for me," he said.
"You should have heard the sports guys talk about you. Like your this wonder god person. It's strange to hear. I mean, you are amazing out there. But, it's some kind of hero worship. And I'm like, you're just my Kip. It doesn't matter to me how you play out there. Just come home to me."
He smiled into her hair. "As long as you'll have me, babe."
"Okay, let's stop talking about us. You've got seven more games to play."
He sighed a little. "I know. The good news is Aleksander might be back soon." Mandy yawned and snuggled closer. She felt her consciousness fading. "That's good." She patted him. He rubbed her back a few times. And that was where she fell asleep. **** "Why do you love me?" Mandy asked. It was a few weeks into their year of living together in Saskatoon. They were laying in bed. He couldn't recall if she was naked, that time of day. Kip just remembered the question, the worried look on her face.
"You are amazing. You are beautiful. You see yourself as the chubby, geeky girl. I see you as my beautiful girlfriend who supports me in everything. Who's working her ass off for her dream."