drew and fable

8/13/2019 Drew and Fable

1/68

DREW + FABEL

Excerpt from FOUR YEARS LATER

It all began in OE WEE! "IRLFRIED

Fin# o$t more abo$t %ea#line Eternal

&%OTO' (OLBY RAI)ER

e* Yor Time, an# USA To#a- be,t,elling a$t.or )onica )$rp.- i, a nati/e (alifornian *.oli/e, in t.e foot.ill, belo* Yo,emite0 A *ife an# mot.er of t.ree1 ,.e *rite, ne* a#$lt

contemporar- romance an# i, t.e a$t.or of t.e One Wee "irlfrien# ,erie,0

2i,it )onica3, *eb,ite at' ***0monicam$rp.-a$t.or0com

Lie )onica on Faceboo' ***0faceboo0com4)onica)$rp.-a$t.or

Lie Dre* + Fable on Faceboo' ***0faceboo0com4Dre*An#FableOfficial

Follo* )onica on T*itter' t*itter0com4),)onica)$rp.-&rai,e for )onica )$rp.-'

5)onica )$rp.- ,$ccee#, in maing a ,team- romance bet*een t*o c.aracter, *it. ama6ingc.emi,tran# ,.e t$rn, a *or of fiction into ,omet.ing ,o m$c. more0 It i, a real1 tangible1 an#

bea$tif$l t.ing3 T.e Life of Fiction

5F$ll of ,ecret, an# .eartac.e t.i, i, ,o m$c. more t.an 7$,t a ,tor- of lo/e1 more lie a 7o$rne-of t*o lo,t .eart,3 Li,a 8a-ne1 "oo#rea#,

5A ,*eet an# ,ex- rea# *it. a #a,. of ang,t0 It *ill .oo -o$ from page one93 Un#er t.e (o/er,

5T.e a$t.or .a# me .ooe# *it.in t.e opening page, 0 0 0 All I .a/e to ,a- i, pic $p t.e boo

an# be prepare# for t.e roller coa,ter -o$ are abo$t to get on 0 0 0 Yo$ *ill not *ant to mi,, t.i,boo an# t.i, a$t.or3 S.. )om, Rea#ing

5I c.o,e t.i, boo to be t.e boo0 T.e perfect boo t.at *o$l# mae t.e *orl# ,top for a fe*.o$r, an# ,$c me into anot.er $ni/er,e completel-0 T.e perfect boo t.at *o$l# mae m- .eart

race an# ,top all at t.e ,ame time0 T.i, boo i, t.at boo9 T.i, boo i, perfect93 T.e Ob,e,,i/e

Rea#er

5An ama6ing rea#9 0 0 0 :I; can3t *ait to contin$e t.e emotional 7o$rne- of Dre* an# Fable3 A

Booi,. E,cape

B- )onica )$rp.-

One Wee "irlfrien# Serie,

One Wee "irlfrien#

Secon# (.ance Bo-frien#

T.ree Broen &romi,e,

Dre* + Fable Fore/er

Fo$r Year, Later

Fanta,-0 %o* I en#e# $p *it. FL pla-er Dre* (alla.an1 t.e g$- e/er- *oman *ant,1 i,

be-on# m- *il#e,t #ream,0 All I no* i, t.at once .e c.o,e me a, .i, one an# onl-1 I ,$re

*a,n3t looing bac0 I .a# pa,t *o$n#, an# .e ,.o*e# patience an# concern ? e/en taingre,pon,ibilit- for m- me,,e#=$p i# brot.er0 o*1 once again1 .e3, fo$n# a *a- to blo* m-

min#' an exotic *e##ing an# .one-moon mile, an# mile, a*a- from .ome0 W.at el,e co$l# a

girl e/er a, for@


2/68

Realit-0 o* t.e .one-moon3, o/er0 Dre*3, football ,c.e#$le tae, .im on t.e roa# con,tantl-1*.ile I nee# to ,ta- p$t an# loo after m- brot.er $ntil .e fini,.e, .ig. ,c.ool ? beca$,e "o#

no*, o$r ,orr- exc$,e for a mot.er *on3t0 I no* Dre* lo/e, me *it. all .i, .eart1 an# I3ll

al*a-, be o/er t.e moon abo$t .im0 T.i, 7$,t i,n3t .o* I imagine# o$r life a, ne*l-*e#, #ealing *it. t.e #i,tance1 mi,,ing .im all t.e time0 B$t *e3/e gone t.ro$g. .ar# time, before0

We can get t.ro$g. t.i,1 too1 rig.t@ We3re Dre* an# Fable1 toget.er fore/er0 At lea,t I .ope ,o

Once in a*.ile1 in t.e mi##le of an or#inar- life1 lo/e gi/e, $, a fair-tale

Unno*n(.apter One

Fable

CLet3, get marrie#0

I glance $p from m- p.one to fin# Dre* ,tan#ing in front of me1 .i, ga6e loce# on m- face0

Ex.a$,tion line, .i, bea$tif$l bl$e e-e, an# .i, #ar .air i, in complete #i,arra-1 t.e *a- it$,$all- i, after .o$r, of football practice0 T.ere3, a lig.t ,.een of ,*eat on .i, fore.ea#1 an# i,

t.at bloo# at t.e corner of .i, mo$t.@

I3m ,itting on t.e co$c.1 texting O*en an# a,ing *.ere .e3, at1 b$t t.e little 7er i, gi/ing me

*i,.-=*a,.- an,*er,0 ot t.at .e3, ,o little an-more1 *.at *it. t.e *a- .e to*er, o/er me0

%e3ll be a 7$nior in .ig. ,c.ool t.i, $pcoming ,c.ool -ear an# .e3, ,pen#ing mo,t of .i, ,$mmereit.er *oring1 at football practice1 or *it. Wa#e0

(a$,ing all ,ort, of tro$ble1 I3m ,$re0

I #i#n3t e/en .ear t.e front #oor open or clo,e0 I3# left it $nloce#0 We3re ,ta-ing at a rental in a

gate# comm$nit- t.at3, part of an $ltra=,*an neig.bor.oo# not too far from t.e ,ta#i$m1 b$t

,till0 So not goo#0 If Dre* reali6e# I .a#n3t .ear# .im enter t.e .o$,e1 .e3# probabl- be ma#0%e3, ,o o/erprotecti/e of me it3, ri#ic$lo$,0

An# ,ex-0 Definitel- ,ex-0

In fact1 .e3, prett- #amn ,ex- rig.t no*1 glo*ering at me1 *aiting for an an,*er0 %e m$,t3/e

7$,t fini,.e# practice.e3, all #irt- an# ,*eat-1 a combination of a#renaline an# fr$,trationpo$ring off .im0 It /ibrate, t.ro$g. me1 f$eling m- con,tant .$nger for .im to an e/en .ig.er

le/el1 ,tealing m- breat. a, I contin$e ,taring at .im0 A, .e contin$e, to ,tare at me0

CW.- are -o$ blee#ing@ I a,1 beca$,e I gotta no*0 I .ate .o* .e3, br$tali6e# o$t on t.efootball fiel# ,ometime,0 A, t.e $arterbac1 .e #oe,n3t tae extreme .it, lie ot.er pla-er,0 B$t

at t.i, moment .e3, got bloo# on .i, bea$tif$l face an# I #on3t lie it0

%e *a/e, a .an#1 #i,mi,,ing m- $e,tion0 Somet.ing3, *rong an# I *i,. I ne* *.at0 B$t a,

$,$al1 .e3, not bl$rting e/er-t.ing o$t0 ot telling me .i, ,ecret,0 %i, *orrie,0 %i, #e,ire,0 %e

lie, to .ol# t.e,e t.ing, clo,e to .i, c.e,t0 Still0

B$t I #on3t min# pr-ing t.em o$t of .im0 I3m patient0 I3m in lo/e0

Soon1 I *ill be Fable (alla.an0 I3/e earne# t.e freaing pri/ilege to call m-,elf t.at1 too0 It3, notea,- being *it. Dre*0 Yet I *o$l#n3t tra#e m- life *it. an-one0

I tr- a #ifferent tactic ,ince .e3, not an,*ering m- $e,tion0 CWe are getting marrie#1 I ,a-

,lo*l-1 tr-ing to calm m- rioto$, .eart0 W.en Dre*3, all *ore# $p lie t.i,1 it aro$,e, me1more often t.an not0 An# I #on3t t.in .e3, in t.e moo# for an-t.ing lie t.at at t.e moment0 CI

e/en .a/e t.e engagement ring to pro/e it0 I rai,e m- trembling .an# an# .ol# it o$t to .im0

%e ,.ae, .i, .ea#1 fr$,tration maing .i, mo$t. tig.t0 CI #on3t *ant to *ait an- longer1 Fable0

We3re r$nning o$t of time0

CR$nning o$t of time@ I repeat *it. a fro*n0 CW.at are -o$ taling abo$t@

Dre* goe, #o*n on .i, nee,1 .i, c.e,t br$,.ing again,t m- leg,1 .i, $pper bo#- obliterating m-/i,ion $ntil all I can ,ee an# .ear an# ,mell i, .im0 T.e ,cent of fre,.=c$t gra,, an# ,$n,.ine


3/68

cling, to .im1 a, *ell a, t.e familiar ,cent of .i, ,oap an# ,*eat0 %i, no,e loo, ,$nb$rne#0T.ere are ne* line, aro$n# .i, e-e, from crinling t.em again,t t.e ,$n an# at t.i, /er- moment1

I fin# .im ,o $nbearabl- .an#,ome1 e/en *it. bloo# at t.e corner of .i, mo$t.1 I no* *it.o$t a

#o$bt I3ll agree to *.ate/er .e3, tr-ing to con/ince me to #o0 It3, 7$,t t.at ea,-0

An# I3m 7$,t t.at ,imple0

CTraining3, almo,t fini,.e# an# pre,ea,on i, going to ,tart ,oon0 After t.at1 t.e reg$lar ,ea,onic, off an# I3ll be b$,-0 Be-on# b$,-0 &ractice1 .ome game,1 going o$t of to*n1 all t.at

b$ll,.it for mont.,0 )ont.,1 Fable1 *.en -o$3re going to en# $p ,ta-ing bac at .ome *it.

O*en an# maing ,$re .e3, going to ,c.ool1 -o$ no*@ An# I3m not again,t t.at *e alrea#-agree# to t.e plan0 %e pa$,e,1 .i, mo$t. ,ettling in a .ar#1 firm line for a brief moment before

.e contin$e,0 CSo *.en are *e going to fit in getting marrie# bet*een all t.at@

I part m- lip,1 rea#- to come $p *it. an an,*er1 b$t I #on3t .a/e one0 I #on3t no* *.ere *e

co$l# fit in o$r *e##ing *.at *it. .i, cra6- ,c.e#$le0 )e1 I3m free a, a bir#0 I go *.ere .e goe,0

Well0 T.at3, not $ite tr$e0 A, Dre* 7$,t mentione#1 I .a/e O*en to tae care of0 %e3, in .ig.,c.ool an# I nee# to ,ta- .ome *it. .im0 Dre* nee#, to be in San Franci,co ,ince .e3, pla-ing

profe,,ional football for t.e GHer,0

Ye,0 )- bo-frien#*.oop,1 ,orr-1 fianci, a profe,,ional football pla-er0 I can ,till .ar#l-

*rap m- brain aro$n# it0

I3m *it. .im no* in Santa (lara *.ile .e3, in training camp0 %e *a, a fir,t #raft pic an# t.e

iner, ,nappe# .im $p1 7$,t lie t.at0 Lot, of me#ia attention .a, alrea#- been p$t on .im0 %e

trie, .i, be,t to a/oi# it all1 b$t it3, .ar#0 %e3, al*a-, been ,$c. a pri/ate per,on an# I no* .e3,

o/er*.elme#0 %e tal, to me abo$t it a lot an# I3/e ,pent a lot of time latel- rea,,$ring .im t.ate/er-t.ing3, going to be all rig.t0

I belie/e t.at0 I belie/e in $,1 an# *e3re bot. be-on# rea#- to get marrie#0 An# I #o ,ee *.at.e3, ,a-ing0 If t.e reporter, are eager to tal to .im no*1 *ait $ntil .e act$all- ,tart, pla-ing in

front of a cro*#0 W.et.er .e #oe, *ell or not1 t.e ,pec$lation *ill be t.ere1 foc$,e# ,olel- on

.im0 %e *ant, to a/oi# t.e ,potlig.t0

T.ere3, no c.ance t.at3, .appening1 t.o$g.0 %e3, alrea#- in it0 We bot. are0

CI #on3t no* *.en *e can get marrie#1 I finall- an,*er1 m- /oice ,mall0 CIt ,o$n#, lie -o$

reall- #on3t .a/e t.e time0

%e reac.e, o$t an# ,ettle, t.o,e big1 *arm .an#, of .i, on m- nee, an# gi/e, t.em a ,$ee6e0CAct$all-1 I #o1 b$t *e gotta mae it $ic0 So .o* abo$t no*@

I meet .i, ga6e1 ,ee all t.e lo/e an# *orr- an# anxio$,ne,, ,*irling *it.in t.e bl$e #ept., of .i,e-e,0 "o#1 I lo/e .im ,o m$c.0 I *ant to mae .im .app-0 I plan on maing .im .app- for t.e

re,t of o$r li/e,0 I can onl- .ope I3m eno$g.0

Co*@ I *.i,per1 m- t.roat ac.ing *it. t.e one1 ,imple *or#0 We3re #eci#ing o$r f$t$re rig.t

no*0 T.i, i, a moment I *ill ne/er1 e/er forget0

%e no#,1 .i, t.$mb care,,ing t.e in,i#e of m- nee0 Tingle, ,catter all o/er m- ,in at .i, to$c.1,en#ing electricit- 6ipping t.ro$g. m- /ein,0 T.e ,lig.te,t ,mile c$r/e, .i, lip,1 t.e intimate one

t.at3, 7$,t for me1 t.at no one el,e e/er ,ee,0

I lo/e t.at ,mile0 I lo/e no*ing t.at *.at *e ,.are i,n3t for an-one el,e0 B$t latel- in Dre*3,*orl# I3/e been feeling le,, t.an0 It3, a feeling I $,e# to ,tr$ggle *it. con,tantl-1 e,peciall-

*.en *e *ere fir,t toget.er0 %i, life o/er*.elme# me completel-0 I *a, ,imple0 Some mig.t3/ecalle# me tra,.0 Oa-1 finelot, of people calle# me tra,.0 8$,t lie )om0 Wort.le,,0 W.ore0

I3# .ear# t.o,e *or#, ,o man- time, t.e- meant not.ing to me0

Until I met Dre* an# I *ante# to become ,omeone #ifferent1 ,omeone *ort.- of .im0

Dre* *a, far from ,imple0 (omplex an# ric. an# gorgeo$,1 e/er-t.ing ,eeme# to come ea,- to

.im0 B$t it #i#n3t0 %i, *orl# *a, ,.it0 %i, fat.er *a, obli/io$, to *.at *a, going on0 %i,


4/68

,tepmot.er *a, an e/il *itc. *.o mole,te# .im0 %e let me into .i, life1 an# I c.ange# it for t.ebetter0

B$t *.at if .e fin#, ,omeone el,e@ W.at if t.ere reall- i, ,omeone el,e o$t t.ere for .im1,omeone better t.an me@ %e3ll be tra/eling0 On t.e roa# *it. t.e team1 pla-ing game, all o/er

t.e co$ntr-1 an# I3ll be ,t$c at .ome1 maing ,$re O*en3, getting goo# gra#e,0 I can3t p$ll m-

brot.er o$t of .i, .ig. ,c.ool0 %e3, li/e# .i, entire life .ere1 .a, frien#,1 i, on t.e football team0

%e *or, at T.e Di,trict1 7$,t lie I $,e# to0 %i, life i, goo# t.ere0

Dre* an# I are in lo/e an# *e *ant to ,pen# t.e re,t of o$r li/e, toget.er0 Yet .ere I ,it f$ll of

in,ec$ritie, *.ile t.i, bea$tif$l man i, tr-ing to con/ince me to r$n a*a- *it. .im an# getmarrie#0

I mean1 reall-0 W.at t.e .ell i, *rong *it. me@

COa-0 I blo* o$t a .ar,. breat.1 tr-ing to gat.er m- *a-*ar# t.o$g.t,0 T.e-3re ,cattere#

e/er-*.ere1 tr-ing to fig$re o$t *.at3, t.e be,t next ,tep *.en #eep #o*n1 I alrea#- no* *.at

t.at ,tep i,0 CW.ere #o -o$ *ant to get marrie#@ 2ega,@ A $icie marriage .a# al*a-, beent.e plan0 We #on3t .a/e eno$g. famil- to *arrant t.ro*ing a big *e##ing an# *e #i#n3t *ant

t.e .a,,le an-*a-0

%e grimace, an# ,.ae, .i, .ea#1 t.en mo/e, ,o .e3, ,itting rig.t next to me on t.e co$c.1

,linging an arm aro$n# m- ,.o$l#er,0 Leaning in1 .e n$66le, m- .air *it. .i, no,e1 breat.ing

#eep1 an# I clo,e m- e-e, *.en I feel .i, lip, on m- fore.ea#0 CI *a, t.ining %a*aii1 .em$rm$r,0

Dre*

Fable p$ll, a*a- ,o ,.e can gape at me1 .er .an# re,ting on m- c.e,t0 I *on#er if ,.e can feelt.e /ibration trembling 7$,t beneat. m- ,in1 m- *il#l- beating .eart0 I3m f$cing ner/o$, ,.e3,

going to ,a- no0 W.-1 I3m not ,$re1 beca$,e m- girl ,ai# -e, to me a -ear ago0 We 7$,t .a/en3t

#one an-t.ing abo$t it -et0 CAre -o$ ,erio$,@ ,.e a,,0

I no#1 eeping m- expre,,ion ,olemn t.o$g. e/er-t.ing in,i#e me feel, lie it3, ,piraling o$t of

control0 W.at if ,.e ,a-, no@ W.at if I3m r$ining .er #ream of .a/ing a giant *e##ing@ I #on3tt.in I am0 S.e3, ne/er mentione# ,.e *ante# a .$ge ceremon-0 It3, not .er ,t-le0 An# *e3/e

alrea#- #i,c$,,e# mo,t of t.e #etail,1 ,o *e3re prett- m$c. on t.e ,ame page0 CA, a .eart

attac0

C%o* long can -o$ get a*a- for@ %er finger, c$rl into m- ,.irt an# I3m .a/ing a ,en,e of #7J

/$0 %o* man- time, .a, ,.e p$,.e# at m- c.e,t1 lie ,.e *ant, to ,.o/e me a*a- *.en reall-

,.e3, al*a-, t$gging me bac0 &$lling me in1 ab,orbing me0

An# I al*a-, *ant to ab,orb .er0 Tae .er in an# mae .er mine0 Again an# again an# again0

Yea.0 I3/e got it ba# rig.t no*0 It3, all t.e c.ange .appening in o$r li/e,0 I ,ecretl- long to

ret$rn to a ,impler time0 To t.e .appie,t time of m- life1 onl- a -ear ago1 *.en *e *ere falling

#eeper an# #eeper in lo/e a, e/er- #a- pa,,e#0 W.en I *a, ,till in college an# ,.e *ore# at t.ere,ta$rant f$ll time0 W.en *e *o$l# go o/er to 8en an# (olin3, .o$,e an# .ang o$t1 ,ometime,

bringing O*en *it. $,1 along *it. .i, frien# Wa#e0 Lie a .app- little famil-0 )- .eart .a#

been f$ll0 F$ller t.an it .a# e/er felt in m- entire life0

I long for t.at feeling again0 I *ant to fill m- .eart *it. not.ing b$t Fable0 I nee# to foc$, on t.i,

girl1 t.i, *oman *.o3, abo$t to become m- *ife0

)- f$cing *ife0 &eople ,a- *e3re too -o$ng1 b$t I #on3t care0 W.en it3, rig.t1 -o$ no*0

An# I #efinitel- no*0

S.e3, *atc.ing me no*1 t.o,e big green e-e, ,.immering a, ,.e *ait,0 S.e loo, rea#- to cr-1

an# it better not be from ,a#ne,,0

C%o* long #o -o$ *ant to tae a %a*aiian /acation@ I a,0

A giant grin brea, o$t acro,, .er face0 S.e loo, be-on# .app-0 C(an *e ,it on t.e beac. an#,ip mai tai,@


5/68

CWe can #o *.ate/er -o$ *ant0 I ,$ee6e .er clo,e1 pre,, m- face again,t t.e top of .er .ea#0 I

can ,mell .er ,.ampoo0 I clo,e m- e-e, a, t.e ,il-1 ,oft ,tran#, of .er .air ticle m- ,in0

S.e t$c, .er face again,t m- nec1 .er lip, mo/ing again,t m- ,in a, ,.e ,pea,0 CRomantic

,$n,et ceremon-@

CT.at ,o$n#, perfect1 I m$rm$r1 beca$,e it #oe,0 %ol#ing .er .an#, a, t.e ,$n melt, into t.eocean1 .er face #apple# *it. ,.a#e, of orange an# pin an# re#0 S.e3ll .a/e a flo*er in .er .air1

t.e #re,, ,.e *ear, *ill be ga$6- an# *.ite1 an# *e3ll bot. cr-0 I no* it0 I3m not a,.ame# to

a#mit it1 eit.er0

&$lling a*a- ,lig.tl-1 Fable ,t$#ie, me1 a little ,mile c$rling .er lip,0 I lo/e t.o,e lip,0 I lo/e t.at

,mile0 S.e reac.e, o$t1 ,m$#ge, .er t.$mb again,t t.e corner of m- mo$t.1 an# I *ince1 t.et*inge of pain remin#ing me t.at I c$t m-,elf earlier *.en ,omeone tacle# me #$ring practice1

ca$,ing m- .elmet to ,ome.o* .it t.e corner of m- mo$t. 7$,t rig.t0

CW.at .appene#@ ,.e m$rm$r,1 .er t.$mb lingering on m- lip,1 *iping a*a- at t.e bloo# Ican3t ,ee0

C"ot tacle#0 !noce# m- mo$t. on t.e .elmet *.en I .it t.e gro$n#0 I grimace *.en ,.epre,,e, .ar#er0 I can3t *orr- abo$t t.e c$t no*0 I .a/e more important t.ing, to foc$, on0 Lie

o$r f$t$re0 CLet3, lea/e next *ee1 Fable0 (all $p a tra/el agent or *.ate/er an# boo t.e flig.t0

CI can boo t.e flig.t for $, an# fin# a .otel1 ,.e ,a-,1 .er ,*eet /oice ,oft1 .er .an# #ropping

a*a- from m- mo$t.0 CIt3, going to be expen,i/e1 t.o$g.1 ,ince it3, ,o la,t min$te0

I ,.ae m- .ea#0 C)one-3, not an i,,$e0 I3m maing a ,.it ton0 It3, ri#ic$lo$,0 Da#3, t.rille#0%e3, ,o freaing pro$# .i, ,on i, going to ,tart in t.e FL0 I *ent bac to (armel a fe* *ee,

ago0 Wit.o$t Fable1 all alone1 facing m- #emon,1 facing m- fat.er0 ot one an# t.e ,ame

an-more1 t.an "o#0

It *ent *ell0 %e too me to t.e co$ntr- cl$b *.ere Fable an# I .a# gone *it. .im1 an# -ea.0

It3, .ar# for me to t.in abo$t t.at *oman1 *.at ,.e #i# to me1 t.e g$ilt I carrie# for ,o man--ear,0 Fable can .ar#l- ,a- .er name o$t lo$#0 %ell1 I bet Da# feel, t.e ,ame *a-1 too0

)- ,tepmom0 A#ele0 T.e *oman *.o ,e#$ce# me1 *.o trice# me an# m- fat.er an# e/er-oneel,e in .er life0 S.e ille# .er,elf in front of me an# Fable0 I3m gla# ,.e3, gone0 I #on3t mi,, .er0

S.e #oe,n3t #e,er/e to be mi,,e#0

W.ile I *a, in (armel1 I .a# l$nc. *it. Da# an# .i, frien#,1 let .im brag all o/er me0 It3, t.e

.appie,t I3/e ,een .im in a long time1 an# ,itting t.ere at t.e table1 li,tening to .im go on an# on1

a mixt$re of regret an# lo/e an# pri#e fill, me0

I3m ,orr- o$r relation,.ip became ,o ,traine#0 I3m not ,orr- t.at .i, *ife #ie#0 An# I3m t.anf$l

.e #i#n3t .ol# .er #eat. again,t me0

After t.e co$ntr- cl$b1 I tol# .im I *a, .ea#ing ,traig.t .ome1 b$t I #i#n3t0 I *ent to t.e

cemeter- in,tea#0 I /i,ite# 2ane,,a3, gra/e1 ,etting flo*er, on it1 ,taring at .er name etc.e# in

,tone $ntil m- /i,ion bl$rre# an# I bline# t.e pa,t a*a-0 I, ,.e mine@ I ,till #on3t no*0 I ,a-no0 I pra- no0

B$t none of $, *ill e/er no* t.e tr$t. ,o in m- .eart1 I belie/e 2ane,,a i, m- ,i,ter0

T.at3, t.e *a- it .a, to be0 Ot.er*i,e1 I mig.t ,lo*l- lo,e m- min#0 An# I can3t .a/e t.at

.appen again0

CW.at abo$t -o$r #a#@ Fable a,,1 an# I *on#er if ,.e3, a min# rea#er0 We3re ,o in t$ne *it.

eac. ot.er I *o$l#n3t #o$bt it for a ,econ#0 CAn# O*en@ I *ant t.em bot. t.ere1 b$t

Co0 I grab .er .an# an# bring it to m- mo$t.1 i,,ing .er n$cle, ,oftl-0 C%a*aii i, 7$,t for

$,0 O$r *e##ing i, 7$,t for $,0 W.en *e come bac .ome1 *e can .a/e a ,mall reception1 or a

big one1 *.ate/er -o$ *ant0 We3ll celebrate *it. o$r frien#,0 An# famil-1 I *ant to a##1 b$t *e


6/68

#on3t .a/e m$c. famil-0 Onl- Da# an# O*en0 Da# mentione# *anting to p$t ,omet.ing toget.erfor $,1 ,ome ,ort of part-1 an# I no* ,.e mig.t prote,t ,o it3, better not to mention it0

Better not to mention Fable3, mot.er1 eit.er0 S.e #oe,n3t *ant .er mom aro$n# an# neit.er #o I0S.e3, p$lle# too man- tric, t.ro$g.o$t Fable3, life1 e,peciall- latel-0

I #on3t lie t.at *oman0 %ell1 I3/e ne/er e/en met .er0 B$t Fable .ate, .er an# t.at3, eno$g.

rea,on to feel t.i, *a-0

COa-0 S.e blo*, o$t a .ar,. breat.1 .er lip, t$rning into a trem$lo$, ,mile0 CI3ll loo into

flig.t,0 A, 8en to tae care of O*en1 or ma-be Wa#e3, mom0

CFable0 %er ga6e catc.e, mine *.en I ,a- .er name an# I lean in1 ,ettling m- mo$t. on .er, in

a lingering i,,0 I ta,te .er1 ,alt- ,*eet0 I ,mell .er0 I in.ale .er0 T.e c$t in t.e corner of m-mo$t. .$rt, b$t I #on3t care0 CI lo/e -o$0 T.e *or#, are more lie breat.1 ex.ale# again,t .er

lip,1 an# ,.e clo,e, .er e-e, on a ,ig.1 little tear, lie ,.in- #iamon#, clinging to .er la,.e,0

CI lo/e -o$1 too0 I i,, .er again after ,.e ,a-, t.o,e *or#,1 #abbing at t.e tear, *it. m- t.$mb1catc.ing t.em on m- ,in1 feeling t.em ,in into me0 I3/e ca$g.t .er tear, more time, t.an I can

co$nt0 I3/e i,,e# .er for *.at feel, lie fore/er0 I3/e lo,t m-,elf #eep in,i#e .er bo#- o/er an#

o/er0

It ne/er gro*, ol#0 E/er0 )- ,tomac. ,till flip, $pon t.at fir,t to$c. of .er lip, on mine0 T.e

,o$n# of .er la$g.ter blee#, t.ro$g. me1 ,$ff$,ing m- ,o$l0 T.e ,ig.t of .er ,mile1 t.e ,o$n# ofplea,$re t.at e,cape, .er e/er- ,ingle time I enter .er

T.i, *oman i, 7$,t f$cing it for me0 S.e3, no longer a girl an-more0 T.e 7a#e#1 angr-1 an#

#efiant girl *.o *a, ,o #etermine# to fig.t t.e *orl# i, gone1 t.o$g. ,.a#e, of .er ,till ,.inet.ro$g.0

I lo/e# t.at girl0 Fiercel-0 An# I lo/e t.e *oman ,.e i, no*1 7$,t a, fiercel-0 S.e3, m- fiance1m- f$t$re *ife1 t.e f$t$re mot.er of m- c.il#ren0 Fable i, t.e *oman *.o *ill al*a-, ,tan# b-

m- ,i#e0

Fore/er0

(.apter T*o

Fable

Sometime,1 *.en I lea,t expect it1 I3m o/ercome *it. gratit$#e0 %o* t.anf$l I am t.at t.i,

bea$tif$l1 gentle1 ,ex- man *ale# into m- life ,o $nexpecte#l-0 It ,till feel, lie -e,ter#a- t.at I

fo$n# .im *aiting o$t,i#e for me at La Salle3,1 t.e *in# col#1 .i, expre,,ion #e,perate0 I .ate#.im on ,ig.t0 I #i#n3t care if .e *a, tall an# broa# an# gorgeo$,0 %e 7$,t *ante# to $,e me0

T.e- all *ante# to $,e me0 An# lie t.e .opele,, girl t.at I *a,1 I let t.em0

W.en Dre* a,e# me to be .i, fae girlfrien#1 I *a, ,o ,$re .e *a, lie t.e re,t of t.em0 U,ing

me 7$,t for .i, o*n gain0 I al,o t.o$g.t .e *a, in,ane0 I tol# .im no0 Some.o*1 I let .im b$- mean-*a-0 I can ,till feel ,.ame o/er t.at1 t.o$g. it3, ,t$pi#0 %e lo/e, me0 I no* .e #oe,0 I can3t

get eno$g. of .im an# .e can3t ,eem to get eno$g. of me0

D$ring t.at .orrible1 ,car-1 ex.ilarating1 life=c.anging *ee1 I force# .im to open $p to me an# Iprobabl- ,.o$l#n3t .a/e #one t.at

B$t I #i#0 I #on3t regret it1 eit.er0 I fo$n# o$t t.ing, I ,$,pecte# b$t #i#n3t *ant to reali6e0 %e

*a, ,o clo,e# off1 ,$c. a m-,ter- to me0 I .a# to no*1 t.o$g.0 I .a# to fin# o$t *.at bot.ere#.im0 I ne* ,omet.ing *a, ,$,picio$, bet*een .im an# .i, ,tepmot.er1 an# *.en ,.e #roppe#

t.at bomb t.at .i, #ea# ,i,ter ma- .a/e been .i, #a$g.ter

Well0 I *a, too far in b- t.at moment0 I3# ,lept *it. .im0 I *a, falling in lo/e *it. .im0 For

once in m- life1 I *ante# to be all in *it. a g$-0 I *ante# to be t.ere for .im1 an# I *a,0

T.en .e left0 An# nearl- broe me0


7/68

We came toget.er1 .e ran a*a-1 an# t.en *e face# o$r fear,0 Toget.er0 W.en -o$ ,tr$ggle for,omet.ing ,o goo#1 ,o rig.t1 -o$ c.eri,. it more0 Yo$ .ol# it clo,e1 n$rt$re it1 protect it1 mae

,$re -o$ ne/er1 e/er let -o$r g$ar# #o*n0 T.at3, .o* I feel abo$t m- almo,t .$,ban#0

For Dre* an# me1 it3, al*a-, been abo$t t.e toget.er0 o matter *.at1 it3, me an# .im0

Fore/er0

T.e ,$n melt, into t.e &acific1 ca,ting it, gol#=tinge#=*it.=pin glo* $pon t.e ,.immering #eep=

bl$e *ater0 (lo$#, gat.er1 gra- an# bl$e baclit *it. orange1 a #a66ling ,$n,et t.e lie, of *.ic.

I3/e ne/er ,een0 It3, bea$tif$l0 I *ant to ,tare at it1 get lo,t in all t.e color, an# text$re, an#,cent, an# ,o$n#,1 b$t I can3t0 I3m in#a b$,- rig.t no*0

A, in1 t.e mini,ter i, ,a-ing *or#, of lo/e an# #e/otion an# marriage an# m- .an#, are inDre*3,0 %e3, *atc.ing me1 t.at ,ecret ,mile on .i, face1 .i, too bl$e e-e, fille# *it. ,o m$c.

lo/e for me I *ant to cr-0

I .ol# it in1 t.o$g.1 beca$,e I3m to$g.0 We3/e .a# plent- of moment, in o$r li/e,1 bot. toget.eran# apart1 to cr- o/er an# t.i, i, #efinitel- not one of t.em0 We3re ,$ppo,e# to be .app-0 o

tear, allo*e#1 rig.t@ Dre* ,$ee6e, m- .an#,1 a, if .e no*, I3m t.ining abo$t cr-ing an#

tr-ing m- .ar#e,t not to1 an# I offer .im a trem$lo$, ,mile0

We3re alone on )aena Beac. on t.e ,o$t. ,i#e of t.e i,lan#1 o$r onl- *itne,, t.e *ife of t.e

man officiating o$r *e##ing ceremon-0 Dre*3, face i, ca,t in a ro,- gol#en .$e .i, #ar bro*n.air fl$tter, acro,, .i, fore.ea#1 r$ffle# b- t.e gentle bree6e t.at *a,.e, o/er $,0 %e3, *earing

.ai pant, t.at .e3, rolle# $p a co$ple of time, an# a *.ite b$tton=#o*n ,.irt1 an# .i, feet are

bare0 Looing ca,$al an# bea$tif$l an# ,o painf$ll- .an#,ome1 I ,*ear 7$,t looing at .im mae,

m- e-e, .$rt0

T.e *a/e, cra,. gentl- on t.e ,.ore0 T.ere3, ,an# in m- toe, an# t.e .em of m- long1 *.ite

,traple,, #re,, i, #amp1 *e3re ,tan#ing ,o clo,e to t.e *ater3, e#ge0

B$t I #on3t care0 I3m too ca$g.t $p in t.i, moment1 too ca$g.t $p in t.i, man ,tan#ing before me0

Dre* repeat, t.e /o*, t.e mini,ter ,a-, an# I pre,, m- lip, toget.er a, I li,ten to .i, familiar1#eep /oice1 m- /i,ion bl$rre# b- tear,0 I can3t ,top t.em0 W.en it3, m- t$rn to repeat t.o,e ,ame

,acre# /o*,1 m- /oice *a/er,1 t.e *or#, t.ic in m- t.roat1 an# I ,ee t.e ,.immer of tear, in

Dre*3, e-e,1 too0

O. "o#1 *e3re a co$ple of total ,ap,1 b$t I #on3t care0 We3re in lo/e1 #amn it0 We3/e fo$g.t too

.ar# an# ,tr$ggle# for too long an# *e3re re/eling in t.e moment0 If *e *ant to cr- o/er o$r

,acre# /o*, to eac. ot.er1 o/er t.i,1 t.e mo,t important #a- of o$r li/e,1 t.en it3, o$rprerogati/e0

Dre*3, inten,e ga6e ne/er lea/e, me a, .e ent*ine, .i, finger, tig.tl- *it. mine1 7$,t a, tig.tl-ent*ine# a, o$r .eart, are0 I can3t belie/e t.i, moment i, finall- .appening0 We mae promi,e,

of lo/e an# #e/otion1 bot. *it. o$r *or#, an# o$r .eart, an# min#,0 W.en prompte#1 I *.i,per

CI #o in m- ,till *a/ering /oice1 an# Dre* ,mile, at me1 ,$ee6ing m- .an#,0 T.e t*o of $,1*e3re #e,tin-0 Fate0 !i,met0 W.ate/er -o$ *ant to call it0

T.e ,mile t.at brea, o$t acro,, .i, face *.en I ,a- t.o,e t*o *or#, ,teal, m- breat.0 )- .eart0

)- ,o$l0 All of me irre/ocabl- no* belong, to .im0 %e ,lip, a ban# on m- finger1 t.e #iamon#,t.at ,$rro$n# it ,o big t.at I a$#ibl- ga,p0 I .a#n3t expecte# t.i, an# I ,en# .im a $e,tioning

loo1 b$t .e onl- ,mir, at me in ret$rn0

)- man i, con,tantl- f$ll of ,$rpri,e,0

CI lo/e -o$1 .e *.i,per,0 CI #i#n3t *ant -o$ to e/er forget it0

CWit. #iamon#, t.i, big1 I ne/er *ill1 I *.i,per bac1 maing t.e mini,ter la$g.0

)in$te, later1 *.en Dre* *.i,per, t.o,e ,ame t*o *or#, t.at mean .e no* belong, to me1 I

,li#e t.e platin$m ban# I pice# o$t for .im a fe* #a-, ago onto .i, ring finger1 ,oli#if-ing o$r

relation,.ip0 )- .eart fill, to b$r,ting0


8/68

It3, a moment I3ll ne/er forget0 Etc.e# into m- memor- for all time0 T.e ,$n,et1 t.e beac.1 t.eloo in m- .$,ban#3, e-e,1 t.e *a- .e ,ai# .e lo/e# me0

We3re freaing marrie# no*0 )- legal name i, Fable (alla.an0 Dre* (alla.an i, m- .$,ban#0

Wil#1 .$.@ I am one l$c-1 l$c- girl0

An# I no* it0Dre*

It probabl- ,o$n#, #$mb1 b$t t.i, nig.t *it. Fable1 o$r fir,t nig.t toget.er a, a marrie# co$ple1.a, more ,ignificance t.an anot.er nig.t I3/e been *it. .er0 An# *e3/e .a# ,ome ma7or

moment,0 T.ere *a, t.at fir,t nig.t in (armel *.en ,.e finall- broe #o*n all m- *all, an# *e

.a# ,ex0 T.e nig.t *.en I *ent to .er place in t.e po$ring rain an# begge# .er to let me in,i#e0

T.e nig.t *.en *e *ere finall- toget.er again after being apart for a co$ple of mont.,0 Until

no*1 t.at nig.t meant t.e mo,t to me b- far0 To lo,e .er an# t.en get .er bac

I co$l# go on an# on0 T.ere3, no t$rning bac no*0 We3re toget.er0 S.e3, mine an# I3m .er,1

an# ,.e3, going ab,ol$tel- no*.ere0

S.e3, #oing *.ate/er preparation a bri#e #oe, for .er groom at t.i, /er- ,econ#1 loce# a*a- in

t.e bat.room0 S.e3, been in t.ere for almo,t an .o$r an# I no* ,.e too a ,.o*er I .ear# t.e

*ater r$nning0 I pace# t.e .otel ,$ite1 ,too# o$t on t.e lanai c.ecing o$t t.e /ie*1 finall-#eci#ing f$c it *.en ,.e *a, taing ,o #amn long0

o* I3m lo$nging in be# completel- nae# an# *aiting for m- *ife0 I3m impatient1 eager to get

.er beneat. me0 We3/e been ,o b$,-1 me *it. training camp an# t.en bot. of $, in f$ll=onpreparation mo#e *.en *e #eci#e# to #o t.i, *e##ing t.ing0

&ractice .a, been to$g.0 We3/e bot. been ,tre,,e#0 O$r life eep, c.anging an# I3m blo*n a*a-b- it all0 I t.in ,.e i,1 too0 We ten# to fall into be# in an ex.a$,te# .eap toget.er1 going rig.t to

,leep0 Or *e .a/e .$rrie# ,exnot t.at it3, ba#1 b$t I .a/en3t nece,,aril- felt connecte# to Fable

latel-0

I .ope to rectif- t.at0

Finall-1 t.e #oor open, an# ,.e *al, o$t1 a f$cing /i,ion in *.ite ,il an# lace0 T.e nig.tgo*n

i, long an# cling, to .er ,.ape1 t.in ,trap, cro,, .er ,.o$l#er,1 an# I ,*ear t.e entire front i,

ma#e of not.ing b$t ,.eer lace0 A, in1 I can clearl- ,ee .er nipple,0

I almo,t c.oe on m- tong$e 7$,t looing at .er0

CW.at #o -o$ t.in@ S.e ,o$n#, ner/o$, a, ,.e #oe, a little t*irl1 re/ealing t.e bac of t.ego*n1 an# .ol- f$c1 I3m #one for0 %er entire bac i, expo,e#1 it #ip, ,o lo*1 almo,t to .er a,,1

an# m- finger, itc. to to$c. .er0

C(ome .ere an# I3ll ,.o* -o$ exactl- *.at I t.in1 I ,a- *.en I finall- fin# m- ,cratc.- /oice0

A ,mile tea,e, t.e corner, of .er lip, an# ,.e come, to me1 t.e ,cent of .er filling m- .ea#1

#ri/ing me *il#0 %er .air i, #o*n an# .a, a ,lig.t *a/e to it1 .er face ,cr$bbe# free of mae$p*it. c.ee, pin from t.e ,$n0 %er ,in practicall- glo*, $n#er t.e faint lig.t from t.e nearb-

lamp an# I reac. o$t1 relief an# lo/e an# l$,t floo#ing m- /ein, *.en ,.e c$rl, .er .an# in mine0

CW.ere #i# -o$ get it@ S.e no*, exactl- *.at I3m taling abo$t0

S.e ,.r$g, t.o,e prett-1 ,lim ,.o$l#er, I *ant to i,,0 C8en too me ,.opping before *e left0

Fable .a# gone bac .ome for a fe* #a-, to ,pen# time *it. O*en before *e fle* o$t0 T.e i#

*a, pi,,e#1 complaining t.at .e *ante# to go to %a*aii0 ot t.at .e *a, ma# at $,1 b$t .e 7$,t *ante# to go to %a*aii0 CWell1 *.ere/er ,.e too -o$1 I appro/e0

S.e la$g.,1 t.e ,o$n# ,oft an# ,o #elicio$,l- Fable1 m- ,in *arm,0 CI *ante# to loo prett- for

-o$ tonig.t0


9/68

CYo$ loo prett- for me e/er- #a- an# nig.t1 I ,a- a$tomaticall- beca$,e it3, tr$e0 ot onl- i,,.e bea$tif$l on t.e in,i#e1 b$t ,.e3, f$cing gorgeo$, on t.e o$t,i#e0 I ,ee t.e .ea#, t.at t$rn

*.en I ,.o* $p an-*.ere *it. Fable be,i#e me0 S.e barel- loo, at t.em0 %er e-e, are onl- on

me0

CYo$ are too ,*eet0 S.e #ip, #o*n an# gi/e, me a i,,1 b$t I #on3t clo,e m- e-e,0 o1 m- ga6e

i, loce# on .er c.e,t1 t.e *a- t.e front of .er nig.tgo*n gape, *it. t.e mo/ement1 an# I catc.

a glimp,e of bare ,in an# tempting pin nipple,0

CAre -o$ c.ecing me o$t@ ,.e m$rm$r, again,t m- lip, 7$,t before ,.e p$ll, a*a-0

CWearing ,omet.ing lie t.at1 -o$ ne* t.i, *a, going to .appen0 I gi/e .er .an# a t$g an#

-an .er #o*n ,o ,.e3, ,pra*le# acro,, me1 not.ing b$t .ot1 ,moot. ,in an# ,il an# lace

fabric0 CAn# *ait $ntil -o$ ,ee *.at I3m *earing0

S.e *iggle, again,t me1 maing m- coc roc .ar#1 an# I clamp m- arm aro$n# .er *ai,t1

.ol#ing .er ,till0 (aref$ll- I roll .er o/er ,o ,.e3, on .er bac1 .er long blon# .air ,pla-e# all

o/er t.e pillo*1 .er green ga6e ,oft a, ,.e ,tare, $p at me0 I ic t.e co/er, off an# cra*l on topof .er1 i,,ing .er before ,.e can ,a- a *or#1 m- tong$e tangling *it. .er, for long1 con,$ming

min$te, $ntil I finall- come $p for air0

CYo$3re *earing not.ing1 ,.e ,a-, breat.le,,l-1 an# I c.$cle0

CI *ante# to loo ,pecial 7$,t for -o$1 I ret$rn1 m- mo$t. at .er nec1 licing an# nibbling an#i,,ing .er fragrant ,in0

Co* -o$3re 7$,t maing f$n0 S.e ,*at, m- ,.o$l#er1 .er /oice po$t-0

CI *o$l# ne/er mae f$n of m- bri#e on o$r *e##ing nig.t0 I lift $p ,o I can loo at .er1

*anting .er to ,ee 7$,t .o* ,incere I am0 CE,peciall- *.en ,.e loo, lie t.i,0

CA*0 S.e to$c.e, m- c.ee1 .er finger, #rifting acro,, m- ,in0 CI lo/e it *.en -o$ ,a- t.ing,

lie t.at0

CWell1 be prepare#1 *ife of mine0 I plan on ,a-ing all ,ort, of corn- t.ing, to -o$ all nig.t long0

An# for t.e re,t of -o$r life0 I to- *it. t.e t.in ,trap on .er ,.o$l#er1 ,lipping m- finger,

beneat. it to care,, .er bare ,in0 A ,.i/er mo/e, t.ro$g. .er1 goo,e b$mp, ,catter acro,, .er,.o$l#er1 an# ,lo*l-1 I p$,. t.e ,li/er of fabric off0 T.e little ,trap fall, ea,il-1 ,li#ing #o*n .er

arm1 an# I #rop i,,e, along fir,t one bare ,.o$l#er1 t.en t.e ot.er1 c$pping .er brea,t, a, I pla-

*it. .er nipple, *it. m- t.$mb, beneat. t.e t.in lace0

CDre*1 ,.e m$rm$r,1 .er .an#, imme#iatel- going into m- .air a, ,.e g$i#e, me1 .ol#ing me

to .er c.e,t0 C&lea,e0 I3/e *aite# too long0 I *ant -o$ in,i#e me0

CWaite# too long@ I lic at a nipple o/er t.e lace1 *etting t.e fabric an# .er fle,.0 S.e gi/e, a

little t*itc.1 a ga,p e,caping .er1 an# I ,mile0 CWe3/e onl- 7$,t beg$n0

CIt3, been *ee, ,ince *e3/e been toget.er lie t.i,0 I #on3t *ant to *ait an- longer1 ,.e plea#,

breat.le,,l-0 De,peratel-0

CDon3t r$,. me0 I *ant to tae m- time b$t I3m a, eager a, ,.e ,o$n#,0 Wit.o$t t.o$g.t I3mgat.ering t.e .em of .er nig.tgo*n in m- fi,t1 p$lling t.e ,moot. fabric $p .er leg,1 re/ealing

t.at ,.e #oe,n3t .a/e a ,titc. on beneat. t.e ,il0 E/er-t.ing in,i#e of me goe, .ot an# ac.-0 I3m

#e,perate to $nlea,. on .er1 ,.o* .er t.at ,.e belong, onl- to me0 CI t.in -o$ nee# to *ear t.i,

again tomorro*1 I ,a-1 m- teet. gritte#1 m- entire bo#- ,.aing *it. nee#0

CW.-@ S.e ga,p, *.en I i,, .er .ip1 one t.ig.1 t.en t.e ot.er0 I feel .er tremble beneat. m-lip, an# I briefl- clo,e m- e-e,1 in.ale t.e m$,-1 ,*eet ,cent of .er0 T.ere are ,o man- t.ing, I

*ant to #o to .er b$t I can3t foc$,0 I3m fille# *it. t.e nee# to pl$nge #eep in,i#e .er an# ne/er

,top0

A.1 ,.it0 I reali6e ,.e3, *aiting for an an,*er an# all I can #o i, t.in abo$t .o* fa,t I can get

in,i#e .er0


10/68

CUm1 beca$,e I *ant to ,a/or -o$ in t.i, prett- go*n b$t I can3t0 ot rig.t no*0 I3m p$lling itoff .er an# ,.e lift, .er arm, abo/e .er .ea# ,o I can t$g it free1 getting .er a, nae# a, I am0

CYo$3re rig.t0 We can linger tomorro*1 .$.@

CI ,$ppo,e *e can0 La$g.ter e,cape, .er a, ,.e ,ettle, .er .ea# bac on t.e ,tac of pillo*,1 .er

leg, ,prea#ing to accommo#ate me bet*een t.em0 CIf -o$ *ant0

CO.1 I #efinitel- *ant0 We can linger tomorro*0 E/en later tonig.t0 Leaning in1 I lic one bare1perfect nipple0 CTomorro* morning0 T.en I lic t.e ot.er0 CW.ene/er1 *.ere/er1 -o$3/e got

me1 bab-0 I3m all -o$r,0

An# t.at3, a f$cing promi,e1 I t.in *.en I p$,. in,i#e .er *elcoming bo#-1 lo,ing m-,elf

in,i#e .er 7$,t lie t.at0 S.e3, .ot an# *et an# tig.t1 clamping ,o perfectl- aro$n# m- t.robbing

coc1 an# I no* one t.r$,t *o$l# ,en# me ,traig.t into obli/ion0 It3, ,o ea,- *it. Fable0 Soea,- it $,e# to ,care me0 S.e3, ,o accepting1 ,o lo/ing1 ,o ,*eet an# protecti/e an# fierce an#

bl$nt an# bea$tif$l1 an# all mine0 I3m fille# *it. t.e $rge to po,,e,, .er0 )ar .er an# f$c .er

an# mae .er reali6e ,.e *ill ne/er belong to anot.er man0

Onl- me0

I t.r$,t #eep an# .ar#1 not being ca$tio$, or gentle1 an# ,.e ,eem, to *ant it t.at *a- too0 %erbreat.le,, *or#, enco$rage me1 t.e *a- .er e-e, glo* a, ,.e ,tare,1 *atc.ing me in *on#er0

%er fingernail, c$t into t.e ,in on m- a,, a, ,.e p$,.e, me #eeper1 a, #eep a, I can get

F$c0 I3m #one for0 R$ine# for anot.er *oman0 B$t t.at alrea#- .appene# -ear, ago1 *.en I

fir,t lai# e-e, on .er0 I ne* t.en1 I .a# a *eir# feeling t.at t.i, girl *o$l# c.ange m- life0

S.e .a,0 In t.e be,t *a- po,,ible1 too0

CI lo/e -o$1 ,.e *.i,per, again,t m- ,.o$l#er a, I ram #eep in,i#e .er0 %er ,len#er leg, are

*o$n# aro$n# m- .ip, an# ,.e3, clinging to me a, if ,.e ne/er *ant, to let me go0

CI lo/e -o$1 too1 bab-0 I feel lie I co$l# ,a- it again an# again an# it *o$l#n3t be eno$g.0 I

*ant to gi/e .er e/er-t.ing ,.e co$l# e/er *i,. for0 I *ant to mae all of .er #ream, come tr$e0I *ant no one to .$rt .er e/er1 lea,t of all me0 I *ant o$r life toget.er to be perfect0

Wi,.f$l t.ining1 I no*1 b$t a man can .ope0

S.e p$,.e, at m- ,.o$l#er, an# I lift $p1 m- .an#, brace# on eit.er ,i#e of .er .ea# ,o I can

loo at .er0 S.e ,mile, $p at me1 c$pping m- c.ee *it. .er .an#1 an# I t$rn m- .ea#1 pre,, a

,oft1 #amp i,, to .er palm0 CI #on3t e/er *ant to forget t.i, nig.t1 Fable *.i,per,0 CT.e nig.t*e fir,t ma#e lo/e a, .$,ban# an# *ife0

A* #amn1 ,.e ,a-, t.at an# mae, me feel g$ilt- for taing .er lie a br$tal animal0 I ,*allo*.ar#1 *anting to mae it rig.t for .er0 CYo$ *ant me to ,lo* #o*n@ I a,0

Co *a-0 T.e *ice# ,mile t.at cro,,e, .er face mae, me fla,. one at .er in ret$rn0 CDon3t,top1 .$,ban#0 &lea,e0

T.at i, all t.e enco$ragement I nee#0 Lifting m- .ip,1 I p$,. in,i#e .er to t.e .ilt1 feeling .er

arc. beneat. me1 .er brea,t, br$,.ing again,t m- c.e,t0 O$r bo#ie, are ,lic *it. ,*eat1 t.efe/er in,i#e me ,eem, to matc. t.e .eat *it.in .er1 an# I reac. bet*een $,1 to$c.ing .er clit1

circling it1 ,troing .er .ot1 ,oae# fle,.1 pa-ing attention to .er face beca$,e I no* t.e loo

,.e get, rig.t before ,.e come,0

%er e-eli#, fl$tter1 .er ,*ollen lip, part on a ,ilent moan1 an# I *ait to .ear .er breat. catc. 7$,t

before it .appen,0 Rig.t no* ,.e3, m$rm$ring non,en,e1 .er e-e, are clo,e# an# ,.e3, arc.ing.er .ea# bac1 in/iting me to i,, .er nec1 *.ic. I #o0 )- finger, are coate# *it. .er *etne,,

a, I contin$e to ,troe1 an# *.en I .ear t.e telltale catc. in .er breat.1 I lift m- .ea# to *atc. a,

,.e *.i,per, m- name once1 t*ice1 t.en again a, .er bo#- ,tart, to $ae beneat. mine0

)- orga,m come, o/er me lie an o$t=of=control *a/e1 .ar# an# fa,t an# ,o completel-

$nexpecte# I free6e abo/e .er1 m- o*n lip, parte# a, I .ang t.ere for a long1 agoni6ing ,econ#

before it con,$me, me0


11/68

CA. f$c1 I *.i,per .ar,.l- a, I collap,e on top of .er1 t.e after,.oc, ,till co$r,ing t.ro$g.m- bo#-1 maing me ,.i/er0 S.e ,im, .er .an#, $p an# #o*n m- bac1 ,oot.ing me0 %er to$c.

feel, ,o goo# I feel t.e $rge to p$rr lie a f$cing cat1 an# if t.at i,n3t t.e mo,t ri#ic$lo$,

t.o$g.t e/er0 I mean1 f$c me0 &$rr lie a cat@

I t.in ,ex *it. m- ne* *ife .a, 7$,t ,ent me into anot.er realm entirel-0 One I *ill gla#l-

re/i,it again an# again0

(.apter T.reeFable

T.i, morning1 I feel prett- freaing ama6ing0 Rec.arge# an# refre,.e#0 T.e ,$n i, ,.ining on m-mo,tl- bare# ,in an# I3m ,itting on t.e pri/ate .otel beac.1 t.e ,o$n# of t.e ,$rf b$66ing in m-

ear,1 m- .$,ban# be,i#e me0 I *ant .im0 o ,$rpri,e ,ince *e3re on o$r .one-moon an# all1 b$t

-ea.0 I3m rea#- to go bac to o$r bea$tif$l1 ,pacio$, .otel ,$ite1 ,trip .im nae#1 an# p$,. .imonto t.e ma,,i/e ing=,i6e# be# ,o I can to$c. an# i,, .im all o/er0

I *on#er if .e *ant, me lie t.at1 too0 Or if .e3, too tire#0 We *ent at it all nig.t long0 Lie

cra6- teenager, f$ll of l$,t an# .ormone,0 )- bo#- ac.e, in place, it .a,n3t ac.e# in fore/er0 I.a# no i#ea m- bo#- co$l# contort into ,$c. cra6- po,ition,0

A giggle e,cape, me an# I clamp m- .an# o/er m- mo$t.0 %e #oe,n3t nee# to no* I3m ,itting.ere reli/ing *.at .appene# la,t nig.t an# .o* ba#l- I *ant a repeat performance0

Oa-1 ma-be .e ,.o$l# no* I3m ,itting .ere reli/ing it0

Forget *orr-ing if .e3, too tire#0 We3re marrie# no*0 I can .a/e m- *a- *it. .im *.ene/er I

*ant0 An# .e3, al*a-, game0

Al*a-,0

%e3, co6-ing $p to me no*1 #e,pite t.e inten,e .eat pre,,ing #o*n $pon $,0 T.e ,$n i, ,o m$c.,tronger .ere1 b$t I #on3t let it bot.er me0 I3m bli,,e# o$t an# on m- .one-moon *it. m-

.$,ban#3, .ea/- arm ,l$ng aro$n# m- ,.o$l#er,1 .i, no,e n$66ling m- c.ee an# maing me

giggle ,ome more0

CI ,till can3t belie/e *e #i# it0 I t$rn m- .ea# to *atc. .im a, .e rear, .i, .ea# bac1 *aiting

for .i, reaction1 nee#ing to ,ee it0 I ,.a#e m- e-e, again,t t.e too brig.t ,$n1 ,t$#-ing .i,.an#,ome face0 I can3t ,top t.ining abo$t la,t nig.t0 T.e *e##ing0 T.e #inner *e ate after*ar#1

t.o$g. I barel- remember .o* it ta,te#I3# been too enrapt$re# *it. m- .$,ban# an# t.e

importance of *.at *e3# #one0

%o* long I too to prepare for .im1 an# none of t.at mattere# beca$,e .e attace# me an-*a-1

*.ic. I lo/e#0 It *a, a, if .e co$l#n3t control .im,elf0 I lie no*ing t.at I mae .im feel ,o o$t

of control0 An# I lo/e no*ing t.at .e3, m- .$,ban# no*0

It all feel, ,o ,$rreal0

%e lean, bac in t.e ,an#1 .i, arm ,li#ing off m- ,.o$l#er,1 an# I imme#iatel- mi,, .i, to$c.0

CO.1 I can belie/e *e #i# it0 I3/e *ante# to #o t.i, for a *.ile no*0 8$,t been *aiting for -o$ to

gi/e me t.e go=a.ea#0

CYo$ *ante# to #o *.at@ Oa-1 I3m conf$,e#1 b$t ma-be it3, t.e ,$n or t.i, .ot ,pecimen of a

man *.o3, m- .$,ban#1 *.o no*,@ A, I t$rn to f$ll- loo at .im1 m- mo$t. goe, #r- at t.e

,ig.t before me0

Dre* all ,pra*le# on t.e *arm ,an#1 leaning bac on .i, elbo*,1 *earing lo*=ri#ing ,*im

tr$n, an# not.ing el,e1 all t.o,e bea$tif$l m$,cle, on #i,pla-0 )- ga6e ro/e, o/er .im .$ngril-1remembering t.e .ot1 inten,e .one-moon ,ex *e .a# la,t nig.t an# into t.i, morning0 %i,

longi,. #ar .air fl$tter, an# *a/e, *it. t.e gentle bree6e t.at *a,.e, o/er $,1 an# .i, e-e, are

co/ere# b- -et anot.er pair of expen,i/e ,$ngla,,e, .e3ll probabl- lo,e0 Beca$,e .e3, ,o goo# att.at1 lo,ing t.ing,0

Except for me0 %e co$l#n3t lo,e me if .e trie#0


12/68


13/68

t.e room1 *a,.ing o/er o$r ,in0 Lie o$r o*n little para#i,e1 *.ic. it i,0 Rig.t no*1 I feel lieFable an# I are in o$r o*n little *orl#1 t.e onl- t*o people on t.i, planet0

T.e ,$n=i,,e# air *a,.e, o/er m- .eate# ,in at t.i, /er- moment1 not #oing a t.ing to cool meoff0 ot t.at I *ant to be coole# off0 I .a/e m- *ife in m- arm,1 m- .an#, gripping .er a,,

beneat. t.e t.in fabric of .er biini bottom0 %er bo#- i, ,lamme# again,t mine1 *arm an# ,oft1

.er brea,t, ,o ,n$g again,t m- bare c.e,t I can feel .er nipple, poing t.ro$g. t.e fabric of .er

top0

O$r mo$t., are f$,e#1 o$r tong$e, ,li#ing again,t eac. ot.er1 .ot an# ,oft0 I lift .er an# ,.e

imme#iatel- get, *.at I *ant1 going *it. me ea,il-1 .er leg, ,lipping aro$n# m- *ai,t a, ,.ecling, to me lie ,.e3, ne/er going to let go0 I remo/e one .an# from .er a,, to ,ettle it o/er t.e

center of .er bac1 ,lo*l- t$gging t.e ,tring on .er biini0 T.e not $nra/el, ea,il-1 .er top

loo,ening aro$n# .er c.e,t a, I cra*l m- finger, $p .er bac to .er nec1 maing .er giggleagain,t m- lip,0

CW.at are -o$ #oing@ ,.e a,,1 m$ffling .er la$g.ter b- pre,,ing .er lip, toget.er a, I $n#o t.e

tie at .er nape0

CW.at #oe, it loo lie@ I rai,e a bro* an# lean a*a- from .er a bit1 p$lling t.e top off

completel- an# to,,ing it on t.e floor0 CI3m getting -o$ nae#1 m- prett- *ife0

CI reall- lie it *.en -o$ call me -o$r *ife0 %er green e-e, #aren1 a ,$re ,ign ,.e3, aro$,e#0

CYo$ ,.o$l# ret$rn t.e fa/or1 -o$ no*1 an# get nae#1 too0

CI nee# to get -o$ completel- nae# fir,t0 I #rop .er on t.e be#1 ,miling *.en ,.e bo$nce, on

t.e mattre,,0

CI3ll .elp -o$ *it. t.at0 S.e fla,.e, me a *ice# ,mile a, ,.e reac.e, for t.e little ,tring, t.at

*rap aro$n# .er .ip, an# ,tart, p$,.ing t.e bottom, #o*n t.o,e ,moot.1 tanne# leg, of .er,0

T.at ,*im,$it I bo$g.t .er earlier i, almo,t in#ecent0 It barel- co/er, .er an# it co,t a fort$ne0

Wort. e/er- #ime I ,pent0

S.e loo, f$cing ama6ing0 S.e3, a tea,e *it. t.e ,$it on an# a ,iren *it. it off0

An# no* t.e ,$it i, mo,t #efinitel- off0 S.e3, fl$ng t.e biini bottom, onto t.e floor along *it.t.e top an# t.en lean, bac again,t t.e pillo*, at t.e .ea# of t.e be#1 elbo*, proppe#1 leg, bent

at t.e nee,0 S.e ,prea#, t.em t.e ,lig.te,t bit1 offering me a /ie* of all t.at ,.e .a,1 an# t.at3,

it0

I3m #one for0

A t.roat- la$g. e,cape, .er a, I .$rrie#l- ,.o/e m- ,*im tr$n, off me1 icing t.em a*a-0 )-#ic i, painf$ll- .ar# a, I 7oin .er on t.e be#0 La,t nig.t .a# been ama6ing1 non,top ,ex1 *it. $,

falling a,leep an# *aing $p a fe* .o$r, later onl- to go at it again0 We3# been ,o b$,- *it.

ot.er ,t$ff1 e,peciall- t.i, la,t mont.1 it3, lie *e *ere maing $p for lo,t time0

)- life .a, been not.ing b$t go1 go1 go ,ince I ,igne# *it. t.e iner,0 T.e inten,e training an#

practice *ore me completel- o$t0 T.en *it. all t.e planning of t.e trip an# *e##ing1 t.e

pacing1 an# t.e long flig.t1 *e3# bot. collap,e# into be# t.e fir,t nig.t *e got to t.e i,lan#0

T.e emotional ,$n,et ceremon- on t.e beac.1 t.e reali6ation t.at t.i, *a, it1 *e *ere officiall-

marrie#1 re//e# $p m- energ- le/el big time0 It ,eeme# to #o t.e ,ame for .er1 beca$,e .ol- .ell1

*e *ere cra6e# for eac. ot.er0

O$r connection *a, ,tronger t.an e/er0 La,t nig.t1 t.e ,ex .a# been ferocio$,1 inten,e1 all=con,$ming0 I feel t.at *a- e/er- time I ,ee .er1 to$c. Fable1 i,, .er0

I ,.o$l# be ex.a$,te# b$t I3m not0 )- bo#- i, on .ig. alert1 m- ,in ,o tig.t an# .ot I feel lieI3m going to b$r,t a, I let m- ga6e ro/e o/er m- ne* *ife3, ,ex-=a,=.ell bo#-0 Damn1 ,.e3,

bea$tif$l0 Will I e/er gro* tire# of looing at .er@ To$c.ing .er@ !i,,ing .er@ F$cing .er@

o0 e/er0


14/68

C(ome .ere1 Dre*1 ,.e ,a-,1 .er /oice a .$,- *.i,per1 an# I cra*l $p t.e be#1 cra*l $p o/er.er0 S.e ,prea#, .er leg, an# I ,ettle in bet*een t.em1 m- .ip, n$#ging again,t .er,1 m- in,i,tent

coc r$bbing .er ,oft bell-0 S.e ,lip, .er arm, aro$n# m- nec a, I ben# m- .ea# to i,, .er1

#rin from .er lip,1 ta,te .er tong$e0 %er .an#, b$r- in m- .air a, I brea a*a- from .er to traili,,e, #o*n t.e lengt. of .er nec1 .er collarbone1 .er c.e,t1 t.e top, of .er brea,t,0

I can feel t.e ,lig.t tremble r$n beneat. .er ,in1 feel .er racing .eart a, I i,, a pat. #o*n t.e

fragrant /alle- bet*een .er brea,t,0 %er finger, c$rl in m- .air *.en I lic .er nipple0 T.o,e,ame finger, p$ll .ar# *.en I ,$c .er nipple bet*een m- lip,0

"o#1 ,.e ta,te, ama6ing0 %er leg, c$rl aro$n# m- .ip,1 .er feet ,li#e along m- leg,1 an# I *antin,i#e .er0 o*0

B$t I al,o *ant to mae it goo# for .er an# #ra* t.i, o$t0 So I #o0

CDre*0 S.e *.i,per, m- name b$t I ignore .er1 contin$e m- pat. *it. m- lip, along .er ,in0 I

i,, .er ,tomac.1 lic .er bell- b$tton1 an# mae .er giggle0 T.e .eat bet*een .er leg, ra#iate,

to*ar# me1 #ra*ing me clo,er1 #ra*ing me in1 an# I ,.ift #o*n1 m- .ea# bet*een .er leg,1 alittle c.$cle e,caping me *.en ,.e ,prea#, t.em at t.e perfectl- preci,e moment0

Re,ting m- .an#, on t.e in,i#e of .er t.ig.,1 I ,prea# .er *i#er1 t.en ben# #o*n1 planting ac.a,te i,, on t.e center of .er0 Anot.er giggle e,cape, .er an# ,.e p$ll, m- .air1 t.en p$,.e,

m- .ea#0

Do*n0

CYo$ *ant t.i,@ Yo$ *ant me to mae -o$ come@ I a, beca$,e I3m feeling e/il1 ,till *anting

to #ra* t.i, o$t0

CYe,1 ,.e breat.e, *it. a little no#1 .er ga6e meeting mine0 T.o,e prett- green e-e, are *i#e

an# fat.omle,,1 ,eeing e/er-t.ing1 all of me1 an# not ,.-ing a*a-0 ot r$nning a*a-1 eit.er0

I3m a l$c- ,on of a bitc. to .a/e fo$n# .er0 A ,mart one1 too1 ,ince I 7$,t ma#e .er mine in t.e

mo,t legal ,en,e0

Wit.o$t anot.er *or#1 I lean in an# #e/o$r .er0 Searc. .er pin fol#, *it. m- lip, an# tong$e1

,$c .er1 lic .er1 ,li#e a finger in,i#e of .er1 t.en anot.er1 f$cing .er *it. m- mo$t. an#finger, $ntil ,.e3, a *rit.ing me,,1 m- name falling from .er lip, *.en t.e orga,m ,lam, into

.er0

%er bo#- $i/er, beneat. m- lip,1 aro$n# m- finger,1 an# t.en I3m p$lling a*a- from .er1,ettling on m- nee, before .er a, I c$rl m- .an# aro$n# m- coc an# g$i#e m-,elf in,i#e .er

,till p$l,ating bo#-0 S.e ,tiffen, beneat. me1 ,till ,o o/ercome *it. .er orga,m I #on3t t.in ,.e

reali6e# I *a, abo$t to enter .er $ntil it *a, too late0

B$t ,.e3, not prote,ting0 %er ,oftening1 *elcoming bo#- accept, me rea#il- an# I ,li#e #eep1 a,

#eep a, I can get1 pa$,ing abo/e .er ,o I can ,tare #o*n at .er fl$,.e# face0 %er e-e, ,lo*l-open an# ,.e ,tare, $p at me for a long1 $iet moment0 I #on3t mo/e1 #on3t #are mae a ,o$n#1

7$,t ,a/or t.e feeling of being b$rie# #eep in,i#e m- *ife1 t.e t*o of $, no* one0

(omplete0

T$rning .er .ea#1 ,.e i,,e, m- *ri,t0 )- .an#, are plante# on eit.er ,i#e of .er .ea#1 m- arm,

,tiff1 m- m$,cle, $aing0 It3, taing e/er-t.ing *it.in me to .ol# bac1 re,train m-,elf0 All I

*ant to #o i, t.r$,t again an# again0 F$c .er ,traig.t into t.e mattre,, $ntil ,.e3, ga,ping an#,creaming m- name1 o$r ,*eat- bo#ie, clinging to eac. ot.er $ntil *e finall- come #o*n from

o$r .ig.0

C%ar#er1 ,.e $rge, a, if ,.e can rea# m- min# an# -et again1 I3m prett- ,$re ,.e probabl- can0 I

feel lie I can rea# .er,1 too0 It3, #amn ,car-0 It3, al,o comforting1 to no* -o$ .a/e t.at ot.erper,on o$t t.ere *.o3, 7$,t for -o$0 Before meeting Fable I3# been ,$ffocating *it. loneline,,1

not reall- li/ing1 7$,t going t.ro$g. t.e motion,0 I #i#n3t belie/e I #e,er/e# an-one0 I felt

incomplete0 A piece of me *a, mi,,ing all t.o,e -ear,1 e,peciall- t.e la,t fe* before I fo$n# .er0


15/68

An# I $icl- reali6e# ,.e *a, t.at mi,,ing piece1 t.e one t.at fit me ,o perfectl-1 I3# .a/e to bea fool to let .er go0 W.ic. I #i#0 I ran a*a- lie an i#iot an# t.en fo$n# .er again b- p$re #$mb

l$c1 or fate1 or *.ate/er -o$ *ant to belie/e0

It #oe,n3t reall- matter1 beca$,e no* *e3re toget.er an# not.ing can ,top $,0 O$r bigge,t

ob,tacle, are pa,t $,0 We can mo/e on an# forge a life toget.er0 It mig.t be a little ro$g. *.ile

*e li/e ,eparatel- #$ring t.e reg$lar ,ea,on1 b$t *e3ll ,ee eac. ot.er a, m$c. a, *e can0

Be,i#e,1 it3, onl- for a co$ple of mont.,0 An# t.en it3, onl- a co$ple of -ear, $ntil O*engra#$ate, .ig. ,c.ool0

W.at3, t.e *or,t t.at can .appen@(.apter Fo$r

Dre*

We3re in (armel1 t.e ,cene of man- crime,1 ,o to ,pea1 bot. literall- an# fig$rati/el-0 I3m on

e#ge an# f$cing $ncomfortable beca$,e I3/e bro$g.t Fable .ere *it. me0 S.e .a,n3t ret$rne#

,ince .er one *ee a, m- fae girlfrien#0

o* ,.e3, .ere a, m- /er- real *ife0

Da# *ante# to t.ro* a reception for $, at .i, ne* .ome0 T.an "o# .e3# mo/e#1 or I *o$l#n3t.a/e been able to go bac lie t.i,0 It *o$l# .a/e been too $ncomfortable1 bot. for me an# for

Fable0 I #on3t t.in I co$l# .a/e en#$re# it0 I #on3t t.in ,.e co$l#1 eit.er0

T.e ne* .o$,e i, ama6ing0 ot a, large a, t.e ol# one b$t con,i#ering .e3, li/ing .ere alone1

Da# #oe,n3t nee# ,ome gran# man,ion0 %e3, ol#er no*1 tra/eling more1 an# .e ,eem, in better

,pirit,0 After *.at .appene# *it. A#ele illing .er,elf an# .i, fin#ing o$t *.at *ent on bet*een

A#ele an# me1 .e retreate# into .im,elf0 We ,poe1 b$t it *a, #iffic$lt0 %e *ent to co$n,eling0 Ie/en *ent to a fe* of .i, ,e,,ion,1 b$t #amn1 t.o,e .a# been to$g.0

T.ere3, a lot of pain in,i#e .im o/er *.at A#ele #i# to me0 A lot of g$ilt1 too1 an# I can relate tot.at0 &$tting $, toget.er in t.e ,ame room tr-ing to #i,c$,, it i, extremel- #iffic$lt0 Fir,t of all1

*e3re g$-,0 An# ,econ# of all1 *e3re (alla.an men0 I t.in it3, .ar# for $, to tal abo$t o$r

feeling,0

Fine0 I no* it3, .ar# for $, to tal abo$t o$r feeling,0

For t.e mo,t part1 *e3/e mo/e# pa,t t.at0 O$r relation,.ip .a# gro*n ,tilte#1 b$t no* no*

*e3re oa-0 We3re *.at I *o$l# e/en con,i#er clo,e0 A, clo,e a, a fat.er an# ,on can be1 *.at

*it. li/ing in t*o #ifferent citie, an# bot. of $, con,tantl- tra/eling0

So in .onor of o$r recent *e##ing1 Da# i, .a/ing t*o .$n#re# of .i, clo,e,t frien#, o/er at .i,

.o$,e for a ,mall reception0 CSmall being a ri#ic$lo$, *or#1 b$t .e-1 I3m onl- $oting t.e g$-0

T.e .o$,e i, pace#0 T.ere are ,er/er, milling aro$n# *it. tra-, of foo# an# c.ampagne0T.ere3, a f$ll=,er/ice bar o$t on t.e patio an# a #ee7a-0

A freaing #ee7a-0

O.1 an# I can3t forget t.e giant *e##ing cae on t.e ot.er ,i#e of t.e patio1 a perfect *.ite

fro,te# to*er co/ere# *it. fre,. p$rple orc.i#,0

Wil#0

CT.i, i, *il#1 Fable ,a-, a, ,.e cl$tc.e, m- .an#1 t.e t*o of $, ,tan#ing in t.e #oor*a- t.at

lea#, o$t onto t.e patio1 ,$r/e-ing e/er-t.ing ,prea# o$t before $,0 CYo$ ,ai# it *a, going to be,mall0

CF$nn-1 I *a, 7$,t t.ining t.e ,ame t.ing1 t.at t.i, i, *il#0 I cl$tc. .er .an# tig.t1 o$r finger,

intert*ine#0 CAn# it *a, m- fat.er *.o ,ai# it *a, going to be ,mall1 not me0

CWell1 .i, i#ea of ,mall an# mine are completel- #ifferent0 S.e loo, aro$n# t.e room again1

.er e-e, *i#e a, ,.e #rin, in e/er-one an# e/er-t.ing0 T.e ma7orit- of t.e g$e,t, are aro$n#

Da#3, age an# filt.-=a,, ric.0 T.ere are no ot.er *or#, for it0 I ,ee #iamon#, e/er-*.ere0

T*inling aro$n# *omen3, nec,1 fla,.ing off t.eir finger,1 glinting off t.eir *ri,t,0 T.e-3re all


16/68


17/68

I remain $iet1 ,natc.ing a gla,, of c.ampagne from t.e ,er/er *aling b-0 S.e pa$,e,1 allo*ingme to grab anot.er one for Fable1 an# I .an# it to .er1 clining t.e e#ge of t.e gla,, *it. mine

before I tae a #rin0 C(.eer,1 *ife1 I m$rm$r1 gi/ing .er a little ,mile0

Fable ret$rn, it1 t.en #rain, .er c.ampagne in one long ,*allo*1 a ,$re ,ign ,.e3, ner/o$,0

CW.- i, t.ere a *e##ing cae in t.e corner@ ,.e bl$rt,0

I b$r,t o$t la$g.ing0 CI #on3t no*0 W.- i, t.ere a #ee7a-@ Are *e going to #ance later@

Co* t.at I *o$l# lie to ,ee1 ,.e ,a-, *r-l-1 ,etting t.e empt- c.ampagne gla,, on a nearb-

table0 CYo$3/e ne/er been one to #ance m$c.1 Dre*0

CI #on3t reall- e/er #ance1 I ,a- ,impl- beca$,e it3, t.e tr$t.0 I ma- .a/e coor#ination o$t on

t.e football fiel#1 b$t I3m not a big fan of ,.o*ing off m- mo/e, on t.e #ance floor0 A, if I .a/ean- mo/e,1 *.ic. I #on3t0

CSo1 *.at #o -o$ t.in@ Lie -o$r reception@

Fable an# I t$rn to fin# Da# ,tan#ing before $,1 #rin in .an#1 a giant ,mile on .i, face0 %e3,

#re,,e# in .i, $,$al ,$it *it. a b$tton=#o*n ,.irt1 no tie1 .i, tanne# face not from a ,pra- bottle

b$t from too m$c. time o$t on t.e golf co$r,e0 %e loo, relaxe# an# .app- an# ol#er t.anI3/e e/er ,een .im1 *it. t.e *rinle, lining .i, face an# t.e gra- ,treae# liberall- in .i, #ar

.air0

CIt3, bea$tif$l0 Yo$3/e o$t#one -o$r,elf1 Fable ,a-, earne,tl-1 flicing a $ic glance in m-

#irection before ,.e t$rn, a f$ll=*attage ,mile on Da#0 CT.an -o$ ,o m$c.1 )r0 (alla.an0

CFable1 -o$3re a part of t.e famil- no*1 ,o plea,e call me An#-0 %e p$ll, Fable rig.t from m-grip an# .a$l, .er into a giant bear .$g1 *rapping .i, arm, aro$n# .er tig.t an# gi/ing .er a long

,$ee6e0 CYo$ bro$g.t m- bo- bac to me1 -o$ no*0 I o*e -o$ e/er-t.ing0

)- .eart ,t$tter, in m- c.e,t0 I3/e ne/er .ear# Da# ,a- an-t.ing lie t.at before1 e,peciall- to

Fable0 We $,$all- ,irt t.e i,,$e, rat.er t.an face t.em .ea# on0

Rig.t no*1 t.o$g.1 *e3re facing t.em0 Acno*le#ging t.em0 An# I lie it0

CT.an -o$ An#-0 S.e *it.#ra*, from .i, embrace an# ,mile, $p at .im1 .er e-e,gli,tening *it. a ,.een of $n,.e# tear,0 CT.an -o$ for t.i, part-1 for in/iting e/er-one1 an# for

incl$#ing m- brot.er in it all0

CO*en i, a part of o$r famil- no*1 too0 Tr$,t me1 *e nee# a, man- member, a, *e can get0 %ela$g.,1 b$t t.e ,o$n# i, painf$l0 I feel it #o*n to m- bone,1 b$t I *o$l#n3t c.ange *.at

.appene# for an-t.ing0

T.o$g. I ,till regret t.e lo,, of m- mot.er1 an# of m- ,i,ter1 I *ill ne/er1 e/er regret A#ele3,

#eat.0 T.e *oman got *.at *a, coming to .er0 I 7$,t .ate .o* it affecte# Da#0

CT.e cae0 Fable ge,t$re, to*ar# it1 tr-ing to c.ange t.e ,$b7ect1 *.ic. I appreciate0 CIt3, ,o

big0 I .ope it ta,te, a, goo# a, it loo,0

A. crap1 I .ope Da# #oe,n3t tae t.at remar a, an in,$lt0 A fe* -ear, ago1 .e *o$l# .a/e0 %e*o$l# .a/e t.o$g.t it *a, a ,lam again,t .i, 7$#gment0

B$t no1 .e3, la$g.ing1 maing Fable la$g. *it. .im0 CIt better be0 I or#ere# it from t.e be,t

baer- in all of t.e (armel 2alle-0 An# I pai# top #ollar for it1 too0

CI can3t *ait0 %er ,mile gro*,0 CI3/e al*a-, .a# a t.ing for cae0 I .a/e a ma7or ,*eet toot.0

)e1 too0 )ore t.an an-t.ing1 I3m a##icte# to t.e ,*eetne,, t.at i, m- *ife0

Fable

)- .$,ban# eep, ,.ooting me t.e,e loo, t.at tell me .e3, feeling o/erl- ,entimental0 Dre*

get, a little #ream-=e-e# *.en .e feel, t.at *a-0 An# t.ere3, a #ope- ,mile c$r/ing .i, lip, t.at

mae, .im loo a, c$te a, can be0 %e3, ,o .an#,ome1 *it. all t.at #ar .air t$mbling acro,, .i,


18/68

fore.ea#1 .i, bl$e e-e, fla,.ing at me0 T.e ang$lar c.eebone,1 t.e l$,. mo$t.1 t.e firm line of.i, 7a*

I3m *ea=nee# 7$,t looing at .im0 Still0 T.at .e .a, t.e po*er to mae me feel t.i, *a- i,o/er*.elming0 I3# m$c. rat.er foc$, on m- lo/e for Dre* t.an #eal *it. t.e $nea,- ,en,ation

t.at ,lippe# o/er me t.e moment *e fir,t ,a* t.at glimp,e of t.e ocean0 A, *e #ro/e ,o$t. on

%ig.*a- One1 pa,t t.e )ontere- exit,1 m- .eart ,tarte# to race an# m- palm, began to ,*eat0

All t.o,e to$g.1 $gl- feeling, ,*arme# bac to t.e ,$rface1 maing me itc.-0 I t.o$g.t I co$l#

.an#le t.i,1 coming bac .ere0 I t.o$g.t e/er-t.ing *o$l# be all rig.t beca$,e I ne* ,.e *a,

gone an# t.o,e ol# g.o,t, t.at .a# .a$nte# Dre* for ,o long .a# ,lo*l- e/aporate# o/er time0%e fo$g.t .ar# to con$er .i, #emon,0 I ,too# be,i#e .im1 c.eering .im on t.e entire time0

B$t ma-be ,ince I3# ,pent ,o m$c. time foc$,e# on .i, #emon,1 I ne/er reali6e# I .a# m- o*n0Being bac in t.e )ontere- Ba- area1 I feel ,mall0 Lie I3m not.ing0 I3/e re/erte# bac to t.at

to$g.1 poor1 ,l$tt- girl again1 preten#ing to be in lo/e *it. a gorgeo$,1 perfect g$- all for a l$mp

,$m of mone- t.at *ill temporaril- tae care of me an# m- brot.er0

Dre* co$l# ,en,e I *a, feeling t.at *a-1 too0 I t.in m- ner/o$,ne,, became t.i, li/ing1

breat.ing t.ing t.at ,eepe# from m- bo#- an# into .i,0 O*en *a, obli/io$,1 ,itting in t.e

bac,eat *it. .i, earb$#, in1 t.e m$,ic ,o lo$# I co$l# ,till .ear it1 tinn- an# ba,,=.ea/-0 Dre*.a# looe# o/er at me an# reac.e# o$t acro,, t.e con,ole to tae m- .an# an# bring it to .i,

mo$t.1 pre,,ing t.e ,ofte,t1 ,*eete,t i,, to m- n$cle,0

CI lo/e -o$1 .e3# *.i,pere#1 .i, ga6e flicering to mine before .e ret$rne# it to t.e roa#

,tretc.e# o$t before $,0 CDon3t e/er forget it0

8$,t lie t.at1 t.e not, in m- ,tomac. ,lo*l- $n*o$n# an# m- breat.ing ea,e#0 CI .ate t.i,place1 I *.i,pere# in ret$rn0

CW.-@ %e let go of m- .an# an# t$rne# .i, attention more firml- to t.e roa#1 .itting t.e blineran# ,lo*ing #o*n a, .e p$lle# off on t.e $pcoming exit0 CIt3, *.ere *e fell in lo/e0

T.e reali6ation .a# ,t$nne# me0 %e3, rig.t0 We .a# fallen in lo/e .ere0 It ma- .a/e been ,car-an# $gl- an# .eartbreaing1 b$t o$r *ee in (armel .a# al,o been ,*eet an# .opef$l an# f$ll of

*on#er0 I3# ne/er felt an-t.ing lie *.at I experience# *it. Dre* *it. anot.er bo-0

An# t.at little con/er,ation1 Dre*3, ,imple *or#,1 f$ele# me for t.e re,t of t.e trip0 O$t .ere on

.i, fat.er3, bac patio1 t.e fair- lig.t, *o$n# in t.e tree, t*inling abo/e1 t.e ,li/er of a pale

*.ite moon *atc.ing o/er $,1 t.e m$,ic lo$# an# t.e c.attering /oice, e/en lo$#er1 I3m content0

(omfortable0 %ol#ing m- o*n0 Feeling lie I belong .ere0

CWe ,.o$l# c.ec o$t Ocean A/en$e tomorro*1 Dre* *.i,per, clo,e to m- ear1 am$,ement

tingeing .i, #eep /oice0

CW.at@ Are -o$ ,erio$,@ E/en t.o$g. I3/e come to term, *it. being .ere1 it #oe,n3t mean I

*ant to linger an# mae it a ,erio$, /acation0 Be,i#e,1 Dre* nee#, to get bac .ome ,o .e canre,$me practice0

CWell -ea.1 remember t.e ,pot *.ere *e i,,e#@ %i, e-e, are *arm a, t.e- ,earc. m- face1

fille# *it. ,o m$c. lo/e I feel m- .eart ,*ell0

CYe,1 I *.i,per ac.ingl-0 COf co$r,e I remember0

CI *ant to go bac t.ere0 %e t$c, a ,tran# of .air be.in# m- ear1 .i, in#ex finger lingering onm- ,in0 CI *ant to i,, -o$ again in t.at little alle- an# remember .o* *et *e *ere from t.e

rain0 %o* ner/o$, I *a,0 I *a, ,care# -o$ mig.t re7ect me0

I3# felt t.e ,ame *a-0 We3# #ealt *it. m$c. of t.e ,ame feeling, an# fear, an# .a#n3t e/en

no*n it0

CI *ant to tae -o$ to t.at ,tore *.ere -o$ got t.e #re,, t.at 7$,t abo$t ille# me an# b$- -o$

*.ate/er -o$ *ant1 .e contin$e,1 .i, finger, #rifting acro,, m- 7a*0 )- e-e, fl$tter clo,e# a,

memorie, r$,. bac at me0 CI *ant to ,it o$t,i#e t.e #re,,ing room an# .a/e -o$ come o$t to,.o* me e/er- ,ingle t.ing -o$3re tr-ing on0


19/68

T.at .e remember, all t.e little #etail, ,en#, a t.rill of plea,$re ,piraling to t.e /er- #ept., of

m- ,o$l0

CAn# t.en I *ant to *an#er off for a bit an# let -o$ #o *.ate/er -o$ *ant1 ,ecretl- .oping t.at

-o$3ll ,en# me a text t.at ,a-, 5mar,.mallo*03 T.o$g. if -o$ #on3t1 t.at3, oa-1 beca$,e I3ll

,en# -o$ one in,tea#0 %e offer, $p a crooe# ,mile an# t.e ,ig.t of it crac, m- .eart *i#e

open1 o/erflo*ing *it. ,o m$c. p$re lo/e for .im I *ant to cr-0 CBeca$,e *e ma#e a #eal0W.ene/er *e ,ee or .ear t.at *or#1 t.e ot.er come, r$nning0 I3ll al*a-, be t.e one to re,c$e

-o$1 Fable0 Yo$ ne/er .a/e to *orr- abo$t t.at0

CDre*0 )- /oice crac, an# t.en I3m in .i, arm,1 m- face pre,,e# to .i, nec1 .i, lip, on m-

c.ee0 %e3, *.i,pering *or#, of lo/e an# #e/otion b$t I #on3t reall- .ear t.em0 I can onl- feel0

%i, ,oft .air ticling m- c.ee1 .i, .an#, ,moot.ing $p an# #o*n m- bac1 .i, *armt. ra#iatinginto me0 %e3, ,oli# an# real1 t.e ,o$n# of .i, .eart beating ,tea#- an# ,trong again,t m- ear1 an#

I ,lo*l- p$ll a*a- from .im0 CW.en can *e lea/e@

%e ,tart, to la$g.1 t.e ,o$n# ric. an# f$ll of .one,t .$mor0 CWe can3t lea/e -et0 We3/e onl-been .ere ma-be an .o$r0

CI,n3t t.at eno$g. time@ I a, .opef$ll-0

CFable1 *e3re ,ta-ing .ere0 We can3t 7$,t bail on o$r part- an# go $p,tair,0 %i, la$g.ter #ie,1 .i,

expre,,ion gone ,erio$,0 CE/er-one *ill no* *.at *e3re #oing0

CW.at@ %a/ing ,ex@ I,n3t t.at *.at *e3re ,$ppo,e# to #o@ I ,tare at .im *i#e=e-e# an# .e

,lo*l- ,.ae, .i, .ea#0 CWe3re ne*l-*e#,1 Dre*0 We3re ,till on o$r .one-moon0

Co1 *e3re not0 %e glance, aro$n#1 maing ,$re no one i, ,tan#ing clo,e to $,1 I3m ,$re0

%ea/en forbi# an-one .ear $, tal abo$t ,ex0 C(ome on1 Fable0

C%a1 -o$3re ,o c$te0 I .oo m- arm t.ro$g. .i, an# ,n$ggle clo,e1 breat.ing #eep .i, *arm1

,pic- ,cent0 CSa-ing all ,ort, of romantic *or#, to me1 filling m- .ea# *it. ,*eet memorie,1 an#

t.en -o$ go all ,.- on me0 Afrai# -o$ mig.t offen# -o$r #a#@

CWe3re ,$rro$n#e# b- people0 T.e-3re all .ere for $,1 .e m$rm$r,1 .i, lip, barel- mo/ing0 %o*

#oe, .e #o t.at@ It3, a prett- ,lic tric0

CT.e-3re not .ere for $, t.e-3re .ere for -o$r #a#0 I *a/e a .an#1 #i,mi,,ing .i, *or#,0 C(ome

on1 let3, get o$t of .ere0

CW.at abo$t O*en@

C%e3, ,itting at t.at table *it. -o$r #a#3, ne* girlfrien#0 %er name i, Tami an# ,.e3, ,*eet a,can be0 ot.ing lie t.at ot.er *oman1 *.o ,.all not be name#0 CS.e3, maing ,$re .e3, *ell

fe#0 Tami i, rat.er mot.erl- to*ar# .im1 an# not in a creep- *a-1 eit.er0 I t.in t.ere3,

,omet.ing abo$t O*en t.at ,cream, lo,t little orp.an bo- *it. a ,.itt- mot.er or ,omet.ing0 %e,eem, to bring t.at o$t in e/er- *oman .e meet,0

CI t.o$g.t -o$ *ante# cae@ %e3, ,earc.ing for e/er- exc$,e to ,ta- o$t .ere an# it3, t.e c$te,t

t.ing e/er0

C%e-0 I grab .ol# of .im b- one of t.e belt loop, on .i, tro$,er,1 p$lling .im into me ,o clo,e

o$r .ip, almo,t colli#e0 CLet3, ,nea in,i#e for a $icie an# t.en *e can come bac o$t1 an#

.opef$ll- t.e cae *ill be rea#- b- t.en0

CDon3t -o$ t.in t.e-3ll *ant $, to c$t it@

I roll m- e-e,0 I no* I3m p$,.ing an# probabl- maing .im $ncomfortable ,ince *e3re on .i,

#a#3, t$rf1 b$t I #on3t reall- care0 I lie p$,.ing .im1 7$,t a, m$c. a, .e lie, p$,.ing me0Sometime, *e nee# t.at extra p$,. e/en *.en *e #on3t reali6e it0 CWe aren3t going for all t.at

tra#itional=t-pe reception ,t$ff1 are *e@ I #i#n3t *ear a bab-=bl$e garter $n#er m- #re,,1 -o$

no*0


20/68

%i, bro*, lift1 .i, mo$t. $ire# in a crooe# ,mile0 o* t.at remar ca$g.t .i, intere,t0 W.ata ,$rpri,e0 CW.at #o -o$ .a/e on $n#er t.at #re,,@

)- ,in *arm, at .i, blatant per$,al1 t.e *a- .i, e-e, ,eem to to$c. $pon me a, t.e- rae o/erm- bo#-0 I can feel .im1 a, if .e 7$,t p.-,icall- to$c.e# me0 A ,.i/er ,.ae, t.ro$g. me an# I

tig.ten m- finger aro$n# .i, belt loop1 t$gging .im ,o clo,e o$r .ip, #o colli#e t.i, time0

C)a-be -o$ ,.o$l# come in,i#e *it. me ,o -o$ can fin# o$t@

T.at3, all it tae,0 %e follo*, be.in#1 cro*#ing me1 .i, .an# at m- lo*er bac1 finger, trailing

#o*n o/er m- bac,i#e1 getting lo,t in t.e fol#, of m- ,irt0 T.e #re,, i, all *.ite lace1

,lee/ele,, an# ,.ort1 *it. a flare# ,irt t.at .it, 7$,t abo/e t.e nee an# a *i#e ,*at. of blac,atin ribbon a, a belt tig.t aro$n# m- *ai,t0 It3, prett- an# feminine1 an# I can3t *ait for Dre* to

tae it off an# #i,co/er I .a/e no pantie, on beneat. it0

Ab,ol$tel- can3t0 Wait0

Later t.at nig.t1 long after Dre* *ent to ,leep1 I fin# m-,elf to,,ing an# t$rning be,i#e .im1 too

re,tle,, *it. t.e memorie, r$nning t.ro$g. m- brain0 I finall- cra*l o$t of be#1 grab m- p.one1an# .ea# o$t onto t.e tin- balcon- t.at i, a#7acent to t.e g$e,t room *e3re ,ta-ing in0 De,pite

m- re,tle,, brain1 m- limb, are loo,e an# *arm1 m- bo#- *ell $,e# b- m- .$,ban#0 After t.e

$icie in t.e bat.room1 *e3# come bac o$t,i#e to fin# t.e cae being ,er/e# an# I ate t.ebigge,t piece I co$l# fin#0

It ta,te# #elicio$,1 t.e ,ecret ,mile, Dre* an# I ,.are# a, *e *ere ,$rro$n#e# b- #o6en, of,tranger, maing m- .ea# lig.t an# m- .eart ,ing0

After t.e part-1 *e officiall- *ent to be#1 *.ere m- .$,ban# ma#e lo/e to me for .o$r,0

o* I .$##le o$t,i#e1 t.e cool1 gentle ,ea bree6e ,en#ing m- .air e/er-*.ere an# maing me

,.i/er ,ince I3m onl- *earing a t.in nig.tgo*n0 I loo at m- p.one an# fin# a text me,,age from

Dre*0 I .a/e no i#ea *.en .e co$l# .a/e ,ent t.i, to me0 I t.o$g.t I3# been *it. .im t.e entiree/ening0 B$t a ,*eet poem *a, #eli/ere# to me one line at a time'

)- bea$tif$l *ife1 I *ill

Al*a-, lo/e -o$

Re,pect -o$0 Yo$3re

S*eet an# ,ex-

%ot an# tempting

)- lo/e for -o$ i,

All con,$ming

L$c- me to .a/e fo$n#

Lo/e

Onl-

Wit. -o$

T.e tear, fall ,ilentl-1 one after anot.er1 ,li#ing #o*n m- c.ee,1 #ripping from m- 7a* to lan#

on t.e gro$n#0 B$t t.e,e aren3t tear, of ,a#ne,,1 t.e-3re .app-0 I3/e come f$ll circle0 I remembert.e la,t time .e left me a letter lie t.i,1 *.en I #i#n3t ,ee t.e .i##en me,,age at fir,t0 W.en I3#

been ,o o/ercome *it. #e,olation an# loneline,,0 T.at letter .a# gi/en me .ope an# t.o$g. .e3#

let me #o*n at fir,t1 .e3# e/ent$all- come bac into m- life t.e *a- .e *a, meant to0

o*1 *e belong to eac. ot.er0 An# t.o$g. .e3, b$,- an# con,$me# *it. .i, ne* career1

ner/o$, o/er it1 ,tarting a ne* life *it. me1 an# f$ll- reconciling *it. .i, fat.er1 .e ,till tae,

t.e time to *rite me a ,*eet little poem t.at let, me no* exactl- .o* .e feel,0


21/68

%e3, ,till in nee# of t.e occa,ional re,c$e0 An# I3m t.e onl- one *.o can reall- ,a/e .im0(.apter Fi/e

Fable

CYo$ mi,, .im0

I ,.r$g1 ignoring O*en3, ,tatement0 %e certainl- #i#n3t *or# it a, a $e,tion1 beca$,e .e no*,

t.e tr$t.0 %e no*, .o* I feel0

CYea.1 I #o1 b$t it3, oa-0 I ,mile brig.tl- an# reac. o/er1 to$,ling O*en3, .air0 It3, getting

#arer a, .e get, ol#er an# t.ere3, gol#en ,t$bble lining .i, 7a*1 *.ic. blo*, m- min# e/er-time I ,ee it0 %e loo, one=t.ir# bo-1 t*o=t.ir#, man1 an# I bot. lo/e to ,ee .im gro* ol#er an#

#e,pi,e t.at .e3, not a little bo- an-more0

Little bo-, aren3t a, big of a problem0 ot t.at O*en i, a tro$blemaer not reall-0 Well1 oa-1

.e i, a little bit0 %e3, #efinitel- a c.allenge0 Doe, *ell at ,c.ool *.en .e applie, .im,elf1 *.ic.

.e #oe,n3t #o eno$g.1 an# t.at #ri/e, me cra6-0

%e *or, .ar# at .i, part=time 7ob1 an# .e lo/e, pla-ing football 7$,t lie Dre*0 B$t .e get, into

tro$ble more often t.an .e ,.o$l#0 %e3, been ca$g.t ,moing *ee# a fe* time,1 an# I3/e fo$n#

baggie, of t.e ,t$ff in .i, 7ean, *.en I #o .i, la$n#r-0 %e *a, nearl- t.ro*n off t.e footballteam for .i, ,moing0 %e3, ,n$c o$t of t.e .o$,e ,o .e co$l# go to a part- or *.ate/er *it. .i,

frien#,0 %e .a, too man- girlfrien#,1 girl, I3m afrai# .e $,e, an# t.en #i,car#,1 an# t.at .$rt,

me0 I *ant .im to re,pect *omen1 b$t .e an# .i, be,t frien#1 Wa#e1 bot. .a/e a ,.itt- attit$#e*.en it come, to #ating an# relation,.ip,0 An# *.ile I lie Wa#e1 more often t.an not t.e-3re

looing for tro$ble toget.er0

B$t m- brot.er i#oli6e, m- .$,ban#1 *.ic. i, great0 Dre* i, a po,iti/e role mo#el for O*en1 an#O*en3, t.e -o$nger brot.er Dre* ne/er .a# an# probabl- nee#e#0 T.e-3re a goo# ,$pport

,-,tem for eac. ot.er0 I no* O*en not ,o ,ecretl- *ant, to be 7$,t lie Dre* *.en .e3, ol#er0

If -o$3# tol# Dre* t.i, a fe* -ear, ago1 .e *o$l# .a/e la$g.e#0 Uncontrollabl-0 W.- *o$l#

an-one *ant to be lie .im@

%e ,till .a, no i#ea 7$,t .o* infl$ential .e can be0

CWe ,till on for t.i, *eeen#1 t.en@ At .i, $e,tion1 I meet O*en3, ga6e an# ,ee .e3, grinningfrom ear to ear0 C)- frien#, are ,o f$cing 7ealo$, I3m going0

I ,en# .im a ,tern loo0 CLang$age1 O*en0 %i, c$r,ing .a,n3t ,toppe#0 If an-t.ing1 I t.in it3,

gotten *or,e0 I3/e trie# to control m-,elf0 In fact1 I3m rat.er pro$# of .o* m$c. I refrain fromc$r,ing0 I3m tr-ing to be a gro*n$p0

B$t it3, .ar#0 Reall- .ar#1 e,peciall- *.en t.ing, pi,, me off or $p,et me0 Lie rig.t no*1mi,,ing m- .$,ban# ,o ba# m- c.e,t ac.e,0 I3# lo/e to t.ro* o$t a fe* Cf$c, an# C,.it, an#

gripe lie cra6-0 I co$l# go to 8en0 I ,.o$l# gi/e .er a call0 S.e3, m- be,t ,$pport ,-,tem1 be.in#

Dre* an# O*en0

C"i/e me a brea1 *.ate/er0 %e roll, .i, e-e,1 ,till la$g.ing1 an# I reac. o$t an# ,lap .i, arm1

maing .im -elp0 CW.at t.e .ell *a, t.at for@

CFor being a 7er0 I lean bac again,t t.e co$c.1 ,taring ,$llenl- at t.e T20 I3m *atc.ing Sport,

(enter on ES&1 .oping for a glimp,e of Dre*1 a mention1 a $ic report0 T.e- mig.t ,a-

,omet.ing negati/e1 t.o$g.1 ,ince .i, team lo,t t.eir game la,t S$n#a- an# t.e- *ere expecte#

to *in0 Spec$lation i, t.eir ne* $arterbac i,n3t #oing a, *ell a, t.e-3# .ope#0

Do$bter,0 Ba,tar#,1 e/er- one of t.em0

CAre -o$ gr$mp- beca$,e t.e-3re bagging on Dre*@ At t.e .ar# loo I ,en# .im O*en *a/e, a

.an# at me1 ,l$mping #eeper into t.e ,oft leat.er co$c. Dre* an# I pice# o$t *.en *e fir,tmo/e# into t.e .o$,e0 O$r place i, bran# ne* an# .$ge1 part of an $p,cale ,$b#i/i,ion on t.e

o$t,irt, of t.e to*n I gre* $p in1 an area *.ere I3# ne/er imagine# li/ing0

I #on3t an,*er .im0 In,tea# I #eci#e to c.ange t.e c.annel beca$,e I3m 7$,t tort$ring m-,elf1*atc.ing t.i,0 CYe,1 of co$r,e *e3re ,till on0 Dre* got $, t.ree ticet,1 ,o if -o$ *ant to bring


22/68

Wa#e1 -o$ can in/ite .im0 T.at bo- mig.t #ri/e me cra6-1 b$t .e3, O*en3, clo,e,t frien# an# Ia#ore Wa#e0

T.e grin t.at brea, o$t on O*en3, face i, infectio$, an# I can3t .elp b$t ,mile in ret$rn0 CYo$mean it@ T.at *o$l# be f$cing a*e,ome0

CO*en1 plea,e0 I ,.o$l# -ell at .im b$t I #on3t bot.er0 W.at3, t.e point@ %e3, .app-0 I #on3t

nee# to r$in t.e moment0 CI #efinitel- mean it0 "o call .im0 An# let me no* if I nee# to tal to.i, mom0 We *on3t come .ome $ntil late1 ,o it3, going to be a long #a-0 I #on3t *ant .er to

*orr-0

CS.e *on3t *orr-0 S.e3# rat.er no* *e3re *it. -o$ t.an o$t r$nning aro$n# on o$r o*n0 T.e

,.eepi,. loo t.at cro,,e, O*en3, face tell, me .e .a, ,ecret,1 *.ic. #oe,n3t ,$rpri,e me0 W.at

teenage bo- #oe,n3t@ B$t ,till0 I no* .alf t.e time .e3, o$t *it. .i, frien#, .e3, $p to no goo#0

Bac in m- #a-1 I $,e# to be $p to no goo#1 too0 Drining an# ,moing cigarette,1 one after

anot.er1 getting #r$n1 m- min# .a6-0 Flirting *it. bo-,1 e/ent$all- #oing t.ing, *it. t.em t.at

earne# me a terrible rep$tation0 I3m l$c- I gra#$ate# .ig. ,c.ool0 )om ,$re a, .ell #i#n3t p$,.me an# I #i#n3t .a/e an ol#er ,ibling eeping trac of me at all time,0 Tal abo$t going *il#0

I *a, t.e epitome of *il#0 An# Dre* *a, t.e epitome of goo#*it. t.e exception of .i, #eep1#ar ,ecret0 A fe* -ear, .a/e pa,,e# an# I ,till get an ic- ,.i/er #o*n m- ,pine *.en I t.in of

.er0 "o#1 I .ate t.at bitc.0 I .ate *.at ,.e #i# to Dre*0

T.an goo#ne,, .e fo$n# me0

)- cell c.ime, an# I grab it1 c.ecing m- me,,age,0 It3, from Dre* an# I ,mile0

W.at are -o$ #oing@ "i/ing O*en a .ar# time@

)- ,mile gro*, a, I re,pon#0

%o* #i# -o$ no*@

Beca$,e .e texte# me an# ,ai# ,o0

I ,.oot O*en a glare1 an# .e la$g., a, .e get, $p from t.e co$c. an# ,a$nter, to*ar# t.eitc.en0 (oc- little brat0

I tol# .im .e co$l# bring Wa#e *it. $, to t.e game0 %e3, excite# an# c$r,ing an# I ga/e .im

grief o/er it0 W.at el,e i, ne*@

T.ere3, a long pa$,e after I ,en# t.e me,,age an# I c.e* m- lip *aiting for .im to re,pon#0 I

*i,. I *ere *it. .im0 I #on3t regret ,ta-ing *it. m- brot.er beca$,e .e nee#, me more t.ane/er1 b$t I nee# Dre*0 An# m- .$,ban# nee#, me0

I *i,. -o$ #i#n3t .a/e to go bac .ome after t.e game0 I *i,. -o$ co$l# ,ta- t.e nig.t *it. me0

%o* #i# I no* .e3# ,a- t.at@ O.1 ma-be beca$,e I feel t.e ,ame *a-0

T.e- .a/e ,c.ool on )on#a- an# practice0 T.e- can3t affor# to mi,, it0 I3m ,orr-0 I *i,. I co$l#,ta- *it. -o$1 too0 I mi,, -o$0

I no*0 I mi,, -o$1 too0 ext .ome game -o$ come to1 ma-be -o$ co$l# come alone0 An# *e

co$l# ,pen# more time toget.er0

T.at ,o$n#, perfect b$t I can3t lea/e all t.e time1 no matter .o* m$c. I *ant to0 I nee# to be.ere for O*en an# I #on3t feel rig.t con,tantl- #$mping .im on Wa#e3, mom0 S.e3, ,o

,$pporti/e,.e .a, been for -ear,an# *e3re ,ort of frien#,1 t.o$g. !at.- i, ol# eno$g. to be

m- mom0

I text bac to .im0

I lie t.at i#ea0 I lo/e -o$0


23/68

I lo/e -o$1 too0

We tr- o$r be,t to be toget.er on .i, #a-, off1 b$t it3, .ar#0 %e ne/er tr$l- get, an- #a-, off .e3,

con,tantl- *oring an# practicing0 B$t *e ne* t.i, going in0 We3re 7$,t going to .a/e to #eal*it. it0

Dre*

I3m *aiting 7$,t o$t,i#e t.e locer room for Fable to ,.o* $p1 m- t.o$g.t, anxio$,1 m- min#,till going o/er e/er- ,ingle pla- of t.e game *e 7$,t fini,.e#0 T.an (.ri,t *e *on it0 I3/e been

rae# o/er t.e coal, t.e la,t fe* *ee, after o$r t*o=game lo,ing ,trea0 W.at3, *or,e@ We lo,t

la,t *ee to t.e lo*e,t=rane# team in t.e entire FL0

Yea.0 I ca$g.t a lot of ,.it for t.at one1 e/en from a fe* teammate,0 I no* ,ome of t.em .ate

all t.e me#ia attention I get an# I *i,. t.e- $n#er,too# 7$,t .o* m$c. I .ate it1 too0 I can3t ,tan#all t.e camera, fla,.ing in m- face an# t.e con,tant $e,tion,1 ,pec$lation1 an# report, on me0

I3/e al*a-, been a pri/ate per,on1 e,peciall- #$ring m- late teen, an# earl- t*entie,1 *.en m-

.ea# *a, a f$ce#=$p me,, an# I #i#n3t *ant to #eal *it. an-one0

It3, .ar#er no* beca$,e I #on3t .a/e Fable con,tantl- b- m- ,i#e0 I3# gro*n $,e# to t.at0 S.e

come, to a, man- game, a, ,.e can1 b$t it3, not t.e ,ame0 S.e al*a-, lea/e, after*ar#0 S.e

came a *ee ago *it. O*en an# .i, frien# Wa#e an# t.at *a, great an# all1 b$t t.en t.e- left0 I#i#n3t e/en get to i,, .er or .ol# .er m$c.0

T.at ,$ce#0

To#a- i, #ifferent0 We pla-e# a S$n#a- nig.t game an# ,.e came for it0 8$,t .er0 S.e3, ,ta-ing

t.e next t*o nig.t,0 I got $, a .otel ,$ite in #o*nto*n San Franci,co an# I #on3t t.in I3m going

to let .er o$t of it0 I3ll eep .er nae# an# in be# t.e entire time0

So$n#, lie freaing .ea/en to me0

A team repre,entati/e i, e,corting .er to t.e locer room an# ,.e ,.o$l# arri/e an- min$te0 T.en

*e3re .opping in o$r car an# I3m tearing a,, o$t of .ere0 I #i# m- time0 T.e game .a# been 7$,t

abo$t perfect1 an# I e/en #i# a ,.ort li/e=broa#ca,t inter/ie*0 T.e team p$blici,t, .a/e beencoac.ing me on .o* not to ,o$n# lie a #$mba,,0 %opef$ll- it3, *oring0

%ere3, t.e cra6ie,t t.ing of it all' t.e me#ia are in lo/e *it. Fable0 T.e-3re fa,cinate# *it. .er0%alf of it .a, to #o *it. .er name1 I t.in0 I mean1 *.o t.e .ell el,e i, name# Fable@ T.e ot.er

.alf i, t.e fact t.at ,.e3, ,o go##amne# bea$tif$l1 b$t I mig.t be pre7$#ice# in ,a-ing t.at0

Or ma-be it3, beca$,e ,.e a/oi#, .a/ing an-t.ing to #o *it. t.em0 S.e #oe, t.at for me0 !eep,*aling1 ne/er taling1 t.ro*, a .an# $p in front of .er face to ,top t.em from getting a goo#

pict$re0 T.e p$blici,t, are telling me t.e- *ant .er more in/ol/e#0 T.e- *ant .er o$t t.ere1

taling to t.e me#ia0 For *.ate/er rea,on1 t.e p$blic i, fa,cinate# *it. o$r ,tor- an# t.e- *antto no* more0 Specificall- *.- *e li/e apart #$ring t.e reg$lar ,ea,on0

I3m ,$ppo,e# to tal abo$t it *it. Fable *.ile *e3re toget.er for t.e next fe* #a-,0 I promi,e#t.e p$blici,t team0 T.e-3re eager for .er to #o a fe* inter/ie*,not.ing too probing1 t.e-

promi,e0

Tr$t.f$ll-@ I3m afrai# m- *ife mig.t *ant to ill me for e/en ,$gge,ting t.i,0

"lancing $p1 I ,ee .er a, if I3# con7$re# .er $p *it. m- t.o$g.t,0 S.e3, *aling to*ar# me1 t.e

team rep to*ering be.in# .er ,ince ,.e3, ,$c. a little t.ing0 S.e .a, on a blac GHer, ,*eat,.irt

an# 7ean,1 .er long blon# .air p$lle# bac into a .ig. pon-tail1 an# ,.e3, abo$t t.e prettie,t1fre,.e,t t.ing I3/e ,een in a long=a,, time0

T.e la,t fe* ,tep, ,.e gi/e, in an# r$n, to me1 .ea#, ,traig.t into m- arm,1 an# I .ol# .er clo,e1

b$r-ing m- face in .er .air a, t.e team rep *al, on b- an# ,traig.t into t.e locer room0 Fable

,li#e, .er arm, aro$n# me an# pre,,e, .er c.ee again,t m- c.e,t0

CYo$ *ere ama6ing1 ,.e ,a-, again,t m- coat1 an# I gi/e .er a ,$ee6e0


24/68

CT.an "o# *e *on1 I m$tter1 beca$,e e/en t.o$g. *e pla-e# ,o *ell to#a-1 a, t.o$g. *e3/ebeen pla-ing toget.er for -ear,1 I *a, ,till *orrie# it co$l# all fall apart at an- moment0 )-

confi#ence le/el i,n3t K percent t.ere -et an# I no* it3, illing me0

B$t I can3t force it1 no matter .o* ba#l- t.e coac.e, *ant me to0 I .a/e to gain t.e tr$,t of m-

fello* teammate,1 7$,t lie I .a/e to reall- tr$,t t.em0 We3re all ,till *ar- of eac. ot.er0 I .ate it0

CYo$ #i#n3t t.in -o$ *ere going to *in@ S.e p$ll, a*a- from me ,lig.tl- to ga6e $p at m-face1 .er fore.ea# *rinle# *it. *orr-1 .er l$,. mo$t. t$rne# #o*n in a fro*n0 Reac.ing o$t1 I

#ra* m- in#ex finger acro,, .er crinle# bro*,1 tr-ing to ea,e .er moo#0

CI *a,n3t ,$re1 I confe,,0 CWe lo,t t.e la,t t*o0 I feel lie m- team3, lo,ing fait. in me0

C)ore lie -o$3re lo,ing fait. in -o$r,elf0 S.e ,.ae, .er .ea# an# p$ll, o$t of m- arm,completel-1 t.o$g. ,.e at lea,t tae, m- .an#0 Lie ,.e #oe,n3t *ant to lo,e t.e connection1 an#

I feel t.e ,ame exact *a-0 CI t.in I no* *.at m- mi,,ion i, for t.e next fe* #a-,0

CW.at1 rolling aro$n# nae# in be# *it. -o$r .$,ban#@ I rai,e m- bro*, .opef$ll- an# ,.ela$g.,1 ,.aing .er .ea#1 m$c. to m- #i,appointment0

CWell1 t.at ,o$n#, lie a perfect plan1 b$t I *a, al,o meaning t.at I nee# to *or on b$il#ing $p-o$r confi#ence0 I #on3t lie .earing -o$ ,o #o*n on -o$r,elf0 S.e ,mile,0 CDo -o$ nee# a

re,c$e1 Dre*@

%ell -ea.1 I #o0

I ,a- not.ing1 t.o$g.1 merel- #rag .er *it. me #o*n t.e long *al*a- $ntil it open, $p to t.e

pri/ate paring lot t.at onl- t.e team an# an- people in/ol/e# *it. $, $,e0 )- bran#=ne* tr$ci, in t.e near #i,tance1 t.e #ar bl$e color gleaming beneat. t.e brig.t o/er.ea# lig.t0 We3/e

in#$lge# in a fe* t.ing, ,ince I got t.e o$trageo$, contract *it. t.e iner,0 T.e .o$,e an#

e/er-t.ing in,i#e it1 m- ne* tr$c1 t.e .ea/- #iamon# ban# t.at3, aro$n# Fable3, finger

B$t .ell1 I .a/e no time to ,pen# mone- t.e,e #a-,0 I3m too b$,- practicing or pla-ing or

tra/eling0 Fable3, ne/er .a# t.i, in# of mone- before1 ,o ,.e3, ,care# to #eat. to ,pen# an- of itfor fear it3ll $p an# *al a*a- from $, one #a-0 Irrational1 b$t ,.e no*, it1 an# reali6ing i, .alf

t.e problem0

I tae a#/antage of t.i, ,ort of ,it$ation0 I3m $,e# to mone-0 I3/e gro*n $p *it. it0 To act$all-

mae it on m- o*n i, anot.er feeling entirel-1 one I co$l# get real $,e# to0 I3m comfortable *it.

it an# Fable3, not0 I ,ometime, t.in ,.e belie/e, .er life i, one big fair-=tale #ream an# at an-

moment ,.e3, going to *ae $p an# fin# o$t none of it i, real0

C(alla.an9 %e-1 *ait $p9 an $nfamiliar /oice call, from be.in# $,0

)- #efen,e, $p1 I t$g Fable clo,e an# t$rn *it. .er be.in# me to fin# ,ome reporter r$nning

to*ar# $,0 A g$- I recogni6e *.o *or, for one of t.e net*or, an# *.o3, al*a-, tr-ing to get

me to tal to .im0

CW.at #o -o$ *ant@ I a, *earil-1 rel$ctant to tal an# eager to get t.e .ell o$t of .ere0

CI, t.i, -o$r *ife@ %e tilt, .i, .ea# to t.e ,i#e an# no#, to*ar# .er0 CI, t.i, t.e infamo$,Fable@

S.e ,tep, o$t from be.in# me1 .er 7a* .anging open0 CInfamo$,@ Are -o$ ,erio$,@

%ell0 T.i, i, t.e la,t t.ing I *ant0

CWell1 -ea.0 T.e g$- ,mile, ea,il-I t.in .i, name i, 8oe@ 8o.n@an# tae, a ,tep to*ar#

Fable0 I t.ro* o$t an arm1 ,.iel#ing .er from .im1 b$t ,.e gentl- p$,.e, it a*a- *it. a little

,nort0 A, if I3m ri#ic$lo$, *anting to protect .er0 CE/er-one *ant, to no* more abo$t Dre*(alla.an3, ne* *ife0

CI fin# t.at .ar# to belie/e0 Wo$l#n3t -o$ rat.er tal to Dre*@ %e3, t.e famo$, football pla-er0

S.e *a/e, a .an# in m- #irection0


25/68

CAn# -o$3re t.e famo$, football pla-er3, bea$tif$l an# ,oon=to=be=e$all-=famo$, *ife0 T.ep$blic i, looing for an- .int1 an- little bit of information t.e- can get abo$t -o$0 %e ,mile,1

f$ll of ea,-going c.arm0 It3, a faMa#e1 I3m ,$re0 T.e g$- i, a, ,.arp a, can be an# a, .$ngr- a, a

,tar/ing tiger looing for pre-0 %e3, e-eing Fable lie ,.e3, .i, next meal0 CYo$ ,.o$l# gi/e mean excl$,i/e0 I3# lo/e to tal to -o$0 Fin# o$t more abo$t -o$1 abo$t Dre* an# -o$r

relation,.ip0

S.e glance, at me an# I ,en# .er a ,tern glare1 .oping ,.e can rea# into t.e loo I3m gi/ing .ert.at I #on3t *ant .er to #o t.i,0 I3m ,$re ,.e #oe,n3t *ant to eit.er0

COa-0 Let3, #o it0

I can3t f$cing belie/e ,.e 7$,t ,ai# t.at0 C"i/e $, a min$te1 I tell t.e reporter1 grabbing .er arm

an# ,teering .er a*a- from .im ,o .e can3t o/er.ear $,0 CAre -o$ cra6-@ I a, t.e moment*e3re far eno$g. a*a- from .im0

CW.at@ S.e extract, .er arm from m- grip1 looing at me lie I3m n$t,0 CI #on3t ,ee t.e big #eal

in taling to .im0

C%e3, 7$,t tr-ing to #ig $p information0 I ,lam m- lip, toget.er0 T.ere3, a lot of information I

#on3t *ant an-one to e/er fin# o$t abo$t me an# ,.e no*, t.i,0 S.e .a, .er o*n ,ecret, to .i#e0Letting a reporter in i, lie an open in/itation for .im to #ig an# #ig an# #ig $ntil .e fin#, t.e

real 7$ic- #irt0

We3/e got a ton of it1 too0 O$r pa,t co$l# fill $p an entire boo0 )a-be t*o0

CI no*0 So in,tea# of $, .i#ing from t.e me#ia all t.e time1 *e3re going to tell t.em onl- *.at

*e *ant t.em to .ear0 S.e ,mile,1 ,o brilliantl- I feel lie I3/e 7$,t been momentaril- blin#e#0CRig.t@

A.0 )- girl i, ,o #amn ,mart0 CYea.0 Yo$3re rig.t0

CI no*0 %er ,mile t$rn, ,m$g0 CWe gi/e t.em a little bit of info an# t.e-3re .app-0 If *e loo

lie *e3re .i#ing1 t.en t.e-3ll t.in *e are0 An# t.en t.e-3ll ne/er lea/e $, alone0 We #on3t *antt.at1 #o *e@

C%ell no0 I grab .er again an# p$ll .er into me1 m- arm, tig.t aro$n# .er *ai,t a, I i,, .er,o$n#l-0 So ,o$n#l- ,.e blin, $p at me1 .er expre,,ion #a6e# *.en I finall- p$ll m- lip, a*a-

from .er,0 CYo$3re ,nea-0 Yo$ no* t.at@

CI no*0 T.at3, *.- -o$ marrie# me0(.apter Six

Dre*

A -ear later an# m- *ife reall- i, a, famo$, a, me0 S.e3, been feat$re# in maga6ine,1 t.e

papara66i ,tal .er1 an# it3, it3, f$cing ri#ic$lo$,0 Onl- #$ring football ,ea,on1 t.o$g.1 *.en

,.e3, more /i,ible an# atten#ing t.e game,0 We ten# to go into .i#ing #$ring t.e off=,ea,on1 gobac .ome to ,pen# time *it. O*en an# o$r frien#,1 ,pen# time *it. eac. ot.er0 We go on

/acation,1 ,.ort geta*a-,0 I ne/er get eno$g. alone time *it. .er1 t.o$g.0

I, it ,elfi,. of me to a#mit I3m gla# O*en3, in college no*@ %e gra#$ate# .ig. ,c.ool la,t,$mmer an# #e,pite Fable *i,.ing .e *o$l# appl- to Stanfor#1 .e #i#n3t0 T.e i# finall- got on

trac1 b$t .e #oe,n3t follo* e/er-t.ing .i, ,i,ter *ant, .im to #o0 %e3, completel- foc$,e#1

#oing *ell bot. at football an# in .i, cla,,e,1 an# .e earne# a football ,c.olar,.ip an# i,

atten#ing t.e ,ame $ni/er,it- t.at I #i#0

W.en I tol# .im .e #i#n3t nee# a ,c.olar,.ip an# t.at I co$l# pa- for .i, ,c.ooling1 .e prote,te#0

I *ant to #o t.i, on m- o*n0 I *ant to earn t.i,0 Let me0

o *a- co$l# I prote,t t.at0 )ore lie I3# been pro$#0 I felt lie Fable an# I act$all- #i#

,omet.ing rig.tan# t.at ,omet.ing *a, rai,e O*en0

%e3, m$c. more in#epen#ent .e .a, .i, o*n car1 *.ic. I ga/e .im a, a gra#$ation gift1 an# .e3,,till *oring at T.e Di,trict0 Doe,n3t .a/e a ,tea#- girlfrien#1 t.o$g.1 an# I tol# .im t.at *a, a


26/68

goo# t.ing0 %e #oe,n3t nee# a girl t-ing .im #o*n -et0 %e nee#, to foc$, on .im,elf0 Sta--o$ng0 Be free0

Somet.ing I reall- #i#n3t #o #$ring m- .ig. ,c.ool or college -ear,0 I .a# too m$c. to .i#e1 toom$c. to be a,.ame# of0 It ,.a#e# m- entire .ig. ,c.ool experience0 I *a, pop$lar #e,pite .o*

*it.#ra*n I *a,1 b$t people onl- care# t.at I *a, ,ome ,ort of football ,tar0 An# t.e onl- t.ing I

co$l# reall- foc$, on an# en7o- *a, football0 It .elpe# me forget0

Sometime,1 it ,till #oe,0

Wit. O*en3, ne*fo$n# in#epen#ence come, Fable3, abilit- to loo,en t.e mot.erl- ,tring, ,.e.a, tie# aro$n# .im0 S.e3, mo/e# into t.e .o$,e near Santa (lara #$ring football ,ea,on an#

come, to m- game,0 Finall- *e3re toget.er again1 ,o *e can .a/e ,ome m$c. nee#e# alone time0

S.e3, e/en ,tarte# tra/eling *it. t.e team a fe* time,1 to o$t=of=to*n game,0

An# al*a-,1 al*a-, t.e me#ia i, trailing after $,1 *anting more p.oto,1 more inter/ie*,1 more1

more1 more0 S.e3, been on t.e co/er of maga6ine,1 mo,tl- t.e go,,ip- one, b$t occa,ionall-

ot.er,1 incl$#ing a fa,.ion maga6ine0 S.e *a, inter/ie*e# for a t*o=page ,prea# in &eople an#on T20 Barbara Walter, act$all- c.o,e t.e t*o of $, a, part of .er ten mo,t fa,cinating people

la,t -ear0

Freaing $nbelie/able0

It3, beca$,e Fable3, ,o #amn gorgeo$, -et m-,terio$,0 S.e ,a-, a b$nc. of ,t$ff *it.o$t e/erreall- ,a-ing an-t.ing at all0 I t.o$g.t I *a, a pri/ate per,on1 b$t ,.e p$t, t.e & in pri/ate1 ,.e3,

,o clo,e=lippe#0 I3ll gi/e m-,elf ,ome cre#it1 t.o$g.1 an# p$t $, on e$al footing for being ,o

.afa,cinating1 con,i#ering t.e iner, almo,t ma#e it to t.e S$per Bo*l #$ring m- fir,t -ear a,

t.eir $arterbac0 )e1 t.e rooie nobo#- .a# an- real fait. in1 almo,t too t.e team all t.e *a-1b$t *e lo,t in t.e final game before t.e S$per Bo*l0 T.at ,$ce#0 )ore t.an an-t.ing1 t.at

f$cing .$rt0

I .a/e anot.er c.ance1 t.o$g.0 In fact1 I .a/e lot, of t.em1 *.at *it. man- ,ea,on, a.ea# of me

con,i#ering m- m$lti-ear contract0 We came o$t ,trong at t.e beginning of t.i, ,ea,on an# *e3re

,till going for it0 We3re bac an# *e mean b$,ine,,0 T.e team i, on m- ,i#e no* la,t -ear3,,ea,on confirme# it0

&l$,1 f$c it1 I3m a nice g$-0 I3m not an egoti,tical a,,0 Fir,t1 Fable *o$l# ne/er let me act liet.at0 An# ,econ#1 I3m not ,t$pi#0 I nee# m- team0 Football i, a team ,port1 for (.ri,t3, ,ae0 I3#

be an i#iot to ,.it all o/er m- teammate, an# t.en expect t.em to be #e/ote# to me an# pla-

*ell0

I3m *aiting for Fable no* in o$r .otel room0 W.ile I *ent to practice1 ,.e *ent an# explore#

Bo,ton *it. one of t.e ot.er pla-er,3 *i/e,0 T.at3, anot.er t.ingm- *ife i, o$t maing

frien#,1 getting to no* t.e ot.er *i/e,1 becoming more ,ocial0 S.e3, reall- opene# $p0 S.e3,more confi#ent1 ea,ier to la$g.1 ea,ier to tal to ,omeone ,.e #oe,n3t no*0 Again1 ,.e3, a

pri/ate per,on1 b$t ,.e3, become a#ept at p$tting on a p$blic per,ona0 S.e ,.o*, t.e *orl# *.at

t.e- *ant to ,ee0

B$t #eep #o*n1 ,.e3, ,till t.e ,*eet1 fiercel- protecti/e girl I fell in lo/e *it.0 S.e3, ,till m-

Fable0 )- ,tor-0 )- life0

An i#ea come, to me1 one ,o o$trageo$,1 ,o o/er t.e top1 I no* *e .a/e to #o it0 Fable *ill

t.in I3m cra6- b$t I #on3t care0 I3m excite# 7$,t t.ining abo$t it0

drew and fable

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