This series is a follow up to the Escape From Beverly Hills series (not to be confused with Hollywood Hills). Please read those stories for a better understanding of Against The World.

She tried her best not to sound too sullen, but she was crushed. He wasn't going to be coming home again for yet another night.

"Well, when can you be here?" Clinton asked. She hadn't seen him for almost two weeks. The football season was about to start soon and she understood that Kelly had to be on the road with his team to train and promote, but damn he was scheduled to come back into town by now.

"Probably in the morning." was the nonchalant answer she got.

"But I was expecting you tonight." Clinton had prepared a special dinner for him. She could smell part of it simmering on the stove as they spoke. She also prepared for a night of being intimately reacquainted with her husband. The shopping bags in the bedroom from Fredericks of Hollywood proved that.

"Listen Shorty," Kelly said, his nickname for five foot five inches tall Clinton, "I'll be there when I can." he waited for a response but got none so he prodded, "Alright?"

She sighed, "Yeah okay. Whatever."

"What, you mad?"

Clinton gritted her teeth, holding back the words that might start another argument. She knew that every marriage had its ups and downs, but during their two years of marriage, they had encountered more downs than Clinton would've liked to acknowledge.

"Don't be like that. You know I miss you."

She smiled despite herself. "Okay," she said, "Have a safe trip. And come home soon."

"Alright baby-"

"I mean it Kelly. No extra stops or anything. Please."

"Alright mama, I'll talk to you later."

She hung up the phone and sighed, hoisting herself up on the island countertop in the kitchen, deciding to call Gretchen. She dialed her cell phone and was prepared to leave a message after way too many rings when her sister finally picked up.

"Took you long enough." Clinton said.

"Nice greeting," Gretchen responded, "I love you too."

Ever since Clinton had moved back to the west coast she and Gretchen had become closer than they'd ever been before. It was hard to believe that just two years ago they were barely on speaking terms. Though Clinton lived far outside of the city of Los Angeles, she still managed to keep in touch with her older sibling. Their story was a long and confusing one. The sisters from New York became transplanted in Beverly Hills in their teens when their mother married and came there to live with August Phillips and his son. During this time is when much of the strain of their relationship occurred. Several years ago Clinton moved back to New York to attend art school, but came back to California with Kelly when he proposed to her.

"I'm sorry," Clinton apologized while looking at the stove realizing that the dinner would go to waste. "I'm just pissed off right now."

"Uh oh," Gretchen said, "What did he do now?"

She sighed. "He was supposed to come home is all," Clinton said, watching her sneakered feet as they swung by her ankles. It's a good thing she hadn't changed out of her jeans and polo shirt into something sexier. It would've pissed her off even more to find out that it was all for naught. "I don't mean to complain since it's really not his fault but."

"I know. I know. Listen. Kelly loves you." Gretchen said this because the depth and authenticity Kelly's devotion and love had been the topic of many conversations they've had lately. Clinton's insecurities had begun to surface. Even during the off-season, she felt a growing distance between her and her husband.

"Everyone has their rough patches. He's probably stressed as hell too with his team on a historic losing streak."

Clinton took this into consideration and felt sympathetic to him.

"So don't start thinking negatively. You guys are practically newlyweds. And I know, if there were any two people who ever belonged together, it's you and he."

"Well too bad not everyone feels that way."

Clinton spoke of her mother Nora and her mother's husband August. The strange thing about her and Kelly's relationship is that they are actually stepbrother and stepsister. August's son was football phenomenon Kelly Phillips who was drafted as a linebacker to the Santa Frances Cruisers several years ago. Ever since it's come out that they've fallen for each other, their parents have been less than enthusiastic about the situation. Since they discovered their feelings for each other when Clinton was still in high school and Kelly still in college, it was a huge shock to everyone once it was revealed. People assumed that they had been carrying on some type of relationship behind everyone's back. In a way, they had, but it was never as scandalous as everyone had made it seem. Clinton and Kelly had never meant to fall in love, in fact they once hated each other. However, things took an unexpected turn and they had each felt a little more than that brotherly/sisterly bond. For some time their parents had felt betrayed, ashamed, embarrassed and too angry to accept their relationship. Even after Clinton and Kelly both tried to ignore feelings for each other for their family's sake-trying to avoid even each other-they still felt estranged from their parents with Clinton not even speaking to her mother for over a year until Kelly proposed.

When he brought her back to Beverly Hills with an engagement ring, everyone had to adjust and come to terms with their love. Nora and August have-at least on the surface-done their best to accept and respect their union to avoid further estrangement. And it seemed that although August and Kelly have called some sort of truce with each other since this whole thing started, Nora and Clinton were at a standstill.

It didn't help matters to find out from Gretchen (who still lived at "home" with Nora and August even after college) that their own marriage seemed to be straining. Clinton and her husband have always felt guilty, as if by their own actions and choice to be together that they've created enough tension between their parents to cause a rift between them. When they were first discovered there was tension between Nora and August about which one of their children "started" it and who took advantage of whom. It nearly became very ugly.

Clinton and her husband felt this guilt even though they tried to ignore it, acting as though if they never spoke about it, that it might magically go away. The stress of marriage itself and many external factors exacerbated the ever-dismal situation. When people found out about how they met and that they were actually stepbrother and sister, they were ridiculed for it. There were offhand comments made by correspondents on ESPN and jokes inserted in the monologues of late night television hosts. It also didn't help matters that Clinton was black and Kelly was white. Even in this day and age they still got stares and snide comments when they were out together.and if a person knew exactly whom they were and about their past, the comments and snickering would get even worse. They had never admitted it, but this also got to each of them on some level.

"Hey don't worry about them," Gretchen assured about their parents. "They love you guys."

"Well Nora doesn't seem to love me."

Gretchen sighed, "Don't be dramatic Clinton." It was an odd thing for Gretchen to say since she was always known as the dramatic one in the past. It was amazing how she had transformed. Once a failing college student and a careless party girl, Gretchen was now Head Assistant Designer for an up and coming LA based fashion design house. Fashion had always been a passion for Gretchen, and Clinton was just happy that her sister was doing something that she loved.

"Look on the bright side Clint, he's coming home when?"

"The morning. Supposedly." She rolled her eyes. "So when are you coming to see me?"

She heard her sister scoff, "Why do you have to live so damned far away?"

Clinton didn't answer even though she knew why; it was to stay away from the suffocation she felt even in the sprawling city of LA. To be out here in a town over a hundred miles away hiding in an affluent suburb away from the accusing eyes of her mother and everyone else who just happened to want to get into her business. Clinton admits to herself that she gets lonely and bored out here though and probably wouldn't be sweating Kelly so much, or even Gretchen to come visit, if she had something to do.

"Soon. Okay?"

"Okay." Clinton said, suddenly a lot calmer than she was moments ago, now aware of the little vulnerabilities that were slowly exposing themselves to her. She couldn't believe that she actually needed her sister, whom actually used to be something like an enemy not too long ago. And not too long ago, a younger more stubborn Clinton didn't need anyone, not anyone at all. Now she missed her husband and mourned her mother's affection. Though Nora was fickle with her affections with her girls anyway, (showing one more affection and adulation than the other at any given time) Clinton remembers when Gretchen used to be the black sheep of the family, and when she herself used to be treated as the "favorite".

After Clinton had hung up with her sister she went upstairs to take a shower. She thought about slipping on the black Georgette ruffled cami-styled baby doll with baby pink ribbon trim along with the matching sheer black low cut bikini panties that rode low on her hips. She remembered how it had looked when she tried it on at the store. It was sexy, yet demure with the delicate pink bow tied at her ample bosom, exposed by the daring d‚colletage. She had actually felt sexy for the first time in months when she wore that, imagining how sexy Kelly would find her after coming home after a hard time on the road. She rarely wore sexy lingerie and knew that it would pleasantly surprise him. She looked forward to seeing the look on his face tonight but accepted that it just wasn't going to happen.

After her shower she ate in front of the television, finding herself tearing up at romantic movie. That usually wasn't Clinton's style. This is how she knew she seriously missed him.

Depressed, she reluctantly dragged herself up to their bed wearing nothing but one of Kelly's t-shirts and a pair of cotton boy shorts. For some reason she didn't expect Kelly to come home when he said he would, but she was pleasantly surprised when he arrived way earlier than she would've ever thought.

At around three AM Clinton heard a car pulling into her driveway. Because she wasn't exactly tired she had been sleeping lightly. A smile spread across her face as moments later she heard footsteps on the stairs. As his shape filled the doorway, backlit by the light in the hallway she kept on when he was away, she closed her eyes pretending she was sleeping. She'd be believable as long as Kelly didn't come near her heart, which beat almost through her chest. She still couldn't believe he made her feel this way. Kelly, though not as big as many football players today, was still a huge man to Clinton. He was six foot one and was all muscle. His angular features and his cone shaped body were perfectly sculptured to her, as if he were chiseled out of granite. His sandy brown short hair and deep blue eyes are what she saw now in her mind, even in the dark. She was instantly wet once she felt his hand on her hip.

"Clinton." He said softly. She pretended to stir, "Hmmm?" She said in mock disorientation, stretching briefly as she looked up into his eyes. He sat on the bed next to her, hovering over her face.

"Hey mushy face." He said and she smiled. He always had a different name for her it seemed. She reached up and touched his cheek, "Hey."

He took his cap off and placed it on the nightstand and began to disrobe, pulling off his jersey and sneakers and lastly his jean shorts.

They said nothing together as she watched him undress, feeling an undeniable lust for him as she watched his muscles ripple right beneath his taut smooth skin, "His body is talking that shit to me right now," Clinton said biting her bottom lip. She wondered if he had felt the same way about her.

Clinton was short and had a thick yet athletic build from all of the sports she played in high school. She was once offered a basketball scholarship but didn't take it in her pursuit of art school in New York. Clinton had a toasted honey-butterscotch complexion and was blessed with flawless skin and a youthful face (she was constantly carded everywhere she went). Her waist wasn't exceptionally small but it was slim, especially in proportion to her hips. She had wide curvy hips, a soft yet flat stomach, and a round firm ass. She was different compared to her smaller framed tight bodied little sister, being that she was more voluptuous in different areas like her 36-C cup sized breasts and her round ample ass. Kelly had always been attracted to her before but Clinton still couldn't help wondering if his interest had waned in the past few months.

When Kelly had finally gotten into the bed she felt his arms wrap around her waist. She heard him sigh as he pulled her close. She could smell the strong scent of the cologne he wore, and normally this would just send her head spinning, but right now she was wondering why he seemed to smell so "clean" as if he had just freshly showered.

"I need to stop being stupid." Clinton thought to herself. She didn't want her suspicions to drive her crazy. She had heard all sorts of crazy stories about athletes cheated on their wives on the road constantly. She didn't want to believe that Kelly could do this to her.

As she nudged her ass into him, feeling his warm breath on her neck, she was relieved. She felt his burgeoning hardness against her ass, giving her hope that maybe he still wanted her.

She pressed into him deeper, giving a little half moan. She felt her nipples hardening underneath the t-shirt she wore. She heard him chuckle deeply, down in his throat.

"I'm trying to let you sleep but you're making it kind of hard."

She smiled, "Literally?"

Suddenly she felt kisses on her neck. A surge of longing shot straight through her down to the place between her thighs.

"You sure." he said in between nibbling her ear, "you want me to?"

She turned around to face him, "I haven't seen you in two whole weeks Kelly. How could you even ask that?"

He moved in to kiss her, pressing his lips hard against hers and invading her mouth with his tongue. His hands hastily grabbed at her breasts, kneading them and squeezing them as she moaned into his mouth. She knew this wasn't going to be one of those achingly long love making sessions or even a night of kinky expressive sex. He was too ready for much foreplay and in a way she was too. Clinton surprised herself with how strong her sex drive had been ever since she got together with Kelly. She never knew a woman could want it this bad.

Before she knew it her shirt and panties were stripped and she lay naked, waiting for him to enter her. She knew he was ready because he had stopped to retrieve a Trojan magnum sized condom. He knew that she wasn't on the pill anymore since she complained about how nauseous it made her. She told him that she'd look for a better form of birth control in the meantime, but not having him around made her forget that she had even needed it.

While he kneeled between her legs putting on the rubber, Clinton breathed deeply and moaned as she tweaked her nipples with one hand and rubbed her clit and slit with the other. Just touching herself in front of him was enough to get her halfway to orgasm. She was so lost in herself that she almost didn't realize that he was making no move to come near her.

"What's taking you so long baby?" She said, looking at his large hardness. She knew that many women say that size doesn't matter, but she was so used to Kelly's length and girth, never having anything or anyone else penetrate her, that she wouldn't know what to do with something different.

"I wanna watch you." She heard him say.

She smiled, willing to put on a show for him. It was all she needed to hear. She began to softly moan as he coaxed her in whispers, turning her on all the more. She pinched her own nipples, twirling them between her thumbs and forefingers, the shocks of pleasure running throughout her body and then down to her erect throbbing clit. She slipped her hand down between her legs and dipped her fingers in her sticky wet core. Using her own juices she lubricated her already moist and warm clit, rubbing it in lazy circles. She would tease herself and tease him as long as she could stand it. She wanted to drive him crazy, make his cock as hard as possible.

Her movement picked up more rapidly, her touches alternating between deep and then feather light. She felt a coil slowly winding up inside of her as she watched her muscular man stroke his hardness and groan at the visual stimulation. Her hips rose off of the bed as she flicked her clit rapidly. Her gasps were ragged and her voice deep and throaty as she moaned while looking into his eyes. Even in the dark she could see how deep and beautiful they were. Endless, bottomless and as dark, as the Atlantic Ocean she left back on the east coast.

As she squealed with pleasure, the tight coil inside of her expanded and sprung, releasing all of the tension inside of her as waves and waves of sweet pleasure washed over her body. She needed this. She didn't even like getting off when Kelly wasn't around. It was a rarity for her to even touch herself when he was on the road. Whenever she did, it was a dire circumstance, like when she couldn't even think straight without even thinking about sex.

When she collapsed back on the bed, she immediately felt the heat from Kelly's body over hers. He wasn't inside of her yet, but he was kissing her face and neck and saying, "You know I love you right baby?"

She smiled and held him, tears escaping from the corner of her eyes. She didn't want him to see her cry, and didn't even understand herself why she was so emotional. All she could think was, "How could someone like you love someone like me?" Clinton knew that there were beautiful groupies out on the road everyday, plus other women who looked at him, women with whom she thought she could never compare to who could charm him with their beauty and feminine ways. She wasn't as glamorous or graceful as her sister, and didn't walk around in high heels and short skirts all of time (it would only make her feel uncomfortable and silly), and though she knew Kelly loved her, she still didn't quite understand why.

"I love you too." She whispered in response. Soon she felt the tip of his manhood flush against her throbbing and open sticky wet pussy. He slid into her slowly and she gasped as she felt her walls stretch. Finally, he hit bottom. It was uncomfortable at first. She always had to get used to it after not being with him for a while, but her body soon adjusted. She knew he wanted to have a hard and fast quickie, but tried to be considerate of hurting her. When she thought about this she kissed him on the shoulder and pressed her fingers deep into the skin of his back. She wrapped her legs around him tightly, knowing that he loved when she did that. She could tell. His thrusts became deeper and harder to the point where he began to grind inside of her. She held on to him for dear life, moaning loudly in his ear, all her limbs wrapped around him.

"Oh God Clinton, I'm cumming.shit." Suddenly Clinton felt her body pull away from the bed as if she were levitating. She was confused until she realized that he was lifting her up as he braced himself against the bed, pushing himself up into the air and carrying her along with him as if he were doing a push up for training.

He's so strong. She thought this, often forgetting how much.

They collapsed back on the bed with a soft thud, all of his weight falling upon her, knocking the breath out of her briefly. For some reason she didn't mind. She still held on to him tightly as she gasped for air.

"Oh," he said leaning up to look at her, "I'm sorry. I got out of hand."

"Forget about it," she said kissing him. He didn't realize how much she liked it when he "got out of hand". It helped to prove to her how much in the moment he was. All she wanted to do was please him.

"I'm sorry it didn't last that long.It's been awhile."

"Don't worry about it."

"Yeah but you know how I get down."

It was true. Usually Kelly went out of his way to make sure she was thoroughly pleased. But she didn't think it had to be like this all of the time. "I love you Kelly. Do you know that?"

He looked down into her eyes and smiled. She knew that they had their problems, but right now, all of the troubles and doubts that had been haunting her had melted away in his smile. He kissed her on the forehead and said, "Give me a second, I can't seem to move."

"It's okay," She said, "You're not too heavy for me. Take as long as you want." She wanted to be close to him for as long as possible.

He finally relaxed, lying on top of her, still hard inside of her. She kissed his shoulder, surprised yet a little thrilled to hear his soft snoring. She kept her arms and legs wrapped around them tightly until every muscle in her body gave in reluctantly, and the tears that she cried fell down her face and onto the pillow.



The next morning Clinton got up and made breakfast. She happily flitted around their large kitchen still wearing his oversized t-shirt and a pair of socks. She was going to make him a hearty, greasy, fatty breakfast today, knowing that otherwise Kelly put himself on a fairly healthy diet to keep himself in shape and his energy level at its peak.

"He deserves it." She said, to herself as she placed the gargantuan sized platter of scrambled eggs, cheese grits, hash browns and bacon on the modest sized table where they chose to have their meals together. When they had first bought the house, Clinton had thought it was a little too big for two people. She also considered the fact that she and he agreed that they weren't ready to have children for at least a few more years.

Overwhelmed with its size and emptiness, the large suburban house didn't feel so homey to her. She had neglected to put the decorative touches that most wives thought their right when moving into a new house.

She called his name, hoping he'd hear her over the din of the television playing in the living room. He strolled in wearing nothing but his boxers. She rolled her eyes playfully. He hated wearing clothes. She teased him about this.

"Oh good," he said rubbing his hands together, "It's done."

"Yep," She said as she poured coffee into his favorite mug, "Have a seat."

"I'm gonna eat in the living room."

Clinton made a pouty face, "Why?"

"So I can watch Sports Center."

"You can watch that anytime."

"Yeah but I want to see it right now."

She shrugged, "Fine, whatever."

He shook his head and sighed, "I just got home and you're already starting?"

"I just thought you wanted to spend some time with me, that's all." She shrugged, "Guess I was wrong."

He rolled his eyes, "Can you just fix my plate? I'll be on the couch." He sauntered back into the living room as Clinton gave him a look that shot daggers. Instead of telling him to do it himself she fixed his breakfast and brought it out on a tray placing it in front of him on the coffee table.

As she walked away he said, "You wanna sit with me?"

"It's cool, I don't want to bother you."

"You sure?"

Under the surface she seethed. He didn't even fight for her to stick around, that's how she knew that he only offered out of a mixture of pity and guilt.

She stomped off, eating her own food in the kitchen trying hard not to be too upset.

"He just got home. Stop sweating him Clinton. Damn." She told herself. Suddenly the phone rang. When she got up and answered it, she was relieved to find out it was her sister.

"Hey there. Happy Saturday."

"Yeah. Sure. Happy." She said sarcastically and then tried to be a little more personable, "So what are you up to?"

"I'm at the office doing some last minute stuff. We've got a show tonight you know."

"Shit! I totally forgot. Why didn't you mention it last night?"

"Because you were obviously dealing with something. Anyway, why don't you come? You don't have any plans right?"

It was her sister's first fashion show as a Head Assistant Designer. The drive would be four hours away. She missed Gretchen a lot, especially right now when she felt so alone.

"Oh wait," Gretchen said before Clinton could answer, "Is Kelly home?"

"Actually yeah but."

"Well then it's cool. I know it's his first night back and."

"I'm sure he won't even miss me." She said feeling sulky.

"Oh girl please."

"I'm serious. I don't want to miss your first show. I'm coming."

Gretchen let out a little elated squeal, "I can't wait! Hey, why don't you bring him along?"

Clinton rolled her eyes, the last thing she wanted to do is go with Kelly anywhere right at this very moment, "I think he might want to just chill at home, but I'll ask."

"Well, it starts at nine, but you should come meet me at least a half-hour ahead."

"Alright," Clinton said, realizing that she needed to go shopping for something to wear. She was actually excited at the prospect of actually having to be somewhere. She had to be on the road by four if she wanted to make it on time. It was ten now.

After she had hung up with her sister she took a shower and got dressed, then she set out to the mall.

"Hey," Kelly said, he'd caught her just as she was about to leave. As she snapped her head around to face him her ponytail whipped her in the face. He startled her. Her hand had been right on the doorknob ready to twist it in order to make her escape as he stood in the foyer in his favorite jersey and cap, "Where you going?"

She had been so immersed in her own little world that she almost forgot to tell Kelly about her plans. "I need to go shopping."

"For what?"

"Does it matter?" She didn't like the tone in his voice and will still sore with him for how he behaved earlier.

"See, why can't you just talk straight with me?"

"I would've told you but you were too busy watching SportsCenter. I didn't want to bother you."

His eyes rolled up into his head and a slight smirk played upon his lips, "Clint please."

"I'd love to stand here and do this with you all day long, but Gretchen is having a fashion show tonight and I actually need to get a move on if I'm going to make it there on time." She tapped the face of her watch.

"Fashion show?"

"Yeah." She said drawing out the word in an exasperated way as she shook her head. Why was he being so slow?

"Didn't I tell you about the party tonight?"

She frowned and shook her head no.

"Manning's having a get together and I told him we'd go."

Clinton's bottom jaw dropped, "When exactly did you tell him that we'd go?"

"It's a given. That's my boy. Of course he knew we were gonna go weeks ago."

She glared at him and he laughed sheepishly. "Oh. I guess I didn't tell you."

"Yeah you didn't. And you didn't ask me if it was cool either."

There was a slight pause before he shrugged and said, "Well it's at eight, so just be back here before then." He said, turning to walk away.

"Wait." She said, her anger building inside of her, "Hold up."

"What?"

"You can't be serious." She crossed her arms across her chest, "I told Gretchen I was going to her fashion show. Her first one. I can't go to Manning's thing."

"What?" He said shaking his head, "You can't be serious."

"You didn't even tell me Kelly!" Clinton's voice rose excitedly.

"Lower your voice Clinton, what's your problem?" He said approaching her. She backed away out of instinct and then they began to argue back and forth until Clinton said, "You know what, I gotta go okay?" She turned on her heels to leave.

"So you gonna leave me hanging for your sister huh?" He sucked his teeth. "Figures." She wanted to say so many things right now that it overwhelmed her. All she could say was, "I'm not about to go there right now with you Kelly."

"Do what you want." He said as he walked away.

She felt like screaming but instead rushed out of the door slamming it behind her.

Once she was at the mall, her heart just wasn't into shopping anymore. After going into a few of the shops she sat down on a nearby bench, pulled out her cellphone and called her sister. She got the voicemail, "Hey, it's me. Look I don't think I can come tonight. I really want to but there's this thing with Kelly that he told me about at the last minute. He's real pissy about it and I won't be able to concentrate if he's mad at me sooo." She trailed off suddenly feeling bad about this. She knew that she hadn't planned on going to her sister's show in advance but she still felt bad. This seemed way more important than some function one of Kelly's teammates was having.

"But anyway, I'll call you." She said realizing that for some reason, tears formed in her eyes, "Or, you call me. I know you're busy." She realized she was leaving way too long of a message when she said, "Okay, I love you Gretchen. Break a leg."

After she ended the call, she called Kelly.

"Yeah." He answered nonchalantly.

"Hey."

"Hey."

There was some awkward silence as she waited for some sort of apology or explanation from him. But there was nothing but silence. This wasn't always the way it used to be. He used to try to make things right.

"So, umm, what kind of thing is this? Is it dressy or what?"

She heard a slight upward lilt in his voice, "You're coming?"

"Yeah, of course."

"It's kind of dressy I think."

"Do you know what you're going to wear or do you need me to get something for you?" She asked.

"I've got something, just come back quick. I kind of miss you."

While Clinton's heart warmed she still realized that she was riding on an emotional roller coaster of ups and downs. She didn't know if Kelly was all to blame or if it was just herself making things seem worse than it actually was.

"Alright, I'm on my way."

Clinton brought home a fire engine red halter style cocktail dress with a dangerously low back and an asymmetrical hemline that stopped right above her knees. She tried on the dress on a whim and was surprised to see that she looked sexy in it. It wasn't something she normally wore, but she chose it just to see what her husband's reaction would be. Along with that she had a Plan B outfit at the ready: a drapey sleeveless black blouse which showed little more than her collarbone and black slacks. With either outfit she'd decided to wear her hair up in a messy yet sexy up do-a few sexy tendrils of her dusty brown hair falling loosely and skimming right past her shoulders. She wore some eye makeup to accentuate her wide oval brown eyes and a translucent lip gloss. She sat at her vanity still trying to decide which outfit to wear when Kelly peeked in the bedroom, "Shorty come on don't take forever." She gave him the evil eye, "Don't rush me Kelly."

"Fine. I'll be downstairs. You got ten minutes." He said closing the door.

She was fuming. Earlier she had thought that just maybe tonight might be a good night for them after all, but she could feel frustration building inside of her, brimming at the surface. He told her that he missed her earlier only to have her rush home while he spent time playing his video games. Now that it was nearly time to leave for the party he was rushing her, not even seemingly grateful that she'd chose him over her sister.

Her anger colored her decision for what she'd wear. Since she didn't feel conservative or calm right now, she chose the red dress over the black getup. She glossed on the reddest shade of lip color she owned and wore strappy high-heeled shoes and long chandelier earrings. She gave herself a once over in the mirror. Her heart beat fast at the image in front of her. "Wow, I actually look good." She wished that Gretchen could be here to see her in this type of dress. She just wouldn't believe it.

She threw on a wrap and went downstairs to meet Kelly who wore a button down indigo blue shirt beneath a black suit. His tie was black with indigo stripes and she noticed that he wore a pair of cufflinks that she'd never seen before.

As she descended he waited at the foot of the stairs for her on his cell phone, "Yeah, we should be there in an hour if traffic is good. Yeah. Aight peace." He ended the call and looked up to find Clinton just standing on a step behind him, her wrap draped behind her shoulders. He stared at her curiously for a while and she couldn't tell if he liked what he saw or not.

"Wow." He said, "You look.you look."

"What?" She raised an eyebrow, "Spit it out."

"I thought you were going to wear that other thing."

"What other thing?"

"You know that other thing?"

"What's wrong with what I'm wearing?" She said, waiting for him to say the wrong thing so that she could turn on her heels and leave him there looking like a fool.

"No it's just.nevermind. Let's go, we're already late." He turned and headed for the door. She followed after him even though she wanted to just turn around and go back upstairs.

Once in the car they silently listened to the radio, a chilly silence between them. Outwardly she appeared adamant and coolly angry, inside she panicked. She had never felt this far away from her husband. She didn't want to fight anymore, so she just stayed quiet during the whole ride.

Once they got to his friend's house, Clinton could see that this was a total work function for Kelly. His coach and all of his teammates were there, as well as local sportscasters, writers and agents. There were even players from other sports visiting. She could've sworn she saw a couple of starters from the Lakers at the bar.

"Hey!" His friend and fellow teammate and Quarterback Eric Manning greeted them, "My favorite couple is here." Clinton couldn't remember what position he played. But he was extremely tall, extremely dark, extremely bald and extremely handsome.

"Shut up man," Kelly said playfully as they became involved in a handshake slash hug.

"And wow," Manning said looking Clinton up and down, "Wow, wow wow.you look stunning." He said kissing her hand.

"Oh Eric, knock it off." She looked over to see Kelly nearly rolling his eyes at the comment. She wanted to stab him with a shrimp fork.

"It's just that I've never quite seen you like this."

"Yeah, who is she trying to show off for huh?" He smiled, "I've already bought the merchandise, no need to for the hard sell."

Manning gave a forced laugh and wisely changed the subject, "Hey man, Trisha's here. She's been looking for you."

"I know, I was late. Got held up."

Her eyes nearly crossed in anger as he said that. She knew he was referring to her. What she didn't know is who this Trisha was, so she asked.

"She's this agent who wants Phillips bad.I mean, wants to represent him badly." Manning corrected himself sheepishly.

"Yeah, I wanted to talk to her. She promised me some things and I wanna know just how real she is about it."

"Yeah man, well you're bound to bump into her.hey why don't y'all help yourself to the food and drink. It's a party after all." Manning sauntered away leaving the young couple alone.

"Hey why don't you go over there with the other wives?" Kelly motioned over to the group of bitchy fake over made up women standing in a huddle waving at them. They waved back. "I'm going to move around a little." He started to step away but she grabbed his arm, "To find Trisha?"

"Yeah I guess."

"Well why do you need a new Agent? Isn't Marty okay?"

"Marty can't promise me Dallas though."

She frowned, "Dallas?" After she asked she immediately knew why. Dallas was his father's favorite team being that he was born and raised there. Inwardly she shook her head. Kelly just couldn't stop trying to appease his father and compensate for the fact that he and she were together. After everyone found out, August Phillips told his son that he couldn't trust him and didn't know who he was anymore. She knew that he'd given up his dream of wrestling just because his father didn't approve, but he thought that football would only be temporary until he developed enough guts to follow his dream. Now he was trying to get a new agent to go to a new team in a new city without once consulting her. As angry as she was, she knew that if she started a scene and an argument she'd never find out what other information he'd been keeping from her so she just said, "Well then, let's find her together." She thought to herself that she'd like to meet the person who he was practically signing his life away to.

Kelly seemed to hesitate, then he shrugged, "Alright come on."

When he finally found Trisha Calvert she was breezily laughing away at a stale joke made by Kelly's coach. All feelings of sexiness went out of the window for Clinton when she saw the six-foot tall brown-eyed blonde. She had a cute young face with a dazzling red lipsticked smile, long legs that went all the way up to her neck and wouldn't quit and still the petite frame yet lanky frame that probably made tons of players' wives jealous. She was thin bordering on skinny, but the shape of her hips and the surprise curve of her ass that peeked out in her gown gave her a womanly and becoming figure. In Clinton's eyes, this woman should've been walking on a catwalk rather than schmoozing with beer bellied coaches.

"Hey, Phillips!" the coach smiled and pulled Kelly into an embrace. Clinton wondered if the coach knew he was trying to commit treason with the very same woman he was laughing it up with. "'Bout time you got here!"

"Same thing I said," Trisha smiled. Clinton realized in that moment that both Kelly and Trisha were being duplicitous. She imagined them speaking before, negotiating, her "promising" her husband things. She immediately felt an aversion to the woman.

"Why you been keeping this little lady away from me?" Coach said, eyeing Clinton's figure in her dress, "Damn," was all he said under his breath, but Clinton knew what he had meant. She nearly blushed as red as the dress, wondering why the idiot she was married to didn't give her the same reaction.

"You must be Clinton," Trisha said extending her hand. Clinton took it tentatively noticing the strength of her grip. The handshake made her uneasy. "I've heard so much about you," Said the tall leggy blonde.

"Well I've heard nothing about you." Clinton said with an intentionally phony smile plastered on her face.

The Coach took his exit, "Well if y'all will excuse me I'm going to go have one of those shrimp puffs."

After he left Kelly said to Trisha, "I heard you've been looking for me all night long."

"Indeed." She said biting the olive off of a toothpick in a way that was a little too suggestive for Clinton's taste.

"Well, we have a lot to talk about," Kelly said. Clinton didn't like his tone. She couldn't pinpoint it or rightly prove it but their interaction seemed like flirting to her. She cleared her throat immediately drawing Trisha's attention, "Oh I'm sorry Clinton, I guess you didn't know that I've been courting your husband."

Clinton frowned, "Excuse me?"

"That's right. Bribing him every chance I could get. Did you get those cigars I sent to your room in Green Bay?"

"Yeah, and I like the cufflinks too," He said showing them off. Clinton gulped.

"I think Kelly and I have a bright future together."

"You don't say?" said Clinton through nearly clenched teeth, "A bright future fleeing Santa Frances?"

Kelly gave her a scolding incredulous look, "What's wrong with you?"

She stared back blankly at him not answering.

"Don't you know how to be quiet?" Rolling his eyes he grabbed Trisha's arm, "Look, let's somewhere and talk."

When he pulled the blonde away she seemed just as surprised as Clinton. She looked over her shoulder as he whisked her off, "Nice meeting you Clinton."

Clinton gave a weak smile and headed over to the bar.

As Clinton sipped her second Cosmo she got a call on her cell phone.

"Gretch?" She said, hearing a deafening din in the background.

"Hey Clinton, what happened? I thought you were coming?"

"Me too," Clinton said as she explained where she was.

"Damn that's too bad. And all you're doing is sitting around at a bar? You could be with me, sitting around at a bar. That's where I am now, the after party." Gretchen went on to tell her how well the show went, and what celebrities showed up. Nora and August even made an appearance. Clinton was proud of her older sister.

"I wish I could be there. I feel like shit now.I can't believe I missed your show.for this." She looked around at strangers she didn't care to know, "Such a waste."

"It's cool. We'll kick it for the anniversary dinner." Gretchen spoke of her mother and stepfather's upcoming anniversary. "You guys are most def coming down right?"

"Well yeah, I'm not looking forward to it though." She wasn't enthusiastic about being uncomfortable and icily polite in her mom's presence. "But we'll be there."

"Good. Well I'll let you get back to whatever you were doing."

"Which is nothing," Clinton said sipping her drink, "You have no idea how angry I am right now. I can't even say," she said looking at the people with open ears around her. "I really want to tell you."

"Call me tomorrow then. I'll talk to you later. Love you." She blew a big smooch sounding kiss into the phone.

"Ditto." Clinton said before hanging up. She was happy, angry and sad. Happy because Gretchen's show was a hit. Angry because of her husband and the way he's been treating her and sad because everyone seemed to be having more fun than she was. She remembers the days when she used to have her own things going on in her life. Now she was just Kelly Phillips' wife or Gretchen Wilson's sister. She sighed and ordered another drink and looked around one more time.

This is not me.

The old Clinton would not be sitting here all alone, waiting for something to happen. The old Clinton would've never taken any of Kelly's shit. The old Clinton would've never kept her mouth shut just for the sake of "keeping the peace". The old Clinton never needed anyone, not her sister, Kelly or her mother. All this time she thought she'd been evolving into a being known as "Kelly's wife" thinking it would make her a better person, but all it has really done is made her feel more vulnerable, insecure and dependent on several people. The one good thing that's changed for the better is she and her sister's relationship. She liked the fact that she and Gretchen were now close. What she didn't like was feeling like she missed her so much it hurt. She knew she was only feeling this way because she felt alone even with Kelly by her side. She needed someone to bitch and gripe to. She knew that was the wrong reason for missing someone.

Clinton felt helpless, vulnerable, and as if she had no control of her life right now. Right now, she didn't even know what her husband was planning for their future when in the past there was almost nothing they couldn't talk about.

In addition to feeling alienated from him, she couldn't help feeling humiliated and under appreciated. But right then after the third Cosmo, she decided that things were going to change.

She got up from the bar on wobbly feet and went to find her husband. After a bit of looking around she found him on the back patio sitting at a table, lighting her cigarette. The sight made her wince and even more brave for what she was about to do: get back to being the old Clinton.

She walked up to him and said, "Alright, I'm ready to go."

They both looked up at her incredulously.

"What?"

"Did I stutter? Let's go. Now." Clinton said crossing her arms over her chest.

Kelly took a momentary pause. A look of bewilderment and embarrassment crossed his face as he looked over at Trisha briefly before turning to his wife. "Have you lost your damned."

"I'm leaving with or without you. You've got five minutes." She looked over at Trisha, "Pleasure meeting you." She smiled broadly, but then it disappeared once she looked back at him. "Five minutes." Then she walked off.

Seven minutes later (she knows it was seven because she counted) Kelly finally emerged from the house with a sour look on his face. She stood outside of the car as he approached, glaring at her.

They stared each other down for a minute, the alcohol in Clinton's system giving her an extra shot of bravery, "Well aren't you going to open my door?"

Kelly touched a button on the thing on his key chain and the car beeped. Kelly opened up the passenger side of the car, "Get in."

Clinton entered the vehicle and sat while Kelly walked over to the driver's side and took his seat at the wheel. She knew what was coming: an argument. And this time a rough one. She knew he'd wait until they'd gotten somewhat far away before he'd start in on her.

True to her prediction, once they were on the highway he asked, "What the hell was that back there?"

"What was what?"

He chuckled, "Playing dumb now huh?"

"I'm not playing at all."

"How are you gonna come over there and demand that I leave?"

"How are you going to leave me alone all night to be with some other chick who you're being shady with anyway?"

"What do you mean shady?"

"What's up with Dallas?"

He was hesitant to answer, "Nothing. I just think I'll have a better opportunity there."

"Bullshit. Your team is losing so now you want to jump ship?"

He jerked his head toward her with a look of contempt, "You need to watch your mouth."

"Or is it because Daddy says so? Is that why you're stabbing your teammates in the back? Your coach? And me?"

"And you?"

"Yeah. Me. First of all you've been treating me like shit ever since you got back. Not just alone, oh no, you've gotta do it in front of people too, humiliating me and dismissing me like I'm just something that got stuck on to the bottom of your damned shoe." Clinton felt surer of her words than ever now. She was going to let all of her anger out.

"You're being dramatic."

"You used to treat me like a human being. Now you're making plans for our future without me? Getting gifts from women I don't even know? What the fuck Kelly?"

"You need to relax. First of all, cufflinks and cigars. Big whoop. The stuff I get comped for by people I don't know cost ten times more. Don't try that jealous shit with me, this is nothing but business."

"Oh right. The way you stared at her all night long was real business like. Yeah." She scoffed, "Give me a fucking break. You come home after two weeks, don't want to spend time with me, don't want to make love to me."

"We fucked last night!"

She stared at him in disbelief, "I'm talking about love making Kelly."

"Oh. So know you're going to act like you didn't enjoy it?"

Clinton's face reddened. "I'm not saying that I didn't."

"Well what are you saying then?" Kelly asked, "That you don't like me inside of you, grinding, thrusting.I know you like it. You can't fake that."

She narrowed her eyes at him as he continued, "And what's with that dress? You trying to find somebody else to fuck while I'm on the road?"

Clinton gasped, "Oh my God, I cannot believe you just said that shit."

"You look like a fucking hooker tonight. I bet you liked all those men staring at you, wanting you."

She felt angry tears well up in her eyes, "Nobody wanted me."

He chuckled, "No kidding."

"Fuck you Kelly. You wanted my hooker ass last night didn't you?" She said mushing the side of his face hard.

"No. Seriously. You did NOT just put your hands on me."

"That's exactly what I did!" She said, tears unabashedly running down her face. "You're lucky I don't beat your ass." She had no idea what she was talking about. Anger, alcohol and raw emotion were the causes for her sudden bravado.

She could feel the car slowing down on the deserted highway. Kelly pulled the car over to the shoulder, "Get out."

"What?"

"Get the fuck out."

She was stunned, her heart broken into a billion pieces. "You can't kick me out."

"That's not what I'm doing," He said as he got out of the car.

Confused she followed him to the rear of the car and watched him take off his jacket and loosen his tie, "You wanna beat my ass Clinton. Well here I am. Beat my ass."

"You're crazy," she said, for the first time ever feeling uncertainty and fear regarding Kelly.

"Come on. Get it out. 'Cause apparently you got something against me."

"Yeah I do." She said, "I got something against you calling me a hooker."

"Who are you trying to be sexy for huh Clinton?"

"Maybe for you, you fucking asshole!" She screamed.

"You know what? You've been a real bitch lately."

That was all it took, Clinton slapped him in the face. "There! Is that what you want?" She said anger glittering in her wet eyes, "Huh?" She said slapping him again, watching his head jerk to the side. She couldn't believe the rush she felt. It actually felt good to take her aggression out on him. Before she knew it she was slapping his face and punching and pounding against his chest totally enraged and shrieking like a banshee. It wasn't long before he tried to reign her in, grabbing her shoulders and then wrapping his arms around her body as she flailed wildly, "Get the fuck off of me!"

Soon he had her pinned against the car, her face pressed against the trunk, her hair fallen from her up do around her face and shoulders. She huffed and puffed screamed as he restrained her by holding her arms against the small of her back as if he were going to put a set of handcuffs on her.

"Calm the fuck down now Clinton!"

"No, you're the bitch! Get the fuck off of me!" she shrieked still struggling.

Suddenly she felt him press against her. She felt his hardness against the softness of her ass, "You really want me to let go?" He said in a slightly softer tone, though it still had a malicious edge to it.

Instantly Clinton was wet. This made her even angrier. How did he have the power to do this to her? She struggled as he placed one hand against the back of her neck, pinning her down to the car without even holding her hands. She was bent before him, his hardness pressed into her ass, his hand restraining her neck so that she couldn't move.

"Say so and I'll let you go right now."

Clinton didn't answer.

"One more chance. I'll let you go. Especially if you promise not to go crazy on my ass once I do."

Still no answer.

"Okay then," he said. "I'll have to interpret that as you telling me that you won't be civil," he thrusted a little, bumping his hard cock against the soft round ass straining the fabric of that red dress, "So now I have to do what I have to do." He began to ground his dick against her ass. Clinton tried not to react but couldn't help giving a little breathy gasp.

She felt her skirt lift up and expose her bare ass to the open air, "No panties?" He screamed, "Now I'm really pissed. You really were trying to play the part of high priced hooker weren't you?"

Clinton just didn't want a pantyline and thought she could get away without wearing the dreaded thong.

"I wonder if everyone knew you were being a nasty little slut, out there with no panties on." He said rubbing her ass and squeezing it.

She gasped. For some reason, him calling her a slut and a hooker turned her on now. She was so sticky and wet.

"You're a bad girl aren't you?" Kelly said, lifting his hand up and bringing it down against Clinton's ass, making it jiggle. She cried out in pain, shocked, and somewhat frightened of her husband now, yet surprised at the shivers of pleasure flowing through her body on each slap. He continued to spank her ass as the occasional car sped past them, having Clinton with her face and hands pressed against the trunk of their car. Her ass stuck out, reddening from his punishment.

"You like this don't you?" He brought his hand down in yet another slap. "Let me check."

Clinton felt him slide a long thick finger into her tight sticky core, pulling wetness out on his finger when he withdrew. She heard a slurping sound behind her, moaning as he realized that he tasted her juices. By now she was turned on and ready to cum, not caring that he had her out on some highway, spanking her ass and fingering her pussy.

"You know what? I got something to punish your slutty ways baby.something you're gonna like." He pushed her thighs apart so that her ass and hips were thrust out high and she was spread wide. He gave her ass another slap before his hand cupped her pussy. She shivered, his hand making contact with her clit. He stuck another finger inside of her and pulled out more wetness, beginning to spread it on her hard protruding nub. She groaned deeply making a squeaking sound as she dragged her fingertips and nails against the surface of the car, forgetting that it wasn't the sheets on her king sized bed that she was gripping.

He rubbed her clit, pressing deep into her pelvic bone going around in rapid circles, "You like that don't you? You like being treated like a slut? Huh? You wanna get bitchy with me now bitch?"

Clinton gasped as she ground her pussy against his hand. Before she knew it she was seeing stars behind closed eyelids, her orgasm hitting her hard and fast. Before she had time to even recover, Kelly had slid his lengthy girth inside of her, sans condom. She felt him hit it raw for the first time in months. Once he was inside of her, she came again right there, the sensation so good and raw.

He began to stroke in and out of her at a rapid pace as he talked dirty to her still, "This is my pussy. You understand?"

She screamed as he pounded deeper and harder.

"I'd better not ever catch you giving my shit away."

"Ahhhhh." Clinton screamed again, not caring who heard or saw. She felt herself rapidly approaching another orgasm.

"Tell me it's mine." He demanded.

"Yes.it's yours aaaahhhh," she moaned, her knees quivering and making her unsteady in her high heels.

"Say it's my.pussy." He grunted, his skin slapping against hers as he stroked into her deep in hard.

"It's yours.your pussy." she squealed.

He was punishing her alright, just like he promised. He pounded into her hard and deep, skin slapping against skin, beating up her swollen wet pussy.

"Take it, just take this shit," Kelly grunted as he approached his climax. He reached beneath Clinton to stroke her clit. Her back arched at the sensation and she hissed, "Oh shit Kelly, I'm gonna cum!"

"Cum for me bitch, give me that fucking pussy."

Before they both knew it, they were cumming together, their tortured groans completely filling the quiet emptiness that was there before they stopped.

When they were done, Kelly pulled out of his wife and zipped himself back into his pants. Clinton still lay splayed on the car, panting. She felt him pull her dress back down over her ass, then grab her arms and pull her off of the car. She turned to face him, not knowing what exactly to say. He looked back into her eyes and something softened in his face, "I'm sorry." He said.

"It's okay," She said, "You can tell I liked it."

"No. I mean.I should've told you about Trisha. And I should've chilled with you this morning. I should've." he trailed off looking away from her face out at nothing in particular. For some reason the look on his face made her want to cry. What was he going through in that head of his? She could tell he hadn't been himself lately. She didn't know why. He wouldn't let her in anymore.

"Kelly what's wrong?"

"Nothing," He said giving a quick wipe of his nose with his sleeve. He turned to look at her, "You still love me?"

She nodded, tears in her eyes. He walked over to her and put his arms around her waist, resting his chin on the top of her head. She held him back, her tears staining his shirt. She wanted to ask if he loved her back but decided against it. Even though he held her closely and asked her first, she had a sinking feeling in her gut, that maybe he wouldn't give the same answer she did.

With all these doubts I hold him even tighter. she thought, silently sobbing against his chest.



Clinton was sleeping before they even got home. Kelly looked over at his wife.

"What the fuck is happening to me?" He thought. He knew he was changing, but he couldn't stop it. Why was it happening? Why was he hurting her? He could see the disappointment and sadness on her face earlier when he had pushed her away. It was the same face he imagined her making on the phone when he told her that he wasn't coming home. The sick thing was that he sort of liked her sadness. It seemed to prove that she cared no matter what. Instead of hugs and kisses he got off on making her cry.

What the fuck is going on with me?

He knew that he was going through things that he couldn't quite articulate, and that was part of the reason why he felt the way he did: angry, cold and detached. But he was taking out his feelings on the one person who ever understood him. He used to always be able to talk to her. They were a good team. "Me and you against the world." He always told her. That was their motto. But now he treated her like his enemy. He looked over and watched as her head lolled to the side and her chest heaved up and down slowly.

Every once and awhile he had moments like this: moments of tenderness for his wife. These moments used to happen all of the time but they were rare now. Now he took his anger and frustration out on the girl instead of kissing and touching her.

"It's only been two years. What's changed?" He said, not being able to help muttering the question out loud under his breath.

Maybe it was the fact that marriage was harder than he thought it would be. He thought that if they'd just gotten back together after deciding to not pursue their feelings for each other, that everyone could be happy, that Nora and August would learn to accept them, and that the world would cheer them on. He was wrong. It wasn't so easy.

He knew Nora and August were having their own problems. He picked up on this every time he spoke to his dad. He couldn't help thinking that maybe they'd be okay if he and Clinton had never gotten together in the first place. Now they were married, flaunting their love around, causing whispers and snickers and ridicule, jokes on nationwide television. It was harder to deal with than Kelly would've liked to admit.

It was hard seeing the look of hurt on Clinton's face every time her mother shunned her, or whenever they'd gotten a snide remark in public. It was hard watching his father struggle with his own melancholy and hard for Kelly to take shit from everyone who thought they knew who he was. It was just hard all the way around, but the one person he had never wanted to hurt was his father.

As August's only son, and a successful charismatic athlete, Kelly had meant everything to his father. It was beautiful knowing that the man who you thought of as your hero regarded you as his own, as well as his one dream and only hope. It was beautiful, but it was a lot of pressure not to fall off of the pedestal. For a while he was good at it: being perfect. But with all of the hiding, secrets and circumstances that brought about he and Clinton's relationship, somehow his father felt as if he couldn't trust him anymore, and didn't know what kind of man he had turned out to be. That fall from grace was the hardest bump Kelly had ever taken, and he had been tackled by men twice his size, often more than one at a time.

He wanted to do anything he could to be his father's favorite person again. Sometimes he thought that if he could right all of the wrongs he'd done to fall from grace he would. But then he'd have to acknowledge that the love of his life was one of those "wrongs". He looked at her again and shook his head. This is where the confusion, anger and guilt came into play.

"She's the only one who'll take my shit." he thought, thinking about the demands his teammates, coach, father and fans made on him. She was the only one he didn't have to answer to, the only one he didn't have to put up his guard around. He should've felt comfortable around her, comfortable enough to just love her, but he didn't. He had something to prove, and begrudgingly admits to taking it out on her emotionally whenever he could. The thing was, every time he tried to stop, or to not even start in the first place she had made it too easy. Whether she chose to be sweet and compliant, or even somewhat defiant, he could see right through her and knew that she wasn't going anywhere.

Once they got home, Kelly carried his wife into the house and up into their bedroom. He realized that she was drunk. That factor, combined with the emotional wringer they'd gone through in the short time he was back must've exhausted her. He undressed her and put her in one of his favorite t-shirts. It smelled like him. She knew that's why she liked wearing them. He smiled at her angelic face, remembering when they first got married and when he had loved to see her wearing his clothes. She was adorable.

"Why can't we go back, when everything was simpler?" he thought to himself.

After taking a shower, he fell into his bed next to Clinton, exhausted. She murmured something in her sleep. "Shhhh." he said, kissing her on the forehead and pulling the covers tight over her.

For a while he watched her breathing. The motion of her chest heaving up and down was for some reason comforting to him. Soon sleep overtook him, dragging him into a deep slumber, visions of her face the last thing on his mind.



"Mushyface, you there?" Kelly asked, strolling through the supermarket with a shopping cart, "I can't get a signal in this bitch."

For the past few days he and Clinton have been okay. Not great, but okay. He's avoided provoking her into arguments, but something else took the place of his mean streak. It was more like indifference or an immeasurable distance. He was nice to her but still quiet. He made love to her for literally hours, using the same stamina that made him a pro on the football field, but still his mind wasn't on her, it was on something else. He wanted to make her happy, to make up for all of the shitty things he's said and done lately, but he knew he wasn't giving her all of himself. He didn't want to admit it but something was wrong with their relationship. However, sometimes Kelly thought something was just wrong with him. He went through these phases of trying to be the Good Husband and then the Husband From Hell. Either way he knew that neither of these roles were him, and he knew that it made her suffered.

"Cookies? What kind of cookies?" He asked, taking Clinton's snack requests. He picked up the brand she wanted when he noticed her, Trisha, just feet away from him holding a shopping basket. She wore jeans a tight t-shirt and had a pair of expensive shades perched upon her head.

"Hey baby, I'll call you back." He ended the call before she even had a chance to say goodbye and walked over to Trisha.

"Hey."

She raised her eyebrows and her face opened up into an expression of surprise, but he couldn't help thinking that it was contrived. "Kelly? How are you?"

"What are you doing here?"

"I'm having a barbecue and I needed some last minute stuff."

"You live like ten miles away. You mean to tell me this is the only place you can get your 'last minute stuff'?"

She smirked. What was she doing? Following him now? Calvert wanted to represent him badly. He had to admit, it was hard to resist her cute little smile. In some ways she reminded him of Clinton even though they were obviously extremely different. For one thing, she was nearly as tall as him.

"How about you come over? You and the missus?"

"It's the weekend and you still wanna talk shop huh?" Kelly said throwing a box of cereal into his cart as he strolled down the aisle. He didn't want to think about business today. All it did was make him even more uptight. His team was losing, his woman was angry at him because he wanted to go to Dallas, and this woman before him was promising him things not even his current agent Marty Sinowski could deliver.

My dad would sure love it if I could get to Dallas though.

"Hey, I'm just being friendly. Tell you what, if you change your mind, here's the address." She pulled a piece of paper out of her purse and scribbled down directions. "That's my house number there too. I know you have my cell," She shrugged handing him the paper. "I promise, it'll just be a chill time. No shop talk." She held up her hands defensively.

He took it hesitantly, "Alright. No promises though."

"Well I promised you Dallas and at least twenty mill." She said, "But we're not talking about what I'm promising are we?" She said giving him a coy look.

He smiled, "I don't know, why should I trust you?"

"Come on over and we can talk about it.unless, you really don't want to talk business. If not we can talk about something else.like crocheting."

"I don't even know what that is, but thanks anyway," Kelly said rolling his cart past her, "See you around Calvert."

Later that afternoon when Kelly brought the groceries home, he found Clinton taking a nap in the living room. He kissed her on the forehead and then sat down beside her on the couch, putting her feet into his lap. He turned on the TV, wishing she'd wake up because he was bored, but he knew that he wouldn't have anything to say. Actually, he didn't even feel like talking to his wife. Every time he looked at her, he felt angry and put off. He didn't know why.

He dug into his pocket and fished out the paper with Trisha's address on it, entertaining the thought of possibly going over there.

He looked over at Clinton sleeping.

"Well there's no point in waking her." He rationalized to himself, categorizing this as a nice friendly little visit.

Driving down Trisha's block, he found her house easily because of the sound of music and the multitude of cars parked out front. Once he got out of his car he made a slow whistling, signifying how impressed he was with her large home.

Calvert's done well for herself.

As he thought this to himself, he walked up to her front door and rang the doorbell.

Some girl answered in a bikini and a sarong, "Hey, are you here for Trisha?"

He was led to the back by the petite brunette to a spacious backyard, where scores of people walked around in their swimsuits and loafed around drinking. That's when he saw her. The tall blonde wore a white bikini, the healthy glow of her skin contrasting nicely with the bright color. "Damn." he said, never staring at a woman so much since seeing Clinton in her dress the night they went to the party. Clinton hardly went for very sexy or revealing things, and for some reason, even though she looked really good to him (he had to control his erection the whole night) he had been jealous. Why the sudden change? Though he felt somewhat ashamed of himself for it now, he took her down a peg for his own sake.

Kelly felt an uneasy stirring within himself as he spied her extra long legs. "How would they be wrapped around." He tried to stop the thought before it got a chance to complete itself, but it was too late. His breath caught in his throat, and he became immediately upset. He barely paid attention to beautiful women anymore. As hokey as it was, Clinton had almost always been the only woman on his mind at any given time. But lately, he hadn't even been interested in her. He had just wanted her when he just happened to be horny or when he thought it was time to provide his husbandly duty. Though he felt somewhat detached from the girl, he didn't want her to go out and find someone else to take care of her needs.

Trisha was at the grill turning over a large slab of meat when he walked over.

"Somehow I feel overdressed," Kelly said. He wore a football jersey, a pair of jean shorts, sneakers and a backwards facing cap.

"No, I like your style." She said smiling, "You don't look like you're from Cali, more like those 'yo yo yo' dudes from Boston or New York." He laughed at her impression of a "Yo Yo Yo" dude. She was irresistibly corny.

"My mother's from Boston actually. I spent a good chunk of time there before I came to Beverly Hills. So what you trying to say?" He teased as if he were offended.

Clinton often asked him where he got his sense of style and talk. He had a "street" inflection in his speech and the tendency to use slang without coming off like a dorky little white boy. She had wanted to know how a kid from Beverly Hills had pulled that off. She admitted that this turned her off at first because she thought he was an arrogant poseur, but she found herself proved wrong.

"Oh nothing, it just seems like your into that hip hop stuff and you know whatever." She flung her hand around in the air dismissively.

He wanted to know what that "Whatever" meant but he didn't ask.

"I mean it's cool though. I love Nelly."

He nearly doubled over in laughter and she made a pouty face, "What?"

Moments later they sat at a table having a beer. By now Trisha had covered up in an extra long t-shirt.

"So Kelly," She said lightly fingering the lip on the bottle of the beer she sipped from, "I know you said you didn't want to talk shop today but I just want to know, are you any closer to signing with me?"

"Actually, I'm closer than I've ever been before.as long as you can make good on your promises."

"Oh for sure," She said shrugging her shoulders, "besides, I know it would mean a lot to you to play for Dallas."

He looked at her skeptically as he sipped his beer. "How do you know that?"

"Well because you want it right?" She said almost defensively, "and I know you want to make your father happy."

He put down his drink. "What do you know about my father?"

"He was born and raised in Dallas right? That team is as near and dear to his heart as football itself."

He gave her a strange look.

"Look Kelly, I do my research. That's just how much I care," She said lightly touching his hand. He squinted at her briefly, and she further explained, "I see you doing big things, becoming a big name, and of course you letting me represent you will do a lot for my own future, but that doesn't mean I don't care about yours. Do you really think Marty cares about you right now with all those big time players he's representing? You think he knows anything about you other than what you told him and your stats in college?"

"Okay," Kelly said leaning back and giving a shrug of his shoulder, "So tell me what else you know Jerry Maguire?"

She laughed.

"I'm serious, what else do you know about me and my life? My motivations, my hopes, my dreams? Did you do research on all of that?"

He could tell that she felt put on the spot, and he hadn't meant to be so harsh but he didn't like being worked by anyone, sports agent or not. He also didn't like the fact that she brought up his father. He was still in denial about the situation, which would be the fact that the only reason he stayed in football was to try to impress his dad and win his love and trust back.

"Well," she said avoiding his gaze, "I know you've been having a hard time ever since you married your step sister."

Kelly sat up straighter, astounded.

"I mean it's bad enough that she's black and that even your own interracially mixed marriage parents don't approve, but-"

"Pump your brakes," he said sternly, his deep voice dropping an octave even lower as he stared at her intensely, "What does this have anything to do with you representing me?"

"You asked me about your motivations, the way you feel." She said finally looking up at him meekly, "I know a lot of the way you're feeling right now has to do with your relationship with her. I know you're unhappy. I could even tell at the party. You two are having some trouble communicating aren't you?" She said touching his wrist.

He looked up and saw that her chocolate brown eyes seemed sympathetic so he just shrugged, "Everybody's got their problems. You would two if you had a man."

"Ouch." She smiled, "You know I'm not attacking you. I'm just saying, I want to make you happy."

He studied her face. He couldn't tell if she was working him or not, but for some reason he believed her, this stirred something in him, "All you can be is my agent. How is that going to fix everything?"

"I have aspirations for you Kelly. Big ones. What I aspire for you can make you see that you don't have to be stuck in the same old rut."

"Whoa." He stopped her again, "Now I'm in a rut?"

"Think about all of the things that are making you unhappy.or is there just one thing?" She said clasping his hand now, bolder than she had been before. To his own surprise, he didn't pull away. He just listened.

"Think about what is making things complicated, what's keeping your head out of the game, what's hurting you on the field and in your life.is she.I mean 'it' really worth it?"

In the past, Kelly would've been tempted to choke the life out of her for suggesting such a thing about his wife. This time really did pull away, "I think I should be going." Kelly stood.

By the time he'd gotten to his car Trisha was running after him, "Wait!" she huffed and puffed holding onto his arm, "I didn't mean to offend you Kelly I'm sorry-"

"Save it," He said pulling away from her, "You crossed the line Calvert and you know it."

"Well tell me I'm wrong?" She said, sticking her chin out and puffing out her chest, sure in her words, "Tell me you haven't thought about whether this whole thing with you and her was worth it or not?"

He looked at her, wanting to call her all types of names and never see her again but he made no move and no sound.

"I just want to let you know I understand. I know she doesn't understand you. I can tell that much."

"None of this is your business. I love my girl okay?"

"I know, I know." She whimpered, he saw a moistness in her eyes. "I'm sorry Kelly. I didn't mean to make you upset. Of course I want you to sign with me, but for some reason," She said shaking her head in an incredulous fashion, "I just want to be your friend." Suddenly she began to sob softly, "I'm sorry Kelly."

"Hey," He said touching her shoulder. He hated to see a woman crying, "Don't cry okay? Please." He touched her face. She looked up with dewy eyes sniffling. "Are we good?"

"Yeah, just.stay away from talking about certain topics."

"Well you can talk to me about anything. I promise I won't butt in, I'll just listen."

There was something about her that was endearing to him, despite all of the things she said.

She extended a hand, "Friends?"

He gave her a little smirk and shook it, "Yeah we can be friends. But only if you stop crying like a girl."

She smiled. "I won't next time."

As he held her hand he realized that she just basically said that there was going to be a "next time". He didn't exactly rule out the thought in his mind. For some reason this made him feel nervous, yet excited. This felt better than being cold and detached.