Touchdown: A Quick Snap Novella Read online

  Tentatively I pull out my cell and stare at it for a few moments, before moving to the text thread between Solomon and me, then re-reading the last text message he sent.

  Man Mountain: I wish you’d speak to me, but I can’t force you. I think we have something special, but if you don’t then…

  And that’s it.

  Emotion climbs up my throat and I shiver.

  I don’t want him to give up on me.

  I don’t want to give up on us.

  My thumb hovers over the keypad and I wonder what to say. Will he be there tonight? If he is, what will I say to him? I need direction, I’m navigating terrain I’ve never traveled before and I’m a little lost.

  I step through the back door into the kitchen and Wanda is drying dishes. “Wondered when you’d come in. Have you sorted your head out, yet?”

  It’s clear where she stands on the Jasmine and Solomon saga.

  “Wanda, I’m a little lost,” I admit, sliding down onto the lone stool in the kitchen.

  She stops drying, places the bowl down and watches me. Her face softens while she leans over and strokes my short hair. “Girl, you have been lost for a while, but you’ve found yourself with that boy.” I nod at her words because she’s right. “He loves you.”

  I blink at her and my mouth opens and closes like a fish. I don’t really know what to say.

  “You know he petitioned his football team to make us this season’s charity. To sponsor us so we can redecorate,” she tells me, a gleam in her eyes which I haven’t seen since before my mom died.

  “Wow,” I breathe the word out. “So painting and new carpets?”

  She laughs. “So much more, baby girl. They’re going to help us remodel the whole place, stripping everything out of here, and reworking it so it’s fit for purpose, and they’re going to develop the second floor so we can use it.”

  She grabs my hands and spins me around the kitchen squealing, which is not something Wanda does. Ever.

  “They’re even going to rent a space for us to use while the place is being fixed up, so no one has to miss out on a meal.”

  I shake my head and look down at my old worn Converse. Biting my lip, stray tears trail down my face and over my lips.

  Wanda’s arms encircle me. “He’s good people and you love him. Go get him, sweetheart,” she whispers into my ear as her hug warms me from the inside out.

  “I do love him. I just hope it’s not too late.”

  “It’s not too late. Go on. Go…” She shoos me away. “I’ve got this place today.”

  Wanda pulls back and I wipe my eyes with the heel of my hands. I nod at her. “I’m gonna get him,” I whisper.

  “Yes, you are,” she smiles, with not a doubt in her eyes.

  “Hi, you look hot,” Meg greets as she opens the door. Her face is open and welcoming as is the smile she’s projecting, and instantly I’m at ease. “I know you said you might not go casual, but this outfit is next level, Jas.” The nickname takes me aback, but I grin at her realizing I like it.

  After leaving Wanda I did something I never normally do and had a selfish moment. I went back to the thrift store and bought a new dress. However, while I was there I noticed those beautiful knee-high boots which I fell in love with were still there, and they’d been reduced to ten bucks. Thirty minutes later, eighteen dollars lighter, and with a big smile on my face, I almost skipped out the shop.

  Now, with the outfit on, I feel beautiful, but somewhat uncomfortable. The black dress has a loose skirt which touches just above my knees. The top is corseted with thin straps, and there’s a soft pink ribbon laced down the back.

  I look at Meg in her jeans and fluffy red sweater and back down at myself. “Shoot,” I mutter.

  “No, don’t even worry. You’ve given me an excuse to get dressed up. Come on. Come upstairs with me.”

  I know Meg isn’t really the dressing up type. Like me, she prefers to be comfy and casual, so I really appreciate her trying to make me feel better by changing. My heart squeezes in my chest and warmth swirls inside my tummy knowing I’ve found a real friend.

  Thirty minutes and lots of giggling later, we’re ready to go back downstairs.

  I hear male voices and my stomach clenches.

  “Come on, you’ll be fine,” Meg whispers, and it’s then I realize Solomon will be here.

  It’s a setup, but I already knew that. I’m happy, but nervous about the reception I’ll get when he sees I’m here.

  Meg squeezes my hand. “It will be okay, trust me.”

  I stare into her eyes and nod. I do trust her.

  Meg walks into the living room first and I hover outside in the hall, frozen to the spot.

  “Wow! You look hot, babe.” I hear Will say to her. She squeals and I smile, but still I can’t move.

  “Hey Meg, how you doing?” It’s Solomon’s voice, and after what feels like forever since I’ve heard him, my legs weaken and I slam my hand on the wall to hold myself up. Slowly, carefully as though stepping through a field of landmines, I creep along the wall and stand in the doorway.

  “Hey,” Will says to me looking over Solomon’s shoulder.

  Meg grins but my eyes move to the man-mountain, my man-mountain as he turns to see who they’re talking to, and it’s then I second guess whether he even knew I was going to be here. I stare down at my hands, twisting them around.

  “We’ll be back.” Solomon’s voice gives nothing away and I can’t look at his face.

  “Dinner’s already here, Solomon. Don’t be long,” Meg orders, a grin playing on her lips.

  The next thing I know, Solomon grabs one of my hands and drags me along behind him, the heels of my boots clip loudly as we hit the wooden floor of another living area.

  “Solomon,” I murmur. His name feels right on my lips like it’s always belonged there.

  “Don’t,” he bites back, and my eyes widen as my heart rate picks up speed.

  He’s angry.

  He doesn’t want me.

  God, this was a mistake.

  “You’ve been avoiding me.”

  “I have,” I admit.

  He blinks, his eyes widen. “You admit it.”

  “I do,” I reply. “It was stupid. But I was worried about whether I could handle the fame, the media…” I trail off and shrug as anger then acceptance flits through his eyes. I mean, what can he do? His job comes with the media. It was my issue to work through. “I’ve realized I’ll never be able to control it. So, I shouldn’t worry,” I tell him. “I didn’t think I was good enough.”

  “My sister…” His voice is soft, almost scared like I might run away at the mention of her.

  “Evelyn came to see me,” I tell him, and he shakes his head. I edge forward and slowly raise my hand up to cup his cheek. “She…” I break away but before I can move Solomon holds my hand, keeping it pressed to his cheek. I shake my head. “What she said—”

  “Was completely out of order, and unfair in every way, and I have to tell you I told her what I thought. I came after you but you left.” He sighs, dropping his hand from mine, I copy his movement, letting my hand fall back to my side. “You’ve been avoiding me ever since.” Solomon turns and takes a few steps away out into the garden then he leans against the trellis separating the stone floor from the grass. His muscles are taut, he’s strung so tight I can almost taste the frustration rolling off him.

  Slowly, I walk up to him, placing both my hands on his back. He tenses, then his shoulders drop as he heaves out a long breath.

  “Maybe we’re not meant to be. Surely it shouldn’t be this hard so soon.” He drops the sentence like it’s an unspoken taboo subject.

  “I feel it,” I whisper so low I wonder if he hears me, but his movements still, then after a moment he turns to face me. “I feel us,” I tell him louder this time, clearer, more confidently. “I’m sorry it took me so long.”

  His beautiful brown eyes travel over my face, wonder and cautious happiness within them. �
�I met someone.” His words hit me like a sledgehammer to my chest, and I jerk backward, but Solomon reaches forward, grabbing my hips and stilling my movement. “When I was first signed, maybe ten months into my first contract, her name was Sara.”

  I stop pulling away from him, my brain settling to the idea he’s explaining something about his history.

  “I was infatuated with her.” His words cause pain to ripple through me, and I realize I’m jealous of someone he’s not even with anymore. “Honestly, it was never more than sex and lust, but I didn’t know that at the time. I was right out of school, and still had a major teenage brain. It was more than that, though,” he tells me, his hands move around until he’s touching my skin, running his fingers down my spine, and I’m second-guessing buying a dress with a drop back.

  How the hell am I supposed to concentrate when he’s touching me like this?

  “It was the idea of sharing my fame with someone, sharing all the good things that were happening to me. I wanted someone to be my cheerleader, and I guess it wasn’t fair to her—”

  “Why?” I cut him off.

  He frowns. “Why?”

  “Yeah, why? “Why wasn’t it fair? If you’re with someone you support them. Enjoy the ups, endure the downs, sail through the waves. Ride or die.” His eyes heat as I murmur the last words while stepping closer to him.

  “She was young and so was I, but I wasn’t her ride or die, I was just her ride.” He touches a fingertip between my eyes and slides it down my nose. “That was until I caught her with another team member.” He shrugs. “It didn’t matter then, it doesn’t now, but it did make my sister overprotective. It made me wary, too. I haven’t had a relationship since. I don’t get close to people because I don’t think they’ll stay, and honestly, no one has ever been worth the effort of me putting in my whole heart… not until you.”

  I wait for him to say he doesn’t want a relationship with me now since I’m too much trouble. I bite down on my lip as the silence stretches between us, determined not to cry.

  Solomon’s gaze falls on my lips and then moves to my eyes, they soften on me, and with his forefinger and thumb he grasps my chin, pulling my face toward him he lowers his lips to mine.

  The second our mouths collide, I’m home.

  Comfortable.

  Cherished.

  Respected

  Loved.

  My stomach churns with butterflies and I pull away from Solomon’s lips. He frowns, confused by my sudden retreat.

  I lay my hand on his chest, over his heart. “I’ll be your ride or die,” I tell him. “If you’ll have me?”

  His eyes dilate and before I can say another word, he slams his mouth down on mine again, his arms wrap around my back and he lifts me off the ground so I cross my legs around his hips as he devours me. I groan down his throat while my arms curl around his neck.

  “Ahem,” a deep voice brings me back to the present, and I pull away from Solomon blinking, trying to focus. Will chuckles and Solomon smirks, his eyes lazy as he gazes down at me. I turn to look at Meg and realize I’m still hanging off Solomon, but neither of us makes a move to part.

  Meg grins up at us, I’m pretty sure she can see my swollen lips and messy hair, but she doesn’t comment.

  Will’s eyes dance and the smirk on his face tells me he definitely noticed the way I look. “Seems you missed dinner, but neither of you look too broken up about it,” Will says.

  I glance up at Solomon, whose lips twitch.

  “Ready for dessert?” He chuckles.

  My eyes widen, my cheeks pink, and Solomon bursts out laughing.

  Epilogue

  Jasmine

  “Go on, baby!” I scream and Meg snorts next to me.

  “What?” I question, turning to look at her.

  “My eardrums,” she complains, but she’s smiling.

  Neither of us attend the home games much, but I try to when I can.

  The last two years have been magical, truly the things dreams are made of.

  King’s Hope is now a purpose-built shelter that can accommodate meals for three hundred people a day. There are two rooms set up for services, such as help finding jobs or doing courses to assist with employment. I’ve taken a social care course and am currently enrolled in night classes to take the next step in my career. During the day, I work full time at the shelter. My pay is almost nonexistent, but I love what I do, and after a lot of arguing—I’ve never been used to depending on anyone else—I finally allowed Solomon to convince me, as my husband and one who is paid extremely well, he can cover me.

  Oh yeah, we got married.

  After just two months, Solomon asked, and I screamed, leaped into his arms, and started crying before I had even given him an answer.

  We got married in the Caribbean. Wanda loved being there, but she worried about the shelter the whole time she was away from it.

  “You going to Brax’s party tonight?” Meg asks.

  I shake my head. “No, I want a night with my hubby.” I wink.

  “I’ve got a surprise for you,” I whisper into Solomon’s ear.

  Our bedsheets lay crumpled at the foot of the bed, after a rigorous sex marathon. Last night was Monday Night Football, so today is a rare day off for both of us. We spent the whole day in bed eating sinful food and having even more sinful sex. Eight hours and ten orgasms, it’s been beautiful.

  “That thing you did with your tongue the time before last was a very nice surprise.” Solomon breathes on my neck as his lips chase a path to my throat.

  I arch my neck to give him more room. “Again? You played football last night, and you’ve had a pretty good workout today, are you going to manage training tomorrow?” I ask, giggling.

  “Let’s not think about tomorrow, I’m all-in for today,” he says as his mouth finds its way between my breasts.

  “We have to think about tomorrow, though,” I whisper.

  Solomon’s head comes up from paying attention to my right breast, and when he sees the tears in my eyes, he frowns. Taking my head in his hand, he looks into my eyes. “What’s wrong?”

  “Hormones.” I wave him away with a watery smile.

  “Horm—” his voice breaks off, and his eyes widen. “Are you…” he doesn’t finish his sentence.

  I open our bedside drawer and pull out the test I took yesterday, passing it to him. His eyes widen in awe as he reads the word ‘Pregnant’ on the little stick, then they dart to my stomach, then to my eyes. His hands grab my head, pulling me toward him and peppering kisses all over my face making me giggle.

  “Ride or die,” he whispers.

  “Ride or die,” I repeat as his lips descend to mine again.

  The End.

  The Quick Snap Novella Collection

  To learn more about The Quick Snap Novella Collection, click here: https://www.ladybosspress.com/quick-snap

  Acknowledgments

  To my beta readers – Donna, Alice, Yvonne, Laura B, Laura N, Beth, Johnaka, Sarahjane and Lorren. Thank you for your continued support and feedback.

  To The Misfits, I love you guys. You’re my safe place.

  To Jasmine, I hope you love him.

  My family, you are the absolute best.

  Finally, my readers. As always, you rock!

  Also By Maria Macdonald

  Finally Unbroken - Finally Unbroken Series Book 1

  What’s Left of Me - The Finally Unbroken Series Book 2

  Chrysalis: The Emergence of Emery - The Gifted Series Book 1

  Reverence: The Evolution of Emery – The Gifted Series Book 2

  Ascendance: Emery’s Equilibrium – The Gifted Series Book 3

  Dazed: Deliverance Series Book 1

  Conflicted: Deliverance Series Book 2

  Formative: Deliverance Series Book 3

  Twisted Truth

  About the Author

  Maria Macdonald is a full-time working mum. She has two beautiful daughters, both of whom love books as much as she.


  She has loved writing since she was a little girl.

  Reading and loving books, as well as blogging, has inspired her to write and publish.

  Maria, her husband, and children now reside in Wiltshire, England.

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