The Morning After by

R.L. Mathewson

Haley, I-

No, Haley mumbled hollowly, wrapping the blanket more snuggly around herself as she stared numble at the television. I cant talk about it right now, she added with a lip quiver and a sniffle that had him rubbing his hands roughly down his face.

Haley, he said as he dropped his hands down by his sides and forced himself to face his distraught wife and ignore the large plate of chocolate chip cookies on the coffee table, you knew that he was going to retire one day.

No, I didnt! she cried a bit hysterically in his opinion.

He watched as she grabbed a large cookie off the plate and took a big bite out of the delicious treat, all while she watched the sports wrap-up featuring the best of Derek Jeter. When they showed footage from his retirement game, she let out a shuttering sigh and a little sniffle before absently taking another bite of her cookie.

Baby, Jason said, hunching down in front of the couch, careful not to make the mistake of blocking her view of the television since hed learned his lesson after the Ben and Jerrys incident last night, you cant keep doing this to yourself.

Eyes watering, she shook her head, taking another bite out of the cookie. It just happened so quickly. I never even got a chance to say goodbye.

I know, my little grasshopper, I know, he said, reaching over and taking her hand into his. He gave it a comforting squeeze as he prayed that she didnt bring up the day the tickets for Jeters last game went on sale.

Id waited all night, she said with a sniffle as she shot him a sad smile as he tried not to cringe when his prayer went unanswered. I-I still dont understand what happened.

Shhhh, sweetheart, he murmured soothingly under the pretense of trying to comfort her when in reality, he was just hoping that shed move on and forget that day. Things happen.

I-I was ready with my credit card, she said, sniffling as she shook her head as though she still couldnt understand how it happened.

He could tell her how it happened, but he liked his balls where they were. If she ever found out what he did.

I had the computer on, the webpage up and my hand on the mouse ready to click and buy the tickets by 11:59 am like the rules stated. I was ready to buy my tickets, she said, sounding miserable as she finished off her cookie and grabbed another one.

There were probably thousands of people doing the same thing. They just happened to be faster, he pointed out with a small shrug as he watched her slowly devour what had to be her hundredth cookie since last night.

I still should have been able to grab a few tickets, she mumbled pathetically as he reached back and shoved the plate of cookies out of her reach, afraid that if she kept eating them that she would end up sick and miserable.

They went fast, he said, keeping his eyes on her as he slowly reached for the remote to put an end to this nightmare. When he managed to snatched the remote away from her, he shut off the television and tossed the remote over his shoulder, preparing himself for a wrestling match to save his damn sanity.

But, I was watching that! Haley gasped, moving to go after the remote, but he stopped her by scooping her up into his arms.

I know, my little grasshopper, he said softly, pressing a kiss against her pouty lips as he stood up and carried her towards the stairs. But youve been watching it for the past twenty hours.

She sniffled as she settled against him. I keep hoping that its a joke.

Im afraid that hes really retired, Jason said, trying to sound disappointed when all he wanted to do was grab a beer and do a happy dance that the marriage-wrecking bastard was finally retiring.

Not that he didnt appreciate the mans skills. He did. He was a huge Yankees fan and had always respected Jeter, but his wifes obsession with the man over the years had taken its toll on him. That was probably why he had canceled her credit card the night before the tickets to Jeters retirement game went on sale.

He could always make a comeback, Haley said, sounding hopeful as she wrapped her arms around him and allowed him to carry her to their bedroom.

Of course he could, he murmured his agreement, hoping like hell that it never happened. He was done watching as his wife swoon over some other guy.

C-could I have a bath? she asked, looking up at him with the saddest expression and for the first time since hed Jeter-blocked his wife, he actually felt bad.

Sure, he said, gently placing her on their bed.

With bath salts? she asked with a hopeful little wobbly smile that had him feeling like an asshole.

Of course, he said, forcing a smile as he headed for the bathroom, hoping to erase that sad expression off his wifes face.

Jason?

Dread filled him as he slowly turned around to face his distraught wife. Yes? he said, trying not to wince when he spotted her little chin tremble.

Thank you for being so understanding, she said with a little sniffle.

He opened his mouth to tell her that it was no big deal, but she wasnt done making him realize how much of an asshole he truly was.

I know Im being silly, but, she started to say only to pause as she looked down at her hands and sighed heavily, I was really hoping to be there. Hes one of my favorite players and I just, well, I just wanted to be there to watch the end of an amazing career. I knew that the chances were slim, but.., another shrug, I guess it just wasnt meant to be.

Ill, uh, Ill get your bath ready, he said, forcing another smile as he turned around and came to the conclusion that he was in fact an asshole for hurting his wife like this.

Christ, what the hell had he been thinking?

Granted, he had been understandably nervous about his wife causing another riot, but that had only happened that one time when he got distracted by the hot dog vender. He was usually pretty good about keeping his wife restricted to his lap while she professed her undying love for Jeter. Knowing that it was Jeters last game he would have been more vigilant about his wifes antics, but he hadnt felt like sitting there with the woman that he loved and adored sitting on his lap and professing her undying love for the bastard. So, hed made sure that she wouldnt get her hands on any tickets.

Now, he was starting to regret not letting her get it out of her system, especially since hed never seen her this sad before. It would have been hell for him to sit there while his wife professed her undying love for another man, but at least he wouldnt be forced to deal with the fact that hed just broken his wifes heart.

*-*-*-*

Jason?

Yes? he said, sounding hopeful as he turned around to see what she wanted.

I love you, she said, giving him a trembling smile.

I love you, too, he said, giving her a hopeful smile that only made her lip and chin tremble more. When he spotted the action, he closed his eyes and dropped his head in defeat. Shit.

C-could I have a sandwich? she asked softly around another sniffle that had him sighing softly as he headed for the door.

Of course.

And a beer? she asked, knowing that there was only one beer left in the house, the one that hed planned on savoring later when she was asleep.

His shoulders slumped, but he nodded. Of course, my little grasshopper.

And a slice of cake? she asked with a pathetic sniffle as she waited for the usual Bradford outrage at the prospect of foregoing such a tasty treat. When he only nodded as he left the room, she knew that she had him right where she wanted him.

A small chime had her biting her lip and reaching blindly for her cell phone while she kept an eye on the bedroom door. When Jason didnt return, she typed in her password and smiled when she saw the text waiting for her.

Haley threw another cautious glance at the door as she sat back against the headboard, shaking her head as she mentally tsked her husband. That foolish lovable man, she thought with a shake of her head and a smile.

Not that she was going to mention that shed actually decided to save the money and stay home to watch the game in the comfort of Jasons arms. She wasnt. As far as Jason knew, shed been dying to go to that game. Well, she had, but as soon as she saw the price tag for those tickets, shed decided that shed rather put the money towards their family trip next summer.

Since he didnt know that..

Well, shed decided to play this out for as long as she could. She had plans for her husband, plans that included having him being at her beck and call. She drew her bottom lip between her teeth as she bit back a sigh of pleasure. This was going to be the best weekend ever

Damn Red Sox loving woman! Haley thought with disgust as she waited for the apology that better be forthcoming!

Shaking her head in disgust, Haley started typing furiously to explain the importance of Jeeter and the Yankees when her phone was suddenly plucked from her fingers.

Swallowing nervously, she forced herself to look up.

Uh oh.

So, Jason said, pausing only long enough to take a deep satisfying sip of his, her, beer as he scrolled through her messages, it looks like Im getting my own personal slave this weekend.

She opened her mouth to argue, but Jason managed to put his beer down and shove a forkful of really delicious cake in her mouth before she got the chance.

Youre going to do what I say, when I say it, he said, running his eyes over her in a heated gaze that she refused to find sexy! And do you know why?

Swallowing nervously, she shook her head.

Because, he said, leaning down to brush his lips over hers, you know that youll enjoy every last minute of it.

And God help her, but she knew that he was right..

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