PARKER

When I pictured getting picked up from the airport in Tampa, all I saw was Dakota standing by the baggage claim, bouncing on her toes with an over-excited smile on her face. Then, she'd run into my arms and tell me how much she loves me.

Instead, Connor stands next to Brooks, who holds a sign reading: We missed you more than Tony Stark missed Peter Parker during the blip

The worst part is, that I'm not even disappointed because of the Marvel reference.

As I approach, Brooks hands his sign off and hugs me tight. I return the gesture with a pat on the back and do the same with Connor before they lead me out to his dad's car.

"Damn, the weather is a breath of fresh air compared to Michigan and North Carolina," I let out a puff of air, staring out the window.

Connor slaps my shoulder lightly, "you can walk outside without your balls retracting inside your body."

"Makes me want to streak," Brooks rolls down the window, sticking his head out.

Both Connor and I's faces twist in disgust, wanting to rid our brains of the image he's painting.

Minutes into the drive, Connor admits to me that Dakota was supposed to be the one who picked me up this morning, but when she woke up earlier they lied and told her my flight was delayed and waited until she fell back to sleep to leave so they could get me to themselves.

I landed at eight this morning, and knowing her, she would've probably shown up an hour before that just in case I got here early. While part of their reasoning was selfish, I know they also probably didn't want her driving tired. I would do the same thing.

Not that I'd ever say it to her face, but she really isn't the best driver normally, so her driving while half-asleep would be an issue.

"Sorry," I glance at them when my phone beeps for the fifth consecutive time and turn it on silent.

"Is that her?" Brooks' head comes back inside the car.

"Nah, it's my mom. She says hello, she also won't stop talking about how much she loved having Kota with us."

Connor pulls onto a quiet, suburban street, the houses looking straight out of a beach vacation movie. While some are white or brown, others are bright pink, yellow, and blue.

"I'm assuming everything went well, then?"

I chuckle, thinking back on that weekend. "I'd say so. My uncle asked me when I was planning on proposing."

Holding up a hand, Connor accidentally hits the breaks a bit too hard when we come into the driveway. "With marriage comes babies, and I'm far too young to be an uncle. I'll give you my blessing in two years."

"Noted," I laugh, jumping out of the car and immediately being surrounded by their moms.

They were waiting for us on the porch and were quite obviously just hoping to intercept me before their girl steals all of my attention. After about five minutes of being smothered with affection and compliments, I finally make my way over to their husbands, firmly shaking both of their hands.

"We were just about to start breakfast, hun," Dakota's mom informs me. "Kota is still sleeping if you want to go grab her."

"Yeah, absolutely," I accidentally rush to the front door too eagerly and only stop when I hear Brooks call my name out.

He lifts my bag, holding it tight. "I'm keeping this so that you're forced to come bunk with me instead of staying here."

Everyone laughs, including me, and I just agree so that I can get upstairs faster. Thanks to the house tour I was given over facetime a few days ago, I know exactly how to get to Dakota's room and open the cracked door to find her sound asleep, on her side facing away from the door.

Wasting no time, I slip off my sneakers and lay on the comforter behind her, reaching over and holding her hand in my own.

She groans slightly at the contact, "just a few more minutes, Con."

Stifling a laugh, I move her hair and kiss her neck lightly, "wrong person."

I don't even have time to blink before she lets out a squeal, flips over, and climbs on top of me, kissing all over my face.

Just as I try to finally capture her lips with mine, she tucks her face into my neck. Letting my hands slide under her shirt, I let my fingers run soothingly over her soft skin.

"Hi, sweet girl."

"Hi, Park. I missed you."

"Then bring your face outta my neck so I can kiss the shit out of you," I laugh, shaking both of our bodies.

She playfully nips at my neck, "I have to brush my teeth first. Morning breath."

Wordlessly, I sit up and pull her legs around my waist, holding her koala-style as I walk across the hall to her bathroom. She opens the door with her foot, and I deposit her onto the floor, pressing my body against her back and watching as she quickly takes care of business.

The moment she finishes rinsing her mouth, I flip her around and shove my tongue down her throat. She doesn't seem to have any complaints about it, kissing me back with just as much aggression.

When we pull apart for air, I finally glance down at the rest of her body and my heart expands when I realize it's my shirt she's wearing.

Fisting the material, I push her back for a moment, appreciating the view before pulling her back in and kissing her forehead.

"God, I fucking love you."

Blushing, she tilts her head and presses her lips to my knuckles, "I love you too."

While she uses the restroom, I grab her a sports bra and a pair of biker shorts so we can head straight downstairs when she's done. Like the horny bastard I am, my eyes are glued to her body as she changes, hoping to get one last view of her tiny black underwear.

I succeed.

~

After Kota's mom filled us with enough food to feed an entire football team, the four of us kids head out back to exchange presents.

Brooks gave me a new water bottle with Captain America's shield and a sick piece of artwork made up of strips of color, each one matching the color of every scene in Infinity War. He says it's for my new place in Nashville.

Connor got me an Avalance hoodie, which was hilarious because I got both he and Brooks Predator hoodies. Brooks is waiting for an official call-up, he has multiple teams interested, so it's a race of whoever can get him first.

We all hang out for a bit, Connor and Dakota telling us about everywhere they want to take us this week, but when it comes time for her and me to exchange gifts, both of the guys excuse themselves to let us be alone.

Sitting with her legs crossed, Dakota turns her body to face me, resting a hand on my thigh.

"I want to go last."

"Yes ma'am," I grab the bag off of the ground and hand it to her.

When she sees the small jewelry box under all of the tissue paper, she hits me with a look.

"Just open it," I squeeze her shoulder.

Slow as molasses, she finally slips the box open, revealing the gold ring tucked inside. Not too fancy, it has small stones surrounding the thin band, all set in the metal so they don't stick out.

Keeping one hand on the box, her other comes up to cup the back of my neck. "Parker..."

"Look closer," I whisper, the moment calm.

Placing a chaste kiss on my lips, Dakota nods down, silently asking me to put the ring on for her. Wasting no time, I pull it from the box and slide it onto her right ring finger, using my thumb to spin it around for a few seconds.

"Thank you, it's so beautiful," she plays with the hair at the nape of my neck.

"Not as beautiful as you."

"Oh my god," she throws her head back, laughing. "That was cheesy, even for you."

"Exactly why I said it," I smirk back at her.

"Close your eyes and hold out your hands," she commands me.

Obviously, I do exactly what she says, even though it means that I have to take my hands off of her for a few seconds. I feel a small box on my palms a few seconds later.

"Now, this is only part of your gift, so don't think it's all I got you."

"Kota, you could get me a paperclip and I'd be the happiest man alive."

She licks my cheek. Literally licks me.

"Open your eyes."

In my hands is a small display case holding a hockey puck. My jaw drops, "is that Wayne fucking Gretzky's signature?"

"Sure is," my smug girl just has to answer the rhetorical question.

Setting the case on the small table at my feet, I wrap both arms around Dakota's waist and haul her into my lap. "You're the best girlfriend ever."

"I know," she pops a kiss on my cheek, "but now for the other part." A piece of paper is pushed into my chest.

I unfold it quickly, reading the words printed on the sheet:

Amazing! We're so excited to work with you and would love it if you'd be able to report to Nashville on June first.

My eyes flick up to hers, "is this?"

"I'm moving to Nashville," she speaks softly, biting on her lower lip to contain a smile.

My heart pounds against my chest, the sound reverberating throughout my entire body. I drop the paper, lean forward, and wrap my arms around Dakota's shoulders, pushing her sideways until she's laying down on the small loveseat.

"This better not be a joke," I whisper in her ear, breathless.

She laughs lightly, fingers digging into my back, "it's definitely real. Now you just have to keep up your end of things."

"I promise."