The Wall of Winnipeg and Me

by Mariana Zapata

There was only so much cranky little bitch you can handle in a day, even if it was called for.

What no one tells you is that the road to accomplishing your goals isn’t a straight line; it looks more like a corn maze. You stopped, you went, you backed up, and took a few wrong turns along the way, but the important thing you had to remember was that there was an exit. Somewhere.

When life gives you lemons, you get to choose what you make out of them; it doesn’t always have to be lemonade.

“No,” I replied with a little smirk on my face. “Dinner Roll is leaving now. Please make sure to tell Aiden later on when no one else is around that I said he can eat shit.”

Just as I opened the door, and before I could talk myself out of it, I mouthed, “I deserve better, asshole,” making sure he read my lips as I did it. Then I raised my middle finger up at him and waved good-bye with it. I hope they both got syphilis.

You will not bang your head against the fridge. You will not bang your head against the fridge.

“Could you get my girl a coffee?” His girl? It took every ounce of my self-control not to look up at him with an expression that said exactly what I was thinking: what the hell did you just call me?

“You aren’t the only one who takes their promises seriously.” Uh. What was happening? Those dark eyes were the steadiest thing I’d ever seen as he said, “I can’t do this without you.”

“She’s my wife.”

Did I love sexy lateral muscles? Of course. I had ovaries.

“You kneeing him isn’t doing it for me.”

“What the hell, Aid? I’ve tried calling you a dozen times,” Trevor’s slightly higher tone started. What did our household smart-ass respond with? “I know. I have caller ID.”

“She’s my wife, and all she’s ever done was watch out for me. Don’t go there, Trevor. You don’t want to go there, understand me?” I was so freaking making him dinner. Maybe even lunch too.

“How the hell hadn’t Aiden noticed your knee ‘til today?” I let out a sharp snicker. “I was wondering the exact same thing.” “Jesus, Vanny, I think I noticed it the first week you started workin’ for him.” He shook his head. “He doesn’t notice stuff that’s not football related unless it smacks him in the face.” It was true. Then he said, “Like you.”

His eyebrow twitched and I was fairly certain his mouth did too. “Do you have that on DVD too?” I smiled. “Maybe.”

“Noticed you weren’t alone, darlin’.” The idiot didn’t even bother hiding the shit-eating grin on his face. He was enjoying this way too much.

Aiden blinked. “I think I want my jersey back.” I blinked back. “Tough shit, sunshine. It’s mine now.”

“Touch my wife again, and I’ll break every bone in your goddamn body.”

was right then, in that instant, that I realized I might be a little in love with Aiden.

“Van, think about it for a second. Aiden’s not—he’s not going to give you a hug, tell you you’re pretty, and call you his best friend, but I know him, and he cares about you.” Now he does, I thought.

Ah hell. I hadn’t been prepared. My body wasn’t ready for Aiden holding a puppy like a baby.

“I’m starting to understand that you can always make time for the things that matter.”

“I know you can go by yourself, but it’s a division game. It’ll be nuts.” I crossed my eyes. “I grew up with three psychos. I can handle nuts.” Zac raised his eyebrows and I realized what the hell I said. I could handle nuts. Idiot. I groaned. “You know what I mean.”

Ovaries. Where were my ovaries?

In that moment, I don’t think I had ever loved anything half as much as I loved Aiden.

“No,” the familiar, deep voice answered unexpectedly, right before he dropped a metal chair into place right next to me. “She’s mine.” And he went for it. My heart went for it too—over the cliff that is.