With the news about the trade finally official, Tee had spent the last few days tying up loose ends in Cincinnati, preparing to make the move to Washington. Today was the day he would be flying back to his new home, and I couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and nervousness.

I hadn't seen him in over a month now, and although we had kept in touch through text messages and occasional Facetime calls, it couldn't compare to being able to see him in person. We had both been busy with our respective teams, and the time apart had been a test of our commitment to each other.

I sat in my apartment, going about my usual routine of cleaning and organizing, but my mind was elsewhere - focused on the thought of Tee's return. I had just finished tidying up the living room when the sound of my phone's notification chime interrupted my thoughts.

Picking up my phone from the coffee table, I unlocked the screen and saw a message from Tee. "On my way," it read. My heart skipped a beat as I read his words. He was almost here.

Excitement mixed with trepidation coursed through me. I took a deep breath, checking my reflection in the nearby mirror. A quick touch-up of my makeup and fixing my hair calmed my nerves a bit. Tee would be here any minute, and I wanted to make sure I looked presentable.

I walked over to the couch and sat down, a million thoughts racing through my mind. What would it be like to see him again after so long? How would he react to seeing me? Would things continue to be as strong as they had been when we last saw each other?

Just then, a knock sounded on the door, interrupting my thoughts. My heart leapt into my throat as I recognized the sound. He was here.

As I reached for the doorknob, my heart raced, anticipating the sight of Tee. But just as I opened the door, my breath caught in my throat as I came face-to-face with a familiar, albeit unwelcome, face. It was my ex-boyfriend, standing there with a sheepish look on his face.

Ja'Marr, my ex-boyfriend, stood before me, a mixture of surprise and regret evident on his face. I felt a pang of irritation mixed with a hint of nostalgia as I looked at him. "What are you doing here?" I asked, my voice betraying a slight hint of annoyance.

Ja'Marr's tone was cold, his words harsh as he spoke. "I just came to drop off Tee's stuff from my house that he left," he said matter-of-factly. "I figured you'd be here."

The bluntness of his statement stung, reminding me of why we had broken up in the first place. I took a deep breath, trying to keep my emotions in check. I didn't want to get into a confrontation with him, especially not right before Tee arrived.

"Ja'Marr, please," I interjected, trying to keep my voice steady. "You need to leave. Tee will be here any minute, and I don't want any drama."

Ja'Marr's expression turned resentful, and he took a step closer, his voice laced with bitterness. "Why do you need him, huh?" He retorted, the jealousy evident in his tone. "What does he have that I don't?"

I looked him straight in the eye, my voice firm but laced with sadness. "He's not ashamed of me," I said, my voice cracking slightly. "He actually cares about me, something you never did."

Ja'Marr's gaze faltered for a moment, a flicker of guilt crossing his face. He knew it was true. Our relationship had been marked by his constant reluctance to be seen in public with me, his need to maintain an image, and the lack of genuine affection and support he showed me. Not including the cheating.

But as the guilt flickered across his face, it was quickly replaced by bitter pride. He straightened his stance, trying to hold onto his wounded ego. "He's just using you," he said, his voice cold. "Once he's done with football, he'll drop you like a bad habit."

His words cut through me, bringing back old insecurities that I thought I had buried deep within. But I refused to let him see my vulnerability, my voice hardening. "You know nothing about him or our relationship," I retorted, my tone defensive.

Ja'Marr, undeterred by my retort, continued his attack. "I know him better than you ever will," he sneered. "We played together for years. I know what kind of guy he really is."

I felt my blood boil at his words. He knew Tee on the football field, but I knew him on a personal level. The way he touched me, the way he looked into my eyes, the way he made me feel. Ja'Marr had no idea what he was talking about.

I took a step closer to him, my voice filled with rage. "You may know him as a player, but you don't know him as a person," I shot back. "You have no idea what our relationship is really like. You're just jealous and bitter."

Ja'Marr chuckled, a cold, sarcastic laugh that grated my nerves. "Jealous, huh?" he mocked. "What do I have to be jealous of? He's just another player, another athlete who'll use you and move on to the next easy girl."

Infuriated by his harsh words, I lost control of my emotions and reared back, my fist clenched tightly. With all the anger and frustration built up within me, I swung my fist forward, connecting squarely with Ja'Marr's face.

The impact of my punch sent him stumbling back, a look of shock and pain on his face. He reached up to touch his cheek, a red mark already starting to form where my knuckles had connected. His eyes widened as he looked at me, seemingly surprised by my violent outburst.

"You— you hit me," he stuttered, his voice a mix of disbelief and anger. "You actually hit me." I didn't back down, my frustration and hurt fueling my actions. "And I'll do it again if you don't stop spewing bullshit about Tee and me," I retorted, my voice loud and determined.

Ja'Marr's expression shifted from shocked to angry, and he touched his aching jaw, his eyes narrowing. "You're gonna regret that," he warned, his voice a low growl. He took a step forward, Ja'Marr was about to continue his tirade, but suddenly, he was yanked forcefully from behind, pulling him back a few feet. Before he could even process what was happening, a powerful punch connected with his face, sending him stumbling back further.

The force of the punch sent Ja'Marr sprawling to the ground, knocked off his feet. He let out a pained groan, touching his already bruised cheek and looking up to see who had intervened.

As he looked up, he was met with the sight of Tee, the very person he had been talking trash about, towering over him. Tee's expression was a mix of anger and protectiveness.

He glanced briefly at me, his eyes filled with concern and anger as he assessed if I was alright. Seeing me standing there, shaken but unharmed, his gaze returned to Ja'Marr, who was still on the ground.

Tee's jaw was clenched tightly as he looked down at Ja'Marr, his voice steely. "Get up," he commanded, his words laced with suppressed fury.

The realization that we were alone dawned on us, and the tension in the air thickened. There were no onlookers to intervene, no authority figures to step in. Tee's command hung in the air, waiting for Ja'Marr to obey.

Ja'Marr, still on the ground, looked up at Tee with a mix of anger and reluctance. He slowly struggled to his feet, grumbling under his breath as he did so.

As Ja'Marr stood up, he touched his bruised cheek again, wincing slightly. He looked at Tee defiantly, his eyes challenging.

"What now, big shot?" Ja'Marr taunted, still trying to maintain some semblance of control. "You're gonna beat me up?"

Tee clenched his fists, his anger boiling over. "Yea, that's exactly what I'm gonna do," he snapped, his voice filled with determination. Before Ja'Marr could respond, Tee's fist connected again, landing another powerful punch in his face.

I stood there, feeling a mix of shock and panic, unsure of what to do. I watched as Tee landed another punch on Ja'Marr, the sound of impact echoing in the air. Ja'Marr stumbled back, his face swelling and blood trickling from his nose.

I stepped forward, my voice cracking as I tried to intercede. "Okay, enough," I cried out, my hands held up in a plea for them to stop. "Please, both of you, stop!"

Tee and Ja'Marr froze in their positions, their gazes shifting to me, both of them flushed with adrenaline and anger. Tee's eyes softened slightly at my plea, some of the aggression evaporating as he looked at me.

But Ja'Marr, still filled with anger and embarrassment, let out a snort, his lip curled in disdain. "She's not worth it, man," he spat out, his voice filled with venom.

Tee's expression hardened again as he looked back at Ja'Marr, his jaw clenching tightly. His fists flexed at his sides, ready to continue the fight.

"We're supposed to be 'best friends', you and me," Ja'Marr taunted, his voice mocking. "You gonna let some girl come between us?"

His jaw twitched, his anger still seething just below the surface. "You stopped being my brother the moment you started disrespecting the person I care about," he retorted, his voice low and firm.

Ja'Marr chuckled bitterly, shaking his head. "So that's it, huh? You choose her over years of friendship?"

Tee's eyes narrowed, his stance shifting subtly, ready to pounce at any moment. "I'm choosing loyalty and respect," he shot back. "Two things you clearly have lost. So yeah, I'm choosing her."

Ja'Marr's expression darkened, his anger reaching a boiling point. "You think she's gonna stick around? She's just a distraction, man. You'll get bored eventually, and then she'll be gone."

Frustrated and feeling like he didn't get anywhere, Ja'Marr huffed before spinning on his heel and stalking out of sight. The sound of his receding footsteps echoed in the air, leaving a tense silence in its wake.

I stood there, my heart still racing, the confrontation leaving me shaken. I looked at Tee, his jaw clenched and his gaze fixed on the spot where Ja'Marr had disappeared. The air was thick with lingering tension.

I took a hesitant step forward, my voice quieter now. "Tee," I murmured, my words laced with a mixture of worry and concern. "Are you okay?"

His eyes flicked to me, some of the intensity in them softening. "I'm fine," he answered tersely, his voice betraying his inner turmoil. "Just pissed off, that's all."

I nodded, my gaze drifting to his bruised knuckles. I winced slightly, reaching out instinctively to touch them. "Your hand..." I murmured, gently touching his knuckles where they were already starting to swell.

Tee's brows furrowed as he noticed something else, his gaze zeroing in on my knuckles. He reached out, taking my hand in his, his touch gentle as he examined the faint bruise forming.

"You're hurt too," he said, his voice edged with concern as he lightly ran his thumbs over my knuckles.

"It's just a little bruise," I reassured him, wincing slightly at the tenderness of my knuckles. "And it was worth it. I'm fine."

I quickly tried to divert his attention, my voice soft. "We should clean your hands, get the blood off." I looked at his knuckles, still stained with blood, and gently tugged on his hand. "Come on."

Tee glanced down at his knuckles, realizing the blood staining them. He followed my lead, allowing me to lead him into the house and to the bathroom.

Once inside the bathroom, I gestured for him to sit down on the edge of the tub as I grabbed a clean towel and some antiseptic wipes. I turned on the faucet, letting the water run warm before returning my focus to Tee.

I knelt in front of him, taking his hand gently in mine and began to clean his knuckles. I gently dabbed the antiseptic wipe over the cuts, my touch light and soothing.

As I continued to clean and tend to Tee's injured hand, a thought struck me. The moment felt poignant, a contrast to the earlier chaos and confrontation. I looked up at him, our eyes meeting for a moment before I spoke. "Is it too late to say welcome home?" I whispered, my words soft but sincere.

Tee's expression softened at my question, the tension in his muscles slowly seeping away. He shook his head, a faint, weary smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Never too late," he replied, his voice low.

He reached out with his free hand, gently tucking a strand of my hair behind my ear, his touch affectionate but tender. His fingers lingered, tracing the curve of my cheek before dropping back into his lap.

"I'm home now," he said, a note of finality in his voice. He looked at me, his gaze steady and sincere. "And I have no plans on leaving again."

I put the cloth down, having finished tending to his hand. Without a word, I straddled him, wrapping my arms around his neck and pulling him into a tight hug. The adrenaline from earlier was beginning to wear off, replaced by a wave of relief and fatigue.

I buried my face in the crook of his neck, inhaling his familiar scent, the feeling of holding him again overwhelming me. A small sigh escaped me, and I murmured, "I missed you so much."

My voice was muffled against his skin, but the words hung heavily in the air. I clung to him tightly, my fingers gripping the fabric of his shirt, as if afraid to let go, to have him disappear again.

Tee's arms encircled me, holding me just as tightly. His lips pressed against the top of my head, his voice a deep rumble in his chest. "Missed you too, princess."

The words were simple, but they held so much weight. I could feel the depth of his feeling mirrored in the way he held me, the way his fingers traced soothing patterns on my back. For that moment, all was right in the world again.

I pulled back slightly, just enough to look up at him. I could see the exhaustion in his eyes, the aftermath of the day's events taking its toll on him. I reached up, my hand caressing his face, my thumb tracing the sharp angle of his cheekbone.

"You look tired," I murmured, my voice laced with concern. "You should rest." I knew he'd been through a lot, both physically and emotionally. He needed rest, even if just for a while.

Tee's response was a soft huff of laughter. "So do you," he countered, his eyes scrutinizing my face intently. "When was the last time you slept properly?"

I sighed and leaned my forehead against his chest. "The night before you left," I admitted quietly. "I haven't slept well since you left."

Tee's arms tightened around me in response, drawing me closer. His hand came up to the back of my head, fingers tangling gently in my hair. "We should both rest then," he suggested, his voice now tinged with tiredness.

I nodded against him, my head resting in the crook of his neck. The combination of his warmth, his scent, and the soothing feel of his fingers against my scalp were already lulling me into a state of contentment.

"Stay here," I mumbled, my words slightly slurred as sleep began to tug at the edges of my consciousness. "Don't go." My grip on him tightened unconsciously, a silent plea to not leave me alone again.

Tee rose to his feet, taking me with him. I didn't resist, allowing myself to be cradled in his strong arms, my eyelids drooping heavily. He responded to my plea with a promise, his voice firm and reassuring.

"Never again," he murmured. "I'm not leaving you alone again."

He held me closer, his steps measured and steady as he made his way to the bed, every movement gentle and deliberate. He laid me down gently, covering me with the blankets before settling beside me.

His arm found its way under my head, pulling me closer against his chest. He drew me into the warmth of his body, his other hand rubbing slow, soothing circles on my back.

In his embrace, I felt safe and at ease. I snuggled closer against him, the sound of his steady heartbeat under my ear like a soothing lullaby. The weight of the day's events seemed to melt away as I surrendered to the comfort of his presence.

@teehiggins: knock sb head off bout her
Liked by averyshutupzz, hannahdaniels, and 278k others.

@user1: real reason why he went to washington

@user2: tee save us

@commanders: cinco

@user3: best wr