Chapter 48 Sunday, 9/28 () Sly: I didn't die () Sloane: No one likes a braggart () Sloane: Kick ass today () Sloane: Oh and score a touchdown for me () Sly: I'll see what I can do () Sloane: How'd the game go? () Sly: We won () Sloane: Look at you, so nonchalant () Sloane: Also, I know you won. I do have access to the internet, you know () Sly: What did you expect me to say? () Sloane: I don't know. Something along the lines of I was a golden god, perhaps? Four touchdowns in the first half alone? () Sly: You told me to get you a touchdown () Sly: Golden god, huh? () Sloane: If the shoe fits... () Sloane: Also, I always knew you were an overachiever () Sly: Always? () Sloane: Since my dressing room last night anyway () Sly: I do what I can () Sly: How are you? Where are you? () Sloane: Just landed in Portland after a few meetings in LA. Where are you? () Sly: 20,000 feet over Arizona. Or maybe it's New Mexico now. Hard to tell () Sloane: Text me when you land. Let me know you got there safely please () Sly: You worried about me? () Sloane: I don't have to be () Sly: No! I like it () Sloane: So text me Monday, 9/29 () Sly: Landed () Sloane: Just now?? () Sly: An hour ago. Wanted to be home when I texted () Sloane: Oh yeah? Why's that? () Sly: Thought you might be up for FaceTiming () Sloane: Oh, it was that kind of plane ride, was it? () Sly: I meant so I could see your face! () Sly: But now that you bring it up...what are you wearing? () Sloane: Ratty pajamas and a head full of curlers () Sly: Ooooh, very sexy My FaceTime app rings while I'm still waiting for her reply, and I nearly drop my phone in my quest to answer it as quickly as possible. Real smooth, Sly. Real smooth. I manage to swipe it open, and there she is, right in front of me. My heart jolts at the sight of her sitting cross-legged with a black acoustic guitar next to her on the bed. She looks so fucking gorgeous in her little black pajama set, with her red hair tumbling in waves over her shoulders. "You lied about the curlers." She grins. "I've got to keep you on your toes somehow." "I don't think that's going to be a problem for you." I nod to the guitar. "What were you playing?" She doesn't answer right away, but her cheeks turn that soft pink that gets to me every time. "Just a song I'm working on," she finally says. "What's it about?" She looks at her guitar instead of me when she answers. "I don't know yet." "How does writing work for you?" I ask as I lean back against the couch, getting comfortable. "I've been wondering if the music comes first or the lyrics?" This time Sloane takes so long to answer that I start to wonder if I said something wrong. Especially when she lets out a long sigh. "You don't have to-" I start. "It depends," she answers at the same time. "Usually I start with a couple of lyrics and an idea of what I want it to be about, but this one started with the melody popping into my head." Her fingers strum over the strings. She only plays a few chords, but they burrow inside me, make my heart drum against my rib cage. "I love that. Is it for your new album?" She shakes her head, and this time when she smiles, it's so sad that it has me sitting right back up. "There is no new album." "Well, not now. I meant later, whenever you get some downtime to write-" "I don't know, Sly. I haven't written anything in a long time." She sinks in on herself. "I just don't hear the music these days." "Oh, corazón." My heart breaks. I've been throwing a ball since I was five years old. It's all I've ever wanted to do. I can't imagine how I would feel if the ability just disappeared. Getting injured is one thing, but just losing the act I love most in the world? Just having it ripped away from me when I need it most? I can't imagine what that feels like. "I'm so sorry. What can I do?" "There's nothing to do except keep trying." Her fingers dance over the strings again, playing the same chords from earlier. "That really is beautiful," I tell her softly. "It's you," she whispers. The words hit me like the Lightning's entire defensive line. "What? Sloane-" "Umm, I've got to go. I'll talk to you tomorrow." "Wait, please-" But she's already gone. Tuesday, 10/7 () Sly: I miss you () Sly: I hope you're okay () Sly: Also there should be a present at the front desk for you this afternoon () Sloane: I just woke up () Sloane: Ooooh presents are fun () Sloane: I miss you too () Sloane: A Black Widow singing toothbrush??? () Sly: Game on () Sly: Me 1, You 0 () Sloane: Revel now, suffer later () Sly: In it to win it () Sloane: That's what you think Monday, 10/13 () Sly: How are you? () Sloane: My feet hurt () Sloane: Shooting an advertising campaign today and I just want to go on record and say it's bullshit that you get to run around showing off suits and watches and I'm over here in six inch stilettos all the time () Sly: For what shoes? () Sloane: It's a perfume () Sly: Because everyone knows heels make you smell better () Sloane: Bite me () Sly: Thought that was your job () Sloane: I may never walk again () Sly: Who knew Portland was the place to go for perfume? () Sloane: Only because that's where they could fit it in my schedule () Sloane: Tomorrow's another cover shoot. They've taken out a million dollars' worth of diamonds for me to wear. This life is so weird sometimes () Sly: Truth. () Sly: Another truth? I'd like to see you in those diamonds. () Sloane: Really? () Sly: You wearing a whole bunch of diamonds and nothing else? Yes please () Sloane: How about you try that and see where it gets you? () Sly: Pulling out my Super Bowl ring now () Sloane: Where are you? () Sly: Home, making dinner () Sloane: How was practice? () Sly: It was practice. Mondays are usually light () Sloane: Wish I could say the same () Sloane: You should be getting a package tonight () Sloane: Gotta go () Sly: Can't wait () Sly: Where now? () Sloane: Covering Cosmo in two months. Tonight is the interview () Sly: Do you ever rest? () Sloane: Bianca doesn't believe in it () Sloane: Have a good night () Sly: Laugh all you want, but I am DOWN with an Austin Twisters tortilla warmer () Sloane: Look inside () Sly: Dios Mio! They make Twisters CONDOMS?! () Sloane: It's the gift that keeps on giving () Sloane: Me 2, You 1 Wednesday, 11/5 () Sloane: Just woke up. Hope you threw a touchdown () Sly: No touchdowns today, just drills () Sloane: What does that mean? () Sly: Lots of throwing, lots of running, lots of weights () Sloane: What are you wearing? () Sly: A very stinky shirt () Sloane: Way to kill the mood () Sly: Call me later. I'll see what I can do to revive it Monday, 11/17 () Sly: You awake? () Sloane: I am now () Sly: Sorry, go back to sleep, it's still the middle of the night there () Sloane: Early practice? () Sly: Nah, just can't sleep () Sloane: Insomnia's a bitch () Sly: Missing you is worse () Sloane: Oh yeah? Is that why you're awake? () Sly: I wish I could see you () Sloane: I'm half asleep and my hair is sticking up in who knows how many directions () Sloane: You don't want to see this () Sly: That's exactly what I want to see () Sly: I miss you () Sloane: How long until we're in the same city again? () Sly: Too long () Sloane: A used lollipop stick? () Sloane: How do they know I actually sucked on that thing? () Sly: [Link to photo] () Sly: It came with receipts () Sloane: Huh. Ok () Sloane: I miss that dress () Sly: Me 9, You 17 () Sloane: Better catch up. Or not Wednesday, 12/10 () Sloane: Sorry. Media junket day () Sly: Sorry. Practice and press conference day Sunday, 1/4 () Sloane: Hell yes! Playoffs here we come! () Sloane: Tried to call. Hit me up when you're home. Miss you. () Sly: Tried to call. I miss you too Saturday, 1/10 () Sly: God, I'm crazy about you () Sloane: You're only saying that because I just got done making you all hot and bothered () Sly: I'm saying it because it's true () Sloane: Yeah, well, I'm only saying it back because I'm still hot and bothered () Sly: I was looking at your schedule () Sloane: Were you now? () Sly: You don't have any concerts next weekend () Sly: Come to Austin for the game () Sloane: Are you inviting me to a Twisters game? () Sly: I'm inviting you to my life, which might frequently happen to involve a Twisters game () Sly: You can sit with abuela Ximena and my sisters in a box () Sloane: Oh wow () Sloane: So this is the whole meet the family thing, huh? () Sly: This is the whole come to Austin because I'm going to implode if I don't get to see you soon thing () Sly: But yes. It's also the whole meet the family, meet the team thing () Sly: If you want it to be. No pressure () Sloane: Too late to back down now. I'm in this () Sly: And I've been in it since the moment Olivia opened that door () Sloane: Flattery will get you everywhere () Sly: Don't I know it. Come to Austin () Sly: I promise you won't regret it () Sloane: I'll think about it () Sly: Fair enough () Sly: Kick ass onstage tonight () Sloane: I always do () Sloane: [Link to photo] () Sly: Have I ever told you just how many of my fantasies those boots have starred in? () Sloane: And here I thought I was the star? () Sly: You are and you're almost always wearing the boots () Sloane: I'll make sure I pack a pair for my trip to Austin () Sly: Does that mean you're coming? () Sloane: I'll take any chance I get to show off these boots Sunday, 1/11 () Sloane: Hell yes! That touchdown was pure fucking magic () Sly: I do what I can () Sly: Sprain a leg tonight () Sloane: Well that's fucking rude () Sly: Seems nicer than break a leg () Sloane: I don't even know what to say to that () Sloane: [Link to photo] () Sly: Fuck () Sly: The boots!! () Sly: And you () Sloane: Now I come after the boots. I see how it is () Sly: I think I'm developing a fetish. () Sloane: Developing????? () Sly: Not my fault you look so fucking good in those things () Sloane: What can I say? They keep me from spraining my leg () Sly: Fine. Break both legs () Sly: (jk) () Sloane: See you on the other side Tuesday, 1/13 () Sloane: That was really nice () Sly: Nice? The sound you hear is my ego deflating () Sloane: You know what I mean () Sloane: Just for the record, I think I might be crazy about you too () Sly: You're seriously going to tell me that when you're two thousand miles away? () Sloane: Good morning, Sly () Sly: Good night, corazón () Sly: Sleep tight Saturday, 1/17 () Sloane: I land at noon tomorrow!!! () Sly: Believe me, I am aware. I haven't been able to sleep for two days because of that fact. () Sloane: Hopefully something else will be keeping you awake soon enough () Sly: I can't wait to see you () Sloane: Me too. One month is too long () Sly: One day is too long () Sloane: Good line () Sly: I do my best () Sly: Also, not a line () Sloane: I wrote something today. Just a few lines. But something () Sly: Corazón! () Sly: You're brilliant () Sloane: Let's not get carried away () Sly: When can I hear? () Sloane: When I actually have a song () Sloane: I'll see you tomorrow () Sly: I'll be waiting () Sloane: With bells on? () Sly: Good night, corazón () Sloane: Good morning, Sly Title: A Tangle of Love (English-dubbed) In "A Tangle of Love," a captivating romance unfolds within a unique observation show where participants navigate intricate relationships, love triangles, and power dynamics. Set against the backdrop of modern-day complexities, this ongoing series delves into themes of reincarnation, revenge, and personal transformation. Follow the journey of diverse characters as they grapple with misunderstandings and emotional conflicts while vying for love and success. As the drama unfolds, one couple emerges from the chaos, showcasing a remarkable glow-up that defies expectations. What sets "A Tangle of Love" apart is its blend of billionaire lifestyles, contemporary romance dynamics, and the allure of second chances. Dive into this enthralling narrative available to read online at CrushReel for a compelling exploration of love's complexities in a world where power and passion collide.