Cabin Fever | ✓

(43) Hello, Brother

Sunday night football in the guys cabin is a guaranteed loud and rambunctious atmosphere.

And Marley has always been right in the middle of it.

"Woah, woah, that trade was the best decision he could've made! The way I see it, Nichols had more potential on that team than-"

"Reson was the better player. Hands down!"

"I'm not saying that he isn't. I'm saying that he's better suited for the Eagles right now. You saw him with Orlando and Kinney last week. It's not always about the player with the most skill in draft picks. Now it's about how well they compliment the rest of the defensive line. And you know the Giants' coach isn't as aggressive as the Eagles this season. Nichols was the right choice."

She watched Cole, one of the guys who tends to try and prove her opinions wrong somehow, lean back in his seat with eyes narrowed in consideration. Aiden's body shook against Marley's as he laughed from where he had his arm over her shoulder, as usual highly amused by situations where Marley shows another man who is boss.

Marley looked over Aiden's body to his other side, where his brother was lounging backwards with his socked feet on the coffee table. They - Marley, Ian, Aiden and about twenty other guys - were all facing the plasma screen in the guys cabin to watch the Giants vs the SanFran 49'ers.

"I'll admit, it's nice to be dating a girl who can agree with me that Nichols was the best best pick for the Giants, and that Robinson is flatlining," her boyfriend mused, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.

Marley threw her hands up, jolting in her seat, "Yes! Thank you! Why are so many people convinced that this is his comeback season?"

The two of them laughed while Marley settled back into her seat, crossing one ankle over the other on top of Aiden's legs crossed on the coffee table - a necessity given that her shorter legs can't reach it. But that's what boyfriend's are for anyway.

The commercials had just ended and the game started again, chatter erupting around the room due to the slow pace of the current game.

"I can't wait to visit you at Starbucks!" Marley shifted to be able to look at Ian, who was holding a bowl of microwave popcorn. She took it from him and chomped down a handful, Aiden watching her with twinkling blue eyes.

She watched him shrink, scratching the back of his neck, "Um...yeah. Me...me too."

Marley frowned, "I'd give you a generous tip!"

Aiden kissed her hair, "He's worried you're going to embarrass him, baby."

Her hazel eyes widened while Ian's head shot up and he smacked his brother's arm.

"I wouldn't...I promise I wouldn't embarrass you," she told Ian sincerely, "I'll just take the picture and my berry hibiscus to go-"

"Picture?!" Ian's blue eyes bugged while Aiden laughed loudly, his whole body rumbling.

Marley glanced between her boyfriend and his brother, her frown deepening, "Isn't the whole - photo with every milestone a normal thing that people like you do to memorialize their lives?"

Ian scoffed, "Why don't I stop by at your job and take a photo of you, then? And what do you mean by people like me? Is that some gay dig?"

"What?! No!" Marley argued defensively, shaking her head, "I mean milestone photos are taken for one reason, from what I've seen in the movies anyway."

"The movies?" Ian questioned, both him and his brother giving her confused looks.

Marley shrugged and grabbed a few kernels of popcorn and put them in her mouth, focusing her eyes on the game.