Romance: New Adult: One Game at a Time - A College Football Romance (Bad Boy Romance) (Sports Contemporary Short Stories) (99 page)

I nodded.

“I wonder what else I’ve been
missing,
” he said.

We stood there, arms wrapped together, for what seemed like hours.  I watched the clouds crawl overhead, and soaked in the autumn air.

It wasn’t until the sun began to creep over the horizon that we both planted ourselves back in the truck.  Chris looked like he’d
been drained
, emotionally. 

Once we were back in the
truck
, he started leaning towards me, begging for a kiss.  I met his lips with my fingers.

“Don’t confuse a caring friend with a lover, Chris.  Let’s just get back to town,” I said.

He let out another long sigh as he started the car.  We pulled away and rumbled down the road in utter silence.  Both of us
were trapped
inside our heads.

I wondered if I was handling everything the way I should be.  I almost never thought of Brad while Chris and I were together, maybe that was a good thing.  He was still a massive
womanizer,
though, and he hadn’t shown any sign of change in the slightest.  I
really
didn’t want to get involved.

He dropped me off in front of my apartment again.

“Thanks for the ride,” I said.

“Lucy,” he said.

“What’s up,” I asked.

“Would you come to my next game, tomorrow night?” he requested.

“Or course, I’d be happy to cheer you
on,
” I said with a smile. 

He smiled back at me as I shut the door.  With that, he sped off down the road. 

6.

“Something was left for you, Lucy,” Tiffany said. 

At least,
she was wearing
pants,
this
time;
I thought to myself. 

She gestured towards a bundle of flowers that were laid out on the table.  A card
was tucked
between a couple of them, which I promptly pulled free and examined.

‘To
Lucy, in the hopes that she might be willing to forgive me.  Love: Brad.” 

They were quite
nice
; I always did have a thing for lilies. 

I had spent so much time avoiding Brad, and I was finally starting to come to my senses.  He did deserve a chance to explain himself.  But, I had no intention to let him back into my life. 

I grabbed my phone and dialed my old flame.

“Okay, Brad.  Let’s meet up and talk.  You deserve that much,” I said to him over the phone.

“You won’t regret this, Lucy.  I’ll see you tomorrow night,” he said, hanging up the phone. 

I paused after he ended the call.  I forgot, during out small conversation, that I had already made plans for Friday night.  I immediately called Brad back.

“Brad, I can’t do tomorrow night,” I said.

“Don’t you want to get together and hash this out, though?  Wouldn’t sooner be better than later?”

“It would be, but I have plans for tomorrow night,” I said.

He scoffed over the phone.

“Then let’s get together in the early evening, you’ll still have your night free for your date, or whatever it
is,
” He replied.

“Fine,” I said.

I didn’t know what a terrible idea it was until I showed up the next evening.  He wore his best clothes, and I had a feeling he thought this had the possibility of becoming a date. 

I wore something simple but
warm
since I’d be at the game later.  I wanted to be
anywhere,
but here, just the sight of his face was making my stomach churn.

“Hey Lucy,” he said.

I nodded my hello and sat down at the table.  We had decided to meet at one of our old date night locations, which was a
really bad
idea.  The nights we spent just sitting around drinking coffee, working on homework, and trying to avoid starvation; those memories all started flooding
back,
and I felt trapped.

“Can I start,” he said.

I nodded another yes.

“That girl didn’t mean anything to me,” he said.

“Then why were you sleeping with her,” I asked.

“I was having a moment of weakness.  I’m only human, after all,” he said.

“Then as
a human
, you should learn to deal with the consequences,” I replied.

“Are you
really
going to play that ‘holier than thou’ card?” he asked, in a bit of rage.

“What are you trying to say, Brad,” I asked, calmly.

“You slept with that man-whore Chris the same night you ran off,” he said, “don’t say you didn’t.  Do you know how that makes me feel? 
Watching the person, I love sleep with some guy that isn’t even interested in her at all?”

I laughed; it was almost unbearable to
listen to
.

“You
really
are something else,” I said, “you accuse me of sleeping around after you I catch you in the act.  I’m amazed I stayed with you as long as I did.  I even have a feeling that she wasn’t the first person you were sleeping with behind my back.”

He leaned over the table and stole a kiss.  I went to push him away, but he pulled me in tightly.  It
took
a second before I managed to pry his face off mine, and I knew
then,
and there this would be the last time I would see him.

I shot from my seat, narrowly avoiding his searching arms trying to get a hold of me again.

“
Goodbye,
Brad,
” I said.

I started walking towards the
exit
but turned just before I did.

“I don’t regret it when I say that Chris is and always will be a better man than
you
because at least he knows what he is.  He doesn’t slink around pretending to be something he isn’t.

“Don’t call me, because I won’t call you.”

I walked out of the restaurant, somehow feeling a sense of finality.  It was the closure that I
was lacking
from our previous encounter.  I wanted to go back in there and swear at him for another hour.  I wanted to scream until my lungs belted fire.  I wanted to do so many things that I knew would be bad for me.  So, instead, I went to the game.

7.

Tiffany and I sat behind the team, just a few rows back.  I hadn’t
really
gone to any sporting events this season.  The games rarely held my interest for long. 

Still, I wanted to cheer Chris
on;
he needed more cheerleaders in his corner.  I knew what he was trying to
achieve;
he was just like me.  He wanted to follow his dreams and become a pro player.  I just wanted to find
a dream
to follow. 

He turned back a few times during the game and made eye contact.  His expression remained mostly jovial with his fellow players. 

“He’s acting different,” Tiffany said.

“How so,” I asked.

“I haven’t seen him so talkative with his teammates.  He’s usually a guy that keeps his head in the game until it’s over.”

She would know; she was probably one of his biggest fans. 

“I wonder
what’s gotten
into him,” she asked.

Our team, led by Chris, crushed the other team.  I cheered until I could barely speak. 

The field started clearing out, Chris didn’t head to the lockers with the team.  He waited on the bench, deep in thought. 

I waited in the
stands;
Tiffany decided to head home for the
night,
and I told her I’d manage a way home myself, later.  All that remained were a few staff members cleaning, me, and Chris. 

I walked down to the field to join him, but he was pulled aside by the coach before I could catch up.  I managed
to just barely overhear
their conversation.

“They were impressed tonight,” he said.

“Yeah?  I thought I’d rely more on my team than try to win it by myself,” Chris replied.

“They’re still a little slow to decide, but they said that it looks promising.  I’ll keep my ear to the ground for you,” the coach said.

“Thanks,” Chris said.

“Get out there and party, tonight.  You earned this one,” the coach slapped him hard
in
the arm and walked off toward the locker room.

Chris snatched his helmet from the bench then looked over at me.  He almost looked a little disgusted, but I couldn’t tell.

“Hey,” I said.

“Did you enjoy the game,” he asked.

“Yeah,” I said, “you looked
really good
, and it sounds like those scouts liked you a little better this week, too.”

“I’d be lying if I said I
wasn't
a little excited.”

I laughed and walked over to join him. 

I wrapped my arms around him, giving him another big hug.

“Are you sure Brad won’t get jealous,” he asked.

“Why would Brad be jealous,” I questioned.

“I saw you guys at the restaurant earlier.  I saw you guys making out.” Chris said.

I wanted to
laugh
but stifled it as best I could.

“Brad ambushed me with a kiss,” I said, “I wish I hadn’t even gone to meet up with him.”

“I was hoping that I’d get to talk to you before the game,” Chris said.

“What about,” I asked.

“I have started to see things in a much different light,
since
the other day.  I’ve tried to do everything alone, and I had it
handled
until I met you.” He said.

“What are you trying to say,” I asked.

“I’m saying
that
my outlook has changed.  I don’t want to sleep around with a bunch of girls; that part of me has died over the last week.  I’ve had a lot of offers, believe me.”

I laughed at the idea of him turning down sex.  He joined in and pulled me in for a hug.

“I want someone who’ll be there when I’m sad, someone who will cozy up
with
me and watch TV on
a boring
night.  I think I just want someone I can go
home to
.  And, I was hoping it would be you.”

I could feel tears begin to well up behind my eyes.  He was baring his soul to
me,
and it was hard to deny him.  I pressed my head
to
his chest and pulled him in tight.

“Would you like to go out on a date with me?  It’ll be my first,” he asked.

I pulled myself away.

“Sure,
but, this time,
I get to take you to my favorite spot,” I replied.

He threw his arm around me and we walked off the field, together. 

We had each other, and that was more than either of us needed.   

*****

THE END

I tried, in earnest, to look a little relaxed.  I inhaled deeply and slowly breathed out, hoping that my nerves would go with it.  It didn’t seem to help in the slightest.

Jennie didn’t seem fazed; she was a natural at appearing- well- natural.  I always
felt, at least,
some measure of envy towards her when we spent time together. 

The most attractive men I’d ever seen paraded by us, giving
large
smiles at Jennie and avoiding my gaze as much as possible, it seemed.  I was used to it by now. 
Yet, I
still held a shred of hope that
someone 'd notice me
.

“Yeah!  Go Brad!” Jennie shouted while waving at the stand where the players congregated. 

I applauded and did my best to look the part as a fan of the team.  The pep rally was full of fans, and the cheering onlookers
were having
the desired effect on the team.

It hadn’t been my first rally that year, and for some
reason,
I felt my nervous at
every one
.  I couldn’t tell what was causing it in the slightest.  I wasn’t speaking in public, or expecting to be approached by a player,
however,
nice
that would have been.  I wondered if maybe they were jitters of excitement, and I was just hoping our team would crush the opposition. 

“We have to watch them practice tomorrow, Sandy,” Jennie said, as I clapped with the crowd. 

I nodded and smiled at her. 

I was always her tag along, as a handbag that
fit
her outfit perfectly.  I didn’t mind, though, I just enjoyed being wanted.

The crowd began to disperse a while
later,
and Jennie bade me stay so she wouldn’t be alone while she waited for Brad.

“Hey, girl,” I heard Brad say from behind.

We both spun and after taking her first look at him, ran to him and jumped up to straddle his waist.  I might as not have existed; they paid me no mind and began to wander off.  I checked the time on my phone; it was too late for any of the buses, and with no money for a cab, I figured that walking would be best.

I palmed the can of mace I kept in my purse; an old habit and probably a good one to have.  The street
was still littered
with people going in every direction. 

“So Jennie ditched you again, eh?” I heard an older voice from behind.  It was Coach Reynolds.

“Evening Mr. Reynolds,” I said curtly, “and, yes,” I added.  He seemed amused, filling the evening air with laughter.

“That girl is trouble, and I think Brad will find out soon enough,” he said.

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“She doesn’t know who her real friends are, yet.  I think she’s a bit too boy crazy, which is fine.  But, if she keeps that up she won’t have anyone to rely on.”

I nodded, not
really
understanding what he meant.

“Do you need a ride home,” he asked.

I knew what I wanted to say, but I wasn’t able to say it.

“I think I’m okay.  I’ll just walk,” I replied.

“Oh nonsense, I couldn’t let someone walk home in the dark alone like this.  It’s only right.  Just come with me,” he said.

While it was a little demanding, I was glad that he insisted.  I already felt a little safer now that he was nearby.

We had
walked
another block before we got to his car;
an old muscle car from the 60’s
.  The paint was a little rough from wear, and the interior
was slightly cracked
along some of the seams, but it looked like he prided himself on it.  A great amount of care
was put
into maintaining this old thing.  I felt a bit out of place sliding into the passenger seat.

“So, where are we off to?” he asked, rumbling the engine to a start.

I gave him the directions to the room I was renting.  I liked being out of the
dormitories
and enjoyed the responsibility of living alone and free.

The car vibrated and hummed as he pulled into the street, as though
there was a purring kitten sitting
on my lap. 

We pulled to
a light,
and not a single person was around.  I felt a little nervous again, and I think he could tell.

“Wanna
have
some fun?” he said.

I inched away from him slightly, assuming something nefarious.

“Not that kind of fun,” he
inferred
while revving the engine.

I sighed with relief and giggled at my
own
misunderstanding;
I had a feeling we were about to be very irresponsible.

He stared at the hanging light, with his hand firmly grasping the shift lever.  I wrapped my arm around the handle on the door, feeling my heart starting to race.

The light turned green.  His hammered the gas hard and the tires began to screech and howl.  Grey dust filled the air, and we shot down the
road like
a bullet from a gun.

He sped past more green lights, building up more
speed
until we reached my turn.

“Here!” I shouted and pointed to the right.

He smiled, revved the engine and shifted down, making the cars
tail spin
into the turn, causing the car to go sideways.  

An odd thing occurred during my brief glimpse of death; I found that I wasn’t so nervous anymore.  I even loosened my grip on the door and started enjoying the feeling of swaying with the motion of the car.  The engine
thumped,
and I could feel each and every
patter
strike me in ways I hadn’t felt before.  It felt like liberation.

“Woo!” I shouted.

He laughed as he continued to drive like a maniac.  And, before I wanted it to, our ride had come to an end.  He slowed down as we approached the house in which I stayed.

I sat for a moment in the passenger seat, shaking with excitement.  I couldn’t stop myself from giggling with giddiness. 

“Okay, you better hop out,” he said, “I don’t want people to start talking.”

I slid from the car seat, my legs still feeling a little rubbery from the excitement.  With the door shut, I leaned over the open window and blew him a kiss.  I immediately regretted it; feeling a little embarrassed as he drove off. 

My heart still raced, and my skin was still flush.  I felt
more alive
now
than any other time I could remember.  I danced to my room, barely feeling the ground as I went along. 

I wonder how often he gives people rides.

2.

“Isn’t Brad just gorgeous,” Jennie said as we sat in the stands watching them practice.

I rolled my eyes like I usually would; I doubt she ever saw me do it.  She was always so absorbed by her boyfriend playing
to ever really pay
attention,
anyway
. 

I adjusted my glasses, putting them to rest on the bridge of my nose.  They were just slightly too big, but there was nothing I could do, new glasses weren’t in the budget. 

“You know, I think Brad said that Mike was making eyes at you, I bet I could introduce you
two,
and you’d hit it off right away,” she said, rubbing my shoulder and shaking my glasses back down to the tip of my nose.

I furiously tucked them back to their usual spot.

“Mike is
pretty cute
,” I managed to squeak out.

“Perfect!  Come with me to the party tonight and you can meet him.  I think you guys would make a cute couple,” she said.

I hadn’t much interest, but I knew that Jennie would find another excuse to bring me to the party.  Might as well just accept the first and move on. 

I set aside my
books;
they weren’t holding my interest.  I dwelled on the ride from last night and still felt the pangs of excitement shoot through my head. 

I closed my eyes and relaxed my muscles.  I somehow wasn’t feeling very anxious or nervous today as I usually did.  It was as though a switch had clicked on in my head last night.

When I opened my eyes, I saw the coach, watching from the sidelines and barking out orders.  His clean and pressed button down belayed his more mischievous demeanor.  He was quite attractive.  Tall and sinewy, but still very muscular; his broad shoulders tapered down in a V-shape towards his waistline.  His
close-cropped
hair framed his
face
while his sharp brown eyes gave him a stern but lighthearted gaze. 

I found myself watching him as he waved his clipboard through the air, and blew his whistle.  My heart skipped a beat; the only other time it had done that was when I met my old high school boyfriend. 

“Alright guys, get in here,” he shouted. 

The crew of players did as told, huddling around the coach.  I couldn’t hear what they were saying, but they listened intently to his words.  Then they all broke off and headed towards the showers.  Mr. Reynolds grabbed his bag and shoved the clipboard inside.

“Okay, Sandy.  I’m going to
go wait
for Brad outside the locker room door, coming?”

“I think I’m going to stay here a while, you go on ahead,” I said.

She nodded and happily skipped off. 

I tucked my
schoolbooks
away and trotted down the stairs. I barely made it halfway down when I saw the girls cheer team cease their practicing for the day. 

They looked like models, every one of them.  Their long legs barely covered by a tiny skirt, and blonde hair tied back to a ponytail.  I was envious of her good looks and
chipper
attitude.  I could just barely make out their conversation.

“Hey, Mr. Reynolds, what are you doing this weekend,” asked the prettiest of the bunch, “the girls and I were planning on having a little cheer camp and would
love
to have you there to coach us.”

“Doesn’t the cheer team already have a coach?” he asked.

They all giggled.

“Well, we do, but we could always use a little more coaching,” she said
through
a bright smile. 

The squad captain did a flirty bounce where she stood.  It was easy to see that she had taken a liking to Mr. Reynolds; I felt a little envious.

“I think I’ll leave your training to your coach; I’m much better at teaching players.”

The girls let out a collective ‘aww’ as he
spurred
their advances.  He turned to grab his things as the girls wandered off to the field.  I slowly continued to descend the stairs, and he flashed me a smile as I did.

“Good practice?” I asked, making polite small talk.

“Are you
really
here to talk about practice,” he asked, “where did Jennie go?”

I pointed toward the locker room, and he nodded in understanding.

“The players kept talking about a party tonight; they even invited me for some odd reason,” he said.

“Jennie asked me to go; she wants me to hook up with one of the players.  Mike, I think.”

“Mike is a good kid, but a little daft in the head.  You
really
have to grind things into that skull.”

I sighed, realizing how long tonight was probably going to be. 

“If you go, I’ll buy you
a drink,”
I quipped, expecting to be brushed off.

“I might have to hold you to that,” he replied.

I coughed, nervously. 

“Why do you let Jennie boss you around,” he asked.  He looked at me
quizzically,
and I realized I had no real response. 

I had never really thought about why I let her do it; she just did
it,
and I went along.  It’s just the way our friendship has been since forever.

“Because she’s my friend,” I replied.

He set his things down and sat on a bleacher, patting the seat to beckon me to join him.

I did as I
was asked
; taking a seat right next to him.  I was closer now than I was last night, but I trusted him a little better today. 

“You should be friends with someone because they want to spend time with you; not just because they want you
around,
so they’re not alone,” he said.

I nodded. 

“You’re a smart girl; you probably get good grades, and study in your spare time.  But, you have to spend time with people that are good for you.”