Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
After a night of tossing and turning, he dragged his ass out of bed. Flashes of color from unremembered dreams made him eager to focus on something, anything.
He’d always thought he’d enjoy a day off from practice but he felt like something was missing.
His renewed commitment to being the best player he could be made him want to be practicing instead of lazing the day away.
He tried watching a movie but couldn’t focus on the story.
He wanted a run, but the rain had turned colder with snowflakes whirling on the wind.
Too cold for that. Doc told him no weightlifting or working with the heavy bag, basically nothing that required using his hands.
But, his gym had an indoor track. He preferred to be outside but on a day like today it would do.
Before too long he found his rhythm, the steady thwack of his shoes against the track somehow soothing as the music in his earbuds faded from his consciousness.
For some reason, the conversation he’d had with Jim Masterson at the hospital popped into his mind.
Why did Rocky’s age bother him so much? He’d dated plenty of women Rocky’s age and it never bothered him, why now?
Did he want to date her? Well, the sex was fantastic so he thought that was a yes.
But he wanted something more. Something he couldn’t put his finger on.
Love em’ and leave em’ before they got attached had always been his motto.
But Rocky was different. He didn’t want just sex, he wanted more.
Did he actually want to really date her?
Like long-term, get engaged and then married?
He lost his rhythm and almost tripped over his own feet. Just the thought of something long-term had him breaking out in a cold sweat, he wasn’t sure he was capable of more than just sex.
Shaking his head to dispel all thoughts of love and marriage, he focused on the track in front of him.
Deciding he needed something to occupy his mind, he started dissecting plays, looking for ways to improve them.
Back when he was a rookie, he’d had the idea to eventually become a coach but lost his desire for that when football became a job.
The more he thought about it, the more everything came back to his unwillingness to commit to being a better player.
He’d been riding the success of his first couple of seasons for way too long.
It was time to get back to the guy that wanted to dominate on the field.
Maybe then she’d look at him as someone other than just the asshole who hates girl kickers.
Where the hell had that thought come from?
He really needed to find a woman and get the girl kicker out of his head.
The doors closed behind him and he stared at the aisles of food. Now he remembered why he hated grocery shopping and usually ordered things online. But he needed coffee and he didn’t want to wait. Reading the signs above the aisle, he found the one for coffee.
The sheer number of choices boggled his mind. He usually just clicked on the first one that came up on the delivery app. How was he supposed to choose?
“I like this one,” he heard a woman say as she pointed.
“Oh?”
“You looked like you needed some help deciding,” she replied, looking up at him with her hand on his arm.
Her dark hair framed her face and her beautiful green eyes.
“I do. How about I buy this,” he pulled a bag of the coffee she’d recommended off the shelf, “and we go back to my place for coffee?”
She smiled.
Just the reaction he was looking for.
“But I want dinner first.”
“That could be arranged.”
Rocky
Wanting to erase the memory of sex with Butch from her mind, she called Steve. They’d met for coffee a couple of times and he was nice enough. Now she was standing in front of her closet eyeing her date clothes. Nothing looked right for this date.
“I should have gone shopping,” she said as she pulled a dress out of the closet. “Too short,” she muttered and she shoved it back in.
Kylie dug through the closet. “I have an idea.” She pulled out a hanger and waved it triumphantly. “How about this skirt with that burgundy top. And your black stilettos?”
“Are you sure? I don’t know why I bought the skirt, it’s too long.”
Kylie grinned. “Just try it.”
“Okay,” she said as she pulled the top out of the closet. At least it wasn’t all wrinkled, she didn’t have time to iron it.
The top and the skirt looked good together, kinda classy but the back of the skirt dragged on the floor. The slit in the front up to her thigh was sexy though. “See, I told you it’s too long.”
Kylie handed her the black stilettos. “Here, try it with these.”
The shoes gave her a couple of extra inches, enough that the skirt was the perfect length. And the slit showed off her muscular legs.
“Wow, girlfriend. Steve won’t know what hit him.”
“Do you really think so?” Her last few dinner dates hadn’t gone so well.
A lot of men were intimidated by her playing football or they didn’t want to have a date during the week.
She’d basically given up on dating until after the end of the season.
“You don’t think it’s too fancy for a weeknight date? ”
“I think it’s perfect,” Kylie said as the doorbell rang.
She hurried off to answer it as Rocky finished her makeup and checked the overall look in the mirror. Kylie was right, she looked good. But she still thought it was too dressy.
She grabbed her clutch and walked out to the living room.
“Hi Steve,” she said shyly, still not sure about the skirt.
“Wow!” Steve exclaimed when he saw her. “You look incredible.”
She was sure her cheeks were bright red at his compliment. It had been so long since a man had complimented her looks. She’d forgotten what it felt like.
“You look nice too,” she said with a smile, liking how he’d also dressed up for their date.
When pulled Steve into the parking lot at The Prime, she looked at him. “The Prime? I’ve been wanting to come here but it’s hard to get a reservation.”
Steve smiled as he stopped in front of the entrance. “I wanted to impress you.”
“It worked,” she said as the valet opened her door and held out his hand to help her out of the car, as if this was some fancy European car.
Steve put her hand in the crook of his arm and escorted her into the building where an employee waited to take their coats.
“Wow, a coat check. Fancy,” she said with a giggle.
“Only the best for the Legends kicker,” Steve replied.
The hostess led them to their table at the back of the room in front of the window with its view of the river and downtown.
“Can you afford this?” she asked him in a whisper. She knew he owned a small marketing firm but to afford this place, he had to be doing well.
Steve laughed. “Of course. Don’t let my easygoing manner fool you, my company is doing very well and I do splurge once in a while.”
“But on me? Why?”
He took her hand. “Because you’re worth it.”
She blushed again. He was good for her ego, that was for sure.
“It all sounds so good, I’m having a hard time deciding.” She scanned the menu, her mind boggled at the prices.
He shut his menu. “Do you trust me?”
“Of course, but…”
“I’ll order for you.” He motioned to the waiter.
He was going to order for her. She’d only ever seen that in movies. It seemed so old-school but it was also cool.
“We will have the prime rib for two,” Steve said and handed the waiter their menus. “And a bottle of …”
Her mind went blank when he said bottle. She’d never had someone order an entire bottle of wine for dinner. She heard the waiter agree it was a good choice.
“I hope you like the wine.” Steve said.
The waiter came back with the wine and went through the whole bottle opening routine, pouring a small amount into a glass and setting it in front of Steve. She watched as he did the swirly thing and smelled it before tasting it. Wow, this guy knew his stuff.
At his nod the waiter poured wine for both of them.
She took a sip and her eyes went wide. “Wow, this is way better the stuff in the box.”
Steve almost spit out his wine. “You did that on purpose,” he said with a laugh.
Their conversation continued until their food arrived. The steaks were perfect. Well, everything was perfect.
“That was so good,” she said after dabbing her mouth with her napkin. The steak had practically melted in her mouth.
“Do you want dessert?”
“I think you’d have to roll me out of here if I ate one more bite,” she said with a smile. “That steak was incredible.”
The air in the room changed, she felt someone staring at her.
Steve frowned.
“What?” she asked as she turned to look. “Oh,” she said when she saw Butch sitting a couple of tables away. His jaw hard and his eyes focused on her. She turned back to Steve. “Just ignore him.”
“Why is he staring at you?”
“Well, we may have had a moment the other day. Obviously, he thought it was more serious than it was.” She put her napkin on the table.
“Do you want me to talk to him?” Steve asked as he made to stand.
“No, I’ll take care of it,” she said. She stood and turned toward Butch’s table.
The beautiful brunette sitting across from Butch stared daggers at her.
“What is your problem?” she asked Butch.
He got up and grabbed her arm, pulling her with him into the hallway leading to the restrooms.
“What are you doing here with him?” he asked. Pushing her up against the wall, his eyes stared into hers.
“Having a very nice dinner with Steve.” She stared back at him. “I see you’re here with your flavor of the week.” Why did it bother her that he was here with another woman? She normally wasn’t that bitchy but something about him made her crazy.
“What do you see in him? He’s got a kid and I’m sure...” he started.
“You’re sure what? You’re a better lover? You think you’ve ruined other men for me?” she asked with a laugh. “It was one time. We scratched an itch, that’s all it was.”
His eyes blazed as his lips lowered toward her and kissed her until she couldn’t breathe.
“What the fuck, Butch?” The brunette screeched when she saw them kissing.
Butch jumped back. “I, uh, I…”
The brunette swung her purse by the handle, catching him in the face.
Steve took her arm and pulled her away. “Let me call you a rideshare,” he said as he tried to lead her back to the tables.
Everyone was staring at them. Rocky’s cheeks burned at the spectacle they made. A soul-shattering kiss and a screaming date. Sounds about right. She knew she should have refused when Steve asked her out. “I need to go,” she whispered.
“Why can’t I get you out of my head?” Butch asked, stepping back, wiping at his lips with his hand. “I’m sorry, I…” He ran his hands through his hair. “I don’t know why I…”
“Just leave me alone. I was having a nice time with a nice man and you dragged me over here and kissed me so hard I saw stars.” God, could she be any more pathetic?
She hadn’t meant to say that about the kiss.
It was true but she didn’t want him to know that.
“I just wanted to have a normal date for once.” Tears filled her eyes and she ran to the lady’s room, closing the door in his face.
Alone in the restroom, she let out a strangled cry as tears ran down her cheeks. She was so tired of having to be better than, more than other women simply because she was in a male-exclusive sport. She felt like she had to prove she was still a woman. Stupid men!
She stood in front of the mirror and leaned on her hands on the counter to peer at her reflection. Why was her wanting to play football such a big deal? It’s the freaking twenty-first century for fuck’s sake.
Grabbing a tissue, she started dabbing at the mascara under her eyes. Yikes, she looked like a raccoon.
Tap tap tap. “Rochelle? Are you okay?” she heard Steve ask from the other side of the door.
She tossed the tissue and opened the door. “I guess so. I’m so sorry you had to see that. Especially the kiss. I don’t know what his problem is.”
“I do,” he said with a grin.
“I’m so glad you find this funny,” she said sarcastically. Seriously, men could be such a pain in the ass sometimes. Most of the time. She thought Steve was different but…
“His problem is he’s in love with you.”
She crossed her arms. “You’re nuts. There’s no way.”
“You didn’t see how he looked after you slammed the door in his face. He was heartbroken. Believe me, I saw that look in the mirror for years after my wife died.” He handed her her purse and coat. “Let me take you home.”
He was in love with her? Was he even capable of loving someone?