Chapter 24
HUDSON
Igrin when I see my son standing at my office door.
One of the coordinators is standing at a distance to give us a bit of privacy, but not venturing far because I only get a few moments with Drew.
In principle, players and staff don’t see family or friends before a game, as I want the team focused.
But it’s still two hours until game time and my son is the exception. He is a calming necessity.
Holding out an arm, I give him a side hug. He has never been one for hugs, but I can tell it’s growing on him, as his smile can’t be hidden.
“I’m happy you’re here.”
Drew seems to brush it off. “A free ticket is a free ticket,” he jokes.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah.” I wave him off. “Sorry Lucy couldn’t come.” She wanted to help one of her brothers with the kids while her sister-in-law visits her parents.
“It’s fine. Plus, I kind of assumed Piper would be here, so I won’t be alone.” He takes a seat on one the chairs while I perch at the edge of my desk.
Piper. The woman who drives me crazy and makes me constantly wonder if my love for her is infatuation in overdrive.
But the truth is, I get the best of both—lust mixed with love.
There is no doubt that I want her in my future because she is all I see when I think about it.
Which makes her proclamation that she might not come to an important part of my career a bigger blow. It’s a letdown to say the least.
I scratch my chin and wonder what to say without painting Piper in a bad light. “I’m not sure she’ll be here.”
“It’s a big home game.” He looks at me oddly.
I can only nod, roll my lips in, and say nothing.
“I don’t particularly want to get into my dad’s romantic life, but since it seems to be weighing on your mind, all okay with you two kids?”
My eyes give him a warning, because I think he may still have doubts about Piper. “She isn’t feeling so great,” I lie. Now my son returns the look that I gave him less than ten seconds ago. “Okay, I don’t think she’s coming.”
Drew’s eyes grow big, and he slides his thumb along his jaw. “So, there is a little trouble in paradise,” he states more than asks.
“I wouldn’t say that. I think Piper just needs to wrap her head around a few things. What, I’m not entirely sure, but she’ll figure it out.”
“It may not bode well for you.” He highlights that fact.
I sigh and play with a pen that’s lying on the desk. “Can’t think about that now, it’s game day.”
“Ah yes, your brain compartmentalizes, an Arrows gene. Sometimes you forget that not everyone thinks the same way.”
“Oh boy, my son showed up a wiseass today.” A cheeky grin forms on my mouth.
“What?” He seems offended yet smirks. “Some people think in boxes, others don’t. But that’s not even the problem. You have zero patience. It’s all or nothing, and because you have no patience, you try and get what you want at record speed.”
I hold a finger up. “Wait a second. Are you trying to make an excuse for Piper? Are you on her team?”
He tilts his head to the side. “Anybody who sits through a dinner after what went down in your kitchen when I walked in gets a point from me. If she hesitates now with your relationship but figures out that you’re for her, then I get where she might be coming from because we both know that you already have it in your head what kind of ring you might buy her.
But if she can’t figure it out or hesitates too much, then yeah, I think you should walk away. ”
I stand when I see one of the coordinators hold up his wrist to indicate time, but a hint of a smile doesn’t fade from my lips.
Not because of Piper, hell no, her not coming to the game would be a letdown and the mere thought has me wanting to throw a tantrum.
My smile is for my son who just turned the table on me because a year ago I was dishing out romantic advice to him and now he’s returning the favor… because he cares.
Drew stands, and I pat his shoulder. “I hear you, okay? You’re going to stay at my place in the city tonight or drive back?”
“Not sure, depends if you guys lose or not.”
“There is only one option for my guys.” I’m a little cocky. “Go steal some food from the press box before you head to your seat,” I remind him.
“Ah, you remember the only reason why I came,” he jokes.
I shake my head and guide him to the hall by the shoulder. “Get out of here, kid.”
Pausing for a second as I watch him walk off, I think about Piper and what Drew said. A twinge of understanding hits me, but not for long, as I need to focus on the upcoming game.
I’m ready to kill my quarterback, as his concentration seems to be lost. But we have enough time on the clock to get us the last point which would take us over the edge. It rained earlier, which will only make this messier.
“He seems in better position,” I hear my assistant coach say in my headphones, as he’s up in the press box overlooking the field.
Nodding to myself, I keep my focus on the field in front of me and stand firm in my spot.
To many, I may appear calm and collected, but inside, I know I have a lot on the line if the last-minute play change is a miss.
I would feel better knowing Piper was here, or rather if the agitation that she didn’t want to come didn’t have a firm spot inside of me, but I have to ignore it right now because I’m in coach mode.
I don’t even look at the clock, just keep my attention on my quarterback who is calling out a play for the scrimmage line. We have twenty yards to go, and we can do it.
It’s always the same, the last minute of a game. A blur. At the speed of light, someone may kick or run a pass, anything is possible to get the final point.
There isn’t much more I can do, and I know I already have to mentally prepare for a post-game talk with the team and a press conference.
Relief hits me when I hear a ref say touchdown, and a whistle is blown to end the game. Immediately, I have assistant coaches slapping my back and players running to congratulate one another. I rub my face with my hand, suddenly relaxed. Post-game after a win is by far ten times better than a loss.
It’s a round of handshakes with the opposing team’s coaches and players, and a few of my team’s guys too before I notice.
My smile changes to pure love.
Piper is standing on the sidelines, a perfect image.
Fitted jeans, one of my team sweatshirts, and pink high heels.
I make no mistake that they are the ones from the night we first met.
A badge hangs around her neck that allows her to be here on the field.
She wiggles her fingers in a cute little wave, and her closed-mouth smile tells me that she is unsure what to do yet satisfied that she caught me by surprise.
I pick up my pace and walk to her, quick to loop an arm around her middle and pull her to me.
“You’re here.” I speak loud enough for her to hear as the noise from the stadium fills our ears.
Now she smiles brightly. “I wouldn’t miss it.”
“But you said you—”
She shakes her head. “Now isn’t the time to get into that. You just won, and I have no idea who can hear into that headset around your neck,” she amusingly points out.
I chuckle. “God, you’re here.”
She glances away. “Kind of a perk of being your girlfriend. I get a free ticket.” Her eyes turn back to me, this time with seriousness.
I look over her shoulder and see Drew giving us space and pretending not to watch us.
“He didn’t give you a hard time, did he?”
Piper snickers. “It was a rough few minutes of convincing him I was here with good intentions. He thawed when I offered to get a round of beers, and when I admitted to him that I made a mistake, then I think he finally gave me your signature smile.”
I want to press her on the fact she just said that she admitted to making a mistake, but this just isn’t the place. Instead, I rub her back.
Her mouth parts open to speak. “I shouldn’t have let you doubt if I would be here or not. I know how much this means to you, so I wanted to be here. Actually, there is a lot I want, and I can’t wait to tell you.”
Her answer slays me, and I slide my hand through her hair to bring her face to me so I can cover her mouth with my own for a quick kiss that won’t raise too many eyebrows.
I step closer to her, casting a protective touch to her elbow, aware that there are cameras everywhere.
I lean in to speak so only she can hear.
“I wish I could kiss you like crazy right now, but I have to talk to my guys and then face the press. Plus, I should probably review the video of the game while it’s fresh in my head since that’s what they pay me millions for. ”
She nods her head in understanding. “I figured. But I happen to know it’s bye week, so you get a little break soon. Can we hold out until then?”
“Shit. I hate to say it, but we have no choice. By the time I’m out of here, I’ll only get a few hours of sleep, then I’m back with my coaching staff.”
The back of her hand runs along my jawline. “What’s forty-eight hours more then, right?”
I scoff a laugh, look away, and then back to Piper. “Knowing there seems to be a promising conversation at the end of the wait, then yeah, we can do a grueling forty-eight hours.” I take her hands in mine to give her fingers a quick squeeze with my own.
“It’s very promising.” Her eyes grow bold, and her closed-mouth smile insinuates that my patience may just pay off.