Chapter 9
HANNAH
“Lord, have you turned into one of those girls or what?” I looked at my best friend as she continued to drive.
“What?” I asked, still with what I’m sure is a goofy smile stretched along my face.
“You, have you seen yourself lately? You look all, like, girlie or some shit.” I couldn’t stop myself from laughing at her tone, the look she gave me. My phone vibrating in my palm tore my attention from her, letting out another giggle, I quickly replied to Cameron’s text.
It had been fun texting him nonstop, a mix between flirting, teasing, humor, and sexiness made it even more exciting.
It had been two days since we were together, and though we wanted to see one another again, we decided it was best to wait until that Friday, when he would return home from his trip.
Our conversations never involved drama; we never discussed work or other people.
It was just us, getting to know one another and fueling the fire until we were together again.
The entire experience was new to me, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Marty could make fun of me all she wanted, but nothing was going to bring me down when it came to Cameron. We were living in the moment.
“You going to ever tell me who this mystery man is?” Marty continued, breaking me from the teasing promise Cameron had just sent. “HANNAH!”
I jumped at her sudden yell. “What?” Lowering the phone, looking at her.
“Okay, you’re going to have to share more information about this man. I’ve never seen you act like this before.”
“I’m not telling you about our night, Marty, so stop asking me,” I replied with a coy smile.
“You know that’s not fair, right? I tell you about my hot night with a steamy football player and you won’t even tell me your guy’s name.”
“I still can’t believe you went home with one of the players.
You know how awkward it’s going to be when you run into him again, which you will, being my father, is his coach.
” I teased her with a shake of my head. When Marty came home the night after the party, she looked like a hot mess.
Her hair was messy, knotted. Her clothing, though on, was wrinkled, torn in a few places, and not even properly fastened.
“If you’d seen this man, you’d understand the risk.
” She commented back. “Anyway, we’ve seen one another twice since then, so I don’t think there will be any awkwardness.
” She bragged. I found the idea of being with one of the team members horrendous: the traveling, the other women, the possibility of them getting hurt.
Even Lola, who seemed so happy with her big, strong husband, looked worried throughout the game.
Followed by the strong hold she placed on him as women surrounded them.
Relationships are hard enough; why add more stress? I asked myself.
“Well, just try and keep it clean when I’m around.” I joked. “Anyway, a lady doesn’t kiss and tell.” Marty rolled her eyes at my comment.
“Girl, you’ve already told me you slept with him. Though I do wish you’d share more details like his name at least.” I glanced back at my phone with its vibration in my palm, ignoring her comment.
No, Cameron was all mine, my little secret.
I wasn’t ready to share him with anyone, even my best friend.
Did I want to gossip about the things he did to me, the pleasures he brought out of me, of course.
I knew he took me to levels her football player didn’t.
I wanted to share the dirty little things we had done since then, over the phone.
My lips curled into a smile as I thought of our video call the night before.
Seeing him in his bed, shirtless, and me in mine in just a T-shirt.
Hearing him talk about the simplest things caused my body to react, but when he got dirty, I felt as though I would burst into flames, and yet the space between my thighs dripped.
He gave me commands: touch here, pinch there, imagine me.
Even remembering it caused my body to ache for him.
Friday couldn’t come fast enough to be in the same room with him and once again become engulfed with pure pleasure.
Though as happy as he made me, I wondered if the reason I haven’t talked more about him was more for fear.
I feared that this was something on his bucket list; I was simply the curvy girl to mark off his to-do list. I had always had some confidence in my appearance, though with Cameron, I had to wonder.
He was so out of my league. Perhaps our connection was purely physical; that was a bad thing, I guess.
Marty could do it. Why couldn’t I? I laughed at my thoughts, rambling fights within myself that were meant to drive me crazy.
“So,” I said, putting the phone on my lap, turning toward Marty as she drove. “Did you offer to drive me today so you could see your player?” I asked.
“Pft, no. Course not, he’s going to come to me next time.” She made herself sound convincing, but I knew better. If this man even made a glance in her direction, she’d be on him quicker than she could blink.
“So, no quickie in the locker room?” I joked.
“I’m not even that bad.” She replied as she pulled into the back lot of the stadium.
“Sure.”
With a laugh, Marty parked the car. I jumped out and hurried to the back door, grabbing the binders my mother had requested I drop off to my father.
This was a typical thing when I was near whatever team my father coached.
My mother spent her days talking to the press, ensuring the house was clean and pristine.
She would go to the spa, because the wife of the head coach should always look her best. She could never be bothered with errands, not when their daughter is available.
I wish I could say I hated it, but spending a little time with my father was better than nothing. I learned that young.
“Let’s make this quick. I’m starving.” Marty said as she hurried to the back door, pulling it open for me.
“So, you do want this to be a quickie?” Both of us shared a laugh as we made our way up the inclined hallway toward the locker room.
The locker room, the one place my father had always said was forbidden for me to enter when I was younger.
I had only been inside two my entire life, and both times he hurried the visit.
He called it no place for a lady, especially his daughter, and I couldn’t agree with him more.
As we approached, I could hear the loud laughter mixed with chatter from the players.
Grown men roughhousing like they were masters of the universe.
It annoyed me more than anything. Why couldn’t my father work in an office?
I asked myself that question more times than I could remember throughout my life.
We were supposed to meet him at the front office, but a text informed me just before we left my parents’ house that we needed to go to his office in the locker room instead.
As we walked through the black and orange doors, it seemed all eyes were fixed on us. “Women in the clubhouse!” The loud call was heard, as though to ensure everyone was decent.
We walked toward my father’s office; my gaze shifted only slightly to Maximus as we passed him sitting on a bench with two other players.
I felt warmth fill my cheeks as I saw him shirtless, which confirmed he was as toned as I had imagined.
Lola was a lucky woman. I knocked on the office door, smiling when I heard my father yell for us to come in.
Standing, he made his way to us. He instantly placed the binders on his desk, but quickly his attention returned to me.
“I’m glad I got to see you before leaving.” That grin and loving glare were directed at me.
“Same. Are you ready for the game?” I asked.
“We are. The men have put in the work with the new plays, and we shouldn’t have a problem coming home with a victory.
” I gave the normal smiles and nods as I listened to my father talk about football.
The truth was, I couldn’t care less. I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket and just wanted to see if it was Cameron.
Lord, was Marty right? Had I become one of ‘those’ girls so quickly?
“I have no doubt, but no matter what, you’re coming home a winner.” I was proud of my father, no matter how disconnected I felt; however, it didn’t matter to me whether he won or lost every single one of his games.
“Will you be watching?” He asked, slightly worried in his voice.
“Of course. I’ve never missed a game, you know that.” He leaned in, bringing me in for a tight hug, which I welcomed. “Love you, daddy.”
“Love you, baby girl.” Our tender moment, one to cherish, however, was ruined by the loud yells of the men just outside the small room.
Sighing, I stepped back and looked up at him, him with a grin as though he understood.
“Let’s get you out of here. Locker room is no place for ladies. ” There it was, I thought.
My father moved around us quickly, pulling open the door, and he waited for Marty to step out and for me to follow.
Turning, I gave him another hug, “Be safe.” I kissed him on the cheek, my eyes glanced at Maximus as he nodded in hello, and I made a quick turn.
Then, at that moment, I inhaled a deep breath and felt my body freeze in place.
It was him. He stood in front of me, that grin on his face, with his head shifted to a slight tilt.
“And who are these beauties?”
I felt Marty squeeze my wrist as she leaned closer to me and whispered. “That’s my guy.” My attention shifted to her instantly.
“What?”
“The one who spoke, that’s my guy from the party. Easton.”
“Guess this is a good time to introduce you all.” My father spoke as he walked between Marty and me, placing his arms around us. His palms felt like weights on my shoulder, and my head lowered as he spoke. “This fine young lady is Martha…”
“Marty.” She quickly corrected, my gaze slowly returning to Cameron’s as he stood with a confused expression.
“Marty, who is like a daughter to me.” His hand squeezed me against him.
“This young lady is my daughter, Hannah, who’s off limits, Easton.
” He spoke with a playful tone, though the warning was real, I knew that.
“Ladies, this is the team.” The team all said their hellos, and as loud as the room was, the rapid beat of my heart seemed to drown it all out; even my father’s words faded, until he spoke ones that made me feel faint.
“…and this is Cameron Walters, our Enforcer.”
We stared long into one another’s eyes, not saying a single word or acknowledging we knew one another. Cameron was a player, the one thing I hated the most.