6. Smithy
Chapter 6
Smithy
“Dude, I don’t even know what to do. Something was different last night.” I push around my food on my plate and stare at the mess I'm making. I’m never going to eat this now. It looks disgusting.
“What do you mean?” Leo asks.
I'm glad he’s the only one I'm eating lunch with. Wyatt and Charlie are in a booth to the left. They’re busy staring at each other with hearts in their eyes. Cord and Macy are flirting so hard I'm afraid someone’s going to get pregnant.
Wheeler, Covey, Holden, and Schmidt are sitting at another table. I’d normally sit with them, but they’re being a little too loud for my liking today. When I spotted Leo, I figured he was the perfect person to talk to.
“She didn’t want me there, but then when she thought I was asleep, she said some things that make it seem like she feels a whole lot more than friendship towards me. After that, she curled up on my lap and we stayed like that until this morning.”
“Are you sure you’re not dealing with her being scared?” He lifts his gaze from his burger and meets my eyes.
“Of what?” Folding my arms across my chest, I lean back and watch him.
“Look at Macy. She and Cord dated for years. She couldn’t handle it once he had female fans throwing themselves at him and he never flirted with any of them. He was always respectful of Macy and her feelings, yet it was too much. I honestly think they’re amazing together, but I don’t know how they’ll make it work long term. She seems more invested this time, but only time will tell.”
“You think Liliana can't handle the female attention?”
“I think Liliana’s afraid you can't handle the female attention. Let’s be real here, Smithy, you flirt with every woman you come in contact with. I don’t know if you sleep with any of the cleat chasers, but you definitely don’t avoid them. Hell, we all know we can pass them off to you and you’ll happily deal with them. How do you think that makes Liliana feel? She’s witnessing that every time you go out together.”
“Shit,” I murmur under my breath.
My thoughts turn to all the times I’ve been out with Liliana and a cleat chaser would sit on my lap. I didn’t push them off or ask them to leave us alone. Nope, I’d wrap my arms around their waist and kiss their neck or whisper something dirty in their ear.
Contrary to what everyone believes, I don’t sleep with the cleat chasers. I’ve seen too many players make that mistake and pay dearly for it. Some end up with wives they want nothing to do with and others end up with children they don’t know how to take care of. I'm smart enough to know I only want to marry one woman and have a family with her. No one else will do.
Since I went pro, I stay away from all of them. I'm not saying I’ve been a saint, but I’ve been smart. I don’t want one mistake to ruin the rest of my life.
“Think of it from her point of view. You have so many women who would jump at the chance to fall into bed with you. What makes Liliana better than the rest of them? What does she have that will keep your attention on her, rather than the women begging for your attention?”
“I love her,” I whisper.
“But she doesn’t know that, Smithy. Even if you told her you love her, they’re just words. When your actions don’t match your words, they don’t matter.”
“So… what do I do?”
“You have to show her she matters.”
Smithy: What are you doing tonight, Sweets?
Liliana: Relaxing at home?
Smithy: Eh, sounds boring. Try again.
Liliana: Going out to a really nice restaurant?
Smithy: Getting closer, but not quite there.
Liliana: I don’t know! What are you doing tonight?
Smithy: Hoping a pretty girl will join me at Kennedy’s Pub.
Liliana: I'm sure if you put a post on social media, you’ll have thousands of them.
Smithy: I want one beautiful woman in particular.
Liliana: Yeah? Have you told her?
Smithy: I’m trying, she doesn’t seem to be getting the memo.
Liliana: Have you tried a carrier pigeon?
Liliana: Sky writer?
Liliana: Ad in the paper?
Smithy: Liliana.
Liliana: Travis.
Smithy: Please come to Kennedy’s Pub with me.
Liliana: I wouldn’t want to get in the way of you meeting with a pretty girl.
Smithy: I’ll see you at six. If you’re nice, I’ll take you out for dinner afterwards.
Liliana: Pizza?
Smithy: If that’s really what my girl wants, then sure.