13. Aiden
Scott and Jack meet Swank and me at the door and escort us to their SUV. I’m not used to riding in the back of someone else’s car, and I miss the leg room my truck affords me. It’s a small price to pay if it keeps me alive so that I can watch my daughter grow up. The hardest part of riding with them is the lack of privacy as I converse with my friend.
“What were you thinking, Swank? You basically called Anna a gold-digger to her face.”
Swank crosses his arms defensively, “I’m only looking out for you. Anna, if that’s even her real name, already has you and Penny wrapped around her finger. Girls like that only want guys like us for our bank account.”
I huff out an exasperated sigh, “What do you mean by ‘girls like that?’ Are you suggesting that because Anna is gorgeous, that she’s up to no good?” I wish I could tell Swank about Savannah’s true intentions and the real reason she’s here, but I promised I would keep her secret. She’s not after my bank account; she’s after the culprit.
“You’re the one that said she’s up to something, and now you’re falling for her act hook, line, and sinker. She claims she doesn’t date athletes, yet you two were getting all cozy back there. She posed a challenge, and you fell right into her trap and accepted it because you’re accustomed to getting everything that you want. You want Anna, and she knows it!”
I’m astounded by Swank’s vehemence. “You don’t know her, Swanson.”
“Oh! You’re pulling out the big guns and using my given name! Aiden, you don’t know her either! Anna’s been here, what? Three days? Mark my words. If you get serious with her, she will leave you high and dry just like Patricia did. You’re a sucker for a pretty face and blond hair!”
I contemplate his words, wondering if they come from a place of genuine worry or from jealousy. If I had to wager, I’d say it’s from the latter. “I have to admit that there’s something special about Anna that intrigues me, but we aren’t together, Swank. What you saw was me simply informing her that Jeremy would be keeping them safe while I’m gone. Yesterday was pretty scary for everyone involved.”
“I get that, Aiden. Honestly, I do. It’s the way you said it to her that has me concerned. It was intimate. Just be careful, Man. I know your plan is to get her to spill whatever secret she’s hiding, but don’t lose yourself along the way. You’re playing with fire with that one. I’m afraid you’re the one that’s going to get burned.”
I see Scott’s narrowed eyes in the rearview mirror, and he is less than thrilled by what Swank has just said. I’ll have to explain to him later that was my plan before I knew the truth, but it’s not now.
The rest of the ride is uneventful, and it doesn’t take long for the team doctor to deem that I should be ready to play on Monday. The guys all wish me well, while I wish them luck. The team huddles around me as I say a quick prayer, asking God to bless the team with a win. If that’s not His will, we will accept the outcome with gracious hearts and be thankful for the opportunity to play a game we love.
Scott and Jack are waiting for me outside the locker room when I exit and keep close to me as we near the vehicle. I feel an arm across my body, stopping me from moving forward. Both men move into position and block my view from whatever or whoever has them on high alert.
Scott’s voice rumbles, “Ma’am, can I help you?”
I peek over their shoulders and see a woman with shoulder-length brown hair, a pert nose, full lips, and blue eyes. She’s pretty in an unconventional way, but it’s the eyes that get me. They look hollow and soulless. She’s wearing a Rocket’s jersey with my number and name, standing there smiling with her hands crossed in front of her. She’s doing her best to look innocent and unassuming, yet I’m positive she’s anything but.
“I’m one of Aiden’s biggest fans, and I heard what happened on the news yesterday. I want to make sure that he’s okay with my own eyes,” she tells us.
Jack keeps his hands loose, ready to draw his weapon if necessary. “And you planned on waiting by our car until he came out?”
“Yes? I saw you guys walk inside, and Aiden was wearing a T-shirt instead of his suit. Aiden always wears a suit when he plays. I double-checked the lineup and noticed that his name was missing. I didn’t see the point in watching the game if he wasn’t going to be participating.”
Scott takes a step in her direction, “I can assure you that Aiden is fine and unharmed from yesterday’s events. I’m sure you can understand why we can’t let you near him under the circumstances.”
“If he’s not hurt, then why isn’t he playing? Is it because he wants to spend time with his new girlfriend?” she asks with a hint of disgust.
I nudge the bodyguards to give me a little space, but they don’t budge. I peer over Scott’s shoulder to make eye contact with the woman who is far too invested in my personal life. “My injuries are from yesterday’s game and are short-term. I’ll be playing again in no time, and I thank you for your support. However, I’d like to get home to my family so I can root the Rockets on to victory.”
“Do you want company?” she asks audaciously.
“No, but thank you for the offer. If you’ll excuse me, I need to leave.” I silently pray that she’ll walk away and there won’t be an incident. She steps a few feet over, but not enough for Scott’s liking.
With a level of authority that almost has me bending to his will, Scott tells her, “I need you to move at least 50 feet from the vehicle, Ma’am.”
She complies, but not without trying to communicate with me. “I would never do anything to harm you, Aiden! I love you!” And that’s my cue to get out of here as soon as humanly possible.
Scott keeps his body between the woman and me, never taking his eyes off of her while Jack opens the door so that I can escape this weird situation.
The woman doesn’t move from her spot but shouts after us as Scott pulls out of the parking spot—her final words causing the breath to leave my lungs.
“Say ‘Hi’ to Penny for me!”
The first few miles are driven in tense silence, everyone on edge. I watch my bodyguards scan the mirrors, searching for anyone who could be on our tail. It’s me who finally speaks first.
“Is anyone following us?”
“No, Sir. Not as far as I can tell,” Scott says in a clipped but still professional tone. It’s different from the man who had breakfast with my family yesterday and spoke casually.
“Scott, have I done something to offend you?”
“Permission to speak freely, Sir?” he asks.
“We’re not in the military. You won’t get fired for saying something I might not like,” I tell him.
“Alrighty then. While I didn’t care to listen to your friend’s verbal vomit about Anna and imply she’s a gold-digger, it’s your plan to get her to trust you and play with her emotions that really bothers me. She’s a great person and genuinely cares about you and your family’s well-being, the amount in your bank account notwithstanding.”
It’s nice to know that Savannah inspires loyalty, even after such a short period of time. “You don’t have to worry about that. I know who she is and why she’s here. I felt like she was hiding something important from me, and I wanted the truth. Last night, she gave it to me. Apparently, my mom felt it was best to keep me in the dark about the nature of what Savannah does for a living.” I use Savannah’s real name to validate my claim that I’m “in the know.”
Jack speaks up next, turning around in his seat to face me. “Does that mean you aren’t going to try and make her fall in love with you?”
I chuckle. “I have every intention of getting to know Savannah better. Like you said, she’s a great person. I’d be an idiot to let her slip through my fingers. I promise you both that I don’t have any nefarious intentions toward her.” I feel like I’m defending myself to Savannah’s parents, asking permission to date her.
“See that you don’t. I have a gun and know how to use it,” Scott warns in a fatherly way. If it weren’t for the twinkle in his eye, I’d think he was being serious. Actually, the more I think about it, it’s the twinkle in his eye that I should be wary of.
Jack starts laughing and I ask him what’s so funny.
“I was just thinking how disappointed David will be when he finds out the great Aiden Shaw has a thing for Savannah. You should have listened to him last night while he was medicated. He said the first thing he’s going to do when he gets out of the hospital is to propose. You might want to make your play soon, or he might beat you to it!”
“Yes. You informed me this morning that David thinks Savannah is ‘hot.’”
Jack turns around again and grins. “What I told you was the Cliff Notes version. David said she was ‘the bee’s knees, a goddess, and a queen.’ I think he was referring to her time spent in beauty pageants. We looked her up last night, and did you know that while she was in college, she stopped singing for the talent portion?”
Savannah has an amazing voice and entrances me every time I hear it. “What could she possibly do that is better than her singing?”
“Here, I’ll show you!” Jack pulls up a video on his phone and hands it to me. I press play and watch as Savannah throws knives with precision in one video, and in the next, she’s shooting a bow and arrow. There are several more, each with a different type of weapon.
I’m in awe as I hand the phone back. “She’s quite impressive.”
“Oh yeah! She’s great with guns as well. She helped her college team win the championship for skeet shooting. She was the only person to hit all 25 clay pigeons. There are more videos if you want to see them. They’re pretty awesome!” David clearly isn’t the only one who is a fan of Savannah.
I decline the offer since we’re almost home, but I promise to look at the videos later. We pull up into the driveway, and I get out to face the two men who had my back today. “Thanks, guys, for tagging along and watching out for me. I’m sorry you had to deal with that lady. I’ve had some pretty crazy fans, but she took the cake.”
“We’ve seen worse if you can believe it,” Scott says.
I shiver a little, “I hope I never find out what ‘worse’ is. Also, I wanted to let you know that there will be an unexpected deposit into your accounts as a thank-you for everything you all did yesterday.”
Jack and Scott both start to protest, but I raise a hand to stop them. “I know it’s your job, but it doesn’t mean I’m not appreciative of what you did. You’ll all be able to take a nice, long vacation when this is over. In the meantime, you’re welcome to come in and enjoy the game.”
“Thank you, Sir. We’d like that,” Scott says, speaking for the both of them.
I unlock the front door and enter, only to be greeted by a pleasant and welcoming site. Food is spread out on the coffee table, and my daughter runs up to me and hugs me tight. Anna walks into the living room wearing my jersey, just as she promised. She wasn’t kidding when she said it was old school, but it warms my heart to know that she’s held onto it for so many years. What really has me smiling is the fact that it’s faded and well-worn.
If she can love a piece of clothing with my name stitched in, maybe I can convince her that I’m worth loving, too.