Chapter 56
RAKE
“Dude, that’s what they call the ‘grand gesture’ in romance books.”
I look over at Jonas as I finish my last set of reps. He reaches his hand out and hoists me off the bench.
“Jonas, how do you know that, this grand gesture thing? You know the strangest shit,” I say. The rest of the guys in the weight room laugh and nod.
That’s Jonas. He’s a killer goalie, but his quirkiness has also made him kind of the team mascot.
That, and the fact that he’s the only single dad on the team.
All the wives pretty much fawn over him, not in a romantic way, but more in a motherly way, always offering to help him with the kids and such.
Our team rocks. I don’t know what I’d do without these people.
“My mother was a big romance reader and talked about stuff like that,” he says, taking my spot on the bench. “She was always bugging my dad about making a ‘grand gesture,’ you know, to get him off his ass and take her somewhere.”
“Guess I got my grand gesture then,” I say.
Jonas pauses to look at me. “You did, but the grand gesture is usually an effort by the guy. At least that’s what Mom always said. But it sounds like your Petal took the bull by the horn and made shit happen.”
I shake my head. “She’s not the type to sit back and wait for life to happen, you know. And I have a little confession to make.”
All heads turn in my direction, hoping for some kind of dirt or at least something scandalous.
“I have to admit I’ve read one or two of the romance novels she leaves around the house.
I can’t say they’re my favorite, I’m more of a mystery guy, but I know what you mean about the grand gesture.
It’s supposed to show how a couple’s really in love. Something like that, anyway.”
Coach walks over to us, frowning and shaking his head. “Don’t tell me that players from the San Francisco Aftershocks are discussing romance novels. Say it isn’t true.”
I put my hand on his shoulder. “Coach, it’s time you widen your interests. I’ll bring a couple novels in for you tomorrow. I’ll expect you to report back in a week.”
“Don’t think so, Hanson. Not gonna happen.” Then, he claps his hands, and we all stop what we’re doing to listen.
“Guys, our next game is going to be a tough one. We’re playing the league’s only undefeated team, and we need to put them in their place.
This is where you earn your money, thrill the fans, and make everyone proud.
You know I believe in you, your teammates believe in you, and you believe in yourselves.
No other team in the league plays together like we do. ”
Goddamn, what is wrong with me lately? I’ve heard a hundred motivational speeches since I started team play when I was eight years old, but none of them has ever brought tears to my eyes.
I turn away from everyone and pretend to cough while I’m clearing my throat, and thank God, no one notices.
That’s all I need, for the guys to start ribbing me for being sentimental.
But I can’t lie. Something about having Petal in my life has taken down some of the walls around my old asshole-ish heart.
I’m feeling shit I didn’t even know was in there. How does that happen?
It’s like shaking off my father made room for someone so much better.
I follow the guys out of the weight room, and on the way to the locker room, I stop by the team store. I have a little shopping to do.