Chapter 15 Evan
FIFTEEN
EVAN
We’re three games into the season. I worked the first game, making sure food and drink service ran smoothly. Last week, the team was in California, so I had the weekend off. It was nice to have a break, but I missed spending my free time with Isaac.
Working six days a week for the past month has been brutal.
It’s left me completely exhausted. The apartment is a mess and Isaac and I haven’t had near enough time together.
Between his practice and travel schedule and my hours, we might as well be acquaintances.
Good thing we make the most of the time we have together.
He’s spent many nights at my house, but we’re like an old married couple–dinner and an early bedtime.
We Facetime every night we don’t get to see each other.
I have an amazing staff, and all my new employees are trained, so it’s time for me to back off a little.
My plan for the next few weeks is to work from home on Monday and at the stadium Tuesday through Friday.
Then come in early on Sunday to help get things prepared for the game and enjoy watching the game from the employee box in case I’m needed.
Unless he’s traveling, Isaac has Monday off with the exception of a workout and a team meeting.
Maybe this adjustment in my schedule will afford us some more time together.
I’m shutting down my computer, so I can head to the employee box when there’s a knock on the office door.
I dread answering it because it’s likely an issue with one of the restaurants or bars, which means I’ll be working instead of watching my man on the field.
I hate that I missed his first game and had to watch the second one alone in my apartment.
As slowly as possible I drag my feet to the door.
When I pull it open, Isaac is standing on the other side, half dressed for the game minus the shoulder pads and jersey.
He pushes me into the office and kicks the door closed behind him.
His lips are on mine before I have a chance to register what’s happening.
My head is swimming as I get lost in the feel of his tongue against mine.
Too soon, he breaks the kiss, “I only have a minute. I snuck off after my warmup, but I had to see you before the game. My ass will be in deep shit if anyone realizes I disappeared this close to kick off.”
“I’m glad you stopped by,” I respond breathlessly. “But go before you get in trouble.”
He ignores me and continues talking. “I brought you something.” He smiles, handing me a small, wrapped box.
I tear into the wrapping paper. When it comes to presents, I’m like a kid on Christmas. I love gifts–giving and receiving. When I pull the lid off the box, I find a Dolphins’ jersey. I hold it up, revealing the name Flores and the number 63 on the back.
“I thought you might want to wear it to the game.”
“I’m wearing it to every game from now on!”
I toss the packaging on the ground then pull off my Dolphins T-shirt and replace it with Isaac’s jersey. I have several Dolphins shirts and I keep thinking about buying a jersey with Isaac’s name and number, but by the time I leave the office at night, I’m too tired to go shopping.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. It looks good on you,” Isaac all but growls.
The white compression shirt he wears under his jersey hugs every taut stomach and chest muscle.
Slowly, I rub my hands over each muscle, reveling in the feel of his hard chest. Damn, I love this man’s body.
Leaning in, I kiss his neck then ear. He lets out a moan that’s a mix of pleasure and frustration and it spurs me on.
I lick his ear as one hand curls in his short, brown hair and the other crawls down his chest, lower and lower until I reach his cock only to be met with hard plastic.
Fuck. I forgot about the cup. I decide to go a different route and snake that hand around his waist, squeezing his tight ass while my lips find his.
I push my tongue inside and deepen the kiss while my other hand drifts to his ass, pulling him close so he can feel my hardness against his leg.
Then I start rubbing on him, slow at first then faster.
I can’t believe I’m rubbing myself off on his leg.
Isaac groans then grabs my hair pulling gently before pushing me back while taking his own step backwards. His breathing is heavy, and his entire face is flushed. He reaches down and adjusts himself the best he can in those exquisitely tight pants and a cup.
“We have to stop or I’m going to miss the game,” he growls.
“Is there a problem?” I ask in my most innocent voice.
“You know exactly what you’re doing to me.”
I smirk at him, “Yeah, payback’s a bitch.” I shrug then turn away and take a few steps as if dismissing him.
Two steps later, Isaac grabs my arm and spins me toward him. “You’ve been waiting for a moment like this for over a month?” he questions, sounding as impressed as he is frustrated.
“Hmm, you remember.”
“I remember everything you’ve said from the moment I met you.”
When I don’t respond with anything other than a smirk, Isaac growls again, running a hand through his hair. “This isn’t over. Wait until I get you home tonight.”
“Is that a promise or a threat?” I challenge.
“Both.”
Before I have a chance to register Isaac’s last word, he’s out the door.
I rush to the hallway to call a goodbye to him and wish him a good game, but he’s gone.
Damn, he’s fast. Closing the door behind me, I walk to the bathroom and splash some water on my face.
What I need is an ice-cold shower, but this will have to do.
Once I calm the hell down, I clean up the wrapping paper and turn off the lights before locking the door behind me.
The game starts in fifteen minutes, so I make my way to the box, grabbing a plate of food from the buffet and a drink from the bar before finding a seat near the window with a clear view of the entire field.
This is amazing. I can see everything from up here.
Many of the seats in the stadium are shaded, but the hot Florida sun beats down on the field.
Even in October, temperatures can rise into the nineties mid-day.
The Dolphins’ players are used to playing in this heat, but the Bills players have to be miserable.
I guess it’s no different than our guys playing in the dead of winter up north.
In this heat, I’m eternally grateful for the air-conditioned box.
It makes me wonder if I will love the cold as much when I visit home this winter as I did growing up.
How long does it take to acclimate to a different climate?
Will I ever be truly warm in the north again?
These questions along with a bunch of very intimate thoughts of what Isaac meant by his last statement run through my head as I enjoy my plate of food.
“Hi!” a bubbly voice interrupts my thoughts. “Is this seat taken?’
“Uh, no,” I respond, motioning for her to sit down.
“I’m Amelia. I work in marketing.”
“Nice to meet you. I’m Evan. I’m the Food and Beverage Coordinator.”
“Do you work with Hope?”
“Yeah, she’s my assistant.”
“She’s wonderful. Hope’s like the stadium Mom.”
“I can see that. She keeps me grounded for sure.”
“I’m her daughter.” She pauses and waves another girl over. “This is my sister, Bethany.”
“Great to meet you. So, you’re Hope’s daughters. I’ve been hoping to meet you both. I met Carter on my first day but haven’t met Derron yet.”
“You’ll see a lot of Carter. He’s the baby and such a momma’s boy. Derron is the oldest and keeps himself busy. Sometimes, I think he forgets his entire family lives here and would like to see him once in a while.”
“Hush your mouth, Beth,” Amelia scolds. “Don’t tell our family secrets.”
“That’s not a secret. Derron is too busy finding his latest hookup to be bothered with any of us.”
“Bethany!” Amelia turns several shades of red and I can’t help but smile at their banter. I never had siblings, but this is always how I imagined it would be if I had a couple of brothers or sisters.
“Is Hope coming today?” I ask in an effort to ease the tension.
“Yeah, she always stops by the locker room to see the boys before coming up here,” Amelia informs me.
“She’ll be glad to see you. We’ve gotten several earfuls about how much you work and how you need to take some time to relax.”
“She’s not wrong. I’ve always thrown myself into my job, but it’s been worse since moving here. There’s so much to learn and do. I would have run back to New Jersey weeks ago if it wasn’t for Hope. She’s the hardest worker I’ve ever known. I’m thankful for her.”
“Stop that nonsense,” Hope’s sweet voice reaches me before I know she’s behind me. “You are brilliant at your job. A hundred times better than Sandy. You’re personable and your employees love you. The same cannot be said for Sandy. She was kind of a witch.”
“What? Really?” I ask in shock.
“What surprises you? That you’re an amazing boss or Sandy was the worst?” Hope asks with a gleam of humor in her eyes.
I think about her question for a second. “Um, both, I guess.”
“Well, trust me when I tell you that you are a wonderful boss, and your reviews are spectacular. Sandy’s employee rating on her best day was a 2.5 out 5 stars. All of your reviews are 4s and 5s.”
“What are you talking about? What reviews?”
Hope pales and stumbles over a few words before she’s able to form a complete sentence. “Sandy didn’t tell you? That figures. She thought the rating system was a bunch of bullshit, but I think that’s because no one had anything positive to say about her.”
“That doesn’t actually explain anything,” I tell Hope as a pit forms in my stomach. I’m not good with criticism and if there’s a chance my employees are being mean to me, I might lose it.
“You have nothing to worry about,” she comforts, patting my arm.
“There is a tab in the employee portal where you can rate your boss and other employees. The reviews go straight to the general manager’s office, but you can see your ratings and any review that an employee marked as public.
I’ve read some of your reviews, and they are all positive.
You have one of the highest ratings of any manager or coordinator in the stadium. People love you!”
My mind boggles at Hope’s words. There is no way she is serious.
I have to check out this portal thing when I get home.
Before I have a chance to question Hope further, a voice comes over the loudspeaker asking us to stand for the National Anthem.
We all stop talking and stand for the song.
After we sing, cheers erupt around the stadium as the players run onto the field.
Miami has the ball first, so the offense and my hot boyfriend are on the field. The Bills kick off and Tate Grimes catches the ball near the end zone and runs it to the thirty yard-line before getting tackled by two Bills’ players.
Miami lines up and the ball is snapped. Tyson falls back a few steps, looking for someone open.
Isaac is about fifteen yards away, wide open.
Tyson makes eye contact and launches the ball into the air.
Isaac easily makes the catch without even slowing down.
He catches the ball mid-run and keeps going–forty, fifty, forty, thirty, twenty.
He’s tackled just inside the twenty-yard line. Damn, that was a good run.
Two plays later, the Dolphins are first and goal on the five-yard line. Less than three minutes into the game and it’s already the most exciting game I’ve ever watched. That probably has a little something to do with watching Isaac play.
“Tyson Sanders falls back,” the announcer calls, “He’s looking for a receiver. Bills have great coverage. Pressure is on Sanders as he looks desperately for an open receiver. Griffin gets the sack, setting Miami up for second and goal!” he bellows across the stadium.
Next play, Tyson steps back. Isaac is open in the end zone.
He overshoots and the ball lands out of bounds.
Frustration pours off him. Isaac runs over to Tyson and leans into him, helmet to helmet, saying something no one can decipher.
Isaac claps Tyson on the shoulder and runs to his position on the line.
The ball is snapped, Tyson steps back, Isaac fakes right then runs left leaving two Bills players barely passing each other without a collision.
By the time the Bills realize what’s happened, Isaac is in the end zone with the ball secure in his grasp.
“Touchdown Dolphins!” the announcer yells as the crowd goes completely wild.
My man just scored the first touchdown of the game, much like the first game of the season.
I beam with pride that I hope comes across as joy for the team and not pride for my sexy boyfriend.
We’re still keeping our relationship quiet, and I don’t want anyone to question my enthusiasm, especially while I’m wearing a Flores jersey.
The rest of the half is just as exciting. The Bills answer our touchdown with one of their own and the two teams go back and forth for the first half, leaving it tied at 21 before heading to the locker room at half time.