Chapter 6
Chapter Six
~DEX~
The game was a good one. The girls had fought hard. But we ended in a tie. That’s the one thing about soccer that I am not sure I can get used to. There was no clear winner. The game clock hit zero, and everyone moved on with life. Not the outcome I was expecting.
In football there is a winner. We would have gone into overtime if we needed to, and I was flabbergasted when the final whistle blew and everyone stood up like it was time to go.
I laughed when Lucas told me that was the end of this game.
He stared at me like he couldn’t believe I hadn’t known. Or that I was laughing at such a thing.
I’m startled out of my contemplation by a knock at my door.
Amelia is leaning against my door, wearing a pair of jean shorts and a blue Blaze T-shirt.
I smile as I take in the sight of her - long blonde hair still wet from a shower, her cheeks a little pink from either a shower or the sun.
Not a stitch of makeup as far as I can tell from where I sit at my desk.
“Are you here to serve an eviction notice?” I tease her.
She smirks at me, shaking her head. “No, I’m not serving you an eviction notice.
But know your days are numbered,” she threatens with mock-seriousness.
Or at least I hope she’s being playful. “But I did want to see if you if you would like to come with us to the bar. We usually head out to the Backwoods after games. Thought you might want to come along.”
“Who’s we?” I ask her. I wonder if she means her and the girls I always see her with or if this a whole team thing.
Amelia makes her way into my office, stopping in front of the desk. Her hands rest of the front of it as she leans down to be eyelevel with me. I steal a glance at her boobs. Amelia might not be trying to, but she’s pushing them together.
It’s my turn to smirk at her.
She snaps her fingers in front of my face, trying to get my full attention. “What the fuck do you think you’re looking at?” The words come out forceful like she’s trying to be scary.
“You trying to scold me, peach?”
“Listen, football, don’t be staring at my chest.”
“Football?” I question her, leaning back in my chair, my eyes traveling down her body, only to return to her chest.
“You used to be a player or a trainer for it or something, right?” Her brow furrows and I wonder how she got the information. Did she Google me or has August told her?
“That’s a yes to both,” I confirm for her.
“Well, then there you go, that’s why I’m calling you football.”
“Whatever,” I say shaking my head at her again. “Now who’s going to the bar?”
Amelia actually has the audacity to look annoyed at my question. “Well, me, obviously, Mac, Cassie, Hendrix, Danny, Jace and I think August.” She ticks off a bunch of names on her fingers as she rattles off the list.
“You in or what?” Her hands are now on her hips, and I can hear her tapping her foot on my floor. She looks adorable. The one thing I noticed about her is that she’s a take-no-shit kinda girl. I decide that I like that about her. I have to remember to remain on her good side.
“Yeah, sure, why not.” I tell her, locking my computer and rising up from the desk.
“Awesome, now let’s go.” She turns and heads toward the door, turning my light off as she exits.
“Can I gather my shit first, before you leave me in the dark?” I ask her.
“There is plenty of light from your windows. Now let’s go!” she yells over her shoulder as she heads out of my sight.
I follow Amelia out of the office section.
We end up silently walking side by side as the closing of the stadium happens around us.
I see her nod to a few Blaze staff that are wheeling equipment past us.
She tells me to follow her in my own car, and I do.
The drive isn’t too far, and I notice that it’s conveniently located near team housing, so it seems like it makes a good place for a team hangout.
The Backwoods is not what I expected. Something about the name made me think that we would be headed into a country-themed establishment.
But it’s not. A large bar is off the entrance.
There are tables set throughout, games of darts, pool and foosball are being played around me.
Televisions hang over many of the walls so that patrons can watch sports.
The Backwoods was not the name that I would have chosen for this place, but I think it’s perfect.
“We’re over here,” Amelia tosses over her shoulder.
I quickly follow her; for someone so short, she moves fast. When we reach the table, I notice that she hugs the girls that she has joined.
I recognize them as members of the team.
The only one who stands out is Hendrix the goalie.
I can see why she’s been referred to as a wall; tall, strong frame and a look in her eyes that says one false move, and she’ll tear you limb by limb.
“Looks like a pitcher has been ordered, football,” she tells me. “Do you want to drink that? If not, the bar is up there. They can make almost anything.”
And then, as if her time of cruise director is over, she turns around and faces the rest of the group.
“Amelia,” I hear an English accent say, “are you going to tell us who your friend is?”
“This is my serial-killer namesake roommate, Dexter,” she announces proudly.
I feel the embarrassment wash over me. “It’s not a namesake.”
“Easy there, killer,” she teases.
The girls are laughing along with her. August stands and comes over to me, shaking his head.
He claps me on the back. “Apologies, this is Dexter Langley, he’s the new trainer for the Blaze.
Perhaps having him start on game day was not the smartest, but I wanted a full-time trainer with us just in case. ”
“Nice to meet you all,” I say.
Amelia pours herself a beer with one hand and points to the blonde at the head of the table with her other.
“That’s Mac. She’s our center striker. And she’s with Danny, a swim coach, who is a former reporter.
Cassie is a midfielder. She is with our goalie coach, Jase Ford.
And Hendrix is the goalkeeper, and you know August already.
” She turns to face me and is smiling broadly.
“Hi, everybody.” There are a few waves and murmurs of hey. “Please call me Dex.”
“It’s good to have you out with us, Dex,” Jase replies warmly. “Have a seat. Can we get you a beer?”
“Beer would be great,” I say, sitting down at the empty chair that’s to his left.
“Cheers,” he tells me as he hands me the beer. Our glasses clink and we both take a drink.
“This is good beer.” I study the glass of the amber liquid that’s a bit darker than what I’m used to.
“They brew it themselves,” Jase tells me. “It’s a darker ale than some Americans usually drink, but it’ll do.”
I stare at him for a moment and realize he’s joking. I force a chuckle, which makes me laugh a bit harder.
“So, what brought you to the Blaze?” he asks.
“This guy,” I say, gesturing towards August.
“He recruited you?”
I sigh. These must be friends of August. I look over at him and see he’s in conversation with Danny and the girls. If I’m looking to have any type of friends while here in Tampa, I shouldn’t start this out on a lie.
“Sort of.” I take another gulp of beer.
“Uh oh, are we going to need something stronger to discuss this?” Jase asks me. There’s no joke or levity in his voice. He’s seriously asking me the question, which makes me think that the man might understand my plight.
“Nah, it’s not as exciting of a story as you might be anticipating.
I used to be married, but that blew apart.
I thought a change of scenery might do me some good.
August had mentioned a few weeks ago that he needed a trainer.
” I take a break and sip on my beer again.
“I turned him down at the time, but given the state of my marriage, I thought it might be good to get some distance. A fresh start of sorts.”
Jase nods knowingly. “I know a thing or two about that. I was running from something across the pond too. A marriage that I knew wasn’t going to work once I had to give up playing soccer and the travel that went with it.”
“I get that.”
“So, you used to be a trainer for the Patriots?” he asks me. I raise my eyebrows, wondering if everyone on this team has Googled me. “When August announced that he had found us a trainer, he mentioned that you were a former Patriot’s trainer and a pro footballer player.”
I shake my head. “I played ball in college. I was never in the NFL. I was headed there but I was sidelined with an injury. So, being a trainer was the only way to still be around the sport.”
“Yeah, I know the feeling. I used to be a goalie for Manchester United. Now I coach… and girls at that,” he chuckles before continuing. “So, I know a bit about what you’re going through.”
“Hell, we all might,” Danny adds in from across the table. “Former swimmer and now I coach it.”
I nod and smile. “Sounds like I’ll fit right in here.”
“Told you it would be great if you came here,” August says like he knew he’d get me here one way or another.
Little did he know that my fuckup was the only reason that I came here. The fresh start, minus the disappointed looks, is just the icing on the cake.
“You did and I think this will be good,” I tell him.
He winks at me. I force a smile back at him. Conversation continues around the table and it’s not about me, thankfully. I sit there quietly, taking it all in. August talks shop, so I add in few things here and there. But mostly I observe the group.
It’s all coupled up. Cassie and Jase. Mac and Danny.
Amelia, Hendrix, August and I are the odd ones out.
The couples sit closely, holding hands. And a few times Mac reaches over and places a kiss on Danny’s lips.
It makes my heart clench when I remember doing that with Elise.
Pain stabs at my chest and I swallow. I don’t overlook the way Jase is watching me.
“You okay?” he asks me.
“Yeah, I’m fine.” I force a smile.
“This divorce, is it recent?”
I nod. “It is.”
“Let’s go get another round of pitchers at the bar.” Jase gets up and motions for me to follow him.
I follow him. But I know right now that I’m not going to be baring my soul to the man.
He cuts right to the chase as soon as he orders our pitchers. “So, who was at fault in yours?”
I sigh. “I was.”
He nods. “I tell myself that it was her, but I am guilty too. In the end we were just different people.”
“Not with mine. It was a hundred percent my fault,” I admit, sharing a bit more that I had planned to with someone who wasn’t August.
“Want to talk about it? I know you’re new in town and you only know August. So, if you want to talk to someone who has been there, I’m happy to listen. Or help you with anything you need. You know, since you’re new in town.”
“Thanks. I appreciate that. I really do. I don’t feel comfortable unburdening myself to you on our very first meeting. Or on my first full day in town.” Jase nods and I continue, “But I appreciate the offer and when I’m ready, I’ll take you up on it.”
He slaps my back. “I hope that you do, because regardless of who was at fault or what happened, the ending of a marriage is rough. And you need someone you feel comfortable talking to.”
“Thanks. I’ll let you know.”
“I hope you will.”
The pitchers arrive, which thankfully ends our conversation.
We head back to the tables. I drop down on the stool, and I notice that the seating arrangement has changed a bit.
I’m now seated beside Amelia. August, who was beside me, has found himself beside Danny, and they are leaning in closely, deep in conversation about something.
“You okay?” Amelia asks me.
My head spins quickly and my mouth opens but the words aren’t forming in my mind.
“Oh relax, football, I can be nice to you.” She laughs awkwardly and adds, “It just looked like serious conversation with Jase. Wanted to make sure all was well and that he wasn’t threatening you or anything.”
I shake my head. “Nah, it’s nothing like that. He let me know that if I ever needed to talk that he was here for me. That he’s been through something similar, sort of, so we could talk if I needed it.”
Amelia nods slowly. I can see the wheels spinning but I don’t know her well enough to answer all those questions that are burning behind her brown eyes. I’m also pretty sure that what I would say would make her hate me.
“When I’m ready I can talk to you. Just know that I’m not being guarded on purpose. I’m not ready,” I tell her, sheepishly, hoping that the moment of honesty helps.
It does.
She reaches over and touches my shoulder. “I get it. Just let me know if you need to talk. And when you do, I’m here for you.”
“Oh, you’re so sure I’ll turn to you?” I tease her.
“Most people do,” she says with a wink. “I kind of nail it in the advice column.”
I chuckle. “I’ll remember that, peach.”