Chapter 4
JAMESON
Never ask how bad it can be.
Reality will always be worse than you imagine.
I allowed my teammates to set me up. It went against everything in me, but I have to get out there. If only to quiet the league and my family for a moment, to let them see I’m trying and not hiding away from love.
Because I really do want to find it.
So, I allowed Darius to lead the way. This guy loves to party and is all about using his status, so I should have known who I was getting involved with right then and there.
But Darius is also a genuine guy underneath the football persona. I like him a lot and know he’s down for me if I need anything.
Blind date 1. The Fan.
Women fans are the worst and the best. I love to meet my fans, don’t get me wrong, but this is where I wonder who they want to meet. Do they want to meet Jameson, the quarterback, or Jameson, the man?
This chick? She wanted the quarterback. As I touched things on the table, I watched her trying to secretly pocket them. It was weird knowing that anything I held was going to end up for sale on the internet.
She was pretty and could hold a conversation once I started it, but she agreed with everything I said. I don’t want a “yes, man.” I need some give and take.
At the end of the night, when I made it clear I was not taking her back to my apartment, she grabbed the sweatshirt I was holding and ran off.
I’ll make sure Darius bids on that tomorrow.
Blind date 2. The “I don’t care” but I really do care.
The girl who appears unimpressed by status is the one to be cautious of.
She wants to be nonchalant. Like she wasn’t screaming your name last weekend when you missed the end zone, or like she wasn’t betting against your team last year in the Super Bowl.
She’s an avid fan overall, wants to act cool, but enjoys the spotlight I can bring her.
Like today’s date, we went to the movies. It was a simple idea, and I could hide in the dark.
Or so I thought.
We got there late because she was running late, which set me off to begin with. The place was packed when we walked in. I had a bad feeling that tickets would be sold out. We went to the counter, and I was right. The movie and time we wanted were full.
Then, she told the teenage attendant that I was the best NFL Quarterback and should not only be allowed in but also given free tickets for the trouble.
I was so embarrassed, I wanted to crawl under the counter.
When I tried to reassure her that we could just pick a different movie, she insisted on seeing that one.
Of course, it drew a crowd, which then turned into pictures and autographs.
And there she was, standing right next to me.
I had to suppress the need to roll my eyes and push her aside.
This is one of Darius’ girls again.
So now he’s on my hit list.
Blind date #3 – “Friend of a WAG”
Okay, for those who don’t know, WAG means wives and girlfriends of the players.
So, a friend of a WAG should understand the perks as well as the downsides of dating a professional player.
They should be a good fit because they’ve been exposed to the world already by their friend.
There shouldn’t be a “fan moment” because they already hang around with other players.
The scary part of this is that this could be just another gold digger. But you would hope, since it’s a friend, that they’ve been vetted and wouldn’t expose you to someone who is out for one thing only.
This girl would get chewed up and spit out.
Dad thought I was going to have a hard time adjusting.
This girl was so meek and quiet, I thought I was alone on this date.
And listen, I’m not a showboat. I’m not a look-at-me type of guy, but I need you to converse with me.
When I ask a question, one-word answers don’t cut it.
So, before we even got to a second drink, I had Connor text me and bail me out.
If this is what’s out there now that I’m a household name, I’ll be single until I’m fifty.