Chapter 14
CHAPTER
FOURTEEN
Liam
Alie left yesterday before I could find her office.
And her sister was professional but a bit standoffish with me during my medical examinations, and I’m still not sure why.
I’d never even met her before. I tried to be friendly and engaging, but she only answered me with short responses.
So, after I was done for the day, I came back to my apartment.
Tonight, I’m watching SportsCenter and scrolling Instagram, looking for any trace of who Aliette Grant is, but it’s like she’s a ghost, like she doesn’t exist. There are a few news articles mentioning her, along with pictures of her from when she was young, but not many.
It’s like her family has hidden them from the public eye, and I can’t say that I blame them.
They’re a football dynasty. I can’t imagine the kind of press and pressure that can put on a family, let alone a child, but Alie and Presley both work for the organization now, and there’s still no trace of any picture of Alie at football games or press. But I do see Presley in a few pictures.
Alie has an Instagram profile, but it’s set to private, so all I can see is her profile picture.
I try to search for her sister and get the same result, so I text Aaron asking him to give me Alie’s number again.
The message is delivered, then marked as Read, but he doesn’t respond.
Even though he told me she wasn’t interested in me and to let it go, I’m gonna ask anyway.
I imagine I could get her number from Scott, but if I ask him for it, he’ll ask questions that I don’t have answers for, and besides, I don’t really want him to know everything about my night with Alie two and a half years ago.
I literally searched for this girl for months when I got home.
I texted Aaron back then, too, and nothing.
So, I came to New York in an effort to find her, which finally got a response from him.
We planned to meet for a drink, although he didn’t stay.
He just showed up to tell me she didn’t want to have anything to do with me and I needed to let it go.
That was it. No explanation as to why. Just dropped that bomb and left.
Once I got past the point where I accepted that she didn’t want to be with me, I tried to move on.
Football became the only true relationship that I’ve had in the last two years.
My entire focus, all my time, all my energy, went to playing.
My first year in the league, I felt like I needed to prove myself, and I did.
My second season, it was even more important to establish myself and try to develop more chemistry with my team on the field.
My OC and I got along great, and it was the same with the coaches.
The best part about being with the Saints was that their run game was one that I could get on board with.
We had a similar style to what we had run at Walker, so I was comfortable and familiar with it, and it was easy to adjust to their style of play.
On the personal side of my life, every time I tried to meet a woman, I just didn’t feel like the chemistry was there, and I’m not saying I was a complete saint, but it was very few and far between when I actually tried hooking up with anyone. Because every time I tried, all I could see was her.
My phone dings with a text, and Archie’s name pops up on the screen.
Archie: How did it go today?
Instead of answering him in a text message, I dial him, and he answers in his deep voice on the second ring.
“What’s going on, brother? How did it go today?”
“Well, it was interesting. That’s for sure,” I huff.
“Oh, yeah? In what way?”
“Well, do you remember the girl I met in New York City a couple of years ago?”
“You mean the girl you hooked up with at that wedding and haven’t stopped talking about since? Didn’t you even go up there and look for her at one point?” He chuckles.
“I did, without success. I am not gonna lie and say that I didn’t hope that I’d possibly have the chance to meet up with her or see her somewhere when I came up this way. So, let me tell you what kind of fuckery has been going on here.”
“Uh, okay, this has to be good.” He laughs. “You already get yourself into some trouble?”
“No, not exactly, but you’re never gonna believe who one of my new bosses is.”
“Who?”
“It’s her! She’s one of James Grant’s daughters.”
“No fucking way,” he mumbles.
“I’m deadly serious. When I walked into that boardroom today, I almost passed out on the spot.”
“Holy shit. Did she say anything to you? Did she recognize you?”
“Of course she recognized me, you asshole. I’m not that forgettable.”
He laughs. “I’m just playing. What happened? What’d she say?”
“Nothing. That’s the weirdest thing. She acted like she didn’t know who I was. She welcomed me to New York, and that was about it. She wouldn’t even make eye contact with me the rest of the meeting, and then she bolted as soon as the meeting was over.” I shake my head even though he can’t see me.
“Oh, that sucks, dude. Well, did you get to meet up with her after?”
“No, I had to go down to testing. Coincidentally, her sister is one of the team doctors, and she didn’t seem all too happy to be dealing with me either. I don’t know what the fuck I did wrong. Alie’s the one who left.”
“I know. It took a long time for you to forget it.”
“I never forgot. But, yeah, now I’ve finally found her.
And what are the fucking odds? She’s literally my boss, and she likely negotiated all the numbers in my contract, so there’s no hiding any information from her.
She knows everything about me, and I know nothing about her. ” I laugh, humorlessly.
“Well, I’m sure you know something about her. You spent the whole night and the following morning with her, if what I remember is correct.”
“Yeah, that’s true, and I’d like to think that was the real her that I met that night in New York, but now I have no idea—because why didn’t she tell me who she was when I met her then?”
“I mean, I’m really not all that surprised.”
“Why would you not be surprised? I know she knew who I was. It wouldn’t have changed anything about that night for me.”
“Pitz, brother, she’s the daughter of one of the wealthiest families in the country, and her family owns an NFL team.
Of course she knew who you were, but can you also understand why she would want to remain anonymous?
” He pauses. “She probably wanted to hang out with you for a night without any pressure of who she was, and maybe, just maybe, she wanted to see if she could have something real with someone, you know? I can’t imagine the microscope she must be under.
I mean, knowing what we have to deal with, being professional athletes, but growing up in a family like that? I’m sure it’s a lot.”
“Yeah, but that’s the thing: she’s not in the public. I have never even seen her anywhere. I can’t find anything about her on social media either.”
“I’m looking now, and I don’t either, but I’m sure it’s for a reason. Maybe she and her sister want to remain private because of all the family’s notoriety.”
“I’m gonna find out. I have to find a way to talk to her. To get her alone.”
“Well, I hope you get the chance to, but like you said, tread carefully—she is your boss. And if she acted like she didn’t know you in that meeting, there’s a reason why she doesn’t want her family to know you have a connection, you feel me?”
“Yeah, I feel you, and I get it. I understand why she’s private and why she acted like she didn’t know me in front of a room full of suits, but it hurt. It hurt my heart, man.” I laugh, trying to lighten my sour tone.
“I hear ya. I’m not sure how I would have felt if Emma acted like she didn’t know who I was.
Shit, you remember I couldn’t find her either, and we were on the same campus, so give yourself a break.
You had a whole country and a city of millions of people to try and find her in.
But you can look at it this way: everything happens for a reason. ”
“That’s exactly what I was thinking. It is no coincidence that this all worked out this way. I know now more than ever that my coming to New York was the right choice.”
“Who are you talking to?” Emma, Archie’s wife, asks.
“It’s Liam. Hey, Pitzy, hold on. I’m gonna put you on speakerphone.”
“All right.” I lie down on the couch.
“Hey, Pitz,” Emma says.
“Em, how are you doing?”
“Good. Very pregnant,” she humphs.
“Maybe you guys can try keeping off each other,” I suggest.
“Nah, can’t do that,” Archie chimes in.
“Yeah, yeah. But you’re feeling okay, Em?”
“I feel pretty good. We have a couple of months to go, so I won’t start feeling bad until the last few weeks. That’s always the hardest for me, especially with the two younger ones. Chasing after those two is a full-time job.” She laughs.
“I bet. I have no doubt that my little niece and nephew are little hellions.”
“Excuse me, but my Little Sunshine is not a hellion. Duke, on the other hand, that apple didn’t fall far from the tree, if you know what I mean,” Archie says proudly.
“Oh, yes, he already has a girlfriend, and he’s in preschool,” Emma says.
“Of course he does.” I chuckle and shake my head.
“Darlin’, he can’t help it. He’s got that swagger. It’s that Griffith charm.”
“Ha-ha. I know, as evidenced by being pregnant with our third child.”
“That’s right, baby. All mine.”
It sounds like they’re kissing now, so that’s my cue to cut this off.
“Okay, guys, I’m gonna let you go. I have to get up early and go to the gym.”
“Dude, Organized Team Activities don’t start for another week and a half. Why are you working out already?” Archie asks.
“Because, unlike some of us, I’m on a brand-new team, and I have to prove myself.
I have to prove my worth. I want them to believe that every dollar they’ve spent on me is worth it.
” I take a deep breath. “And I want to see who shows up because that always tells me a lot about their leadership and how hungry they are to win.”
“Or how much they want that money.” Archie laughs.
“True,” I agree.
“All right, well, keep me posted on your little situation in New York.”
“What situation in New York? What’s going on?” Emma asks.
“Remember that girl Pitz hooked up with in New York at that wedding a couple of years ago?”
“Yes, the one he couldn’t find later?”
“Yep. Well, not only is she one of his new bosses, but she’s also the team owner’s daughter,” he says, a little too cheery. Like he’s enjoying this.
“No! You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“I know, Em. I can’t believe it.”
“Did you just die when you saw her? What did she say when she saw you? I mean, obviously, she knew you would be there, but oh my gosh!”
“She acted like she didn’t know who I was, other than their new player, and I didn’t get to talk to her because she took off before I got done for the day.”
“That sucks, Liam. I’m sorry, but there has to be a reason. You totally have to find her and talk to her,” she says.
“I know. I’m gonna try to. I’ll figure out a way to get to her so we can have a conversation. I just really want to know why she didn’t want anything to do with me and took off after our night together. And why I couldn’t find her. I was telling Arch that there’s no online trace of her.”
“Hmm … well, find her and talk to her privately. Maybe even outside of work. Just be honest with her and tell her how much that night meant to you. And ask her what happened. Don’t play games. Be direct and ask her why she left and didn’t want to have anything to do with you.” Emma suggests.
“Yeah,” I sigh.
“All right, brother, we’ll let you go. We’ve got two kids looking for some dessert, and then Mommy and Daddy need to get their dessert.”
“Archie, stop it, dude. I don’t need to hear that shit.” But I say it with a laugh. He’s never gonna stop oversharing.
He lets out a bold laugh. “Good luck. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
“Will do. Later.” I disconnect before waiting for a response.
Then I toss my phone on the cushion beside me. I drop my head back, and I think back to one of the most magical nights of my life.
I really thought we could have something special, and I’d never felt that way about anyone before in my life.
That feeling that my friends talked about when they knew they’d found their ladies?
Never before Alie. So, when I came out of that shower and she was gone but had left the ornaments that we’d gotten together to remember our night, I felt played.
But now I think there’s more to it, and I’m gonna find out what it is.