Page 55 of The Player's Obsession

It’s funny that he understands that my brain rarely decompresses. I doubt he wants to piss me off before we get to the event. We’ll see what frame of mind he’s in when we have to return home.

“She seems so nice, normal. I bet she was at all your games growing up.”

“She was, and so was Dad. They can’t believe they have two sons in the pros. Mom loves the spotlight sitting in the box seats. It’s tough because she sees more of my games than Michael’s, but we know she loves us.”

“You’re a picture of normal. I’ve never had that.”

“That might be why you give me such a difficult time. Everyone is afraid they will repeat their parent’s mistakes. It’s those who are smart enough to know they can change their path in life. I say, learn from the past, and don’t repeat the bad stuff, use it to propel you forward. It’s like drills on the gridiron. It’s tough in the heat, the cold, when you’re tired, hung over, or playing hurt. I have to battle through it. No one will have the same willpower or the tenacity to work to get where I am. You are a fighter, a survivor. I knew the moment I met you. You’re secure with yourself when no one is watching you.

“I don’t trust myself to make a good decision. I date all the wrong men. Lucinda has been great for me. I was too busy in college to date much. Now, I realize I had a defensiveness about me. I think I came off too harsh. My life was difficult, I had my walls up, and they were too high for anyone to climb. I thought it was me they didn’t like. Now, I’m learning that it’s my posture, there’s a lot to be said for the rules of dating and how you know if someone likes you.”

“Like what?” he chuckles.

“I’m sure you know. You’ve been in the single life for a long time.” I twist in my seat so I can drink him in. I’m sure he can read it on my face and knows I am attracted to him.

“Tell me what you mean,” he says.

“Well, if your feet point to each other on a date, it means you both like each other.”

“That’s too easy. In fact, mine is if a woman doesn’t give me the time of day, I don’t approach her. See, that’s probably you. I doubt you would have given me a chance even if I wasn’t a football player.”

“You’re right. I have to admit I’m overwhelmed by your world.”

“My world? It’s everyone’s world. But I get the point. And I’m telling you now to not overthink it. Don’t we all want to find someone to love on some level? It might be a best friend, a cat, or a dog, but it’s companionship, a relationship.”

“Are you saying companionship is your goal? Is it a love language?” I’m interested in his views. He’s not a commitment-phobe. I’m sure he’s more balanced than many of us, which can be attributed to his upbringing.

“It’s pretty much implied in a relationship, isn’t it?”

“Agreed. So you have doting parents and summers in Kennebunkport?”

“We do boat, yes. It’s a very old Northeastern tradition. Dad likes boating.”

“Sounds nice. I’ve never been on anything other than the New York City Ferry to get around. I didn’t use it much.”

“Maybe we’ll all go out together. Mom wants to meet you. I can’t get you out of that.”

“It’s fine. I’ll love it.”I’m looking forward to it. My trips home are as comfortable as a mammogram.

I can’t believe he wants me to meet his parents. Most men hate that, it means it’s a serious relationship. I sure hope there are two beds in our hotel room. I don’t know how I’m going to keep my hands off him when we’re alone. It’s for show in public, and we are limited in what we can do, but behind closed doors is an entirely different matter.

Maybe I’m overthinking this. What’s the harm in a fling?

The fact that we have to spend a month together. And my panties are damp just because I’m sitting beside him.

“How much longer?” I ask. We’ve covered the basics for a second date. Now, we need to figure out our story to tell everyone.

My phone pings again.

Carlo: You were right, it was a good payday. I can’t wait to see you.

Me: This is me ignoring you. Don’t bother me again.

“Trouble?”

“My brother made his money off of selling my name and can’t wait to see me. Oh, boy. I have no clue what he’s capable of at this point. He’s already stolen all my money and my grandmother’s diamond earrings and engagement ring. They weren’t worth much, but they reminded me of her. Mom is very religious, and all my grandmother’s ashes are on the church grounds. Grandma was the only one in my family I could depend on. I’d call her if I had a bad day in college. She’d know what to tell me. She was the type who would stop what she was doing and talk me off the ledge. I’ll never forget her telling me to hang in there when times were bad because eventually it would turn around. And all I had to do was wait for things to get better.”

“Did it?”

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