Page 38 of Personal Foul
Chapter Fourteen
Rush
After the fight, I gave Sydney some time and left her alone. At first, I believed it would only be a few days, but then it became painfully clear she was evading me. I tried stopping by her place on the mornings when I thought she’d still be home, only to have my knocks go unanswered. I started making trips into the office before practice to see if I could spot her, but her door was always closed or her light was off.
Over a week had passed since I last spoke to her and we had agreed to some space, but I still couldn’t manage to see her.
Coach must’ve picked up on something being off between us when he stopped me after practice today, asking if I’d spoken to her. When I told him I hadn’t, he simply nodded his head and waved me off with a thanks.
I wasn’t in any rush to get home from practice tonight, so I opted to shower and get cleaned up in the locker room. Some nights when I’m not feeling sociable, I’ll grab my stuff and head straight home. Then there are days like today, where I feel like nothing is pushing me to leave except the fact I can’t stay here forever.
A couple of my teammates invited me out for some wings and to watch some football, but I declined, making up an excuse of having other plans. In the back of my mind, I’m still hoping if I stop by her place on my way home, she’ll be there.
Except, with my luck lately, it likely wouldn’t happen.
She’s ignoring me now, pushing me away. She’s been doing this since we first met, but a part of me hopes she’ll ease up and loosen the tension.I don’t give up on the idea that sooner or later the resistance will eventually ease, and she’ll let me in.
She’s worth the fight. She’s always been worth it.
After I shower and clean up, I shove all my shit into my gym bag and check my phone. Jairo had texted me, letting me know he is outside the arena ready to give me a lift back to my place. Pocketing my phone, I adjust my bag on my shoulder and wave off my teammates.
“C’mon, man, you sure you don’t want to join us for some wings tonight?” Kinnick asks as he finishes lacing up his shoes. He leans back against his locker as Jaxsen comes walking in.
“Yeah, man. It’ll be a good time. I’m sure you could find yourself a woman, too. They tend to flock there on Saturday nights when there’s football on. They know the Blaze come to hang out,” Wild says, raising his brows suggestively.
Jaxsen Wild and Miles Kinnick are two guys on the team I’ve bonded with the most since moving to Miami. A niggling thought in the back of my mind has me wondering why I’m not going out with the guys? It’s likely Sydney won’t be home or even answer the door if I try, and then I’ll be left with nothing else to do.
Except, it is the weekend, and I want to take advantage of even the slightest chance I might see her and be able to smooth over everything between us.
“Rain check? The next time you guys go, let me know. You can count me in.”
“All right,” Kinnick sighs, shaking his head. “You could always tell Sydney to come meet us, ya know?”
“Yeah, I’m sure the other guys will be bringing their girlfriends with them, too.”
“What?” I say, caught off guard. How do they know I’ve been seeing Sydney?
“Coach Carr’s daughter. You’ve been seeing each other, right? I only brought up the whole picking up a woman thing because I’m still waiting for you to finally admit it.”
Running my hand over the back of my neck, I massage the muscles attempting to ease the tension. How do I begin to explain to them what this is without upsetting her?
“It’s complicated.”
“Complicated? Bro, I’ve seen the way she looks at you.” He chuckles. “Can’t be that complicated.”
Laughing, I shake my head. She’d love knowing that although she tries to hide it, even the guys are picking up on the fact there’s something going on between us. Clearly, we aren’t as sly as we believed we were.
“Listen, you seeing each other is not a problem. I heard her talking to her dad the other day, and he’s certainly not bothered by it, so call her up. Tell her you’re on your way to get her, and we’ll see you there.”
“Yeah, I don’t think it will work out tonight but give me a rain check. I’ll bring her with me the next time, for sure.”
“You got it. Get out of here then,” Wild says, raising his hand to shoo me away.
I adjust my bag and give a wave over my shoulder before heading out. Jairo is parked near the front, waiting for me to exit. Cars are scarce in the lot since most of the team has already left for the night.
Jairo must notice I’m not in the mood to talk, or maybe he isn’t either. The drive back to the apartment is dull. I scroll through my newsfeed, reading articles speculating over upcoming trades as preseason comes to an end.
It’s after seven by the time we make it back to my apartment. I nod at Antonio walking through the lobby, making a beeline for the elevator. Just as I’m about to push the button for the fourteenth floor, a hand shoots out between the doors, pushing them back open.
