Page 42 of Blade
“Ya see?” Robert said to his friend, after he explained Amber’s reason for having no personal social media presence. “It was nothing, and you made it sound like she had something to hide.”
Manny stared back at him. “Um. OK. Sorry, bro.”
Robert recognized the hesitancy in Manny’s voice and knew there was something his friend wasn’t saying. “What now?”
“Nothing.” Manny gave an exaggerated shrug, guilt dripping from his posture and the expression on his face.
“Manny . . .”
“OK.” Manny took a deep breath. “I talked to my sister-in-law, and it turns out she did go to Paramus High.”
The hairs on the back of Robert’s neck prickled. “And?”
“It’s no big deal. Forget it. I wasn’t even going to say anything.”
“What did Michelle say?”
“She didn’t know Amber. That’s all.”
It’s not the answer Robert expected. He thought Manny was going to relay a sordid tale about Amber. Maybe that she was wild and out of control in high school or a major screw up and always in trouble. “What else?” he pressed.
Manny hesitated. “You told me Amber is 28. Michelle is 28. How could they not know each other?”
Robert’s thoughts were grinding together like gears in a machine, trying to dispel another ridiculous accusation. “You didn’t know everyone that was in your grade in high school. Neither did I.”
Manny nodded. “You’re right. Absolutely.” He put his hand on Robert’s shoulder. “I told you it was nothing.”
It’s nothing. It doesn’t mean anything.That’s what Robert kept telling himself. Over and over again. And, by the time Manny left, he successfully pushed the conversation from his head and dropped the subject. Hopefully, for good.
Separation and missing important dates were inevitable when dating a professional football player. Amber knew that. She was fully prepared for it. But this week had been especially hard because it was Thanksgiving. She would have loved to join Robert at his family’s home for a normal holiday dinner, or even share a cozy meal with just the two of them, but she understood. She still missed him fiercely, though, and she knew he felt the same way. So, when his flight landed at Newark on Friday morning, she decided to surprise him by waiting in the car he had ordered to pick him up at the airport. It was easy to pull off because he always used the same private car service. She’d met the driver several times, so he gladly facilitated the surprise.
Her knees bounced and her cheeks hurt from smiling while she waited for Robert to exit the terminal with the driver. Apparently, you don’t get shooed away from the curb when you’re there to pick up Robert Blade.
A huge gust of air filled her lungs as she involuntarily inhaled the moment she saw him. His platinum hair shone in the sunlight and the beautiful hue of his blue eyes pierced the tinted windows and lit up her heart. His strong jaw widened as he smiled at nothing in particular. Happiness always radiated from this carefree man.
A New Jersey Bucks hoodie stretched across his chest and tapered at the waist, while a pair of dark black jeans hugged his lower half perfectly. The sight of him caused heads to turn, not only because he was a well-known sports figure, but also because the man was beautiful.
A young boy, no more than 12-years old, ran up to Robert, clearly enamored with the football star. He chatted away, eyes dancing with animation while his arms gesticulated with excitement.
Robert’s smile grew even wider as he listened to the boy and nodded along. He said something to the driver who was standing next to him, and the driver pulled a pen from his inside jacket pocket and handed it to Robert, who then proceeded to scrawl his signature on the boy’s T-shirt.
It melted Amber’s heart to watch the genuine affection Robert had for the young fan.
The kid’s mother ran up to them, looking frazzled and relieved at the same time. She obviously hadn’t seen her son disappear and took hold of his arm, as if she were afraid he’d run off again. She started to scold him, until the boy said something feverishly in reply and waved his arm in Robert’s direction.
Amber read his lips.It’s Robert Blade. From the Bucks.
The mother paused, then turned away from her son to look at Robert for the first time. Her eyes grew wide in astonishment. Her lips parted and her hand went to her chest before she let out a giddy laugh.
Amber smiled at the woman’s reaction, who looked like a teenager meeting her movie-star crush.
Robert extended his hand and said something that made the woman giggle. After shaking her hand, the three of them spoke for a few more minutes, then Robert took one of his bags from the driver and pulled out a Bucks’ T-shirt from the outside pocket. It was obviously way too big for the kid, but he jumped up and down and clutched the shirt to his chest. Amber could hear his excited chatter through the closed car window.
Robert signed that shirt as well, then posed for a few pictures with the boy, and one with his mother, before they left, smiling and waving as they retreated down the sidewalk.
A small crowd had formed behind Robert. Now that his conversation with the kid and his mother came to an end, a few others hesitantly approached, considerate enough to not want to intrude on his privacy. Robert welcomed them with handshakes and smiles.
Amber waited for fifteen minutes while he talked, signed autographs, and posed for selfies. Her leg bounced, impatient to see her man, but she adored seeing him surrounded by fans and the way he enjoyed conversing with them.
