Page 9 of Playing for Keeps
“So, no quickie in the locker room?” I joked.
“I’m not even that bad.” She replied as she pulled into the back lot of the stadium.
“Sure.”
With a laugh, Marty parked the car. I jumped out and hurried to the back door, grabbing the binders my mother had requested I drop off to my father. This was a typical thing when I was near whatever team my father coached. My mother spent her days talking to the press, ensuring the house was clean and pristine. She would go to the spa, because the wife of the head coach should always look her best. She could never be bothered with errands, not when their daughter is available. I wish I could say I hated it, but spending a little time with my father was better than nothing. I learned that young.
“Let’s make this quick. I’m starving.” Marty said as she hurried to the back door, pulling it open for me.
“So, you do want this to be a quickie?” Both of us shared a laugh as we made our way up the inclined hallway toward the locker room.
The locker room, the one place my father had always said was forbidden for me to enter when I was younger. I had only been inside two my entire life, and both times he hurried the visit. He called it no place for a lady, especially his daughter, and I couldn’t agree with him more. As we approached, I could hear the loud laughter mixed with chatter from the players. Grown men roughhousing like they were masters of the universe. It annoyed me more than anything. Why couldn’t my father work in an office? I asked myself that question more times than I could remember throughout my life. We were supposed to meet him at the front office, but a text informed me just before we leftmy parents’ house that we needed to go to his office in the locker room instead.
As we walked through the black and orange doors, it seemed all eyes were fixed on us. “Women in the clubhouse!” The loud call was heard, as though to ensure everyone was decent.
We walked toward my father’s office; my gaze shifted only slightly to Maximus as we passed him sitting on a bench with two other players. I felt warmth fill my cheeks as I saw him shirtless, which confirmed he was as toned as I had imagined. Lola was a lucky woman. I knocked on the office door, smiling when I heard my father yell for us to come in. Standing, he made his way to us. He instantly placed the binders on his desk, but quickly his attention returned to me.
“I’m glad I got to see you before leaving.” That grin and loving glare were directed at me.
“Same. Are you ready for the game?” I asked.
“We are. The men have put in the work with the new plays, and we shouldn’t have a problem coming home with a victory.” I gave the normal smiles and nods as I listened to my father talk about football. The truth was, I couldn’t care less. I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket and just wanted to see if it was Cameron. Lord, was Marty right? Had I become one of ‘those’ girls so quickly?
“I have no doubt, but no matter what, you’re coming home a winner.” I was proud of my father, no matter how disconnected I felt; however, it didn’t matter to me whether he won or lost every single one of his games.
“Will you be watching?” He asked, slightly worried in his voice.
“Of course. I’ve never missed a game, you know that.” He leaned in, bringing me in for a tight hug, which I welcomed. “Love you, daddy.”
“Love you, baby girl.” Our tender moment, one to cherish, however, was ruined by the loud yells of the men just outside the small room. Sighing, I stepped back and looked up at him, him with a grin as though he understood. “Let’s get you out of here. Locker room is no place for ladies.” There it was, I thought.
My father moved around us quickly, pulling open the door, and he waited for Marty to step out and for me to follow. Turning, I gave him another hug, “Be safe.” I kissed him on the cheek, my eyes glanced at Maximus as he nodded in hello, and I made a quick turn. Then, at that moment, I inhaled a deep breath and felt my body freeze in place. It was him. He stood in front of me, that grin on his face, with his head shifted to a slight tilt.
“And who are these beauties?”
I felt Marty squeeze my wrist as she leaned closer to me and whispered. “That’s my guy.” My attention shifted to her instantly.
“What?”
“The one who spoke, that’s my guy from the party. Easton.”
“Guess this is a good time to introduce you all.” My father spoke as he walked between Marty and me, placing his arms around us. His palms felt like weights on my shoulder, and my head lowered as he spoke. “This fine young lady is Martha…”
“Marty.” She quickly corrected, my gaze slowly returning to Cameron’s as he stood with a confused expression.
“Marty, who is like a daughter to me.” His hand squeezed me against him. “This young lady is my daughter, Hannah, who’s off limits, Easton.” He spoke with a playful tone, though the warning was real, I knew that. “Ladies, this is the team.” The team all said their hellos, and as loud as the room was, the rapid beat of my heart seemed to drown it all out; even my father’s words faded, until he spoke ones that made me feel faint. “…and this is Cameron Walters, our Enforcer.”
We stared long into one another’s eyes, not saying a single word or acknowledging we knew one another. Cameron was a player, the one thing I hated the most.
CHAPTER 10
HANNAH
His smile had blinded me. The way he spoke. His mesmerizing eyes. That’s what I told myself at least. How could I have not figured it out? He was going out of town at the same time as my father and the team were. I met him at the quarterback’s party; nobody there was not linked to the team in some way or another. He was tall like a player, built like one. I allowed myself to be a fool and, in turn, felt like one. Had he known who I was? No, he couldn’t have. The way he looked at me in the locker room was evident that he didn’t. Though did he think I knew him? Perhaps he believed I picked him and held in my last name as a ploy. How could this be happening? How had I allowed this to happen? I am from Sandusky. My father is the team’s head coach, and I didn’t know one of his players. Had my hate for the game caused me to live under a rock? Marty knew who he was, she knew them all, and yet I’m the stupid one who spends an incredible night with one in total ignorance.
I wanted to talk to him and ask if he knew, but there was no time and no place. What should I have done? Ask him in front of my father, who would explode if he knew I had spent the night with Cameron. He would never believe I hadn’t planned it, and yet it wouldn’t have been me to feel his wrath. I could have calledhim or texted him, but what would I have said? The whole thing made me sick to my stomach. Even if I ignored the facts, there could be nothing between us. My father wouldn’t allow it. My mother would accuse me of trying to ruin my father’s new job. That nickname I used to hear growing up would haunt me again: 'player bunny.' My private everyday life would be extinguished. Not to mention what it would do to Cameron and his career.
Sitting on my parents’ sofa, waiting for the game to start, I glanced back at Marty and my mother in a conversation. Taking the moment alone, I pulled out my phone and quickly typed his name into the search engine. I exhaled with a pause, guessing if I should do this. Would knowing more about him make it easier to walk away? Would anything at this point? With another glance back at my mother’s guest joining her in a conversation, I slumped down slightly and hit enter.
