Page 41 of Red Zone Realizations
Chapter Nineteen
NOAH
The air is a little tense as we file into the locker room. For some of the men around me, today will be their final day with the Houston Hurricanes. For the third time today, I thank my lucky stars that I’m still on contract and not fighting for my life out there right now. I expected to be distracted knowing Audrey was in the stands, but oddly, it was more like it improved my confidence. I ran my routes perfectly. In the plays where I blocked, I ran over the defensive end. All of that combined has me holding my head high as I grab my change of clothes.
I duck out of the locker room and head toward the area where they corral the visitors. There are tall bar tables covered with white cloth and people standing all around them. The general admission fans have been sent home, but those with multi-entrance passes given out only by the team are allowed back here after the game ends. Lots of girlfriends, wives, brothers, and mothers mill around the room. The ceilings are high, and the carpets are like that school hallway type, except nicer. Off to the side is a small table with sliced sandwiches,bags of chips, and cups of lemonade. I scan the room as other players file out of the team area and greet their visitors.
I spotted her from the field and was taken aback by her beauty, but seeing her up close, I have to suck in a breath. Her cheeks are pink from the late summer sun, and her hair is wild from sitting outside. Silver hoops glitter in her ears, and she ditched her usual silk shirt for the city’s baseball team T-shirt under her blazer. However, her normal dark-wash jeans are still making their appearance. I’m lapping it up. I love seeing the way she fits into the room full of my teammates’ friends and family. Like she could be that for me. We need to get her a Hurricanes shirt stat, though. Preferably a jersey with my number on it.
A thought strikes me suddenly—what are they telling her? She’s been with everyone since this morning. They all sat in the stands and chatted while we practiced. What if they asked her questions that were too personal? If Chrissy asked her if she was into me, what would she tell her? I pick up my pace.
People greet me as I make my way toward Audrey. I clap my teammate’s younger brother on the back, and I shake another one’s new girlfriend’s hand. The whole time I keep my eyes on her. Whoever she’s talking to has their back to me. With thick, bleach-blond hair—it could be half the team’s girl. I have no idea. She’s talking animatedly about something, which I hope means she’s had a good time today. I see the change of her smile when she notices me walking over to her. Seeing that reaction feels good. Like standing near the ocean and feeling the sea breeze on your skin.
I settle my hand on her back. “Hey, there you are. I’ve been looking for you.”
“Hey,” she says, smiling hard. “Chrissy was just filling me in on all the exciting stuff coming up during the season.”
“Really?” I turn to Chrissy and lean in for a hug.
She smiles at me and tells me about the team welcome dinner they’re hosting. She turns to Audrey. “I’ll see you there, right?”
Audrey looks away, down at the floor. “I’m not sure I’m?—”
“She’ll be there,” I interrupt. “She’s my plus one.” Audrey raises her eyebrows at me, her mouth a sweet little O.
I’d like to stick my—whoa, hold it together, man.I’m still at work and still being a gentleman.
Audrey recovers her shock quickly and gives Chrissy a friendly smile. “I can’t wait. I’ll see you there. Let me know if I can bring anything.” They quickly hug, which catches me off guard since they’ve probably known each other about six hours maximum. I guess that’s a lady thing.
Chrissy totters off in her skyscraper heels, and I turn to face Audrey fully.
“How was your day? Not too stressful, I hope?” Audrey asks.
I’m hyperaware of how close we are.
“No, it was good. I feel good. My ankle feels good.” How many fucking times can I use the word good?
“I’m sure that’s a relief.”
“It is.” I move my hand to the crook of her elbow. “So is having you here today.” Feeling her so close to me, smelling her light and breezy perfume. Years of therapy have made me painfully aware of my feelings. Right now, they’re very strong and they’re all about Audrey. Admiration, care, friendship, and more. It sits in my stomach, and it’s not the tittering of anxiety, but the pleasant fullness of finishing an ice cream after a meal.
It fills in all the cracks.
I’m pulled into her gravity with the weight of her gaze. Westay like this for what feels like an hour, but in reality, is probably only two seconds.
She is startled when Gina interrupts us. “Hey, Noah. They need you in the media room.” She smiles at the two of us. As the media coordinator for the Hurricanes, I owe her for stepping in. If she hadn’t, I might have kissed Audrey in front of all these people, and I know that’s not what she wants. Luckily, there are many ways to show her my intentions without PDA.
I let my hand continue its exploration of Audrey’s arm as I bring my hand down to meet hers. “Come on, you can see me in action… again.” I lead Audrey away from the room filled with friendly conversations and big, bellowing laughs.
I follow Gina’s bouncing hair through the hall and to the right, toward the media room. It’s like this all the time, but today might be a harder media grill than usual since it’s the last day of preseason.
“You can stand at the back with Gina while I finish up.” I stroll to the front of the room and take a seat at the plain white table saddled with a microphone. Cameras snap and flash from every angle. As soon as my ass hits the chair, hands go up in the crowd in front of me.
I nod at one of the reporters and she stands. “Ashley Thomas, ESPN2. As a returning player, is there anyone on the sidelines you see that has something special?”
“Yeah, I think Ian could be something special. He’s from Cal State and he told me he deferred acceptance to med school to be here and chase his NFL dream. I think that’s the kind of person we want on this team. Smart people with the tenacity to go after what they want in life even if other people tell them it’s crazy.”
“Thank you.”
