Page 176 of Steeling Her
It was best for everyone.
Sometimes they visit LA and I would see Lynn. I’ve kept in touch with her throughout the years. She sometimes calls me to see how I’m doing, what I’ve been up to, and how everyone in my family is. They have been to Taylor’s birthdays, so she and my parents talk sometimes and know each other quite well despite what happened.
As we sit in silence and watch the sports channel, it tunes into a catch up on the latest sports news. When I see Nick’s face displayed on the screen, I set myself up and try to listen to what they’re saying about him. His signature stare takes up the majority of the TV while he stands with his chest puffed out and his arms behind his back in his new uniform. A serious expression on his face, the one he models all the time, except for tonight.
“News has just recently broken on the trades that newcomer quarterback, Nick Jackson, has now taken over from Austin Steel as the head quarterback this coming season,” the voiceover reports. “He’s the third highest paid player in the industry for a one hundred and nine-million-dollar contract for four years. We have seen that he has arrived in LA this week and is looking to begin training with the team for their upcoming game.
“He has played with a few of the guys already in the squad, so I think he’ll fit in quite well. They need the win to kick start off their journey to the Super Bowl this year to retain the title that the Steel brothers pulled out of the bag with a phenomenal play to beat their father in the finals. In other news, Austin Steel has been traded for a one hundred and twenty-one-million-dollar contract to the New York Giants, making him the highest paid player in the industry to date—” Ted flicks the TV off, and I silently groan.
I wanted to see what they had to say about my brother being replaced by Nick. My brother has true talent; the both of them do. They’ve always been amazing with a football; my dad had a lot to help with that. They’ve been throwing a football around ever since they could hold one. It’s been in the family and I know it will stay in the family.
I wanted to watch the updates, but Ted had other plans for me.
Never mind. I’ll watch it tomorrow at home.
“How about I run through my presentation with you really quickly and you can give me feedback now?” He stands up on his feet and finishes off his food. When Ted says “really quickly,” it’s never really quickly. It takes a lot longer than it should because he’s a perfectionist.
“Sure.” I smile and sit vertically, but I couldn’t think of anything worse right now. “Did you not want to watch the rest of the game?” I ask as he leaves the living room.
“Nah, I didn’t want to watch the updates, so I switched it off,” he calls from the other room. I purse my lips, knowing he didn’t want to watch the football updates and I knew he turned it off because of it. He doesn’t even allow me to watch football in his company and dislikes it when my family are over because it’s always on a nearby screen.
“Okay,” I mumble as he gets his briefcase holding his laptop and notes for the presentation. He links his laptop up to the TV via HDMI so he can practice with me.
I’m in for a long and tedious night ahead of me.
***
After a few practice rounds—three to be precise—I felt exhausted from hearing him say his speech over and over again. I was just sitting on the sofa, listening to his material, and yet I’m still weary. I didn’t do much, but I could sense my eyes drooping towards the conclusion of the very last presentation.
“I mean, if I was boring you that much, why didn’t you say so?” Ted was offended that I wasn’t fully awake towards the end. I had an early start, so I could get out on time for the dinner tonight.
“You weren’t, you were amazing. I’m sorry, I’m just so worn out from tonight. I could barely keep my eyes open, not because you were boring me.” I follow him into his bathroom and watch him brush his teeth. I wrap my arms around his bare torso from behind and rest my chin on his bicep. “I didn’t mean to upset you. You’ll kill it tomorrow like you always do! I know you will!” I compliment him, kissing the back of his shoulder blade.
He cleans his teeth as foam forms around his mouth and he bobs his head. I can see he’s apprehensive about the presentation tomorrow and I know he’s on the edge about it. I undoubtedly didn’t help by not staying awake tonight. I know I’ve offended him and he’s now thinking that the presentation will send people to sleep.
“How about you run through it one more time with me?” I offer him. He spits and widens his eyes.
“Really?” he asks. I nod back, smiling at him. “You don’t have to,” he says hesitantly. I know he’s concerned I might fall asleep again. I don’t want to knock his confidence, I’ll just sleep on my lunch tomorrow.
“I want to.” I gaze at him through the mirror and watch him reach for the towel to wipe his mouth.
He kisses my lips and mutters, “You’re the best. I’ll go and get the laptop so we can do it in the bedroom!” He smiles ecstatically and rushes out the door.
I rotate around to take a glimpse at myself in the mirror. I can see the dark and sunken circles forming under my concealer that’s not doing a very good job of hiding them. I dab my ring finger against the right circle like it’ll help it disappear. I start rinsing off my makeup with cold water to wake myself up. I dab the tiny droplets racing down my face and do the rest of my night time routine. I grab my things from the overnight bag that I brought with me in case I was to stay the night with him.
“I’m ready to go, Carter!” he proclaims, and I sigh, shrinking my shoulders down towards the cold tiles.
“Coming!” I call back and take one last look at my frightful appearance. I shuffle my feet out into his room and slide into the double bed I sometimes sleep on. He’s ready to go, and I sit up tentatively, trying to allow the cold air on my skin so I don’t fall asleep.
I sit, and I listen, one last time.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
It’s Been A Rough Few Days
Carter
We needed some girl time today. And when I mean girl time, I mean, I’m about to roast Haley for blindsiding me about her brother coming to dinner the other night.
