Page 180 of Steeling Her
“Taylor has taken a liking to you and I’m slightly offended about that.” TJ nudges his shoulder into mine as he smiles.
“Why? She calls you ‘Uncle TJ,’ ” I mock him, while he laughs.
“Yeah, but do you know how long it took for her to say that? And yet here’s you just walking through the door, and suddenly, you’re her new friend,” he says in his best girlie voice that makes everyone laugh raucously at him. You can always count on TJ to make you laugh.
“Do I hear a hint of jealousy in that tone, TJ?” Chris asks over his other shoulder once he’s got Taylor to calm herself in his arms.
“Maybe.” He sticks his tongue out at Taylor. She cackles and does it right back. He walks into the living room where there is another person sitting on the sofa scrolling through his phone. “Well, if it isn’t Greengate himself.” TJ catches his attention and Jason Greengate, another teammate of mine, stands up to greet him. When they hug each other, TJ steps back and allows me to greet him. “You know Nick, the newbie on the team.” I shake his hand and roll my eyes at TJ.
“I pity you being best friends with this idiot.” He points at TJ and he jokes back by blowing him a kiss. TJ flirtily waves his hand in the air, acting like a complete tool. I can’t believe my sister is about to marry him.
“You both love me and you know it.”
“I love you too, Uncle TJ!” Taylor returns to our side with a bowl of cereal that I have no doubt she’s supposed to be eating at the table and not in the living room. When a large arms swoops, in confirming my theory, she starts to whine and pout back at her dad.
“Seriously, kid, can you not sit at the table and eat that first? Then you can talk to them,” he mumbles under his breath but everyone can hear it. All three of us snort at how much of a handful this kid is but I don’t think Chris would have her any other way. I can see that he’s unquestionably smitten with her and he treats her exactly the same way Rodger treats Carter; with love.
We all congregate in the living room for some food. No drinks were poured as the season is coming up. I usually go on a drinking ban for the duration. Most players do. The alcohol can affect the training and routine we have and if that’s messed up, then so are our minds. None of us take a chance on it nowadays; it’s too risky and dangerous, especially if you’re playing a contact sport like football. I have a strict routine and diet for myself, and it has helped tremendously to keep my mind focused on the game and the results. With that being said, this pizza isn’t included in the nutritional diet that’s planned out for me.
“You guys want something to drink?” Chris asks us as we kill two birds with one stone. We’re watching game tapes for the next game we have coming up and Jason is pointing out some vital information to me. This is what they do when the girls have their night to themselves and, to be honest, I kind of like it.
“Water for me, man,” TJ requests at Chris’ retreating figure.
Jason and I mumble for the same drink. Chris has not outrightly spoken to me since setting foot into his home. I know he’s waiting for Taylor to go to sleep before he clamps down on me. I’ve mentally accepted that he’s going to do that. It’s only a matter of time.
He throws us the bottles when he comes back and gently kisses Taylor’s head while she mindlessly plays on the floor with her toys. I have caught her staring at me a few times and each time she’s beamed at me, giggled, and shied away out of my sight. She’s a cute kid.
After a few moments of her playing with her dolls, she tells Chris that she’s sleepy and wants to cuddle with him. I watch her crawl up on the sofa and up towards Chris. Climbing onto his lap, she settles herself so she’s laying on his chest and her head is buried into the curve of his neck. She smiles to herself when he repeats the kiss on her head. Again, catching her eye, she smiles, but this time it doesn’t reach her eyes. She’s tired, and I know Chris is thankful, he’s almost yawning too.
My eyes flick up to his as I bite into my pizza that we ordered a while ago. I latch on to his stare and I chew, and chew, and chew until it’s time to swallow.
“She’s adorable.” I point at his daughter that is slowly falling asleep on his shoulder.
“I know.” He nods and looks away from me. Cold and clipped, so I decided maybe now isn’t the time. I put my slice down and pick up my water but stop when I hear his voice again. “She is half of me, and I’m freaking adorable.” He smiles confidently and I snort shaking my head from side to side. He still resides the same sense of humour and that’s good to see, no wonder Danielle is with him.
“She must get fondness of guys from you too,” Jason mutters as he side-eyes Chris bravely.
“You’re just annoyed she doesn’t have a crush on you, and thank God for that,” Chris playfully chides him and Jason rolls his eyes, trying to subdue his smile and act like he’s angry, but he’s failing horrendously.
“Listen, we all know who she really loves here.” Jason puffs his chest out.
“She called Nick ‘her friend’ today, and that’s further than you’ve gotten in two years of seeing her, Jason. Just face the facts, kid, she hates you.” We all break our hearts laughing at how brutally funny TJ’s words were. Even Jason is laughing at him. However, that makes Taylor stir in her dad’s arms and we all quiet down instantly.
“Fuck you, man!” Jason whispers.
“That’s Haley’s job.” TJ winks and I smack him on the back of his head, telling him to shut up.
“Don’t even start, TJ,” I warn him. I could hear a brash laugh coming from the other side. It’s coming from Chris. I sit there, slightly baffled about the whole ordeal, and I look to my left to see TJ equally as confused. When he settles down again, he decides to lift Taylor up and bring her to bed.
Weird.
“What was that about?” Jason wonders and I couldn’t even begin to guess what was going on in Chris’s mind. All of us watch the empty door frame a little perplexed.
“No idea? I didn’t realize Nick was that funny,” TJ jokes. Jason giggles. I’m not; it wasn’t funny. I feel like there was something a little more to it than what meets the eye. Perhaps something deeper?
As soon as he walks back inside the living room, he secures his position and I observe him. As if he can feel his eyes on me, he turns his head around. I feel my eyes squinting to try and read his. I let it slide and leave it be, letting him have whatever he thought of when I spoke to TJ.
We sat and analyzed the opposition for the better part of three hours. Each of us gives our opinions about each player on opposing team and memorizing their play and defense to see if they had any exposed spots. Safe to say, we found a few and will run them by the head coach when Monday comes around. I have yet to start training with the full team. I have only just arrived in LA, and already I’m being thrown into all of this. I’ve played with TJ the longest. I know his play inside and out.
