Page 29 of Punt

"Told you so," I replied.

She shook, which I hoped was also a laugh.

"Yes, you did," she said.

I slowed the bike and pulled off the road onto a little dirt track to the side. Narrow and rough, it led to a creek I found while wandering around one lazy afternoon. No one seemed to own the land, so I came here sometimes to think. I had hoped to bring Brandi here someday, but it's not her kind of place at all. There were no chairs here, or shops. Or wifi. That was what I liked about it.

I stopped the bike under a tree and killed the engine. I climbed off and helped Ashley before I took off my helmet.

"This is so pretty." She shook out her hair while I took her helmet and hung it beside mine, on the handlebars.

"It's not the kind of place Kris or Brandi would find us, but maybe if we take some photos, we can post them up on social media later." I didn't want to think about that now. I wanted to enjoy being here, in the quiet.

"There's a nice place beside the creek for a picnic." I unstrapped a box from the back of the bike and carried it a few metres to the creekside.

"It looks like a perfect place for a swim in summer," Ashley said.

"It is," I agreed. Shame it was too cold now. "Or to paddle downstream in a kayak."

"I don't think you'd fit one on your bike," she said with a grin.

"No, we'd have to bring my SUV," I said. Wait, was I actually thinking about bringing her here in summer? It was only autumn now, albeit late in the season. By summer, we'd be back with our lovers, too busy to do things like this.

Ashley gave me a funny look and turned to slip off her leather jacket and hang it over her arm.

"I have a blanket." I lowered the box to the grass, opened it and pulled out a tattered picnic blanket. The kind with plastic on the bottom so water wouldn't seep through.

I flicked it out and set out smaller boxes of food and bottles of water before I sat and watched the creek meander past.

"I hope you like ham and cheese sandwiches." I opened the sandwich box and pulled out two. "It's all I know how to make."

That wasn't strictly true. Bernice had the day off and I didn't want to make a mess in the kitchen. Sure, it was my kitchen, but it was her domain most of the time. She wouldn't say a word if I left crumbs everywhere, but she'd give me the side eye. Then she'd cook me something I didn't like, but I'd have to eat, or be rude. It was like having my mother living with me, but she was much scarier.

"I love ham and cheese." Ashley took one from me and nodded her thanks. "This is lovely."

I bit into my sandwich and nodded. "Yeah, it's nice and quiet."

She smiled.

"What?" I asked.

She opened and closed her mouth, then shrugged. "Nothing."

I looked at her sideways. "It didn't look like nothing. Come on, you can tell me. I don't bite."

She hesitated for a moment before she said, "It's just funny how you like bikes and football, but then you also like sitting by a creek, under the trees, in the quiet."

"I'm a simple guy," he said. "I like the simple life. This is uncomplicated. So is riding."

"And football?" she asked.

I thought for a moment. "When I'm playing, it's me, the guys, the ball and the roar of the crowds. Off the field, there's a lot more involved, like interviews, endorsements and shit like that,but as long as I can take moments like this, then I can keep my head on straight."

"That's important to you, isn't it?" she asked. "Not letting fame go to your head."

"It is," I agreed. "I've seen guys turn into total assholes, because they let it get to them. They stop listening to everyone, then everyone stops wanting to be around them. They lose their love of the game, then their relationships with people around them. I've seen marriages fail, friendships end. I don't want to end up alone, some washed up former star. I want a good life when I stop playing."

"Good and simple?" she asked.

---