As I get off the plane in Nashville, I power up my phone, and notifications blow up my phone. I have a few texts from Harlow, Mama, my sister, and of course Dani. I ignore everyone for a moment and click open Dani’s messages.
Dani: Hope you had a great flight. I can’t wait to see you tomorrow. What’s your mom’s favorite color?
I quickly tap out a response, telling Dani her favorite color is purple. There’s no response after a few moments, so I click into my other messages and answer Harlow’s questions first, as they are the easiest to get out of the way.
When I tap onto my sister Marie’s message, my eyes bug out.
Marie: I’m coming to town this weekend, with Becca. Tell me everything about Danika before I get there.
Be prepared to be ambushed, is the unwritten message. Becca’s been Marie’s best friend since middle school. She’s outspoken, to the point of obnoxious at times, if you don’t know her well. You never have to guess what she’s thinking because the woman has zero filter. It’s the one thing you can always count on, like clockwork. Becca and I have a history of either being friendly or at each other’s throats because we’re both competitive, though it’s done out of love. She’s like another older sister, and I can hear the hounding now. Somehow, I have to warn Dani. Becca’s a bull in a china shop when she’s on a mission, and it’s clear from Marie’s message—their sights are set on Danika.
I quickly tap out a response to Marie, knowing she’ll send a follow-up soon.
Me: I’ll call you when I get to my hotel. No need to send in the pitbull. Geesh, I’ll tell you what you want. But I think you’ll like her.
While I wait for a response, Brandon Reynolds comes up to me. “You staying with the team at the hotel, or with your parents?”
Brandon’s known me for years. I do the best to stay with my family for at least a night, if we’re in Nashville. I used to have to stay with the team, in my early years, but ever since Mike got word of my family living so close to the team’s hotel, he insisted I stay with them instead, knowing I could be back to the hotel as soon as possible, if there was ever a problem.
“I’ll be staying with them. Dani’s coming out to meet them tomorrow.”
“Dani?” Brandon asks apprehensively as an eyebrow raises in my direction.
Shit. I hadn’t meant for her real name to come out. But Brandon’s one of my closest friends here on the team. We go back a long way, and I know he won’t say anything about her real name, to anyone. “Uh… Charlotte Ann is the pen name she uses as an author, to keep her anonymity.”
Brandon nods in understanding. “Makes sense. Don’t a lot of authors do that? Have a pen name, I mean.”
“Some do,” I admit. “But for now, can we keep her real name between us?”
Brandon nods. “You won’t hear anything from me. Hell, I’d bet there were times this past week, you wish you had a pseudo name. You’ve been so popular in the news this past week, I can’t imagine what it’s like to go out in public. Just the social media platforms alone would scare the bejezus out of me.”
“No kidding. Who the fuck cares if I’m dating? It’s not like it’s going to affect my performance as a coach.”
“Leighton…” Brandon shakes his head as if I should know better. “You’re the youngest coach in the league. Of course, eyes are gonna be on you. Add the fact that you’re easy on the eyes, as the trend on Twitter says, and you’re bound to draw attention, now that you’re suddenly off the market.”
“Fuck, Brand. Don’t be ridiculous. I’m still just me. I wake up each day and do the best I can. How many coaches in the league have families? I’m not a lost unicorn or anything. I put on my pants just like everyone else, one leg at a time. Why the fuck do people care about my social life?”
Brandon smirks as his eyes roll to the back of his head, like I should know better. “I hate to break it to you, man, but you have your own personal fanbase, especially with women, since you’ve become head coach. I know your avoid social media like the plague, but according to my wife, fans are devastated you’re off the market.”
“Christ,” I mutter.
Brandon shrugs and levels me with a stare, the way Tyrell once had. “But tell me this, is the hype worth being with her?”
“Without a doubt,” flies from my lips without any thought.
“Good to hear. Just stay the course, and I’m sure you’ll be yesterday’s news soon enough. She must be pretty important for you to bring her home to meet the family.”
What can I say. “Yeah, she is. For the first time in forever, football isn’t my only priority. Thank God, she’s patient and flexible because my schedule during the season is insane, as you know.”
“Don’t I know it. I’m thankful my wife’s understanding and isn’t the jealous type. She knows I don’t want anyone but her. Being on the road isn’t easy when you’re in a relationship, but if it’s meant to be with Dani, I know it’ll work out for you.”
I simply nod in agreement when others from the team approach. I’m not about to open the opportunity for discussion about Dani again. Brandon and I grab our luggage and make our way to the charter bus and load with the rest of the team.
Though we pulled off a win in Boston, this past week has been hell being away from Dani. We tried to talk every day, but it wasn’t enough for me. Somehow, she’s burrowed her way into my life with little effort, and I’m beginning to see she’s not something I want to let go of anytime soon.
After a coaches meeting to confirm the agenda for tomorrow, I text my dad to let him know I’m ready to be picked up. I’d call for a car, but I’m not sure I want people to know where my parents live. Thankfully, our property is gated, but I’m not willing to risk it with the added hype this week. Besides, Dani will be here in the morning. I don’t want the media to get wind of anything.
I can’t help but shake my head when Dad pulls up in his beat-up pickup he uses as a work truck around the farm. The man has a brand-new luxury Ford F250 crew cab, but chooses this to drive into town tonight? I can’t believe he won’t let his favorite truck go.
He spots me and grins widely. Before he can put the truck in park, I throw my luggage into the bed of the truck and climb into the passenger side. It smells like I remember—peppermint and his trademark aftershave. “Hey, Pops. Thanks for coming to get me.”
“Anytime, son. You know that,” he says in his Tennessee drawl. His deep laugh lines show as he shakes his head before pulling out into traffic. “So when will we meet this girl of yours? There must be something special about her, to have you bringing her all this way.”
“No sense in denying it, Pops. I really like Danika.”
Pops hums as he switches lanes and gets onto the highway. I’m not sure how to take it, but he’s never been one to mince words. Whatever’s on his mind will come out soon enough. In the meantime, I just lean my head back and relax from the day. Thoughts of today’s plays as well as Dani flicker through my mind as the truck weaves in and out of traffic.
When we’ve made it out to the outskirts of town, Pops finally speaks up.
“Tell me, Luke, is this girl you’re bringing home a flash in the pan, or someone you wanna hitch your ride to, for the long term?” Pops, being a rancher his entire life, has little time to beat around the bush.
I take in a deep breath and wonder how to put words to my thoughts. Pops has always been the one person I can confide my darkest fears with. As I slowly exhale, I go with the truth. “The kind you hitch your ride to and never let go. But if I’m being honest, the timing sucks. I couldn’t be busier with my new job as head coach. With the season barely getting started, I know I won’t have the time needed to put into a relationship she deserves.”
Pops glances in my direction then returns his focus to the road. “Seems to me,” he begins slowly, as if he’s choosing his words carefully, and knowing Pops, he is. “If she’s as special as you claim, you’ll figure it out. As far as the kind of relationship she deserves, don’t ya think any girl you commit to needs to accept the lifestyle you live?
You aren’t changing careers anytime soon, are ya?”
“Uh, I just got this job. Why would I leave?” He knows as well as I do, I’ve worked my ass off my entire career to get where I am. Why would he even ask that?
As we enter the driveway and have to wait for the gate to open, Pops turns to pin me with a smirk. “That’s what I thought. So…” He takes a deep breath, “if she means something to you, figure out a way to make it work. Despite all the hoopla with the media, just seeing the way you looked at her, I knew she’s special.”
Seriously? “You could see that… on TV?” Surely, he’s mistaken.
“Luke, I may be old, but I’m not blind. Why the heck do you think your mama’s so worked up over this? She’s been singing Dani’s praises since the second she saw that interview. We’ve never seen you look at anyone like that.”
“What way did I look at her?”
Pops grunts, as if he’s irritated. Which doesn’t help. I have no fucking clue what I looked like in that interview. Why would Mama get worked up over it?
“Son, answer this instead. Maybe you’ll figure it out for yourself. Since high school, have you ever brought a girl home to meet us? As in… you’ve made a special trip across the country to get her here?”
“Dad, Tennessee’s been on the schedule all year. This isn’t a special trip.”
“Don’t be dense with me, son.”
“Never, sir.”
Pops’ face clearly reads, I told you so, but he’s gracious enough not to say it. “That’s right. Your mother’s plannin’ the day with this bell of yours because she’s special. Don’t let a silly thing like your job get in the way of being with the woman you love.”
Love. Why would he throw out a word like that? He knows we just started dating.
Love. Is that what I feel? Sure, I think about her all the time, when I’m not working, of course. Just being around her makes me feel as if I’ve found something I never knew I’d been missing.
Fuck, I do love her. Just thinking about Danika makes my heart race and my blood flow quicker. I never thought I’d fall so fast, without realizing it. But I have. There’s no other way to describe how I feel toward Danika.
Silently, I revel in my thoughts as Pops steers his truck up the winding driveway. When we pull into the garage, Mama’s waiting at the door with wide arms and a loving smile. As soon as I’m within reach, she hugs me in a way only my mother can. She may be tiny, but her intensity has never weakened in my lifetime. Clearly, it’s been too long since my last visit. Her hug nearly takes my breath away.
She whispers, “So good to see you,” as she releases me.
“Good to see you, too, Mama.”
“Have you eaten? You’re looking so thin.”
I scoff. It’s what we do. I’m six-three and over two-hundred pounds. I look anything but thin. But Mama doesn’t know how to have visitors without stuffing them full of food. She leads us into the kitchen where she has a pot roast with all the fixings dished up on a plate for me.
“You didn’t have to do this.”
She gives me a look that says, Of course she did, she’s my mama.
I want to argue since I ate with the team, but I know better. If I turn down food, I’ll never hear the end of it. She motions for me to sit at the barstool as she dishes up a plate for my dad as well.
“We were just about to sit down when you texted. I figured we could wait and enjoy it with you.”
As I take my first bite, my mouth explodes with flavor. Even though it’s been waiting, it’s perfectly cooked and still tender. My stomach growls, and Mama pats my arm knowingly. As I finish chewing, I add, “Thanks, Mama. This is fantastic.”
Of course, I’m at practice when Dani’s flight comes in. I’ve rented a car for her while she’s here, as Danika insisted on driving herself to my parents. She didn’t want to put them out any further. Between plays, I keep glancing at my phone to see if she’s arrived. I wish I could’ve picked her up, but duty calls. We only get the practice field for so much of the day, and we need to make every second count if we’re going to beat Tennessee on Sunday.
I blow my whistle after another play is made and shout. “Watch the gap, Clarke. You can’t let them slip by you.”
Clarke nods, and I yell, “Again.”
We practice all the new plays we plan to pull against Tennessee until I know our team has them engrained in their DNA. Then I finally call it quits for the day, knowing we’ll have another practice tomorrow to take care of any last-minute changes we want to make. So far, I have to say the O-line looks good. I think we’ll be able to pull off a win, if all goes as planned. Our defense is ready, too. I feel confident we’re doing what it takes to prepare to be our best.
As we wrap up practice, I pull out my phone to text Pops I’ll be ready for a ride soon, when I see another notification arrive.
My heart soars with a mixture of relief and anticipation when I see the sender’s name. A breath I didn’t know I’d been holding throughout the day releases, and I instantly feel my body relax. It’s been one hell of a week without her. Sure, it’s been great visiting my parents and working with the team, but it feels as if a part of me has been missing.
Dani: My flight was delayed. Just getting rental car now.
My fingers fly over my keys as an inspiration hits me.
Me: Want to pick me up from practice?
Dani: Sure. I’d rather meet your parents with you, than alone. Send me the address.
I send the address, and she replies letting me know she’s at the counter dealing with paperwork. Knowing she won’t reply for a while, I send off one last text.
Me: Can’t wait to see you. You won’t believe how much I’ve missed you.