Me: You better put that in an encrypted file. If I end up on the internet I’m going to rip your balls off for real.
My Pain in the Ass: GODDAMN!!! Fuck I’m a lucky man. Those tits! Don’t bother me for the next fifteen minutes. I’ll be busy.
Me: Gross!
Me: But also, me too.
My Pain in the Ass: Wear something sexy tomorrow.
Me: I’ll wear your t-shirt.
My Painin the Ass:
Iwait in my car, heater blasting and waiting for the plane to land. I’m at a private airfield just a few miles away from the international airport and the amount of security I went through was insane, but I guess that’s what you have to do when dozens of single women, all looking to land a pro-athlete, are waiting for their chance to get close to the guys.
Desperate much?
The lights of an incoming plane glow on the tarmac and my heart flutters. This is still such a foreign feeling to me that sometimes I don’t quite know if I should tell myself to just give in, or punch myself in the boob for being an idiot.
A gentle rain begins to fall, misting the windows, and I brace myself for the cold that is about to hit my bones. I jog over to the waiting area and rub my hands together furiously as I stare anxiously at the plane, just waiting for the door to open and for Nic to come walking off.
He was outstanding tonight. His receiving yards were on fire (yes, I now know what all of those numbers mean), and after one particular catch, he tossed the ball to the ref and found the camera on the wires hanging above the field. I watched with confusion because I couldn’t figure out what he was doing. He smiled, winked and flashed what I thought was a peace sign. But when he followed it up with a heart, I knew the peace sign was actually a V.
I choked up as Lucy cooed and snuggled me.“My girl done gone and fell in love.”
Her accent was tragic, but her words weren’t too far off. I wasn’t about to admit it to her, nor will I let Nico in on that secret, but I’m definitely feeling something warm and fuzzy inside of me when I see him.
The plane’s door opens and the integrated stairsslowly lower. Players begin filing off the plane and I watch one giant after another squeeze their bodies through the small opening. At least it looks small as they dwarf what is probably actually quite large.
When a familiar face catches the flood lights from above, his eyes search me out. I tug on my beanie, covering my ears, and feel the misting rain begin to fall heavier. His legs move faster and his feet carry him closer to me. He smiles and licks his bottom lip before taking it between his teeth –jerk– and when he clears the security gate, I run over to meet him halfway.
He drops his duffle on the floor and holds his arms open for me to tuck into. I pop up on my sneaker clad feet and he leans down, our lips meeting in a kiss. I breathe him, the fresh scent of his bergamot body wash still clinging to his skin, and I can’t believe I fought this so long.
Lucy said it best when she told me I was being a crotchety bitch who’d rather stay alone and miserable to prove a point than just let myself be happy. It’s the Capricorn in me. I can’t help it.
When we pull apart he whispers in his low, gravelly voice. “This fucking beanie is killing me, mi Reina. I think I’m going to have to fuck you wearing that.”
My teeth chatter as I stand here just staring at him. Sometimes it’s really not fair for a man to be so beautiful. But at least this beautiful man is mine.
“What a way with words you have. And for the love Nico, please pick that bag up. Leaving Gucci on the floor is a mortal sin. I’m literally having anxiety.” I sniff as my nose starts to run from the cold air.
“Okay babe. Now let’s go before you get sick.” He grabs his bag and my hand and pulls me to my warm car that waits by the curb.
I climb into the passenger seat after he tosses his bag in the trunk, and he slides, quickly grabbing my hand just like he always does.
We talk about the game and how I saw the message he sent me, and I fill him in on Lucy’s new addiction to those damn chips and that she is also mad at him for introducing them.
The streets are quiet at this time of night and we can hear the sloshing of the tires as it passes through the shallow puddles. The rain is a slow drizzle and the street lamps shine down, making the droplets look like a sea of diamonds. The dim blue lights of the car’s interior, the hum of music, the soft tap of rain on the windshield, and the cool weather that has me inching closer to Nic are little things that I’ve never noticed or paid much attention to before he came along.
I see the world a whole lot differently now that my pessimistic colored glasses are off. Things I’ve always heard other people talk about –richer smells, deeper thoughts, more tangible feelings– all seemed to be an agenda used to get others to buy into the farce of love. I was set on never subscribing to that foolish way of thinking.
But Nic makes itso damn hardto pack all of those pesky feelings away. Every time I would try to shove them in a box, here comes Nic to kick off the lid and expose the flimsy container. My box kept getting smaller and smaller as more time passed, and now it sits in a corner, empty and gathering dust
It grows quiet as my head spins with all of thewhat ifscenarios. What if this ends in disaster? What if he wants things I can’t give him? What if I’m a little defective and love isn’t within my capabilities?
I know I reallyreallylike Nic. I’ve never liked a guy Idated more than him. That makes me wonder if it’s more than like. Could I really lo….
The word gets stuck somewhere between hope and reality and I just can’t face what that means right now.
