“I’m from New York City. I know Aaron because our families have been friends since we were babies. Or before that really. Our dads went to college together and stayed in touch. Then, when his family moved to New York, we spent a lot of time with them. He’s like a brother to me.” She looks up at me from under her long, dark lashes.
“Do you have any siblings?” I want to know everything about her.
“I have an older sister, and we’re pretty close. She’s just finishing up her sports medicine residency, so she’ll be around more now.”
“Where did you go to college?” I reach out my hand and take one of hers in mine.
“I just graduated from Boston College in May, and I’m back here now full-time. I’m considering getting my master's, but I’m not really sure I want to.” She lifts a shoulder.
“Boston, huh? I haven’t been there either. Do you like it better there or here?”
She leans across the table to get closer to me. “Don’t tell anyone …” She puts her delicate finger on her lips. “I like Boston better.”
I gasp. “You do? Wait, why would that be a secret?” I laugh.
She tilts her head back and forth. “You know … the rivalry between the Red Sox and the Yankees. Tale as old as time, my friend.”
“Ahh … baseball. Gotcha.”
“New York will always be my home though.”
The waiter returns to the table with her water and two large bowls, each with what I assume is the frozen hot chocolate, topped with whipped cream. Definitely not on my food plan, but I’ll indulge anyway. It looks amazing.
“Thank you,” she says as he sets hers in front of her.
“Thanks, man.” I look up and smile at him.
“My pleasure. Your food should be out shortly.” He turns and walks to the table next to ours.
“What was your major in college?” I lift the straw from my drink, dragging the tip slowly across the whipped cream, and bring it to my mouth, letting a dollop cling to my lips. I glance up, and she’s watching me—mouth slightly parted, eyes tracing the motion like she’s memorizing it.
“Uh, what? What was the question?” She tucks a piece of hair behind her ear.
“Your major? What do you want to be when you grow up?” I chuckle.
“Excuse me, sir, but I’m very grown up.” She winks at me, flirting again.
“Oh, I’m well aware of that.” I laugh. “But what do you want to do with your degree?”
She takes a sip of her drink, sits back, and releases my hand. “Well, my degree is in business management. So managing … things.” She looks off to the side, not meeting my eyes.
“That’s cool. Do you have any jobs lined up yet, or are you already working?”
“I have a job, yes. I work in my family business, actually.” She looks back at me with a smile.
“That’s awesome. And lucky. What’s your family business?” I take a drink of the most delicious concoction I think I’ve ever tasted. I’m not sure I can ever drink regular hot chocolate again after this.
“My family is in the sports business.” She takes another sip of hers.
“You’re kidding?” I sit back in my seat and set my hands on the table.
“Nope. I mean, we have other businesses, too, but our parent company is sports-related.”
Makes sense. She’s in the sports business, she’s good friends with Aaron, and she was at the same wedding I attended. I could pry more, learn more about her—her name, where she works—but I’m not going to. Not tonight. This little game I’m playing—trying to figure out if she knows who I am—is too much fun to ruin with facts.
Part of me would be disappointed if she did know. Ever since becoming a pro football player, I’ve been warned more than once to watch who I spend time with. Mainly women. It’s a harsh reality that some people only want to get close to you because of your status. That’s why I’ve stayed away from getting too close to any woman. I hate that thought. Especially since I have friends who’ve found real, genuine relationships with amazing women.
As my agent reminds me of often, they met their girls in college when they were still mildly famous. Now, apparently, I’m a “somebody,” and I have to be careful.
