“You know about my job?”
“What are you talking about, Mia? You’ve been working for that school since you graduated.”
“No, Mandy, I was let go from that job. I work for the NFL now.”
“Fancy,” she comments as she takes a long drag of her cigarette. “How was I supposed to know that? You don’t tell me anything.”
“Let’s back up for a second. What job are you talking about?”
“With the school, of course. Your friend pulled some strings with the president of that university and got you into that masters residency thing you were in.”
“You’re mistaken, my volleyball coach did that.”
“I hope that’s not what that lady-man coach of yours told you, because the Rush boy did all the string pulling. He’s been sniffing behind your butt for the longest time. Glad to see that you’ve finally seen the light and gave him some. Just don’t get pregnant. Then he’d probably dump you.”
I can’t breathe.
Tears stream down my face and plunk down on the ground like rain.
I sob so hard that I feel like I’m going to die.
“Mia?”
“I have to go Mandy.”
“All right.”
After I finish sobbing, I stare out into the beautiful streets of the French Quarter with mindless wonder as I retrace all my steps of my entire relationship with Rush. He’s been there every step of the way for me, always playing the background, ready to catch me when I fell. How could I have ever doubted for one second that man loves me? Everything he’s every done for me is the epitome of love.
I watch an elderly couple laughing and strolling arm in arm. Her hair is snow white and slicked back in a smooth bun, much like I wear my own hair, and he is bald and wearing a New Orleans cap that he obviously just purchased at a tourist shop. They are staring at each other like it’s their wedding day. So happy. So in love.
I had that with Rush.
I know I did.
And now I realize I want it back.
I’ve just got some major groveling to do.
Thirty-Five
MIA
Regular Season
Nighthawks Vs. Eagles
It’s beenfive excruciating long weeks since our breakup and slowly Rush and I have found a rhythm at work that allows us to be at least… cordial. It’s a tiny step in the right direction, but it’s a long way from where I want us to be.
Together.
I find out during that time from Darius about some things that were said to ignite the infamous fight between Tiger and Rush that I heard so much about. Darius explained it was all over a woman although her name wasn’t mentioned but that he was sure it wasn’t Miranda. He also made a snide comment about Tiger deserving his broken nose, and when I asked him what he meant by that, he spilled the tea on Tiger and Proctor’s mother.
“He’s been on everyone’s shit list for a long time. He was sleeping with Proctor’s mom and not even being discreet about it.”
My mouth practically hit the floor when he told me that. Clearly it was a key piece of information that Rush had kept from me, but only because he’s a good man. He lives by a creed where he firmly believes that one shouldn’t trash talk their teammates–especially if you can’t actually verify the story. The whole time I thought Rush was being overprotective, and then being a jealous boyfriend, he was actually being careful and keeping me safe.
I decide I’m going to have to make a bold move if I’m going to get my man back, because we’ve already allowed too much time to pass in my opinion. Those are five precious weeks together that we can never get back, and time is a commodity when you’re an NFL player who spends so much time preparing for games and then playing them.
