From Now Until Infinity (2) (12 page)

“I don’t…don’t know what you mean?” I stammer.

He says with piercing green eyes and anger in his voice. “I throw out a perfectly reasonable solution and you shoot it down because of money. Do you think for a second that money’s an issue? Do you not want this relationship to work, Charlie? Are you not feeling what I’m feeling, here?” His shoulders slump when he’s done.

I stand up and run to him pulling him in a tight embrace. “I love you and am crazy about you. You’re right. You gave me a solution, and I shot it down. Let me think about it. You know that I have to live with my problems and contemplate solutions. You just threw me for a loop. Give me some time to think. Okay?” I plead with him.

I feel his body relax, and he returns my hug. “Thank you. That’s all that I ask.”

His defeated behavior and body language is manipulation. He knows that I’m a fixer also so he uses the defeated body language to help persuade me to his opinion. I know that he does this. Yet, I still give in. Every. Damn. Time. The question is does he consciously know that he’s doing it? I can’t decide. Part of being a great quarterback is acting. He cuts his eyes to the left and throws to the right. He pretends to throw the ball, but instead he tucks and runs with it or hands it off. When we disagree or he’s trying to persuade me to his way of thinking, I believe that Colin sees me as his opponent and uses the tricks that he’s been using since he began playing football to win or beat me into his way of thinking. I note this and make sure that I bring it up with my therapist.

I glance at the clock and know that the soup is ready, but I‘ve got no appetite left. He’s given me so much to consider. I need a long run to think about Colin’s solution to my Dallas Dilemma. After the indulgences in New Orleans and our discussion about where I’m going to live, I’m going to have to wake up earlier than usual so I can get more miles in.

The rest of the evening is much lighter. I have a small bowl of soup, and Colin eats three bowls. Apparently, the guy can still shovel food in even if he’s not particularly happy with me. We cuddle on the couch and watch
The Hangover
because Colin’s appalled that I’ve never seen it. I laugh at all the appropriate spots which pleases him to no end. Then, we crawl into bed, and Colin cuddles me until I fall asleep wrapped in his strong arms.

Chapter Six

I HAVE the unique ability to tell my body when I want to wake up. Usually, I still set an alarm clock just in case my super power misfires. Today, my ability kicks in perfectly as I slip out of bed at five o’clock without waking Colin which should be a super power in and of its self. I quickly turn off the alarm clock and sneak into the bathroom. I quietly change into my running gear, grab my phone and ear buds, and slip out of the house undetected.

I feel sort of bad for sneaking out on Colin, but I need some time to myself. He doesn’t understand my need to be alone. He never did.

The weather this morning is perfect Houston late winter/early spring temperature. I start off my run in a light sweat shirt but take it off after the second mile and tie it around my waist. I’ve got a fun running mix of pop artists playing. I decide to run by my therapist’s house this morning and check on my favorite tree. I also jog by my mom’s home and see both my sister’s cars in the driveway. I need to call and see what’s going on with them. I also should probably clue them in that Colin’s back in the picture. I contemplate running by my dad’s house but decide not to. He might see me and invite me in for coffee.

As I run, I turn over in my head my Dallas Dilemma as I have affectionately started calling it. The conclusion that I’ve come to is that my dad and I could hire a doctor to take my place in Houston. It would cost a fortune, but I could set up my practice in Dallas. We could essentially create a Houston and Dallas division of our practice. However, Colin and I’ve been reunited for about ten days. It seems way premature to start talking about relocating my practice. Colin and I need to make sure that we can live together and still function as a couple. We really need to survive one football season as a couple before I consider uprooting my life. Surely, he’ll be able to see that this is a rational first step.

By the time that I arrive back at my town home, I feel significantly better… almost light hearted. I’m going to live with the idea for a couple of weeks before I talk to Colin about my conclusions.

When I walk up the stairs and open the front door, I’m confronted with a bear of a man. Colin’s sitting at the kitchen island in running shorts, T-shirt, and his trainers on. He’s fuming. He has a glass of water and coffee mug sitting next to him. I know that they’re not his. I walk inside and head straight for him hoping that I can explain my morning run without him.

He holds up his hand telling me to stop. “Do you want water or coffee?” His tone is even, but anger is radiating off of him in waves.

“Water, please,” I reply sweetly.

He hands me the glass, and I begin stretching on the floor near him making sure that I do the widest straddle stretch possible.

“Any particular reason you didn’t wake me up to run with you?” He asks doing a poor job of hiding his anger.

I reach for my toes to deepen my straddle stretch. “You were so comfortable that I just decided to run by myself this morning at let you sleep.” I lie through my teeth, but my voice does not betray me.

“How far did you go?” He asks not taking his stormy green eyes off of me.

“Look Colin,” I say in a defeated voice. “Do you want the truth or the lie?” I continue quickly because I know his answer. “I ran fifteen miles. I needed to think about some stuff. I’m fine.”

“When do you see your therapist again?”

“Next week.” I reply evenly. There’s no need for me to ask why. He clearly thinks that my eating disorder is a problem again. There’s no use trying to persuade him otherwise.

“Speaking of that,” I continue. “She thinks that it would be a good idea for you to join me.” I toss it out there and wait to see what Colin’s going to say. He doesn’t know that I plan to bring up the whole wanting to get me pregnant thing in front of him, and all the new revelations over the weekend.

He stands up and walks over to me and stares down into my lavender eyes. “I’ll be joining you at that appointment, and you will not go running without me again.”

I want to reply in a very bratty tone, “Yes, Dad.” But, I don’t because there’s no use in making him any madder.

I sigh and nod my head in agreement. I’m highly annoyed that he is reacting this way, but I understand his motivation. He knows that I need to run for my mental sanity. He’s not asking me to quit running, he’s just concerned that I’m going to slip back into my old patterns. Colin cares enough about me to keep me healthy. I reason all of this in my mind, but I hate being treated like a child.

I finish my stretching and drink my water. I throw out the coffee that Colin made for me. It’s already luke warm so I pour myself another mug. Then, I head upstairs to get showered and dressed to begin my day.

Colin’s in a much better mood and makes small talk with me while I get dressed for work. He chooses what he wants me to wear today, and I let him. It’s almost a relief to not have to think about my wardrobe. We make plans to meet for lunch and for me to introduce him to our trainers that we employ to put together the best rehab protocols for our patients. They have a lot of experience in working with professional athletes. I hope that Colin clicks with one of them or both so he can work out in my office. It would be nice to get to watch him whenever I want.

He walks me into my garage and opens my car door for me. Brad has been kind enough to bring my car back to my house. He really is the best assistant in the whole world.

Colin’s still just in running shorts that he must have thrown on to look for me, but he’s taken off his shirt. My eyes naturally move to his beautifully sculpted bare chest. The man’s gorgeous. He has muscles that I didn’t know could be defined. It’s very hard for me to leave him. I have thoughts of kissing his pecs and working my way down his stomach…

Colin must read my mind (or body language) because he gives me a very chaste kiss on the lips. “Go to work beautiful girl. I’ll pick you and Brad up for lunch.”

“I love you, honey,” I reply sweetly as I close my car door not wanting to leave him.

* * *

“Caroline…Caroline…” my father snaps at me.

I shake myself out of my very pleasant daydream about one very hot quarterback. “I’m sorry, Dad. What were you saying?”

I sit back in my office chair and wait for him to begin chastising me for not paying attention. I’m only on my second cup of coffee.

My dad stands up and begins pacing back and forth in front of my desk. What is it with the men in my life pacing? It’s distracting.

“What I was saying, Caroline, is that we have a huge influx of professional football players that have been added to my wait list because of the Clay South event. I think you should personally call a few of them and see if you can convince them to see you instead of me,” he concludes.

I think about it only for a second. I ultimately want to work with just professional athletes like my dad does. I guess the Clay South event was wonderful networking for the practice and hopefully for me professionally. I sure like the results of my personal networking. Colin and I reconnected and my career might be taking a new direction. Maybe Colin’s my muse or good luck charm?

“Sure. I’ll make some phone calls after lunch. JT Reynolds has an appointment with me for this week. I met him at the event, and he set up an appointment after I got back in town,” I inform my dad.

My dad stops pacing (thankfully!) and takes a seat. His face breaks into a big smile. Doctor Jack Collins is obviously very pleased with the news. “Wonderful, Caroline,” he pauses before changes the subject. “Now, let me get your thoughts regarding a case I have …”

* * *

I’ve checked up on the surgery patients that I had on Friday. They’re all doing well. I’ve seen two more patients this morning that need physical therapy and no surgery. I’ve referred them to our physical therapist on the other side of the floor. The clock says that it’s eleven o’clock, but my stomach says that it’s time for lunch now.

Brad’s waiting for me in my office, and his face breaks out in a huge smile when he sees me. We didn’t get to have our usual morning banter because my dad caught me as soon as I walked in. Brad’s antsy to get the scoop on my weekend. I haven’t told him yet that Colin is picking us up for lunch. Brad’s like a three-year-old. If I tell him exciting plans too soon, I have to hear him talk about it all day.

I decide to head Brad off at the pass. “I know that you’re nosey for details on my weekend. Here’s what you get… I had a great time. We ate wonderful food. I drank coffee at Café Du Monde. That’s the end of it. On the other hand, Colin’s picking us up for lunch in thirty minutes.” I decided to leave out the part that Colin wants me to move to Dallas and live with him and move my medical practice from Houston.

Brad looks pouty. His arms cross over his chest. He doesn’t ask for more details on my weekend, but I know him well enough to know that he’s not going to let me skate by with such little scoop.

I then shoo him out of my office and pull up the wait list on my computer for my dad’s side of the practice. I have a few minutes and decide to place a phone call to the first three football players on his list. I know who these guys are. They are in their thirties, they all have been pro bowlers at some point in their career, and they’re all most likely going to finish out their careers with the teams that they’re currently with.

I give myself a quick mental pep talk and make the first call. I wind up either leaving voicemails or messages with assistants, but at least I got the ball rolling. I mentally congratulate myself and grab my purse, and Brad, and head downstairs to meet Colin.

* * *

The three of us are seated at my favorite Mexican food restaurant. Thankfully, the hostess has tucked us into a corner. I noticed that Colin received a few second glances as we made our way through the dining room to our table. It could be that he’s so good looking that women were doing a double take, but I’m sure that some of the restaurant patrons recognize him. I remind myself that this is part of dating The Statement.

I started calling him my mission statement or statement for short when we began dating. He’s like a company’s mission statement. Colin McKinney was/is the complete package… charismatic, great looking, incredible athlete, funny, charming, loyal, and he has the biggest heart of anyone I know. Even when he’s not feeling well or in a bad mood, he signs autographs and talks to his fans. The downside to the mission statement is that he’s one of the most well-known men in the country, he’s been in
People Magazine’s
sexiest men issue, and models underwear so everyone in the world has seen his bulge.

Sure enough, we’ve no sooner placed our order with the waitress before his first fan makes his way to the table. I quickly shoot Brad a look to see what he thinks of the interruption, but I’m relieved to see that Brad is enjoying being a celebrity groupie.

Until our food is served, Colin either poses for pictures, signs autographs, or politely talks football with one person after another.

He keeps giving me a reassuring knee squeeze under the table or taking my hand. I try hard to not let my annoyance show. Colin doesn’t normally eat out in restaurants so I know that he’s trying hard to be “normal” for me. I’ve now been given a reminder taste of what it’s like to be in a public restaurant with The Statement, and I’m willing to cook more at home.

Finally, he says to the masses that are surrounding our table, “I’m sorry, but I need to eat lunch.” That seems to send “his biggest fans” back to their tables.

Colin picks up his fork and digs into his salad (who eats salad at a Mexican food restaurant?) and begins talking to Brad and me as if nothing out of the ordinary has just happened. Maybe for him it isn’t strange to have his lunch interrupted, but it is for me. We’re going to have to find a balance.