From Now Until Infinity (2) (16 page)

Before he can answer me, I walk into the locker room and take a three minute shower and throw my dress on ditching my scrubs. Colin’s gone when I come out. I sigh in relief. Hopefully, he’s either working out with one of the trainers or has gone home. I don’t want JT and Colin running into each other.

Brad has a sandwich waiting for me in my office. I take one look at it and my stomach turns. The wilted lettuce on it is enough to make me lose my appetite for a week. I toss it in the garbage. My phone’s sitting in the middle of my desk, and there’s a note next to it.

First I read Brad’s note, “I’m not sure what is going on with you and Colin, but he looked pitiful when he came looking for you. He makes you happy. Forgive him.” I roll my eyes at the paper. That’s all I need is for Brad to jump ship and join Team Colin. I continue reading, “JT called and said that he’s going to be late. I notified the trainers working with Colin, and they’ll make sure that Colin and JT don’t see each other. No one else called. I’ll be at the dentist getting three cavities filled. Don’t call me. I can’t talk.”

I sit there for a second relieved that JT is running late. I’m not hungry, but I’m mentally spent and need a few minutes of quiet. I close my eyes and lean back in my desk chair. I don’t fall asleep, but I do rest until the reception desk notifies me that JT’s in an exam room and ready to be seen.

Before I leave my office, I send Colin a text.

Me: I hated waking up alone. I’m sorry that you’re upset. I love you, and I have a surprise evening planned. Be home by 4:15.

I slip my phone in my lab coat pocket not expecting to hear back from Colin, but almost instantly, I feel my phone vibrating.

Colin: I’m miserable that you woke up alone. You should never do that again. I love you. I’ll see you at home.

Chapter Eight

MY APPOINTMENT with JT went better than hoped. He’s a great player in exceptional shape and has a long career ahead of him. He complained of chronic ankle pain. I gave him a shot of cortisone and prescribed some exercises for him to do to strengthen the muscles. He made a follow up appointment to come in next week.

I turned George Strait’s Greatest Hits on my car stereo to keep me company on my drive home from work. Hopefully, Colin’s waiting for me. Today started off awful, but I’m determined that tonight will be one of the best nights of our lives. Whatever took Colin away from me last night and this morning will just have to wait until tomorrow. We’ll deal with it then.

I hang my purse on its special hook and put my keys where they belong. The house is quiet, but I know that Colin’s home because his car is parked outside. I make my way to the second floor. Empty.

“That’s odd,” I think. He’s usually waiting for me in his office or the living room. I check the time on my watch. It’s 4:30. The security team will be here in thirty minutes.

I make my way upstairs to my third floor bedroom. The smell of roses hits me like a typhoon wave. It’s so overpowering that it’s almost nauseating. I know that they’re apology roses. Hopefully, Colin’s not going to be too upset when the proverbial garden that has sprung up around my bed is moved outside.

There he is. My beautiful man is soaking in my bathtub. “Hey, gorgeous. Care to join me?” He asks timidly motioning for me to come towards him.

I don’t. Instead I lean against the door frame. “I could have sworn when I got up this morning… Alone,” I add for effect. “There were no flowers in our room.”

He flashes me the patented Colin McKinney half smile and replies, “Just my way of saying that I’m sorry for you having to go to bed and wake up alone.”

“They’re beautiful, Colin, but I don’t need roses to know that you’re sorry.” I quickly add, “But, I don’t want to talk about it. Tonight’s my turn to surprise you. So, no, I don’t want to join you in the bath. I want you to get out. Put on your cowboy finest because we’re going to the rodeo.”

Colin sits up straighter and a worried look crosses his face. The lines around his eyes deepen. Before he can say anything, I reassure him that Jenny and Brad have set up security for us, and they’ll be here shortly.

Colin looks away from me and replies, “Thank you. I’m sorry that you had to do that.”

“It’s all part of you being my Statement, right? Now, get out of that tub. I want to ride the Ferris wheel, eat fried Twinkies, and dance to George Strait.” I say the last part very nonchalantly.

His beautiful green eyes grow wide in surprise, “Are you kidding? George Strait! Wow!”

He leaps out of the tub in one fluid movement, grabs me, and spins us around my bathroom giggling like a little boy on Christmas morning. I’m now soaking wet, but I just don’t care. I’ve made him this happy.

I finally feel like I’ve found a way to do something special for him. When we were dating previously, Colin became a professional quarterback making millions off of endorsement deals. I was a very poor college student. He was constantly buying me gifts, expensive purses, a luxury car, trips, clothes, and electronics. I never felt that I could reciprocate his generosity. It made me feel like a mistress or kept woman. Now, I can afford to give Colin presents and special treats like tonight.
What a magical feeling!

Sure enough, at five o’clock a black SUV pulls up outside. Colin is decked out in blue jeans, boots, a navy blue and white striped shirt, and a belt buckle that screams “I’m a cowboy.” He has mentioned at least ten times how disappointed he is that he doesn’t have his cowboy hat. I’m a bit disappointed also. Mental pictures of a naked Colin in just a cowboy hat are swoon worthy.

I’m wearing jeans, a form fitting light pink sweater, cowboy boots, and my cowboy hat. I grab my phone, and Colin holds it at arm’s length snapping a picture of us. He hands me back my phone so I can check and make sure I like the pic. Not bad! He looks like a Greek god, and I look like a mortal. But, it’s our first picture together as a couple, and I love it. I quickly make it the background of my phone, and Colin does the same. We both look at each other and grin. It’s a mutual acknowledgement grin that “Yes! Indeed. We’re THAT couple.”

Before we head outside to the waiting SUV, Colin pulls me to him with a very serious look on his face. I know that he’s about to start lecturing me about security so I stop him before he can begin. “Jenny has talked to the security team, and the rodeo’s providing additional security. We are going to be fine, Colin.”

“I’m not worried about me. I’m worried about you. You need to promise me that you’ll not go all Charlie on me and do what you want when you want to do it. We need to stay together and let security do their job.” He takes my chin and tilts it up so I’m looking in his eyes. “It scares the shit out of me to take you into a public place with so many people.”

“I’m taking you to the rodeo. You aren’t taking me. I’ll be fine. And by the way, I had no idea that Charlie now has an alternate meaning ‘to be independent.’” Is he for real? I’ve been going to the rodeo since I was kid. We’ll be fine. I’ve also been by his side through the Texas A&M football mania days when we were mobbed every time we stepped foot in public. I’ve been through his rookie season of professional football. I know what going into public is like for Colin.

The SUV driver drops us off at a special VIP entrance for Reliant Stadium. A team of three guys who look like their chests ate their necks flank us while the two rodeo security people with walkie talkies accompany us into the fair. I pretend that it’s perfectly normal for two adults on a date to be accompanied by five large men.

One of the rodeo security people introduces himself as Butch. He asks us where we want to go first. Colin looks at me, and winks. “I believe that the lady wants to ride the Ferris Wheel.”

I practically squeal with excitement. Although I’m not a huge fan of heights, I love the Ferris Wheel. My sister Julie and I would ride it three and four times in a row when we were kids and came to the rodeo.

Butch radios someone and says that we’re moving towards the Ferris Wheel. Our group of security closes in around us as we make our way through the carnival.

I’m assaulted by all the familiar smells and sounds of the rodeo. There’s the rich scent of mesquite wood burning as it cooks brisket, chicken, sausage, turkey, and whatever else that they’ve thought of to smoke. Then, of course, as we get near the animals you can’t miss the smell of animal poop. Colin laughs and whispers to me, “it smells like the locker room after a game.”

The screams of children’s laughter are magical in the evening air. Kids are happily spinning around on the carousel and jumping in large bounce houses. We pause for a moment while we watch a boy about six-years-old throw darts at a balloon. He manages to pop three and win a small stuffed animal. His parents proudly high-five him. I study Colin’s face while he watches the family’s interaction. He’s envious. I know that he wants a child badly, and seeing all the smiles and laughter of the kids having a good time softens my heart considerably toward the idea. I can see us bringing our children here, but I’m reminded that they too will be flanked by security. It makes me sad but only for a split second.

Colin takes my hand as we continue on our quest for the Ferris Wheel. I’m momentarily distracted by the pig races. “Oh Colin!” I squeal. “Can we stop and watch the pig races?”

“Anything for you, baby,” he whispers to me kissing my forehead.

“Butch! We want to watch the pig races.” Colin calls out to a very serious looking Butch. I can tell that Butch is not pleased with my detour.

Security surrounds us as we take a seat on the bleachers inside the arena. I explain to Colin that the pigs race for Oreo cookies, and that each section of the bleachers is assigned a pig. It’s our job to cheer that pig on to victory.

Colin flashes me his half smile. “Care to make a friendly wager on pig races?”

“No!” I jab in the ribs. “This’s fun, not competitive.” I can’t believe that I just said that. I think that having the security around us is making me want us to be on the same team right now.

I had forgotten to mention that the pigs are named after celebrities, and the announcer makes terrible pig jokes the whole time. It’s great entertainment!

We’re introduced to the first set of piglets. They’re Harry Porker, Spamela Anderson, Taylor Swine, and Katy “Piggy” Perry. Our section is cheering for Taylor Swine. I clap my hands with excitement. Colin looks at me so amused. He leans in and whispers, “I don’t think that I’ve ever seen you this cute.”

I kiss his cheek. I feel like a kid again. I’m the kid before my dad left my mom, and my control issues sprang up. I’m a kid at the rodeo watching pig races. I scream my head off for Taylor Swine. Colin even gets in to it and laughs as the poor little guy comes in second, but gets his Oreo cookie anyway.

The announcer spots Colin in the crowd and points toward us. Colin shoots me a look of horror, and I just shrug my shoulders. The announcer says, “Looky folks who we have here. It’s Oinken McKinney.”

Colin stands and waves as some people clap and others boo. This’s Houston after all, and Houstonians pretty much hate Dallas football. I touch Colin’s thigh, and he flashes me the “I’m going to murder you when I get you home” look. I bat my eyelashes back at him and smile. I know that he can’t resist me.

Cameras around the arena are soon whipped out and we’re barraged by flashes. I pretend that I’m bored with the pig races and ask to leave. We exit and continue walking toward the Ferris Wheel. Butch is much happier that I’m not distracting us from our destination by stopping every few feet.

I notice as we get to closer to the Ferris Wheel that news of Colin’s presence must have spread because people are pointing at him or snapping his picture. I’m very thankful for the security around us because if it was just the two of us, I think we might be surrounded by fans right now. No ones being overly aggressive or anything. We’re just being pointed at and whispered about like we’re animals at the zoo.

The Ferris Wheel is stopped so we quickly get seated in the swinging seat and are buckled in. Colin pulls me tightly to his side and kisses my head. “Thank you. This’s been a blast so far, and we haven’t even made it into the rodeo.”

I’m beaming. I snuggle into his side and enjoy my favorite ride, well, with my favorite ride. When we get to the top, we can see all the way to downtown. The sun is sitting and it’s picturesque. The rodeo is far below us. All we can hear is muffled crowd noises, mixed with carnival music. We’re all alone at the top of the world. Colin leans over and tilts my cowboy hat up so he can capture my mouth. We make out like two horny teenagers. It’s what you’re supposed to do at the top of the Ferris Wheel. When the Ferris Wheel begins to spin again, I notice that a crowd has gathered beneath us. People are snapping pictures of us and pointing.

I wrap my arms around Colin’s neck and pull him to me kissing him like crazy again. Distraction is what I’m going for. Every second that Colin and I can be just the two of us is a victory in my book.

He pulls away first, shaking his head at my bravado, and looks at me with a sparkle in his eyes. “Charlie, you better slow it down or I’m going to take you right here on this Ferris Wheel.”

Giggling, I reply as I look around appraisingly at the car that we're sitting in. “Maybe. I like the way that the car swings.” Raising my eyebrow, “It could be interesting.”

I’m rewarded by Colin kissing my forehead. Then, he notices the crowd. His face goes from boyishly playful to the weight of the world on his shoulders.

“It’s okay. That’s why we have security,” I try to reassure him. I know that my reaction to the situation dictates his mood, and I’m determined for us to have a great time.

When it’s our turn to step off the ride, security tightly surrounds us and Butch asks, “Where to next?”

“Oh!” I squeal. “I want a fried Twinkie.”

Colin scolds me as if he were my dad. “You haven’t even had dinner yet.”

“So what? It’s the rodeo,” I kiss his cheek. “Live a little.”

Security forms a tight circle - putting their arms out to keep a barrier between us and Colin’s fans. Colin pulls me to him and very protectively places his large arm around me. I look up and give him my best reassuring smile. I hope that by showing him that I’m okay, he’ll relax a little.