Strong Enough (14 page)

The bar hasn’t changed a bit. Same floor,
same tables, same bar and same jukebox. I just stepped back in time
six years ago, and it is surreal. Only thing not the same is the
staff. We are stopped by a bouncer for ID’s. Fishing in my purse
for my wallet I am not paying attention when I am grabbed around
the waist and hoisted up. “What the FUCK!” I scream while looking
down to see it is Danny. “DANNY!” My scream of irritation turning
into one of excitement. Placing me back on my own two feet I get my
wits about me.

“She doesn’t need ID Mark, this is Reece.”
Plastering his face with a big cheesy grin. “The Reece? Wow nice to
meet you!” Mark said while sticking his hand out to me. I am a
little sheepish about the being referred to as
The Reece
and unsure what all that entails. Shaking
his hand. “Nice to meet ya as well, this is my friend Zane…”

“Zane Bauer, man, it’s awesome to meet you!”
A very excited Mark cuts me off. “Man you don’t know how much of a
fan I am. Bro, I know it’s uncool to ask, but aw shit I don’t care,
can I get an autograph?”

Hearing him ask for Zane’s autograph was
odd.
What the fuck?
I have failed to
ask Zane about what he does as Blake had suggested. Guess the
timing just hasn’t been right.

“Sure man, no problem at all, got a pen?”
Zane nonchalantly responds as he takes the pen from Mark and signs
a napkin.

Turning to look at me, who is giving him a
definite look of
What the hell is that
about
, he is chuckling and tells me to scoot and he will
explain later.
Explain later? So not
cool.

“Danny this is Zane, Zane, this is my um
Uncle Danny.”

“Zane doesn’t need an introduction do you
son?” Danny says slapping Zane on the shoulder a few times.

“Good to see you Danny, how are you?” Zane
laughs out.

“Wait, you two know each other?”

Once again I get a look from Zane and now
from Danny. “Yeah I met Danny a few years back at an, uh, event.”
The look between the two had me curious, but I’m letting it go.
“Hmmm ok, well then now that everyone knows everyone, I need a
drink and a table!”

Danny motions to the bartender who walks
right over. “Table 12 and 2 vodka waters with limes and keep them
coming.”

“Hey Danny, this will be the first time I
have ever had a drink in the bar, feels kind of weird.”

“Tell me about it kiddo, I’ve seen your
naked ass as a kid, this seems wrong,” he said with a chuckle as he
walked over to the jukebox. I watch him punch a music change and
listen as the familiar sound of the steel guitar and drums start in
on an even beat. Turning around with a smile from ear to ear, he is
walking towards me. “Come on kiddo, it’s our song, take a spin with
me,” he says holding his left hand over his stomach and his right
hand swinging his hips from side to side and two stepping.

“Who could resist an offer like that,” I
chuckle as I walk up and take my position in his right hand.
Listening to Tracey Lawrence sing takes me to a special place with
Danny. Anytime something changed in life, no matter how big or
small, Danny would hit this song on the jukebox and dance with me.
The words stuck with me over the years, through everything “Time
Marches On.”

It has been years since I two stepped but it
didn’t take but a second to get back into it. Moving around the bar
as we danced I couldn’t help myself from singing.

…South moves North, the North moves South, A star is
born, as star burns out. The only thing that stays the same is
everything changes, everything changes…

… Time marches on, time marches on.

As the song finishes we stop dancing. “Still the
sweetest sound I have ever heard kiddo.” Kissing my forehead
lightly. “I wish you didn’t hide it from everyone else.”

Just another thing I changed about myself. I
have always loved music, but besides Danny, Jodi and my mom, no one
knows I sing or that I can play a few different musical
instruments. The guitar has always been my favorite and I can thank
Danny for teaching me how to play when I was younger.

“Yeah well, things change and you should be
honored you get to hear me at all old man.” Slapping his shoulder
lightly.

“HEY, watch who you’re calling old
kiddo.”

Walking toward Zane I toss my right hand in
the air and wave off Danny. I love that guy.

“So, little country two stepping I see,” he
says taking a drink of his vodka water.

“Why, do you dance?” Questioning his
question.

“Ha, alcohol does wonders.”

I can’t help but laugh at his response,
especially since it’s true. “Up for a little pool game?” I ask
walking toward table 12 as he follows.

Setting the rack down on the felt. “Ok Zane,
you have some questions to answer, who the heck are you?” I
continue as I begin to rack the balls.

“Ok Reece, same question, who the heck are
you?”

I realize he is not going to answer
questions easily, but then again, I’m not going to answer at
all.

“Tell you what Reece, let’s put a little
wager on the game. For each ball either of us hits in, the other
person has to answer a question. Any question they want to ask. Are
you game?”

My first instinct is to say HELL NO, but
then it dawns on me, he doesn’t know I’m good. This could be very
interesting. Never try to hustle a hustler.

“Deal, any question?” Leaning against the
table and chalking my stick.

“Yep and no backing out of the question
either, I’ll even let you break,” he said confidently.

Not turning down an easy opportunity I nod
and walk to the end of the table. I watch him check the rack and
position it for me. Deep breaths in, I position the cue off to the
right just a bit, lean in, take aim while pulling back and release
with force. I exhale when I hear the crack of the cue and watch as
the balls distribute across the table. A solid drops in the side
pocket and then a strip in the corner.
CRAP!
Irritated I tell Zane the table is open.

Walking around the table he is eyeing his
shot. There are plenty of open shots for him to take. Leaning down
he aims for a solid ball that he easily makes in.
Yeah saw that happening.
“Nice shot there big guy.”
Trying hard not to let my frustration show.

“Ok first question is what is your favorite
color?” He said smiling.

“Really? That’s your question?”

“Yep, never said the question had to be
earth shattering, and I figured I needed to start you out slow.”
His eyes glistening with sarcasm.

“That is all under the assumption you will
get to ask more questions.” I said with a curt smile.

“Blue.”

He doesn’t comment only gives a sweet smile
and moves on to his next shot. Eyeing the table again he sees a
shot leans down and takes it, and of course it goes in. Ok two easy
shots this will end soon.

“What’s your middle name?” He says with an
eyebrow raised.

I can’t help but chuckle at the obscure
question but don’t mind answering. “Victoria.”

“Reece Victoria Miller, I like it,” he says
with a toothy grin.

“Thanks, my dad did too.” As I tilted my
head and offering a bat of the eyes and an innocent smile.

Bopping his head up and down in acceptance
of my response he circles the table for his next shot. This time he
just misses the pocket, turning the table over to me.

My first shot goes in easily. “Ok Mr. Bauer,
first question, why did Mark ask for your autograph?”

He leans against the barstool behind him,
ankles and arms crossed. Looking down at his feet he slowly looks
up, his beautiful brown eyes shining at me. “Well Reece, he
probably asked for my autograph because he is a fan.”

“Fan huh? Fan of what exactly?”

Shaking his index finger left and right at
me. “Nuh uh, Ms. Miller, one question per shot made.”

Immediately my hands shoot to my hips in
protest. “But you didn’t answer my question.”

“Ah but I did, you asked why Mark asked for
my autograph and I said probably because he’s a fan, question
answered,” he says in all seriousness.

“Fine if that’s how we are going to play
this game….” I say with a pout and turn to take my next shot which
I didn’t even take too much effort in the shot but still cleared it
easily.

“Ok next question. What would Mark be a fan
of that involved you?”

Laughing, “I see someone is getting
impatient on the 2nd question.” I don’t find it funny and show him
so with my expression.

“Ok ok…. He’s a fan because I played pro
football for four years as a defensive end for the Texans until I
was injured. That is why most people ask for my autograph, because
they followed my career.”

Looking a little stunned, I’m not sure what
to say. I have been a football fan all my life. I have even been a
Texans fan. But since my dad passed I stopped paying attention to
the players’ names and just looked to see if they won or lost and
rooted when they were on television.

“Ok well I feel dumb! I can’t believe I
didn’t connect who you are with who you were.”

He responds with just a shake of his head
leading me to think I might have offended him. Way to go
genius.

“Ok that didn’t come out right. I didn’t
mean to say you were two different people.”

He’s laughing. “I’m not offended I knew what
you meant. Now shoot so you can miss and I get another shot at a
question.”

His smug over confident attitude was both
irritating and attractive. I happily obliged him without missing
the shot.

“How did you get injured?” Asking to be
curious.

“I was in my 4th year with the Texans. It
was our first playoff game against the Colts. They had the ball on
the 30 yard line. Ball was hiked and I took off for the quarterback
but was hit head on by a Colts player. We both were knocked out
cold and both carted off the field. Other guy just had a concussion
and went back to playing. I didn’t end up so lucky. I had a few
slip discs in my spine but what kept me from going back to the game
was a traumatic brain injury. When I was hit the lower part of my
brain was damaged from being slammed up against my skull and I had
severe swelling. I was in the hospital for a month in an induced
coma while my brain took time to heal. Once the swelling subsided,
I was told that the injury I had could have been life threatening
and that returning to football and potentially having another big
hit like that could paralyze me or worse kill me. That made it
pretty clear that playing was no longer in my cards and so I
retired.”

Hearing him talk about potentially dying
from playing football seems surreal. I could see the anguish on his
face as he talked about the hospital but more when he talked about
not being able to return to football. Having to give up something
you love like that all because someone didn’t follow the rules and
head-butted you just seemed wrong.

It’s taking me a minute to bring my focus
back to the task at hand.
Get your shit
together girl you have a game to win.
I must be thinking
about what Zane has gone through when I take my shot because I
missed.

Seeing my failed attempt he pops up real
quick grabbing his stick and quickly sinking a ball.
Just great Reece WTF.

“
Yea
h yeah no
gloating, what’s the question?”

I provoke hoping to get my question over
with quickly.

He shifts his weight and props his elbow on
the arm he is resting against his chest and is rubbing his chin
with one eyebrow raised. Man he can get that eyebrow to arch.

“Don’t rush me. I have limited opportunity
to learn about you I have to ask strategic questions,” he said with
a smile.

I think my pursed lips and eye roll were
effective.

“What are three things I don’t know about
you?”

“That’s not a question…. Try again…”

“What do you mean it’s not a question? If I
wrote it out there would be a question mark at the end of the
statement hence a question… So, what are three things I don’t know
about you?”

Obviously I am going to lose this battle,
but I’m not sure how to answer this question.

“Fine, have it your way. 1. I am a five time
collegiate amateur pool player…”

He stops me from continuing. “Nope start
over already knew that.”

Sighing heavily, “Okay then, did you know I
took ballet when I was younger? Yeah didn’t think so. 2. I can
recite Pi to the 50th place and 3. I am an organized mess when it
comes to my closet.” Smiling at him, pleased with my answers.

“Well well, talented and smart I like that,”
he says with a wink.

It was that moment that I felt it, a feeling
I haven’t felt in years, a rumble in the stomach that made me want
to smile and throw up at the same time. He gave me the butterflies,
full on flutters. A wink gave me butterflies? This is not good.

“Just take your shot.” Was the only comeback
I had when part of me wants to walk over and kiss the living shit
out of him and I have NO idea why!

I’m watching him lean over the rail to shoot
and find myself actually licking my lips. Seeing his ass bent over
and the muscles in his back through his shirt has stirred something
up in me. Drifting off into a daydream, I’m picturing him above me.
His bare chest moving in and out inches from me. Arms stretched out
on both sides of my head as he holds himself up show the size and
strength of his arms with their rippled muscles. His shoulders
hunched down just enough to put his face inches from mine. His lips
so close I can smell the sweet smell of spearmint on his breath. I
lean up just a fraction to….

“Hello? Reece? You in there?” He says waving
his hand back and forth in front of my face bringing me out of my
daydream. Attempting to regain my composure to look at him in the
face after what I was just dreaming about I stammer out, “Um yeah
I’m good, sorry, um who’s shot?”