Tackled by Love (6 page)

The smell of bacon rouses me from my sleep, putting a smile on my face. Nothing like a good home cooked breakfast to get your day going. And, yes, I am living with my parents at the moment. I know, pathetic. Things went from bad to worse so quickly, my head was spinning and my mother insisted I move home so she could take care of me while my knee heals. She’s been fussing over me like a mother hen, and even though I pretend to be annoyed by it all, I kinda like it. That might make me a momma’s boy, but it’s been a long time since I’ve had this kind of treatment and I’m going to soak it up before I throw myself back into reality.

Everything has been a whirlwind since I made the decision to retire. After talking to my agent that night on the phone, he thought it was best to put together a press conference to make the big announcement. I seriously thought I was going to puke my fucking guts up all over the microphone as I told the world that I wouldn’t be able to play anymore. Rumors had been floating around, but no one was confirming anything, so when I finally uttered the most dreaded words in every athlete’s life, the room went up in a fury of shouted questions and lights flashing as photographers took my picture.

The next day I was back at the hospital having what I hope to be the last surgery ever on my knee. That sucked just about as bad as it did the last time. The doctor said something about scar tissue building up, making the surgery and recovery more difficult. All I know is it sucked ass.

To add more suckage on top of everything else, I got served divorce papers. Yep, Valerie didn’t want to stick it out. I know we fought and she told me she wanted a divorce, but I seriously thought she was just panicking a little and would come to her senses once the fog cleared from that brain of hers. Nope, no such luck there. I was a little shocked when I opened the envelope that contained the documents showing that she had filed. We’ve been together since we were 16 years old, but I guess that doesn’t mean shit when you become a spoiled bitch who’s only in it for the money. I wish I could say that looking back I should have seen the signs that she had turned into this person, but I didn’t. I know she liked to shop and buy expensive things, but I didn’t mind. I wanted to take care of her and provide her with nice shit. I felt it was the least I could do after what she’s sacrificed so that I could follow my career. Was that a sign that she was just like any other gold digger? Maybe, but to me, we had a solid marriage built on love, trust, friendship, and loyalty. I guess on her end it was built on money. And once that ran out, so did she. I’m not gonna lie, it fucking stings.

So here I sit, in the bedroom I grew up in, six weeks post-op, trying to decide what the hell I want to do with my life. I have a little back-up plan that I never in my dreams thought I’d need to use, but I’ll have to talk it over with my dad and see what he thinks about my idea.

As I walk down the hall toward the kitchen, I hear my parents talking to each other. When I notice they’re talking about me, I stop at the end of the hall and listen.

“I don’t know what to do for him,” my mom says. “He sits around all day in this, this…funk. He hardly leaves the house other than to go to physical therapy. He needs to get out more.” She starts stirring something she has on the stove.

“Cut him some slack, honey,” my dad tells her as he walks up behind her and starts rubbing her shoulders. “He’s got a lot going on. If he wants to lay around a little while he deals with everything, I think the kid is entitled.”

She lets out a loud sigh. “I know, I’m just worried about him and how he’s handling everything. I could kill Valerie right now.” At the sound of my soon-to-be ex-wife’s name, my attention perks up even more. “She should be the one taking care of him, standing by his side. I just can’t believe what a wretched person she turned out to be. I just want to wring her neck for hurting my baby.” At that, I hear her sniffling and I can’t take anymore.

“I’m fine, Mom.” I walk into the kitchen to make my presence known. I’m trying my best for casual, but I know my mom can read me like no other. She knows I’m hurting and there’s really no way of hiding it from her.

She wipes at her face before turning around and facing me. “I know you say you are, Landon, but I’m your mother and I know better. You’ve been home for three weeks and have hardly left the house. That’s just not healthy.” She begins to scoop eggs and bacon onto plates for the three of us.

“Am I upset? Yeah, I am, but I’m dealing with it. If that’s Valerie’s true colors, then I’m glad she left me. Can you imagine if we’d had kids? If anything, I dodged a bullet. I just need to get over the shock of it, that’s all. I promise I’m not in there listening to emo music and thinking about cutting my wrists, okay?” I give her a small smile to reassure her that I am going to be alright.

“Okay.” She has a tight smile on her face and her eyebrows furrow a little before asking, “But what’s emo?” I start laughing, and just like that, my mood is instantly lighter. I love being home.

***

After I get home from the physical therapist’s office, I take a shower. Once I’m dried off and dressed, I head to the living room to watch some SportsCenter. As soon as I turn it on, my face instantly forms a scowl. My
buddy
Brandon is sitting behind a microphone giving a statement of some kind. The ticker on the bottom of the screen says,

Brandon Smith finally speaks up about becoming the starting QB

That son of a bitch.

“I just want to say thanks to all those who supported me through the years,” he begins. “I always knew I’d get to this point, and I appreciate the faith others put in me. I’m real honored to be able to lead this team to victory and I will continue to do so by being a leader to the team as well as the outstanding player I know I’m capable of being. It’s a tough break for Landon, but I know I can be better than he was. I can get us to that Super Bowl. And I just want to say this to Landon; I hope you feel better soon and enjoy retirement.” He flashes a cocky grin and it takes all my inner strength not to limp to the TV and punch it. He’s such a cocky, narcissistic asshat and if I was still on the team I’d teach him a lesson in humility real fucking quick.

Something about the look on his face just doesn’t sit right with me. He was cocky like always, but it was almost like he knew something too. Either that or he’s just happy that I’m out and he’s in. Whatever the reason for that stupid-ass smile, he’s a real shithead. Who gets excited when a teammate is hurt? That fucker, that’s who.

I’m gonna need to blow off some steam tonight, so I text an old buddy of mine from way back in the day. He ran into me at the gas station my first week back while I was filling up my car on my way to physical therapy. We exchanged numbers and said we’d get a few beers one night to catch up. Looks like I’ll be taking him up on that offer tonight.

Me: Hey it’s Landon wanna grab some beer 2night?

A few minutes later my phone dings.

Elliot: Sounds good. What time so I can tell the Mrs?

Me: How’s 8?

Elliot: Works for me. Where at?

Me: There’s only 1 option in this small ass town, see you at Dale’s

Elliot: See you then.

***

I walk into Dale’s and look around for Elliot. I spot him sitting in one of the booths against the wall, close to the bar. Dale’s is a fairly small establishment that’s been around since I can remember. The lack of competition in this town is probably what keeps it open. If you want a beer, you come here or go to the next town over, so this is convenient. The place could definitely use a face lift, or even a decent cleaning would help. It’s kinda dingy in here with a stained tile floor, water stains in the ceiling, and some of the booths with tears in them. But that’s just Dale’s.

I shake hands with Elliot before taking a seat.

“How’s it going, man? What’s it been? Seven years or something like that?”

“Yeah, it’s been a while.” He holds up his hand for the waitress, who promptly comes over and takes our orders.

“Well, tell me what the hell you’ve been doing with your life over these years. I thought for sure you would’ve gotten out of here as soon as we graduated. What kept you here?” I nod my thanks to the waitress as she sets our beers down.

“Kelsey,” he states before taking a gulp of his beer.

“Oh, did she not want to move or something?”

“No, she wanted to, it just wasn’t exactly going to happen since we found out she was pregnant at the end of our senior year. We just never told anyone until after we graduated. By then, she was too far along to hide it anymore.”

My eyes go wide for a moment. I had no idea he had a kid, let alone one right out of high school. “Damn, I didn’t know you had a kid. So you decided to stay here close to family, is that it?”

“Yeah. We didn’t know what the hell we were doing. Her parents freaked and threatened to castrate me. It was bad. So my parents offered to let us move in and have the baby there until we got our shit together. Everything is good now, but it was real tough in the beginning.” He’s looking down at his beer like he’s lost in thought thinking back on those times. I can’t imagine taking care of a kid at 18. My biggest worry at that time was football.

I’m about to say something to change the subject to something less serious when out of the corner of my eye I catch sight of dark auburn hair. I look over and it’s almost like a flame. This woman’s back is to me, so I can’t see her face, but she’s standing directly under a light, making her already striking hair illuminate the area around her in a warm hue. It’s long, a little past her mid back, with a slight curl to it. She finally turns in my direction and I can’t take my eyes off of her. She’s with a group of people, but I don’t really see anyone else as I take her in from head to toe. She has a cute, button nose, perfect white teeth that she keeps flashing through her full, glossy lips that she spreads out into a smile. I can’t tell what color her eyes are from here, but they’re nice and big, standing out on her face, making her look almost exotic. She’s not dressed provocatively, quite the opposite actually. She’s wearing jeans and a simple tank top that shows off absolutely no cleavage, but with the way her jeans skim over her hips and her tank top floats over her chest and slim waist, I know she’s got to have a killer body hidden underneath all that. The fact that she’s not showing all her goods makes her just that more appealing to me.

She’s talking to one of the guys in her group, laughing at something he said when she looks in my direction and our eyes lock. The smile on her face slips as her gaze penetrates straight through me. I’ve never felt more bare in my life. I know that’s ridiculous, since she’s halfway across the room, but there’s something about her unwavering gaze that has me rooted to my spot. Squinting my eyes ever so slightly, I try to figure out where I’ve seen her before. There’s something about her that seems vaguely familiar, but I’m sure if I met someone that striking, I would have definitely remembered. Plus, I know just about everyone in this small town. She must be a transplant; someone who’s not from here. All too quickly, she breaks eye contact and looks down at the floor before giving her attention back to the guy she was talking to.

“Hello, earth to Landon.” Elliot’s waving his hand in my face trying to regain my attention.

“Uh, sorry, what did you say?”

“I asked how the knee was doing. What were you fixated on?” He cranes his neck looking around the bar. I glance back in the direction where the auburn beauty was standing and she’s gone. I feel a tinge of disappointment and I’m not even sure why. I know nothing about the girl, but for some reason I wanted to know her. I know I sound crazy, but she was drawing me in and if our eyes had stayed locked for one more second, there’s no doubt in my mind I would’ve gotten up and stolen her away from her companions.

“I wasn’t fixated on anything, just lost in thought, I guess.” I’m trying to hide the fact that I was openly gawking at a woman in the bar. “The knee feels fine, thanks for asking.”

After that, I don’t see her again. Every now and then I’d take a quick look around Dale’s hoping to catch one more glimpse of her so I could talk to her, but she’s just disappeared. Like she never even existed and she was a figment of my imagination. Soon enough, the bartenders announce its last call, and Elliot and I head out.

God, I’m such a juvenile. I don’t know what my problem is, but I had to get out of that bar. I’m not comfortable having that kind of attention on me. My face felt flushed from such scrutiny, so I didn’t have much of a problem convincing my friends that I suddenly felt ill. My best friend, Layla, said she’d ride home with me, but she clearly wasn’t buying my excuse.

“Okay, spill,” she demands from the passenger seat.

I try to play stupid, hoping she’ll drop it. “What do you mean?” I don’t take my eyes off the road as I continue driving.

“You are not sick and I can tell you’re keeping something from me. I want to know what it is.”

“It’s really not a big deal. I just didn’t feel like being there anymore.” I shrug in an effort to appear nonchalant. Layla doesn’t say anything in response, but I can feel her staring a hole in the side of my face the whole way home.