“Nothing. I’m just ready to get back home.”
“Deirdre Smallwood, what is going on with you? Did something happen between you and Theo?”
Deirdre expelled a deep, frustrated sigh. “Just give it a rest, Paige. Can we please just get through this game and get back to New York?”
“Well, you need to put on a happy face because there is more than just a game to get through,” Paige hedged.
Deirdre looked at her, a sense of dread trailing down her spine. “What?” she intoned, her voice colored with a warning her sister-in-law had better heed if she knew what was good for her.
“Torrian was feeling really bad about the two of us having abandoned you all week, so…he set up a surprise party.”
Deirdre’s eyes slid shut and she let out a groan.
“It’s nothing too big,” Paige said. “Just a few snacks and a cake. He’s very proud of his little surprise.”
“Please tell me he didn’t invite anyone else.”
“He didn’t invite Theo, if that’s what you’re afraid of. It’s not as if he would be able to leave the broadcast booth to join us anyway.” Paige reached over and grabbed her hand. She gave it a squeeze. “What happened, Deirdre?”
Deirdre’s shoulders fell. “He found the list,” she said.
“And?” Paige asked.
“And?” Deirdre returned in a matching incredulous tone. “He didn’t really like seeing his seduction as something to be checked off on my list.”
“Oh, come on. He should have been flattered.”
“Really?” Deirdre asked. “Think back to when you and Torrian first started dating. How would you have felt if you’d found a piece of paper with ‘Seduce Paige’ written on it in Torrian’s bedroom?”
Paige winced. “I would have kicked his ass.”
“Exactly,” Deirdre said. She shook her head. “I should have just showed him the list from the very beginning. We probably would have had a laugh over it, and that would be that. It seems even more malicious to have kept it from him.”
“Deirdre, there is not a malicious bone in your body. Theo knows that. Don’t let this spoil your birthday, honey. Theo’s going to come to his senses.”
“What if he doesn’t?” she asked, an ache twisting in her chest at the thought.
Paige squeezed her hand. “He will,” she said. Then she asked, “Are you sorry you wrote the list?”
Deirdre didn’t even hesitate. “Not one bit. I’ve discovered an entirely new side to myself that I never knew existed. I cannot be sorry about that. And you know what?” Deirdre continued. “It’s not over. This list was just the start. Now that I’ve accomplished it, I’m going to write another one and another one.”
“Good for you,” Paige said.
“I realize that it wasn’t about checking the items off, it was about actually doing them. It’s the journey that makes it special. The destination is just my reward for seeing things all the way through.”
“Look at you,” Paige marveled. “You really have changed this week, and it looks wonderful on you, Deirdre. You’ve earned this.”
“Yes, I have,” she said. “And I plan to soak up every single moment for the rest of my life.”
The scene that greeted them when they arrived at Aloha Stadium reminded Deirdre of a street bazaar. Vendors lined the roads leading to the stadium, hawking their wares. Music pumped from speakers and the smells of traditional Hawaiian foods wafted through the air. Paige directed the driver to take them to a huge luxury mobile home parked in the parking lot.
“What’s all this?” Deirdre asked.
“Torrian rented the mobile home since the stadium doesn’t have luxury suites,” Paige explained as she checked her cell phone. “Okay, he’s there.” She turned to Deirdre. “Torrian only has a few minutes before he has to get back to the locker room. Remember, Dee, act surprised. And smile.”
“I’ll try,” Deirdre said.
It had not been hard to accomplish. Seeing the trouble her brother had gone through to throw her this little celebration was enough to bring a genuine smile to Deirdre’s face. A couple of the wives and girlfriends of the Sabers coaching staff were also there; women Deirdre didn’t know all that well, but who were generous enough to help her celebrate this milestone birthday.
Torrian left after about ten minutes, but the rest of them decided to enjoy the air-conditioned comfort of the motor home until game time. Deirdre sliced her birthday cake and helped Paige dish out coconut-flavored ice cream. They all reclined on the motor home’s surprisingly large sofa and plush chairs, chatting while the pre-game coverage aired on a forty-two-inch flat panel television.
Deirdre put on a brave front, but her heart twisted a little every time Theo’s face came on the screen. She pretended to tune him out as he conducted several live interviews outside the locker room, but she could not maintain her disinterested façade once Theo returned to the desk and starting speaking.
“Before this next story airs, I need to preface it with an apology to my teammates,” Theo began.
The entire mobile home grew quiet as everyone’s attention turned to the television. Paige looked over at Deirdre and raised her eyebrows in question. Deirdre lifted her shoulders. She had no idea what this was about.
“For the past couple of years, people have crowned the New York Sabers the NFL’s ‘It’ team. Due to some key acquisitions during the NFL Draft and free agency period, the team has been hailed as Super Bowl favorites. What people tend to forget is that this is professional football. On any given Sunday, every single player in this league straps on their shoulder pads with the intention of beating their opponent. No one team is guaranteed to make it to the Super Bowl. And it’s unfair to put that type of pressure on any one organization.
“The piece you are about to see, in my opinion, unfairly judges the New York Sabers. I was a member of this team for twelve years. I made the promise to the people of New York to bring them a championship, and I never got it done.
“I take full responsibility for the part I’ve played in disappointing longtime Sabers fans. I stand with my former teammates—my brothers—who put everything they have into this team in every single game.”
Theo looked straight at the camera.
“I apologize to the Sabers organization for any hard feelings this next piece may bring. It was never my intention to cast the franchise in an unflattering light.”
The camera shot back to Dan Bates, who opened his mouth, then closed it. “Well, uh, with that, here’s the story Theo was just referring to, asking the question ‘Why have the New York Sabers failed to make it to the Super Bowl these past few years?’”
They all watched the story with rapt attention, wincing at the montage of bad plays from the past season that lead to the Sabers’ early exit from the playoffs. Seeing as every woman in the mobile home had some tie to the Sabers, the reaction to the story bordered on caustic, with grunts, snorts and a fair amount of colorful swearing.
Deirdre finally understood why Theo had been so upset the other night. Despite her resentment over the reference to the eye condition her brother had hid from the team, and how it may have contributed to the Sabers’ loss in the NFC championship several years ago, her heart broke for Theo. Having to say such things about his former team had to be torture for him.
“That was an interesting piece,” Dan Bates started. “But Theo made a valid point about putting unwarranted pressure on certain teams. Is it fair to blame the Sabers for not making it to the Super Bowl? What do you think, Clyde?”
As the commentators went back and forth over the merits of the story, all Deirdre could think about was finding Theo and enveloping him in a hug. With the way he had been treated by many of his teammates this week, he should have relished airing that story.
But he had chosen to admit his faults on national television and shoulder the blame with his brothers. She could not be prouder.
Paige came up alongside her, sipping a can of soda. “Well, that was interesting,” she said. “And selfless. He didn’t have to do that.”
“Yes, he did,” Deirdre said. “That’s just the type of man he is.”
And just one of the reasons she loved him so much.
After the way he’d stormed out of her room last night and the way he’d ignored her at the competition this morning, the old Deirdre would have tucked her tail between her legs and retreated into her shell, but this new Deirdre wasn’t willing to let Theo go without a fight. Paige had maintained that he would eventually come around after he had time to get over his anger. Deirdre would give him some space, but not too much. She loved Theo too much to allow that silly list to come between them. She had a brand-new world to explore, and she was determined to start her adventure with the man she loved at her side.
Chapter 14
Trepidation slowed Theo’s steps as he returned to the NFC team’s locker room. He had no doubts he had done the right thing by prefacing his story on the Sabers with an apology to the team, but he wasn’t sure if the damage that had already been done to his friendships was too far gone.
His cameraman, Charlie, stopped just outside the door and peered at his watch. “We’re early. We told Coach Foster we’d meet him out here at one.”
“I’ll get him,” Theo said, moving toward the door.
“We don’t have locker room privileges before the game,” Charlie said.
“I know,” Theo said as he walked through the door. And if he was tossed out on his butt, he’d know just where he stood with his former team.
Upon entering the locker room, the first person Theo spotted was Kendall Fisher, clad in his dark blue uniform pants.
Oh, great.
Kendall sauntered up to him. When he stuck out his palm, the tension that had tightened Theo’s muscles melted away. He accepted his former teammate’s hand, a relieved smile edging his lips.
“That was decent of you,” Kendall said.
“So you guys saw it?” Theo asked.
Kendall nodded. “The story itself was completely bull, but then, it’s the media, what else can you expect?”
Theo barked out a laugh. “I can’t argue with you on that one.”
“Honestly, man, I appreciate it. We all know you’re in a tough spot, but I never should have doubted your loyalty to the team.”
Theo gave his ex-teammate a pat on the shoulder as Kendall headed to his cubby to finish suiting up. He pivoted and found Cedric standing a few feet away, his face void of emotion. The lightheartedness of the moment he’d just had with Kendall evaporated.
Suddenly, Theo was tired. Utterly drained.
He held his hands out in surrender. “I can’t do this anymore, Ced. You decide: are we going to be boys or not?”
Cedric folded his arms across his chest. “I was getting taped up, so I missed your story on the Sabers,” Cedric started. “I did catch what you said earlier, though, about me being slighted by the Pro Bowl committee in previous years.”
“It’s the truth,” Theo said. And, even though he realized it could be the nail in the coffin of his friendship with Cedric, he added, “But I still feel the same way about you making the team this year. I never got the chance to explain why, but if you’ll give me two minutes, I’d like to.”
Cedric’s jaw tightened, but he nodded.
Just as he had explained it to Deirdre, Theo told him about other players whose contribution to their team had made all the difference.
“You were out three games this season, and the Sabers still managed to win all of them. You weren’t the X-factor in the same way those other guys were. That’s the only reason I thought they deserved it more than you this year, Ced.” Theo held his hand out in a feeble plea for understanding. “You know how much I believe in you. And you know I’d rather do just about anything than hurt one of you guys. You, Torrian, Jared…you three are the brothers I never had.
“But this is my career, Cedric, and I may have to say things in the future that you aren’t happy about. You have to decide if you’re going to let that get in the way of our friendship. I don’t think it has to, but if you do.” Theo hunched his shoulders.
The moments that passed seemed to take a lifetime before Cedric finally said, “Thanks for explaining it.” He looked away, then brought his eyes back to Theo’s. “I’m sorry I didn’t give you a chance to do that earlier. I get where you’re coming from now.”
The relief he felt nearly brought Theo to his knees.
“I was really angry, Theo,” Cedric continued. “I won’t lie. I was ready to write you off, but I know I wasn’t being fair to you.” He paused. “Well, Payton showed me how unfair I was being to you. That wife of mine is pretty smart. And bossy,” Cedric added with a grin.
“She’s perfect for you,” Theo said.
Cedric nodded, and then he held out a hand.
Theo bit his bottom lip, his throat tightening with emotion as he clasped his friend’s hand and brought him in for a hug. “Good luck out there today,” he whispered in Cedric’s ear, giving him two firm pats on the back before letting go.
“You too, man,” Cedric said. “I’ll catch up with you after the game. Maybe we can all meet for dinner. I promise not to walk out this time.”
“Do you promise to pay, too?” Theo asked.
“Only fair,” Cedric returned, grinning.
Theo looked around the locker room for Torrian, but was told the offense’s coaching staff was in a last minute strategy session. And since he was covering the AFC’s sideline, Theo figured he wouldn’t get a chance to talk to Torrian until after the game. That is, if his friend would even speak to him. Theo had no doubts Torrian had heard about his falling out with Deirdre.
His mind constantly wandered back to the scene in her room last night. How could he have questioned Deirdre’s motives? He had never met anyone as selfless and compassionate, giving and gracious. Deirdre Smallwood didn’t have a manipulative bone in her beautiful body.
That list had been the first self-serving undertaking he’d ever witnessed from her. She had finally come out from the shadows, and had done something for herself for once, and he had criticized her for it, rushing to judgment as if he was the victim.
Theo tamped down the spark of self-directed outrage that flared up. After years of using countless women, he had the nerve to act self-righteous toward Deirdre? It didn’t matter that those women had been more than happy to be used—he was still guilty of taking advantage of his celebrity status to get what he wanted.
Yet when he got a taste of his own medicine, he didn’t like the flavor all that much.
He was such a damn fool. That woman was the best thing that had ever happened to him. As soon as this game was over, he was going to let her know it.
Theo conducted the obligatory interview with Coach Dave Foster a few minutes before the team took to the field for pre-game warm ups. As he and his cameraman were walking out of the tunnel on the stadium’s south end, he spotted Ambria stomping toward him.
“Uh-oh,” Charlie said under his breath. “I’ll meet you on the sideline,” he said, giving Ambria a wide berth.
“Theo, what in the hell was that?” she bit out.
“I don’t have time for this, Ambria. I need to meet Charlie on the sideline”
“Why did you go off script?”
“Look, I did your damn story.”
“You apologized for it!” she shrieked. “You don’t do an edgy, controversial piece then apologize for it before it even airs. That’s not the way things work in this business.”
“That’s th
e way I work,” he stated.
Ambria folded her arms across her chest. “After what you did today you can forget The Sunday Morning Kickoff.”
“That’s just as well, because I’d rather stick to the sideline,” Theo said.
He had come to that conclusion last night, as he’d walked up and down the beach alone, ruminating over all that had happened this week and what he wanted for the future. He became an analyst because he wanted to stay close to the game. He didn’t want to spend his Sunday afternoons behind some desk in New York.
Ambria shook her head, a look of disgust crinkling her lips. “You have no business being in sports broadcasting.”
“I have every right to be here,” Theo said. “I know football. I breathe football, and I bring knowledge to this network that very few others can provide. But I refuse to sell out my friends in order to move ahead.” He pointed to the field where the players were warming up. “Those guys out there, they’re my family. You may have let this business suck the soul out of you, but it’s not happening to me. Now, if you’ll excuse me, my cameraman is waiting.”
He moved past her and strode across the field to where Charlie stood with the camera. During the course of the game, Theo tapped a variety of players for interviews, many whom he’d faced as opponents on the football field. Their good-natured ribbing even had the commentators in the booth laughing.
The lighthearted, jovial feel of the Pro Bowl was in full effect. The competitiveness was still there, but there was a sense of camaraderie in the air that was virtually impossible during regular season games. The Pro Bowl was the closest thing a professional player could get to resemble those long ago days when football was for fun, and not for a paycheck.
This is where I belong, Theo surmised. The spot on The Sunday Morning Kickoff would have brought prestige, but it would not have brought happiness.
Hearing the crack of the pads as the guys went at it on the field, those feelings that had been a part of him for over a dozen years stirred in his gut. Nobody played this game forever, but he was lucky enough to land in a career that would keep him close to football for a long time to come. And even if the demand for impartiality prevented him from outwardly celebrating with his old teammates, a discrete nod or thumbs-up would show them that he was still with them in spirit.
Pleasure Rush Page 17