Hard & Deep: A Football Romance

by Krista Lakes

  “I knew this day was coming, but I guess didn't expect it to be this hard,” she said, looking away. “It suddenly feels real.”

  A tear streamed down her cheek as she spoke and Ollie gently wiped it away with his thumb.

  “I know. This is a lot more difficult than I thought it would be,” he said, keeping his hand on her cheek. “Who would have thought that I'd grow to love this town and the people in it?”

  Elsie smiled, but it wasn't genuine. He could tell she was trying to force herself not to cry. But he could see through it. He knew her well enough to know what her real smile looked like and this wasn't it. Not even close.

  “It's going to feel weird without you here.” Elsie gazed at him, making Ollie's heart sink even further. He was going to miss those beautiful eyes of hers.

  “I'm really going to miss you,” he said.

  As the words tumbled out of his mouth, a tear welled up in his eye and slid down his cheek. He wiped it away with his sleeve, surprised by how much emotion the moment was bringing out of him. It wasn't like him to feel this way. The only other thing in the world that had ever caused him to shed a tear was his brother's cancer.

  “Do you think we'll be able to stay in touch?” Elsie asked, her voice just a little to chipper to be real. “I know you'll be busier than I will be, but I'd like to check in at some point and see how you're doing.”

  “Yes, we can stay in touch,” he said, then let out a defeated sigh. “But I don't see it bringing anything but heartache. If we keep talking then it'll only make me wish I didn't have to be in California. And it'll only make you wish you didn't have to be in Iowa. Maybe it'll hurt less if we just move forward from here.”

  Saying the words stung his heart. It had crossed Oliver's mind several times to suggest the idea of a long distance relationship with Elsie. He had money, so flying out to see her wouldn't have been that big of a deal. But after much consideration, he realized that it would only end up hurting her.

  She needed someone who could really be with her, not just someone who could see her every other month in person and talk with her on the phone every few days. She deserved better than that. As much as he didn't want to let her go, he knew that he had to. In the long run, it was the right thing, for her.

  Elsie nodded slowly. “Yeah, I guess you're right. It's probably for the best.”

  “I have something for you, though,” Oliver said, hoping that he could shed a little optimism on the situation.

  Her eyes widened a bit, but he could still see the sadness in them. Ollie reached into the front pocket of his jeans and pulled out a single silver key, pressing into Elsie's palm.

  “What's this for?” she asked.

  “It's the key to the farmhouse,” he said. “I'm on the lease for another three weeks, but wanted to give you access. Your real gift is inside the house.”

  Elsie cocked her head to the side. “What is it?”

  “I want you to have all of the medical and workout equipment,” he said, unable to keep himself from smiling. “Every piece of it is yours now.”

  Her jaw dropped. “Ollie, that's over a million dollars worth of equipment. I can't accept that.”

  “Yes, you can.” He grinned as he cradled her chin in his hand. “I want you to have it. You deserve every bit of it and more. I've hired movers to bring it from the farmhouse to here. They'll come tomorrow, but you'll have to let them in the house. That's why I gave you the key.”

  Elsie looked like she was about to fall over from surprise, so Oliver wrapped his arms around her to hold her up.

  “Oliver, that equipment is going to turn this physical therapy office into the most advanced clinic in the county,” she said, shaking her head in awe as she looked at the key in her hand. “Thank you. Thank you so much. I can't believe how generous you are.”

  “It's the least I can do,” he said, kissing her cheek. “If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't be walking right now. And I sure as hell wouldn't be about to jump into training again. If not for you, Elsie, my life would be over. There's one more thing, though.”

  She lifted her gaze, seeming surprised that there could possibly be something else he could give her. “What's that?”

  “I know that when I got here, it was kind of a secret,” Ollie said. “We didn't want people to know the severity of my injury and all that. But since I'm up and running again, I want you to use my name to help grow your business. As long as it's never known just how bad of shape I was in when I first came here. Feel free to advertise your business as 'the clinic that has served Oliver Lance' or something along those lines. Keep it vague and it'll be fine.”

  “You're serious?” she asked. “You really wouldn't mind?”

  “Not at all,” he said, watching as Elsie finally began to smile for real. “It should help drum up some business. I'd imagine that people will start coming from all over once they hear how you helped me out. I already asked my publicist to make you up some posters.”

  “You're amazing, you know that?” Elsie said, as she brought her hands to Oliver's chest. “What you've just given me has the capacity to turn my Uncle's business completely around.”

  “I hope you make millions,” Ollie said, with a soft smile.

  Outside, the taxi cab honked his horn. Oliver spun around and waved at the driver. It was clear the man behind the wheel was getting impatient. Ollie wasn't too concerned about that, but he did need to hurry if he wanted to catch his flight.

  “You need to go,” Elsie said, as he turned back around to face her.

  Never in his life, had his heart ached as much as it did right then, standing there with Elsie. The moment was tender and beautiful, but it was also fleeting. This would be the last time he'd lay eyes on her.

  “I wish you the best of everything,” Ollie said, holding back his own tears. “Truly, Elsie. I hope that life gives you absolutely everything you want and more. You deserve it. You deserve the world. Thank you again for all that you've done for me. I wouldn't be able to repay you in a thousand lifetimes.”

  Elsie sobbed as she wrapped her arms around Ollie's neck. She brought her lips to his and they kissed. Ollie savored the moment the best he could. He placed his hands onto her hips and held her body close. He wanted the kiss to last forever. Her smell, her taste. He was going to miss everything about her.

  When she pulled away, there were fresh tears on her cheeks and she wiped them off with the back of her hand.

  “It was three of the best months I've ever had in this town,” she said. “I'll never forget you, Ollie.”

  “Me either.” The strings on Oliver's heart pulled in every direction as he spoke, shredding it to pieces. “I couldn't forget you if I tried, Elsie.”

  The cabby honked the horn again, this time holding down on it for more than just a few seconds. Elsie drew in a long breath and exhaled. “You should go, Ollie. He's waiting.”

  Oliver nodded slowly, not wanting to turn away even though he had to. “Okay. I'll see you, Elsie. Take care.”

  “You too,” she replied, then quickly turned away, obviously devastated.

  Ollie took a few steps backward, until his butt hit the door. He pushed it open and then stepped outside. He felt numb, sad and confused. It felt like his heart had been pulled out of his body, stomped on by his cleat-wearing offensive line, and then pushed back into the space behind his rib cage. He'd never felt so much heartache in his life.

  He crawled into the back seat of the taxi and closed the door. Then he took one last glance at the physical therapy clinic. Through the window, he saw Elsie. She was standing inside behind the counter, drying her tears with a tissue.

  “Take me to the airport,” Ollie said, facing forward.

  He didn't speak another word the entire day.

  It was only ten o'clock and the line of people standing outside the club was so long that it spilled out onto the street. Oliver followed his teammates to the front of the line. The bouncers recognized them immediately and ushered them inside. N
o wait and no cover charge. Just like always.

  Joseph wrapped an arm around Oliver's shoulder and they stepped inside, making their way toward the reserved VIP booth in the back. “You don't seem too excited tonight, Ollie. We're here to celebrate the return of our quarterback, so you better get ready to have some fun.”

  Ollie nodded and forced a smile. “Yeah, I'm ready. Still just getting used to being back in California, that's all. It feels kind of strange after being gone for so long.”

  “Cali is your home,” Joseph said. “You'll get used to it again. Once we get a few drinks in you, you'll be back to yourself in no time.”

  The group made their way toward the VIP and took their seats. People scrambled around them, trying to catch a glimpse of the team. Girls screamed out, guys tried to get high fives. Everybody in there acted like they knew Ollie, but he didn't know a single one of them besides his teammates. The crowd was filled with nothing but strangers.

  Once they sat down, Ollie put his feet up onto the table in the middle. Before he could say a word, Adam, The Bandits' running back, pushed a glass of whiskey into his hand.

  “Drink up, man,” he said. “Here's to you finally being back in the game.”

  Ollie held up his glass and then took a sip, letting the harsh liquid slide down his throat. He cringed and set the drink on the table.

  “Been a while since you've had the good stuff, huh?” Adam asked, laughing. “Man, what happened to you out there in the sticks?”

  “Sticks?” Oliver asked. “What do you mean?”

  “Come on, man. Everybody knows you went out to the middle of nowhere for your recovery,” he said. “Well, the public doesn't know. But everyone on the team does. That accident that you and Sean were in was pretty brutal. You were lucky to live through that. But you weren't fooling any of us when you said you were fine. We all knew your leg was messed up and that you went halfway across the country to get it fixed. I heard you went to some little redneck town where nobody would recognize you.”

  These grown men gossip like school children, Ollie thought. You'd think they would at least have the decency not to pry into my business.

  “It wasn't a redneck town,” Ollie replied harshly. “It was just a place that had a very good physical therapist who happened to specialize in my type of injury.”

  Adam held his hands up in the air defensively. “Okay, man. I wasn't trying to offend whatever town you've been in for the past three months. Just trying to catch up.”

  “I know, sorry,” Oliver said, patting Adam on the shoulder. “But all that anybody needs to know is that I'm healed up and ready for training. In fact, I'm better and stronger than ever. This next season is going to be one for the books. You watch.”

  “That's what I like to hear,” Adam said, before taking a sip of his drink. “And that's worth celebrating, if you ask me.”

  Oliver hadn't been sure that he even wanted to go out tonight. His buddies had talked him into it, saying that it would be good for him. He wanted to believe them. He wanted to think that there was something he could do that would actually get his mind off of Elsie, but she was the only thing he could think about, and being at the club didn't help at all. It only reminded him of the car wreck. The wreck that led him to meeting the girl of his dreams.

  I should call her, he thought, then immediately changed his mind. No, I can't. She's home with her family. As much as I want her right now, I can't to do anything that would hurt her. I can't give her false hope that a long-distance relationship could work. Because they never work.

  Sean came and sat down on the other side of Ollie. “How you been, bro?”

  “Better now,” Oliver greeted his friend. He clasped the other man on the shoulder in a friendly greeting.

  “I was worried about you, man,” Sean said. “It's good to see you in person and not just hear you on the phone.”

  “Likewise,” Oliver explained. “Though I really appreciate our talks. It was great to have a link to the outside world.”

  “You're all healed up now, though?” Sean asked.

  “Absolutely.” Oliver patted the side of his own knee, the one that had been injured. “Better than ever.”

  “For real?” Sean raised his eyebrows in suspicion. “Or are you just saying that so coach will let you train?”

  Ollie shook his head. “I'm dead serious. I'm a hundred percent. Honestly, I've never felt better.”

  “Good to hear,” Sean said, reaching for a drink. “Because I'd be worried sick about the Bandit's future if it wasn't for you. We've been running drills with our second and third string quarterback and it's not the same. They've got good arms and a tight throw, but they just aren't consistent like you are. They're missing that intuitive element. I'll be glad to have you throwing me the ball again this next season.”

  “Me too, man,” Oliver said. “Me too.”

  While Ollie caught up with his friends, the crowd that surrounded their VIP became more and more chaotic. The club was packed now and the news that The Bandits were in the house had spread faster than a Colorado wildfire. A few girls clamored over the ropes that separated them from the crowd. One of the bouncers tried to stop them, but Adam allowed them over.

  “Pretty girls can hang with us,” Adam told the security guy. “Everybody else can leave us alone.”

  There were three of them. Two brunettes and one blonde. They all looked like they could have been models if they'd wanted to. They were tall and skinny, with high cheek bones and glowing skin. They were wearing next to nothing and what was there left little to the imagination. A slight breeze would have exposed them. Normally, Oliver would have been delighted to have girls like these come and sit next to him. But for some reason, as they approached, he felt more repulsed than attracted.

  “Oh, my God, it really is Oliver Lance?” He heard the blonde girl say to her friends. “I thought it was him, but couldn't believe it until I got close.”

  The girl sat on Oliver's lap, wrapping an arm around his shoulder. She smelled like over-priced perfume and tequila. She was beautiful, though. No doubt about it. A so-called “ten” in most men's books.

  She's nothing compared to Elsie, he thought.

  “I love your new hair,” the woman said, running her fingers through his hair. It made him pull away. She looked more confused than annoyed.

  “Everything okay?” she asked. “Why so blue?”

  “It's a long story that I'm positive you wouldn't want to hear,” he said, his words barely audible over the increasing volume of noise in the club.

  “I'm all ears,” she replied. “Just let me take this shot first.”

  Ollie rolled his eyes as the girl took shots with everyone in the VIP section. He looked around at his surroundings. His best friends were there, his wallet was full of cash, expensive alcohol was on the table. Beautiful women surrounded him and he knew that any one of them would have gone home with him at the slightest suggestion.

  It was everything that he should have wanted. These things used to satisfy him completely. And yet, as he scanned the room, all he could think about was the physical therapy girl in Iowa. The girl who had entered his life out of nowhere. She'd not only stolen his heart, but her simple existence had changed his perception on everything that he thought he knew. What he had once perceived as valuable; the club, the girls, the money, the fame. It all felt worthless now. Empty. It made him feel out of place, as his thoughts were hundreds of miles away. It made him wish he was back in the quiet of the farmhouse, waiting for Elsie to show up with a Thai chili pizza.

  Ollie slid out from underneath the girl who was sitting on his lap. He got up and made his way toward the exit of the VIP area.

  “Hey, where are you going?” Adam stepped in front of Oliver.

  “Just heading outside real quick,” Ollie said. “I'll be right back.”

  “Alright,” Adam replied, taking a step to the side to allow him through. “But hurry back. I've got more girls coming by. You know they'll want to
meet the great 'Oliver Lance'.”

  Oliver turned and stepped into the crowd. He pushed through, making his way across the club. He needed some fresh air. The club and all that it entailed weren't making him feel all that great. When he finally got outside, he turned away quickly from the line of people and went straight to the back alley of the building. For the first time that night, he was by himself. The only noise was the bass sound, rumbling from inside the club. He leaned against the brick wall and closed his eyes, taking a long breath.

  I'm just not who I was before I left, he thought. None of this is for me any more. I don't even want to be hanging out here right now. I'd rather be with Elsie. Cruising around on a tractor sounds more fun than this.

  His phone vibrated in his pocket and he quickly pulled it out. He had a fleeting moment of excitement, in the hopes that maybe it was a text from Elsie. But his initial excitement faded when he saw that it was just an email from the general manager of the Bandits.

  Oliver nearly dismissed the email, until he saw the subject line. It read: “Position Opening for the Bandits, physical therapist”. He opened it up and read the note.

  To all members of The Bandits. Please note, we are currently looking for a new physical therapist to join our team. Our current therapist has moved onto another franchise, leaving us in need for our next season. Please, if you know of anyone who is qualified and interested, don't hesitate to recommend them. All eligible applicants will be considered. Thank you. GM.

  It was the email that he'd hoped to receive weeks ago.

  Is it too late to suggest this job to Elsie, though? He asked himself. I told her we should go our separate ways. Would I only confuse her by bringing this opportunity up?

  He sighed and slipped his phone back into his pocket. As much as the logical side of his mind told him to just ignore it, his heart said otherwise. His heart told him that the job opening on his team was a sign, not to be overlooked.

  Maybe I'll forward her the email in the morning, he thought. I won't pressure her to apply. I'll just send her the email so that she knows. She can make her own decision from there.