Unexpected Love (Jo's Story)

by Nikki Williams

“I think that is a very bad habit. I you shouldn’t talk like that about yourself.”

  I open the fridge and reach for two more beers. “So how long have you been in Baltimore?” I try desperately to change the subject.

  “This is my third year. Only my second as a starter though.” He finishes his beer and grabs the new one that I just set on the table for him.

  “Where did you play before you came here?”

  “I started in San Diego. But I didn’t get any playing time there. They drafted me out of college, but of course I was only fresh out so they didn’t give me a chance. They only signed me for one year and I went into free agency and Baltimore picked me up.”

  “I think I do remember hearing that. My step-dad is a huge football fan and knows pretty much everything there is to know,” I laugh at the thought of John finding out I am dating a football player. He would be in heaven I am sure.

  “So does that mean you aren’t a big football fan then if you get all your information from him?” He smirks at me.

  “I used to be, but a full time job and two kids make it a little more difficult to keep up with everything. I still watch the games most of the time. But there are some days that I can’t because of work or some stupid thing comes up. Lizzy has really gotten into it the last year. But that is probably because her and grandpa watch it together every Sunday,” I laugh at the thought of John and Lizzy yelling at the TV every weekend.

  He finishes his piece of pizza and takes a drink of beer. “That was so good.” He smiles.

  “Done?”

  “For now,” he laughs. I stand up and grab the box and put it in the fridge. I see him stand up and head for the back door. “Wow, this is nice place you have. I didn’t think a duplex could be this nice. Is that entire yard yours?”

  “Yeah,” I rinse my hands off in the sink and walk up next to him. I can smell his cologne when I get close to him. God is there anything about this man that is not amazing? “This side is all fenced in. I had it fenced before we moved in. The girls are trying to talk me into getting a puppy. I haven’t given in yet but just in case,” I smile at the thought of how happy the girls would be to find a puppy in their back yard one day. “I got lucky when I found this place. It was really reasonable and the neighborhood is really nice.”

  “It’s nice when you find something that you just can’t pass up. I have heard the schools over here are really good too. A couple of the guys on the team live pretty close,” he states when I give him a questioning look.

  “I was wondering how you would know that, but yeah I heard the same.” I take a drink of beer again. I think I feel my nerves calming a little more with every drink. “So, would you want to watch a movie?”

  He looks down at me, “are you sure? I mean I did come over to help if you need it.”

  “No, we can watch a movie. I am worn out. I have been at this since 7:00 this morning and I am ready to be done,” I laugh.

  “Sounds good to me,” he laughs.

  I turn and walk to the living room and he follows behind me. I look at the mess I have laying on the floor and laugh. “Take your pick,” I motion to the piles of movies.

  “Holy cow, that is a lot of movies,” he looks at the piles. “Movie collector?”

  “My hubby was,” I smile. His eyes get big. Crap that is the first time I have mentioned being married to him. “He’s not around anymore,” I try to tell him without going into detail.

  “Sorry,” he relaxes a little. “I didn’t know you were married. I mean I guess I should have figured with the girls, but I don’t assume stuff like that.” He grabs a movie and hands it to me. “Something a little cheerful,” he smiles.

  I look at it, “Ground Hog Day?”

  “You don’t like that movie?”

  “No, I do. I just didn’t peg you as a Ground Hog Day type.” I laugh. I go to the DVD player and turn it on and put the movie in. I turn on the TV and get it all started.

  “So, tell me something,” he says as I sit down on the couch and he sits next to me.

  “What’s that?”

  “What do you peg me as? I mean I already know that you don’t think you are good enough for me, we already covered that, but why do you think that.”

  I don’t know what to say. “I guess because you are one of the most known guys around. I mean famous guys, whatever.”

  “I am just as normal as the next guy. I told you to me football is just a job. I went to high school just like you. And I went to college. Only difference between me and the average guy is that I have nicer things.”

  I can’t help but laugh. “I think nicer things is an understatement.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “That means you can buy whatever you want and still have money to spare. Most guys don’t have the luxury.”

  “Jo, just because I have money doesn’t mean I spend it. I grew up not having money and knowing what it is like to struggle. I use my money wisely.”

  I look up at him. The more he talks the more I like him. “So where did you grow up?” I think he is a little shocked by the topic change.

  “San Antonio.”

  “Wow, long ways from home. Why did you come so far?”

  “It’s the way my career path led. If I wanted to play football then this was my place to be.” He looks at me. “I did what was best by coming here. I help my family out more now than I ever could have staying close to them in San Diego.”

  I understand exactly what he means. I just did the same thing moving the girls and me out of the house. “I know exactly what you mean.” He just sits there looking at me for a little bit

  “So, tell me about your girls.”

  I smile and take my phone out of my pocket. I pull up a picture of Lizzy, “This is Lizzy, she is six and will be a second grader this year. Very strong little girl,” I smile at the thought. “And this,” I scroll to the next picture, “is Abby. She is four and going to be in kindergarten this year.”

  “I can’t wait to have kids.” I see his eyes light up a little when he says that. “That is the one thing about my profession. It’s hard to have a family.”

  “Too much public attention?”

  “Not so much that, but during the season I am on the road a lot. If we have an away game we are gone from Thursday night until Monday afternoon. “

  “Don’t a lot of the guys have families though? I mean I have seen a lot of the guys interview with their kids, or pictures with wives and kids at like charity events and stuff.”

  “Yeah, a good handful of them do, but most of them have been together since either their college days, or fresh out of college. A lot of the guys with families have their own family up here.” He takes a drink of his beer. This subject seems almost painful for him; maybe I'm not the only one with a sad outlook on the dating life. “It’s hard to find someone that wants to be part of this kind of crazy life.”

  “Yeah, I guess I can see how that would be hard for someone to adjust to. But I would think that if you are able to find the right person it shouldn’t be that hard of an adjustment, for you or her.” I smile at him. “I get the same result from guys, most guys hear the word kids and they cut all ties and all of a sudden lose your phone number.” I laugh, I can’t even remember how many guys my friends have tried to set me up with in the last two years and they just stop talking to me once they find out I have kids.

  He smiles at me, “I think that is the best part.” He takes a sip of beer, “I love kids and I have wanted to have a family since I moved up here. I guess it just isn’t in the cards for me yet. I come from a large family so I love having family and kids around all the time.” I look out the window. He gets up and finishes his beer and walks to the kitchen. “Want another one?”

  “No, I think I'm good for now,” I stand up and go stand in front of the window.

  “Everything ok?” He startles me. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.” He walks up next to me.

  “I thought I saw someone pu
ll into the driveway.”

  “Are you scared someone will find out that I am here?”

  I look at him, “Not really. I don’t want anyone to know, but I'm not scared that they will. Everyone thinks I am unpacking and I am sure no one will bother me.”

  He looks at me a little in shock, “Why don’t you want anyone to know I am here?”

  I laugh and sit back down on the couch and so does he and he turns to look at me waiting for an answer. “Well, it’s kind of a big deal for me to actually be on a date. I have been single for almost two years and have not been out on one date. Like I said guys hear kids and lose my number. And besides, as we have discussed, you are famous and it is just a big deal. And I don’t want people to know, because we don’t know where this is going.”

  “Your afraid people will get all excited and get crazy?”

  I laugh, “Something like that. They would all get crazy because I am on a date. I try to avoid dates.”

  “So does that mean I won’t hear from you after tonight?”

  “If I was going to kick you to the curb I would not have wasted a perfectly good unpacking night to spend with you in the first place. And I would have thrown your number away at the bar last night.”

  He looks at me surprised but amused. “Well I am glad you didn’t do that. You actually made my night when you text me.”

  “Oh whatever,” I try to hold back the sarcasm in my voice.

  “You did. I thought that you would throw it away to be honest. Writing me off as some creeper or something.”

  “No, I didn’t think you were a creeper, I did have a feeling you were after a booty call though.”

  He shakes his head. “You read too many gossip magazines. Not all guys that have money are after one night stands and booty calls. Do me a favor? Please throw all stereo types you have about me out the window because I won’t live up to any of them.”

  “Now that just isn’t true.” I laugh.

  “What do you mean?”

  I look out the window and at the very sporty and expensive car parked in front of my house, “that is your car sitting right there isn’t it?” I point.

  “That doesn’t count, everyone has to get from place to place. My transportation is just a little nicer than most,” he tries to defend himself.

  “Ok if you say so,” I smile again. He’s so down to earth; I am truly amazed at how easy it is for me to talk to him. “You really aren’t what I expected at all.”

  “Oh really?” I see his interest peak.

  “Yeah, I'm not going to lie, I thought for sure you were going to be stuck up and full of yourself. I find it weird to be sitting here having an actually very normal conversation with you.”

  “I told you, I am not what you think I am.”

  “I know, but I think most guys would say that no matter how they really are.”

  “Not all guys. But your right, most of them would. Especially to get a date with someone like you.”

  “Ok, you’re going a little overboard now,” I giggle.

  “No, I don’t think I am. I'm not going to lie I wasn’t the only one that was checking you out last night. A couple of the rookies thought you were very attractive. And that dress you had on last night was amazing. I'm glad it was me that broke your fall and not someone else.”

  My face gets red. “It really wasn’t my fault. Annie pushed me and I lost balance because I was trying to take my shoes off.”

  He laughs at me. “I know, I saw her.”

  I look at him, in shock. “Seriously?”

  “Yeah, that is why I gave you such a hard time about it. I thought it was quite funny actually. Not many girls go to those lengths to meet a guy.” He takes a drink, “I knew there was something different about you last night when I saw you. You are a lot more down to earth then a lot of girls when it comes to being around someone like me.”

  “Well you said you are just trying to be a normal guy.”

  “Yeah, I try but I don’t always succeed. Most girls throw themselves at me.”

  “I believe that. I was surprised there weren’t more girls there last night.”

  “Oh, there were. They were all upstairs. That is why I stayed downstairs. Besides, the girls that where there were working.” He looks at me.

  “Hookers?” I ask him, shocked.

  “Yeah, all thanks to the rookies. They think it will help them get in with the old guys,” he laughs. “Doesn’t work with me, but it does with some of the guys.”

  “Well that is interesting to know. And I didn’t know we had that many of those kind of girls around here. I thought most of the young ladies around here had some self-esteem, apparently I was wrong about that.”

  “Oh, you would be surprised. I bet a lot of the guys on the team could give you the names of probably a good one hundred girls in this area.”

  I look at him questioningly. “That is a lot.”

  “Yeah, I know. But think about it, this is a big city. There are a lot of girls that need to pay bills.”

  I am just about to ask him if he ever paid for one of those girls when my phone starts ringing. I see it is my mom and answer it. “Hi mom.”

  “Jo, what are you doing?” She asks me in a panic.

  I sit up; my first thought is something is wrong with one of the girls. “I am relaxing watching a movie. Why what’s wrong?”

  “Turn on one of the local stations.” She says sternly. I take the remote and pause the movie and turn on one of the local channels. My mouth drops open when I see a new flash that a convict has escaped from one of the local jails.

  “The fugitive was last seen headed south on Sunset Avenue. We are advising anyone in that area to lock all doors and windows and call the cops if you see any suspicious activity.”

  I mute the TV. “Mom, I have to go, I will call you back.” I hang up my phone, grab Jake’s hand and pull him up to my room.

  “What is going on?”

  “This is Sunset Avenue, and from the helicopter view that they had on the live report he was last spotted not far from here.”

  “So what does that mean?” He sits on my bed.

  “That means that he is close. And I don’t want to take the chance of either one of us getting hurt.” I grab something out of my closet and go toward the door.

  “Where are you going?” I hear a little bit of panic in his voice.

  “To lock the doors, and make sure my neighbor is in her house with the door locked.” I grab my phone and dial my neighbor, Lilly’s phone number.

  “Hello?” She answers.

  “Hi Ms. Morrison, this is Jo Lewis.”

  “Oh, yes, hi Jo.”

  “Hi,” I smile briefly as I remember what a sweet old lady she is. “I just wanted to make sure that you saw the live report and have all your doors locked?”

  “Yes, I did see that. I am hiding out in my basement, working on some blankets for my grandkids until I hear that this guy is caught,” I hear a smile in her voice.

  “Ok, good. I just wanted to make sure.”

  “Well thank you dear. Hope you have taken the proper precautions as well my dear.”

  “Yes, ma’am, locking my doors and turning of lights as we speak.”

  “Good.”

  “Goodnight Ms. Morrison.”

  “Good night Jo.” She hangs up the phone. I'm glad she is safe. Now, to deal with Jake. I realize that he has no idea what I do for a living. And right now, that is my best defense. I walk back up to my room and just as I get to the top of the steps I hear cop cars outside the house and the helicopter is right over head. I run back to my room and shut the door.

  “What the hell is going on?” He looks at me. “This guy must be close there are like ten cop cars outside.”

  I turn on the TV to the station I had on downstairs and see the live footage. I see Jake’s car on TV and run to my dresser and grab my gun. I turn around and look at him. As I suspected he is staring at me in disbelief. “I will explain,” I say and turn to m
y bedroom door. I pull it open just enough for me to fit through.

  “Jo, where are you going?” He whispers.

  “I will be right back, whatever happens, stay here.” I say as sternly as I can. I am freaking out. I have not had to deal with something like this in a really long time. I close my bedroom door. I quietly walk down to the front window. As I suspected there are police officers surrounding my house. I look out and see a couple guys I recognize. I grab my badge and tap on the window. The officer standing right by the window looks at me and nods. She points to my garage door. I realize that I never locked the outside service door to the garage. Just as I remember that there is a crash and the suspect comes into the house. I duck down behind the chair that is right there. Right now I am wishing that I had a radio. I move the curtain and tap on the window again and motion to the cop that he is now in the house.

  Before I realize what I am doing I stand up, drawn my gun, and yell “POLICE! FREEZE RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE!!” I see the guy throw his hands up. I turn on the light switch closest to me. I hold my gun out still pointing at him as I walk closer. I see him fidget a little. “Don’t move, or I will shoot!” I hear movement behind me and assume that the cops that were outside my house are now moving in. I see my Chief walk up next to me out of the corner of my eye.

  “Brown, cuff him and get him out of here,” Chief Lorenz says. He puts his hand on my shoulder and I relax. “Nice job Jo.” I don’t look at him but I can hear that he is smiling.

  “Thanks Chief.” That is all I can say.

  “How did you know he was coming into your house?” He pulls out a stool at the table for me to sit at while the rest of the team does a sweep of the rest of my living room and kitchen.

  “I saw the cop cars outside, and then heard the helicopter, and then when I came down I saw the team in the front yard. I saw Turner in the front yard and showed her my badge in case she didn’t recognize me. Then the guy busted down my door. Before I could think about what to do my training took over.” He sets a glass of water in front of me and sits on the stool next to me.

  “Are you ok?” He looks at me.

  I take a deep breath. “Yeah, I am,” I smile at him.

  “Little bit of an adrenaline rush isn’t it?” He smiles at me.