“I’ll reach out, but I’m pretty sure he’ll be busy. You know, with the big game and all.”
“Oh bullshit!”
“Language!” My brother and I say in unison, look at one another and laugh.
“Oh hush, both of you. I’m a grown adult and I can say whatever I want.”
“Ahem. I believe that Mila and I are both adults.” Randy puffs out his chest.
“What was I saying?” She looks to dad and asks.
“Honey, I lost track of our conversation a while ago.” He answers her honestly.
I get lost in my own mind as there’s some back and forth between Dad and Randy as they continue to discuss football.
Topher.
I remember him. I think he was my first crush.
God, I would daydream about him all the damn time. Even when I was sitting right next to him while Randy and he played video games.
I was the annoying little sister and even though I thought of him in all the ways that my young inexperienced mind could; he paid me no special attention. We never went to the same schools, and I was always just the kid sister.
I haven’t seen him in years. I wouldn’t even know what he looked like now. But since Randy mentioned he’s one of the coaches on Seattle’s team, I know that I must have seen him. He’s not the head coach who I’ve interviewed several times, but I’m pretty sure that with my upcoming assignment, I will get to interview him.
Oh shit. Will my childhood crush be reignited? Will he recognize me?
Chapter 3
TOPHER
Sports became a quick obsession with me in my youth. It was always on the television whenever my dad was home and I wanted to be like the guys on television that my dad cheered on, so I started asking him to toss a ball around with me.
As a young kid, I played peewee football, then as a teen, I played on the high school team side by side with my best friend, then recruited to play for U of Arizona.
While in college, I worked my ass off in the books as well as on the field, and it paid off when I started playing for Arizona’s pro team until my playing career ended. I thought I would need to find a new career, but little did I know that I would be sitting here today planning out plays for someone else to run and standing on the sidelines.
This week has been brutal and not to mention full of anticipation as we prepare for the big game. I have one less thing to worry about, and it’s that the condo is completely mine. My lawyers informed me that they received her paperwork and I couldn’t be happier to be completely free of her.
“Before we leave for the day, I wanted to let you all know that we will be part of a special television exclusive leading up to the big game. Sideline Sports will meet with a few players and a few coaches for interviews. I want the following people to stay behind so we can further discuss and schedule.”
My name is called along with two others. As everyone else leaves the conference room, we linger back and wait for Summers, the head coach, to tell us more.
With my arms crossed, I lean back in my seat and wait patiently.
“Thank you for staying. I wanted to pass along this information to you, to help you prep some answers that were passed along from the media team.” Summers begins while he hands out a packet of papers to us.
I look over the pages and see prepared answers to several questions that are in bold typeface and look up at Coach Summers.
“Sir, are these the questions that whoever will be interviewing us will ask?” I question.
“No. We will receive those in a day or so. These are questions that have been asked repeatedly in other interviews. Media will provide an updated list, but I wanted you each to get familiar with answering some of these questions.” Coach looks directly at me, “I have a feeling that your past playing may be part of your interviews, so I want you to set up a time to speak to our media coordinator. I know that you know best how to answer about yourself, but the coordinator will assist you on some specialized wording, if you don’t mind.”
“I don’t mind at all, sir.” I look up from the page and smile.
“Do not, I repeat, do not indicate that you were injured on the field. We do not want to refer to the game as being violent.” The coordinator tells me nervously.
“Being that I wasn’t injured while playing, that won’t be a problem.” I tell her with a grin which flusters her more.
She looks through her clipboard and looks up with her face flushed.
“Sorry, I didn’t have all the details, but anyway. I’ve prepared some actions words for you in case the reporter tries to get personal. I didn’t want to write your personal narrative, because it’s clear that I don’t know all the details.”
“That would be perfect. I hope I’m not asked too many personal questions, since this is about the team.”
“Exactly. But you never know.” She looks up and smiles.
She’s cute, mousy, but cute. I don’t fuck around with her, as I can see she’s nervous, but that doesn’t stop me from winking at her.
A guys gotta have a little fun here and there, right?
MILA
I have two interviews with Topher Wilkens.
I looked him up, and it came as a shock to me when I saw that it was the guy I’ve had my eye on the past several games. His arms have tattoos now, a lot of them. His hair is shorter than I remembered, and his jaw has squared out. He’s definitely yummy and as soon as I saw that it was him that I would meet with, butterflies erupted in my stomach and I was hoping that I wouldn’t mess up everything.
My first interview is tomorrow at noon, and it’s with him. The station gave me a list of questions, but they also urged me to ask a few of my own. I will have full access to the stadium here in Seattle and perks to some concession stands for lunch afterwards.
I stay up late and prepare some questions that don’t really dig too deep into his personal life. I jotted down some questions about his childhood and then about his playing career. I knew some answers because of my sleuthing online after dinner with my family last weekend.
By two in the morning, I felt content that my interview would go well with Topher, and after a few glasses of wine, I was equally not nervous by any means.
The late morning sunlight wakes me and as I roll over and look at my clock, realize that I have an hour to get ready, then head down to the stadium.
I will not make any mention of who I am. I can’t. How would I even start that sentence?
I will act as if I don’t even know him and never, ever had a crush on him.
I run around the house like a madwoman while stopping every minute to look at the clock and calculate how much time I would need. Luckily, hair and makeup will be at the stadium, but I at least need my hair fully dried. I put on my shorts and tank top, grab my casual business attire that I hung up by the front door, and run to my car.
I pull my car into a parking space and take in a deep breath.
Oh crap, I forgot to brush my teeth!
I rub my forehead and groan while rummaging inside my purse and searching for my Listerine strips. After popping one in my mouth, I grab my stuff and head towards the gates where someone with a lanyard is waiting for me.
With my clothes slung over my shoulder, I approach.
“Hi, my name is Mila Rossi. I’m here to do an interview with—”
“She’s here for me,” a deep voice from behind me says as I whirl around and come face to face with Topher.
He’s even more handsome up close. His deep brown eyes search my face quickly, then return to the person with the lanyard who steps aside.
He motions forward as he steps in line with my steps; I follow him since I have no clue as to where we’re going.
“Management set up a space that overlooks the field, I was told that they would let your people in early to set up.” He says.
“That’s great.” I say before taking a deep breath and placing my hand in his. His touch is warm, his hands are large and calloused, but also soft as if he j
ust lotioned up.
“I’m sorry, I’m such a dick.” He stops and turns to me, holding his hand out. “I’m Topher Wilkens, you’re interviewing me today.”
“Yeah. Hi. I’m… um… I’m Mila Rossi, Sideline Sports.”
“Mila. Such an interesting name. I’ve seen you a few times at the games, down on the field,” he says with a warm smile as he releases my hand.
We walk past a few concession stands that I can smell the delicious aroma wafting in the walkway which makes my mouth water. I put my hand over my stomach as if Topher could hear it grumbling, but he continues walking and doesn’t acknowledge the sounds. We stop in front of a private suite and he waves a key card in front of the handle. He steps aside to let me walk ahead of him and when I enter, there’s more food on the counter.
I lick my lips and stop when I feel Topher beside me.
“Hungry?” He asks, staring at my lips.
“I forgot to eat something before coming down here.” I admit.
“Do you have any other interviews today?”
“Not for a few hours.?” I tell him.
“Then let’s eat before we get started, it’s probably better that way, anyway. Might make the interview seem more real.”
I like his thinking.
“Yeah, let’s eat. Let’s get to know one another.”
Chapter 4
TOPHER
With ash blonde hair and eyes the color of palm leaves, she has an easiness to her. We eat lunch and as we talk, I feel like I’m catching up with an old friend. She’s gorgeous.
No, she’s not just gorgeous, she’s smart and funny.
She laughs and just the sound makes me happy.
I haven’t felt this comfortable with a stranger in a while.
The makeup and hair crew of hers comes in and even though we weren’t talking about anything of importance, our conversation stops, and she gets whisked away.
Someone came up to me with a makeup brush and refused to listen to me when I asked to be left alone. Something about the light, glare, and dark circles under my eyes.
I am escorted to a chair, and as I sit, Mila steps out of the bathroom and runs her hand along her long straightened hair. She takes in a breath and then walks my way, midway she takes the look of worry off of her face and smiles as our eyes meet.
She sits across from me as the lights go on.
“We’ll start in just a minute. I think the station provided you guys a list of questions, right?” She asks.
“Yes.” I nod.
They place a microphone on my lapel and also on Mila’s blouse. She situates herself in her chair and then purses her lips.
“We’re going to start in one minute.” The cameraman calls out.
“This will go quickly. We will not be live, so we’ll be able to stop and go as needed. Some questions may not make it to the special. Everything will be cut and pasted and made to flow.”
“Cool.” I reply.
“We’re ready to roll in three, two, and…”
“Hello Sports fans. My name is Mila Rossi and I’m with Sideline Sports.” She pauses for several moments, and I’m thinking she forgot her script. “I’m sitting here with Seattle’s offensive line coach, Topher Wilkens. Topher, how are you doing today?”
And here we go.
“I’m doing great, thank you. How are you?”
“Well, as a Seattle girl, I’m pretty excited about the game. Did you think that you guys would make it this far to be playing in the big game?”
“We worked our tails off this season. One way or another, we would be playing in the big game. It’s not a question of if, just when. And this is our time.” I reply as she smiles.
“I like the positive thinking. Now you used to play pro, didn’t you?”
“I did. I’ve played football my entire life, it seems. I made it all the way to the pros with Arizona, but my playing career ended early and I started coaching not too long after.”
That was the only question that she asked about my personal life and my past. For that, I’m thankful. I didn’t want the interview to be about me, when she moved on from me, the rest of the questions were simple. Time flew by, and not too long later, we both unmiked ourselves and are snacking on french fries.
“Thanks for not asking about me.” I say.
“My boss wanted me to ask you a few personal questions, but I felt that would be too much for a first interview.”
“A first interview?” I almost choke.
“Yeah, there’s another when you guys are in Minneapolis. I’m hoping that after my bosses see the footage from this week, that they don’t ask me to dig deeper,” she says apologetically.
“It’s okay if they do. I’m an open book and everything that you would likely ask me has already been in the tabloids.”
“Well, maybe we should come up with some type of code-word?” she offers.
I wink at her. “Kinda like a safe word?”
Her face turns bright red and I immediately feel guilty. “Shit, I’m sorry. I crossed a line.”
“No, it’s okay. I just wasn’t expecting imagery along with the interview today,” she replies.
“Who’s your next interview?” I ask, hoping that it’s someone that I could push back and take more of her time.
“Sam Jones, from LA. Then I have the special teams coach from LA too.” She says looking at a piece of paper.
“Ah, and this exclusive?” I prompt.
“Is a way for viewers to fall in love with both teams before the game. So that way they know who is playing and can be even more invested in the big game.”
“I like that. Well, I will get out of your hair and let you get ready for Sam.” I say lingering in my seat.
“I have some time, if you want to hang a bit? I was planning on walking around the stadium. It wouldn’t hurt to have some company?” She flashes a smile that I memorize.
“I would absolutely love to.” I tell her.
MILA
Wanna come walk around the stadium with me? How lame is that?
Seriously. Shoot me now, because anything that I say to this man when not prompted by a work question, I may just as well tell him all my embarrassing secrets now, to get it all over with.
The only problem with that is he likely knows a lot of them.
It’s not like I was completely invisible when he would hang out at the house. He pulled on my pigtails, would jump out of random doorways to scare me, and threaten the neighborhood bully when they made fun of me alongside Randy. So he knew everything.
Until he went away to college and I never saw him again.
At least that’s what I’ve thought. He’s been the guy that I’ve been eye fucking on the sidelines of the Seattle games. I’ve caught his eye a few times, and he would immediately look away, then with his lingering after the interview; okay, so yeah, he can walk the stadium with me.
“Alright coach. Talk to me, why Seattle?” I start as we exit the suite and take a left.
“I didn’t want to go back to LA. I wanted different scenery, and not as much sun,” he says, shoving his hands in his front pockets and keeping stride with me.
“So, you prefer the rain?” I ask.
“Do you?” He counters.
“I like seasons, plus I went to the University of Seattle, so it only made sense to stay local when the place that I was interning for was willing to hire me.”
“Oh yeah?” He looks at me.
“Yeah, in college I interned for two years. I spoke to the owner when my internship was ending my senior year and he asked me what my plan was. I looked him in the eye and told him that my plan was to work for him.”
“Confidence. I like it.”
“Thanks. And so he called me a week later and said that he liked my work ethic. I had dreams, and he wanted my dreams to come true while working for Sideline Sports.”
“So, which do you prefer, the studio or the field?” He asks.
“I think at first, I wanted
the studio. I knew the rush of the game, but I was scared of it. I didn’t get a lot of airtime, I would sit at the table, but I was the only female between two big dudes. The cameras panned to them more, and I sat there like a freaking prize. Then I stood in for someone at one of the games, and I liked the rush. I liked the thrill of being on the field. And so did my boss.”
“That’s pretty cool.” He says as we turn a corner.
“The rest is history. And now, my job is to offer insight from the ground and to talk to sweaty ball players after the games.” I laugh.
“Well, if it helps, I’m standing around those sweaty ball players all the time.”
“How does that help?” I turn to him.
“I have no clue. It just sounded right to say.” He shakes his head as I smile.
Chapter 5
TOPHER
Minneapolis in February is cold as shit.
We’re practicing at the local university and it’s fucking cold.
The practice field is outdoors, but since we had to find our practice space and not have it be at the location of the big game, this is the best that our people jumped on.
It’s a nice stadium, but you would think with the fact that it snows here, that they would have a freaking indoor stadium. Normally during this time of year, the school turns the stadium into an ice-skating rink, but this year happened to be that they didn’t.
I would rather play inside a high school gym right now.
I look around and see the three feet of snow piled up along the edges of the field and rub my hands together.
“This is crazy, isn’t it?” Montgomery comes up beside me. His exhaustive breath filling the space around us as he takes a quick sip of his Vitamin Water.
“What?” I ask.
“This field was blow-torched so we could practice here today.” He laughs.
“It’s pretty surreal.” I nod, glancing across the field.
“Hey, do you know the interview schedule with that reporter?” he asks.
Love on the Sidelines: A Quick Snap Novella Page 2