by Vanessa Fox
"Why not?"
"Why not? Come on, Katie."
"Who cares? He clearly wants you, and you want him. You need to jump his bones. Oh, and record it and send it to me."
"Ew!"
Katie laughs. "Oh my god, I can't believe this happened. So you're getting back together then?"
"Oh, well I wouldn't jump to that," I say. "It was just something that happened. I'm still on the fence about it."
"Bullshit, you're not on the fence. You're already there. He's got you, and he knows it."
I frown. Katie can read me too well. It used to be endearing and fun, like we're soul sisters. In times like these, it's annoying. I can't keep anything to myself.
Plus, I resent the implication. Kade's got me? Yeah, right. We'll see about that.
—
A week passes and the phone never rings. My rational side is insisting this is a good thing. After all, I've been trying to avoid Kade and keep him out of my life, right?
But I can't help but feel disappointed. I know he's busy, but he can't take two minutes out of his life to give me a simple phone call and ask what's up?
I have a gnawing feeling in the back of my mind that I'm just one in a long line of girls. Maybe another girl has caught his attention and he's forgotten about me already. He didn't exactly seem interested in establishing a serious relationship again, what with his emphasis on "casual".
I half expect to get a late night drunken booty call from him at some point, perhaps at a time when his other options aren't available.
I'll be so pissed if that happens.
Especially since I don't know if I'll have the willpower to turn him down.
I'm at the office, and Mrs. Cooper is watching highlights from the Alpha's last game on her smart phone. Surprise surprise, they won again, this time in a blow out: 27-0. I'm sure Kade's ego is growing to super-massive proportions. I almost wish he would lose a game in an embarassing fashion, just so he'd learn some damn humility.
The office door opens and a delivery man steps in holding a massive bouquet of orchids.
He looks at me expectantly. "Delivery for Miss Willow Greene."
My heart speeds up in my chest.
"Well, well, what do we have here?" Mrs. Cooper muses, eying the flowers suspiciously.
I take the vase. The orchids look absolutely gorgeous and smell like heaven. Tucked in the base among the stems is a small card. I place the vase on my desk and snatch the card, holding it up discretely so Mrs. Cooper can't see it.
"I've been thinking about you all week. Meet me at 3728 Lancaster Ave at 6PM sharp."
"Who is it from?" Mrs. Cooper asks, but I can tell she already knows.
I can't lie, because my beet red face will betray my words. "Um... Kade, I think." I clear my throat.
My boss's face lights up. "Oh my Lord, child, you are one lucky lady!"
I shrug. "I guess."
My hands are shaking and my nerves are shot as I sit back down at my desk. Lucky? Maybe. Unlucky is also a possibility. There's a good chance this whole ordeal will end in disaster.
But right now I don't seem to mind. A huge weight has been lifted from my shoulders now that I've finally heard back from him.
Time will tell what this all means. Hopefully tonight we can figure it out.
Chapter 14
Kade
I'm leaning up against the wall near the entrance, wearing a leather jacket and designer jeans. I know I look hardcore. I kind of wish I smoked so I could have a cigarette hanging from my lips. Then I'd look even more bad-ass.
But this really wouldn't be an appropriate time or place to smoke.
I glance at my Rolex watch. It's 6:15 and she's still not here.
I'd understand if this was a dinner date. Fashionably late, and all.
But it's rude to make these kids wait.
I tap my foot impatiently. Maybe she didn't get the flowers. Maybe she took a sick day at work and missed them. Or maybe she did get them and decided not to come.
Perhaps a phone call would've been a better idea. But I was trying to be romantic and mysterious. Hell, maybe that only works in movies.
I lick my lips and glance around, looking for any sign of her. I'm definitely not nervous, though. I swear.
Finally, a yellow taxi pulls up to the front and a familiar dark-haired beauty steps out. She's wearing a sexy black knee-length dress, with a faux fur coverall, and black pumps. She looks around, confused, until she spots me.
I walk out to greet her with a big hug.
She feels small but warm in my embrace. I can feel the heat between us already.
When I pull away, she's still looking puzzled.
"Wait... this isn't a dinner date, is it?" she asks.
I chuckle. "Not exactly."
She slaps my shoulder playfully. "Kade! Why didn't you tell me? I look ridiculous."
I shrug. "I thought you'd recognize the street address."
I turn and outstretch my arm to showcase St. Jude's Children's Hospital.
"I come here every Tuesday to see the kids," I say.
"You do?" Her face is scrunched up in disbelief. "Oh, right, for your image..."
Ouch. It stings a little.
"Oh, come on," I slide my arm around her shoulders and walk with her. "You always assume the worst about me, don't you?"
"Pretty much," she smiles.
"All right, all right, at first it was just a PR stunt," I admit. "My agent told me I have to do this shit. It's something pretty much all athletes have to do if they care at all about their public image. Charity work and all that."
The sliding glass doors open as we step inside.
"But these kids... they've made an impression on me," I say.
Willow gives me a skeptical look. She still doesn't believe a word I say.
"What? Come on, Willow, I'm a good guy at heart," I wink.
She just laughs. "We'll see."
I lead her down the hallway to the elevator. We get in and I press the button for the 4th floor.
"Want to make out?" I ask.
She slaps my chest. "You are a dog. Trying to pull on my heart strings like this. All because you want to get laid tonight."
"Oof, you're always one step ahead of me," I tease.
The elevator doors open and we walk out to the cancer ward. We stop at the nurses station for several minutes to be briefed by the head nurse. I've heard this all before: safety precautions, use of hand sanitizer, and some rooms require masks and yellow suits. After the spiel, we enter a single room with one bed. Colorful drawings cover the walls, and the room is adorned with countless balloons and flowers.
"Hey Cara!"
My heart swells when I see her, a sweet little ten year old girl with wide, sky blue eyes. When I first met her, she had a head full of golden blond hair, but now she covers her bald head with an Alphas ballcap.
She jumps out of her bed and runs to me, wrapping her thin arms around my waist.
"Kade! You came!"
I pick her up and swing her around in a circle.
"Yeah baby girl, I'm here!" I say. "I told you I'll come every Tuesday, rain or shine, win or lose!"
She cocks her head and grins. "Well, you don't have to worry about losing!"
"You know it, girl!" I give her a high five. I cover my mouth secretively and point with my thumb towards Willow, who's standing behind me. "She's the reason I'm late. Blame her."
Cara crosses her arms and gives Willow a teasing stink eye. "You made my Kade late!"
Willow blushes. "I'm sorry!"
"Who are you, anyway?"
I put my arm around Willow's shoulders. "This is a very special friend of mine."
"Friend? Or girlfriend?"
"Uh—" I stammer. Willow's cheeks are red. "Right now, friend. Tonight, girlfriend."
"Kade!" Willow slaps my shoulder.
"What?" I laugh.
"Ooo, Kade's got a girlfriend!" Cara taunts. "You looooove her!"
Willow is
laughing and shaking her head, trying to hide her embarrassment.
"Maybe I do," I tease, holding Willow close and kissing her hair. "Isn't that right, honey-bun?"
Willow is speechless. She composes herself, shrugs out of my embrace and takes Cara by the hand. The two of them sit on the hospital bed.
"So, I'm Willow Greene," she says, holding out her hand. "Pleased to meet you. What's your name?"
"I'm Cara Roberts," she shakes Willow's hand. "I'm ten."
"Oh, nice," Willow answers. "I'm twenty-three."
Cara turns to me with a big smile. "So is Kade!"
"And what do you want to be when you grow up, Cara?"
"I'm not sure. Maybe a doctor. Or a veterinarian."
"Oh, I love animals! What's your favorite animal?"
"Cats. Wait, no. Horses!"
"Oh my gosh, horses are my favorite, too."
"Have you ever ridden a horse?"
"Yeah, my uncle breeds horses. He has a ranch in Oklahoma. I used to spend summers there when I was little."
I stand back, watching as the two get to know each other. Cara is looking at Willow like she's a goddess. I realize with a chuckle that I've been relegated to the backburner. Kade Hughes, famous pro quarterback with a perfect record, is playing second fiddle to nerdy Willow Greene, in the eyes of Cara.
Not that I can blame her.
Willow is glowing, a gorgeous specimen of a woman. Her kind eyes and soft voice, the genuine interest and empathy she exhibits, is enough to enthrall just about anyone. She's certainly enthralled me.
I'm impressed by her ability to jump right in and get to know these kids like they're part of her family. Many people in this situation would be off-put, nervous and unsure of what to say. Not Willow.
After Cara, we visit Langston, a little six year old boy who dreams of becoming a running back when he grows up. Then Jessica, Frankie, Emily, and Josh, all kids suffering from varying stages of cancer, some terminal.
I'm seeing a side of Willow I've never seen before. She's good with kids. Really good. Better than I am.
It's such a stark contrast to when I brought Samantha here. She hated hospitals and just cringed the entire time. She would stand in the corner, stiff as a board, playing with her phone constantly and itching to leave.
For a brief moment I allow myself to step into a glimmer of a fantasy: Willow bouncing a baby on her lap, teaching our little two year old daughter the alphabet. Taking our eight year old to piano lessons. Standing on the sidelines with water and Gatorade for our twelve-year-old in the junior leagues.
Shit, I'm getting ahead of myself.
But still, Willow is full of surprises. Maybe she could be more than a booty call. Maybe.
But will she have me? God only knows.
Willow
I turn away, trying to conceal the tears in my eyes as Kade tosses a foam football back and forth with Tyrone Banks, a five year old boy. The little guy is exuberant and full of energy, and if he wasn't here in this hospital room I would've never guessed he was suffering from a terminal illness.
"This is the best part of his week," his mother Tammy tells me quietly.
I nod and smile, trying to will away the tears burning in my eyes.
"Kade has been such a gift for Tyrone," she says. "He treats him like his little brother. They always have the best time together. Talking, playing. Kade is so good with these kids. He knows just what to say and do to make them feel special. He's never condescending, he's never sad or moping around. He brings so much light into this hospital every time he steps in. He makes the kids feel invincible."
"He's really something," I say.
Kade is holding the football, pretending to dodge as Tyrone chases after him. Tyrone leaps at him, wrapping his arms around his waist, and Kade crumples to the floor in an exaggerated fashion. "Oh no! Sacked the quarterback!"
"Get him, Tyrone!" His mother cheers.
Tyrone reaches for the ball and nudges it out of Kade's hands. It bounces across the floor and Tyrone jumps on it, holding it tight to his belly.
"Oh no, fumble!" Kade cries.
Tyrone takes the ball and runs across the room into the imaginary endzone.
"Touchdown!" I yell, and we all cheer.
Tyrone tosses the ball and puts his hands behind his head, gyrating in celebration.
"Aw man, did you teach him that, Kade?" Tyrone's mother asks.
"Not me!" Kade grins.
"Yeah baby, touchdown!" Tyrone squeals. He points at Kade. "I sacked you! I sacked you!"
"You got me good," Kade laughs. "Come here, bud. High five!"
Tyrone jumps as high as he can to smack Kade's hand.
"Good job, bro! Don't tell my Coach you got a sack and fumble on me. They might sit me out next game."
"They should put me in!" Tyrone jumps up and down.
"Aw man, I'm being replaced already?" Kade jokes. "You think you can hold your own against the Rivets next Sunday?"
"Yeah baby! Imma kick their asses!"
"TYRONE ALEXANDER," his mom bellows. "Language!"
"Sorry, mom."
Kade slides his arm around Tyrone's shoulders and kneels down. "Well buddy, I gotta get going. You be strong for me, all right? Keep practicing. Next week we'll work on the three point stance, okay?"
"Okay, Kade," he wraps his arms around Kade and gives him a big hug. "Make sure you kill the Rivets this weekend, okay?"
Kade does a salute. "Will do, bro. When I score my first touchdown, I'm gonna do this salute. That's for you. That's how you know I'm thinking about you, okay?"
Tyrone grins. "Got it!"
They high-five and Kade rubs Tyrone's bald head. "Until next time, homie."
"Thank you, Kade," Tyrone's mom says. "And pleased to meet you, Willow."
"You too," I smile. I wave to Tyrone. "Bye, buddy!"
He waves back with a big smile.
Kade snakes his arm around my waist and walks me out.
"You're amazing with these kids," I say.
"Me? Nah. You're amazing."
I roll my eyes and shake my head. "No way. I have no clue how to talk to kids."
"Are you kidding me?! You're an expert. Somebody's gonna have to knock you up soon."
I smack his side. "Shut up."
To my surprise, he leans over and kisses my cheek. His lips are soft and warm against my skin. "You really impressed me. I wasn't sure how you'd react. Not everybody can deal with this kind of thing."
I scoff. "I can't. I don't know how you can do it. It's taken everything inside of me not to collapse into a sobbing mess."
He squeezes my shoulder. "I know. It's hard. But you kept it together. It's important, you know. These kids have experienced more pain in their short lives than you or I can even imagine. They don't need to be reminded of it. They need to have some fun. They need to talk, they need to play. They need to enjoy themselves. Feel like normal kids again, even if it's just for a little while."
I gaze into Kade's green eyes. He's looking straight ahead, and there's a light in his eyes that I've never seen, or at least never noticed before. There's a drive, a passion, a recognition of a deeper purpose, about something other than throwing a pigskin around a field.
"I've been thinking about starting my own charity," he says. "Just for these kids. A lot of charities, the money gets eaten up in overhead costs. Only a small amount actually makes into cancer research. I want to start my own and make sure every cent of it goes towards these kids. Maybe you could help me out with that."
I'm transfixed by his passion. I just nod my head.
"I'd love to start a football camp for boys and girls," he says as we step into the elevator. "Get these kids out in the sun, give them a chance to shine and have some fun."
"That sounds like a really noble cause," I say.
Kade cocks his head and grins. "Still thinking I'm doing it all for my image?"
I roll my eyes. "All right, no. You win. I was wrong."
He cups his p
alm around his ear. "I'm sorry, what's that?"
"I was wrong."
"Huh?"
"I was wrong!"
Kade snickers. "Now that's something I don't hear every day."
"Watch it, Kade," I glare at him playfully.
He leans up against the side of the elevator and his smirk gradually fades as he gazes at me. Like a magnet I'm drawn to him, and I can't look away.
But for the first time in a long time, I don't want to.
Chapter 15
Kade
I open the door to my condo and step inside, Willow right behind me. I flick on the lights and take our coats as she slips her black pumps off.
"Ugh, my feet are killing me," she groans.
"Want a foot rub?" I wink.
She casts me a playful glare. "You're gonna have to do more than that to make up for what you did to me."
"What did I do?" I ask casually as I stroll into the kitchen. I open up the wine cooler and pull out a chilled bottle of white zinfandel.
"Not telling me we were going to a hospital," she clarifies. "I would've worn something more appropriate."
"But the kids loved it," I say as I pour two glasses. "They looked at you like you were a goddess."
She just rolls her eyes as she slips onto the barstool and rests her elbows on the counter.
"Plus, I did take you out to dinner after all," I remind her.
After leaving the hospital, Willow begrudgingly took a ride with me on my motorcycle downtown where I'd reserved a table for us at Rodney's, a hip new restaurant that specializes in food fusions and weird experimental shit like making deserts by freezing fruit with dry ice. We ate a meal that looked more like a science experiment than a traditional dish, accompanied by a few glasses of sake and some great conversation. Fortunately, our table was hidden in a dark corner, and the restaurant wasn't too packed, so we weren't mobbed by any curious fans or paparazzi.
The whole time Willow was friendly and receptive, opening up about her life and what happened during the years she was away at Harvard. In turn, I filled her in on the details of my college career. She was beaming, flirty and surprisingly open with me. I couldn't take my eyes off her all night.
It took a bit of convincing, but I finally got her to agree to "just one drink" at my place.