His head went back against the headrest and I could tell he was thinking.
“That probably was the worst. There is the thought of not seeing you versus the possibility of never seeing you again. That was horrible. I don’t want to talk about it. Next would be the night I left you in Oregon with…at that hotel.” He blew out a breath he seemed to be holding and his knuckles were white as he gripped the steering wheel. “Finding out what happened with Paul. Knowing you were hurt and I wasn’t there to protect you. God…I still feel that anger when I think about it.”
I rested my hand on his thigh and rubbed his leg hoping to relax him.
“You’re upset?” he asked.
“Not upset…but every one of your worst involves me in some way.”
He took his hand off the wheel for a moment and caressed down my cheek. “Losing you baby…not one worst is when you were with me.”
“Is that all?”
“There are a few more that stand out and yes most involve you. Not being able to hug you at your state championship wins,” he smiled.
“You were there?” I asked shocked.
He nodded. “I was there. Ryan saw me your junior year but no one did your senior year. But your graduation was the hardest I think. Such a special moment and everyone around you. I just wanted to hold you and make your graduation day as special as you made mine. But, you were with him…so I didn’t say anything. I watched from afar. Kinda creeperish huh?”
My heart swelled and I couldn’t breathe as tears silently streaked my cheeks.
“Baby…what’s wrong?” he asked with desperation in his eyes. “That scared you? You feel like I stalked you. It wasn’t like that I swear on my life. I was just…”
“That’s not it,” I interrupted and covered my face with my palms as I completely broke down. That’s when I felt his arms circle me and pull me into his chest. He’d pulled the car onto the shoulder and unbuckled.
“Tell me. I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“You didn’t Zach. I just didn’t know. Not a clue. No idea. I thought you had just moved on. Even coming down hhhere,” I sniffed. “I thought Sam was your girlfriend at first. I didn’t know. I didn’t know!” He pulled me even closer.
“It’s ok Em,” he shushed into my hair.
“No! It’s not. You believed in us…in me. You never stopped wanting me. Hoping. I lost hope after the trial. I knew you weren’t coming back. I…like…moved on with others but now I realize you were always in my heart. Looking back, I knew it even then but I didn’t have the courage.”
“Baby, you’re here now. That’s all that matters. Don’t cry…please.”
I frantically grabbed his face. “Look at me. I believe now. I believe in us and I’m sorry for not believing before. I’m sorry for not coming before now.”
“Sshhh. Listen. That was my choice. I needed to wait…to see. You weren’t ready like I was. You needed time. But to me, you were worth the wait. None of that matters now. Though I would have waited forever.” With his thumbs, he dried my tears. “Can we talk about the best days of my life now so you can smile?”
“Yes…as long as I’m involved in those too.”
“Well, oddly enough.” He winked, buckled and pulled back onto the highway.
“Tell me.”
“Easy. One. Meeting you. Two. Making love to you the first time. Three. A week ago when you came back into my life. Four. You waking up in the hospital. Five. When you came back after leaving Pancha’s with him. Six. Making love to you the second time. Seven. Making love to you again. Eight. The morning you gave me the blow job. Nine…”
“I get it!” I said laughing because he named them off baam baam baam. “Making love? Really? Who says that?”
“You’re right. A little cheesy but fucking sounds…I don’t know.”
“I hear you. I know what you mean,” I said putting my feet up on the dash.
“Please, allow me to say it over. Fucking you for the first time. Fucking you again. Fucking the shit out of you two nights ago! How was that?” he asked with raised brows.
I rubbed over the crotch of my shorts playfully. “Turned me on actually,” I teased and he of course pulled off at the next rest stop.
Chapter 26—Zach—Home
The house looked the same and the emotion of the moment was getting the best of me. Dad’s car sat in the driveway. It was unfair what I had done to them. Gotten so lost in my own self-pity that I hadn’t been able to come home. It’s not as if I forgot them…I sent cards and gifts on holidays. We shared phone calls and I knew they understood, but it was so selfish. Since Emma had come back into my life…I realized how self-centered and egotistical I had become. It made me sick. Life was worth living. I needed my mom and dad and I needed more for them to know that.
Emma squeezed my hand. “You ready for this?” she asked.
“Very much. Let’s do it.”
I opened the car door and shut it quietly. This had become fun and exciting…surprising my parents. I knew what this would mean to them. Em and I walked hand in hand to the front door.
“Should I ring it or just go on in?”
“Let’s ring it and let them open it to find you!” she said excitedly.
“Ok,” I agreed and took a deep breath as I pushed the lit button, then we waited.
“Zachary?”
I heard my mom’s voice behind me and both Em and I swiveled around to see her standing behind me with a mini shovel and dirt all over her. She’d been planting something.
“Mom,” I said with a mile-wide smile.
Tears spilled over her eyes instantly and I couldn’t get to her quick enough.
“Oh sweetheart. You’re here!” she cried and her arms went around my neck as mine encompassed her waist. I lifted her and spun her around until I saw Em crying too. Then my dad opened the front door to see us all.
Gently, I let mom’s feet touch the ground and met dad for a firm but tender hug.
“Oh son, it is so good to see you. Welcome home,” he cried too and I couldn’t hold it in.
“I’m sorry,” is all I got out.
“You’re here now. That’s all that matters,” Dad said. I knew more than he realized how true that was.
Epilogue—Zach
December- 6months later…
“Owens. Dr. Bond would like to see you in his office.”
“Bond?” I asked standing outside of my sports rehab class.
“The Dean of your department dude,” the guy who clearly had been sent to find me said.
“Where do I go?” I asked.
“Third floor. Last office at the end of the hall,” he said as he went through a double door. “Must be pretty important for the Dean to request you.”
Shit! Nothing came to mind as to what this inquiry could be about, but I took the stairs two at a time eager to find out.
I knocked twice and heard a voice say ‘come in’. A middle-aged assistant greeted me with a smile.
“Mr. Owens?” she asked.
“Yes, Ma’am.”
“Dr. Bond is waiting for you. Please go on in.” She smiled.
I slid my backpack off my shoulder and walked in with shoulders held high.
“Mr. Owens? Please sit down.”
Offering my hand to him first, he shook it and directed me to the chair in front of his massive desk. Diplomas decorated his wall and a pipe sat in an ashtray. His goatee was grayer than the hair on his head.
“I suppose you are wondering what this is about,” he said picking up some papers.
My heart thudded an out of whack rhythm waiting for him to go on. “Yes, sir. My curiosity is certainly piqued.”
“Do you know who Phil Knight is, Mr. Owens?”
“Yes, Sir. I attended my freshman semester at University of Oregon. I know exactly who he is. Co-founder of Nike. Uniform provider for the ducks,” I smiled. This made me think of my girl.
“And you know him?”
I’m sure confusion clo
uded my face. “No. Just of him.”
“Would there be a reason that someone has requested you to finish your last semester by computer classes?”
I felt sick. “None that I’m aware of sir.”
“Being a contributor to this school…well…we like very much to make contributors…shall we say…happy. The head coach of the Oregon ducks is requesting you finish your masters in Eugene. He’s also offered you the position of Head Strength and Conditioning Coach with the Ducks effective in May upon completion of your masters.”
I said nothing…I had nothing to say. I sat speechless with my mouth hanging open allowing the words to resonate in my head. The opportunity of a lifetime just fell into my lap…but how. ‘What the fuck’ was burning a hole on the tip of my tongue, but I opted for something a bit more professional.
“Why me?”
“Well I was hoping you could tell me that, Mr. Owens. I have the paperwork that he has faxed to us and he is waiting for an answer. You have an exceptional grade point average but there are thousands of people who would want this position and opportunity. I guess I’m interested to know why as well. In the mean time, I need to tell him yes or no. Do you need time to think about it?”
“No Sir,” I laughed. “None. Done. I’m there. When do I leave?”
All I could think about was telling Emma. I would be with her sooner than expected and I couldn’t wait. There was only one person I knew who could have known Mr. Knight or could have pulled something like this off. I just wasn’t totally sure of his agenda.
Amazingly, Austin agreed to meet me at The Cooler—an awesome bar down by the stadium. School was out for Christmas so there weren’t tons of people…though the ducks would be playing in a few weeks for the National Championship. I think he expected my call because he didn’t seem at all surprised.
When I walked in, he was already sitting at a bar table. He stood and shook my hand…always the gentleman.
“How are you, Zach?” he asked.
“I’m great. Got my hair cut.” I smiled. “And yourself?”
He nodded. “I’m good too. What’s up?”
I was totally down with getting down to business because when I looked at him, all I saw was someone that had fucked my girl. Though I knew she was mine now, jealousy flowed through every part of me.
“There’s no secret that we have a…rocky history.”
“True,” he said drinking from his pint glass.
“But putting that aside, if it’s you I have to thank for being here, I feel like I need to respectfully do that.” I stared at him trying to measure his response.
“No need for a thank you.”
So…he did do it.
“Why? Why’d you do it?”
He stared for a long minute at the big screen covering one wall then turned back to me.
“I’m going to sound like a prick when I say this, so I apologize in advance. But I didn’t do it for you. I did it for her. She needs you here. She loves you and I’ve accepted it. I won’t interfere with that. Her being happy is important to me. Having you here, being a part of the university, will make her happy.”
I nodded processing his words.
“Zach. I know you are a proud man. I’m not trying to take anything away from you by offering this to you. The offer wouldn’t have been made had he not found you worthy. I can promise you that. Don’t let pride get in the way of this.”
“I won’t. I’m taking the job because of the exact reasons you stated.” We sat for a moment in silence. “Thank you. I know this was probably harder than you are making it sound.”
“My father has known Mr. Knight for a long time. He’s a brilliant man. Like I said, he checked you out. Found out you’re the boyfriend of the former Duck quarterback and now pro player Ryan Hendrick.” Austin smiled and for a moment I liked him. “She deserves this.”
“And just to be clear…she nor I will owe you anything?”
“No Zach. There are no conditions tied to this offer. That’s not how I work. The only condition I have is with regards to Em.”
Even though I owed everything to this man right now, picturing Superman when he rips open his shirt to reveal the S on his blue and red superhero suit, is what I wanted to do to my shirt when he said her name. I didn’t want her name ever rolling off his lips. For the time being, I kept my shirt intact.
“What’s the condition?”
He finished his beer and threw a $10 bill down on the table. “You ever hurt her…”
I held up my palm stopping his words from coming. “It’ll never happen. Ever. So no need to even finish your statement.”
He nodded only once and left the bar.
Austin—
As I walked away from him, in one of most favorite bars, basically handing him the opportunity of a lifetime, with the girl I loved…who was an idiot?? This guy. All those years ago when he left me with her in that hotel room, I thought he was the idiot. But he loved her enough to walk away from her. It was my turn now.
I would be forever grateful for the time she and I had together…forever sad that she was not going to be my someday…and forever understanding as long as she was happy. Unsure how long I would wait just to be sure she wasn’t coming back; I knew I was in no hurry to find someone new. Finding someone who could match up to Emma would be a difficult feat. I would concentrate on work…I had to for now…just to survive.
Fall the following year…
Our first home game and though I was born and bred a USC Trojan, the smile on Em’s face as I dressed in my Oregon Duck attire for game day was priceless. Everyone was going to be here for opening day. Ryan was back and doing a half-time special for ESPN and both my folks and her folks were in the crowd. And of course supporting Ryan—Grant, Bret and Josh all came back for the game. Em sat by the coaches’ wives and Sam, Dylan, and Ali all sat with her. My life had come full circle. At 25 years old, I was the happiest I’d ever been.
There were so many assistants under me that game day was pretty much just that…game day. By the end of first half, we led by 30. Ryan was being interviewed in the end zone and the cameras continued to scan the Hendrick, including Em. I smiled each time her reflection was on the jumbotron.
Kirk Herbstreit finished Ryan’s interview and as planned handed me the microphone. Ryan smiled.
“This will only take a minute,” I said into the mic, which echoed across the crowd of 55,000 fans. “I have waited a long time to say and do this but today is the time. Ryan has a little sister. Emma,” I said pointing at the big screen knowing the camera guy was focused on her. “This guy,” I said pointing to myself, “is crazy in love with that girl. Now, I don’t want to put too much pressure on her, but I want that girl to become my wife,” I said and couldn’t finish because the crowd erupted in cheers. I watched on the screen her reaction. But Sam and Dylan were hugging her, then Ali wrapped her arms around her. I needed to see my girl’s face! So, I started walking toward her. The crowd quieted.
“Emma Hendrick. I love you with everything that I am.” Dylan lifted her over the barrier separating the crowd and the field. Thank God, security allowed it. “You are my yesterday, my today and my someday…and I really, really need you to be my forever.” I laid the mic in the turf and pulled the ring box from my pocket praying that she’d like it. Praying that yes is the only word she said. I don’t know how I did it, but I knelt.
“YES!” she shouted from the 20-yard line and I was still on the 50…so I got to my feet and I met her half way and spun her when she reached my arms. The crowd was going crazy and so was my heart.
“Yes. Yes. Yes,” she said repeatedly and I slid the princess cut diamond on her finger. Then right there in front of my parents, her parents and 55,000 of our closest friends, I kissed her like she’s never been kissed before. And the best part of all of this is it would be replayed over and over again on ESPN. Given that I was jealous of guys who hadn’t even met Em yet, this would reach millions. Perfect. This was the first d
ay of the rest of our lives and our adventure was just beginning…
Austin—
Work. Work. Work. That’s all I did. My job with Hoch Oil in Texas was going phenomenally well. I knew my father played a bigger role than I desired in me getting the position as the head attorney for the firm. But, Mr. Hoch also knew my education, credentials, outstanding bar scores and work ethic. Unsure if Texas is where I wanted to remain, I had time to figure things out without rushing into anything.
It was a Saturday, and I hadn’t been back to Eugene for nearly a year. That was for the best, but I kept in contact with all the guys. I knew enough to know that Zach had moved in with Emma. And going back would only make me want to see her. Today was opening game at Autzen Stadium and in the third quarter, my phone buzzed.
Emma! My heart stepped up its beat. I swiped across the screen to read the message.
Hey you…
Hi there stranger. Happy duck day to you. What’s up? Send
This is really hard for me and I need you to be happy for me.
I slid the phone onto my desk and sat back in my chair, breathing in and out as I prepared myself for what was coming. Do I let her tell me or do I predict?
As long as you’re happy, I’m happy. Tell me. Send
He asked. I said yes.
Bile inched up the back of my throat. This was it. The last tie severed.
Please pick out a pretty color for my dress. I’m assuming I’ll be a bridesmaid! :) send
That was the best I could give her. I’ll be damned if I was going to say congratulations.
YES! Thank you! You’re the first person I texted. I needed you to know as hard as it was to text it. So pink?
Just One of the Guys 3 My Someday... Page 14