One Perfect Night: A Sports Romance

by Amber, Bec

  She didn’t restrict Logan’s access to Greg, but she was very wary and very watchful. She had to keep her son’s needs first and foremost in her mind.

  There was no way for Logan to be the father Julie—and Greg—needed him to be. He was in a different world, he was away too much. He was…

  She rocked Greg, half her attention on the pre-show for the football game, half her attention on her son. He was beautiful, with his chubby cheeks, his curly brown hair and his big green eyes, just like his father’s.

  Her heart ached—their connection still resonated in her head as one of the most beautiful moments in her life. He’d insisted on paying child support and she’d insisted on him putting it into a college fund. He called every week, asking her to consider a future with him. But there was no way she could let him in. He was with one woman or another; the only reason he wanted to be with her was because of Greg, and she couldn’t do that. She had far too much pride to be the wife on the side.

  His voice filtered in, a pre-taped interview running before the game, and Greg settled in her arms. Julie stared at the TV, tears welling in her eyes. He hadn’t needed that shoulder surgery after all, and he was starting quarterback for the Harriers. He was doing great for the team; they were having a winning season.

  As soon as the interview was done, Greg got fussy and Julie finally put him in his playpen, her attention on a piece they were doing on Logan. A bunch of photos came onto the screen, one of him in high school, a couple of him in college, then his time with the Condors, and several with various women.

  Those hurt. Julie knew she had no hold on him, but it still rankled to see him living a carefree life a thousand miles or more away.

  Her life was Greg, providing for Greg, and working, in that order. There was no time for anything else, and certainly no emotional energy. She hadn’t eaten more than frozen dinners after work, and her social life, which had never been exactly hopping, had ground to a stop.

  Mom watched Greg during the day, and Julie raced home at night, sometimes stopping at a grocery store, and relieved Mom of her duties. If she hadn’t had Mom and Dad, she wouldn’t have been able to manage. Child care was so expensive, and Julie didn’t make a great living at her job.

  She closed her eyes and rubbed the back of her neck. Being a single parent was rough, some days harder than others. She had so much to do, to fix the wreck of her apartment, go through the bills, and try to figure out a budget. She shouldn’t be watching a game.

  And yet Julie couldn’t help it, seeing Logan, even on TV, was a soothing balm to her soul.

  Julie went through the mail, sorting it into a bills pile, and a junk mail pile. The bills were starting to pile up; she wasn’t making her basic expenses, and that was just depressing.

  She got a small glass of wine when the game started. It’d help to take the edge off and she desperately needed that.

  Logan was playing wonderfully, his throws meeting their targets and soon they were ahead 21-0; the expansion team New Jersey Bobcats getting hammered. Julie couldn’t help a smile as Logan nailed a thirty-yard pass—Touchdown!

  She watched him call the next play, confident, his voice rising over the chatter from the fans, and the offensive line set up for the play. The handoff was smooth, and Julie watched Logan scramble back, and then…

  “No!”

  Julie watched as Logan was slammed to the ground, head and shoulder first. A quarterback sack wasn’t exactly a rarity, but this one looked especially bad. And she wasn’t surprised to see Logan lying on the ground, either stunned or injured.

  “Logan…” Even though he couldn’t hear her, she felt better saying his name. She bit her knuckles, waiting, waiting...Endless moments and then the network went to commercial, leaving Julie with her heart in her throat.

  Logan had messed up his bad shoulder, she just knew it.

  ***

  Logan looked at the best orthopedist in Des Moines grimly. He knew the score; knew this was a career-ending injury at this point in the game The X-rays showed the damage, the torn tendon and the damaged cartilage.

  This was the conclusion, three days of testing, everyone from the team doctor and trainers, coaches, even the businessmen behind the team weighing in. They would keep him on the team for now, but he was out for the rest of the season, at minimum. They weren't even trying to pretend they weren’t disappointed and upset. So was Logan.

  They’d asked him why he’d fallen as he did, as if he’d had any choice in the matter. They asked why he hadn’t dodged to one side or another, even though the film clearly showed that he’d been blindsided.

  He was fed up. He wanted to go home.

  “Surgery is the only option?” Logan asked. He’d been quiet, letting the team doc, the ortho, the trainers all discuss his injury as if he wasn’t even there. His ortho in California had cleared his schedule to call in for the conference. Even his agent, appearing via teleconference, had more to say than he did. Logan was nothing more than a commodity, a resource to be used and reused until he became too old or too injured for him to continue.

  “That’s right,” the doctor said, motioning to the medical images. He didn’t need to explain more.

  He was done. He wanted to go home, to see Greg, to see Julie, his parents Myra, FishyFace. Everyone.

  “Okay, then. I’ll seek treatment in LA. I’m out for the season, right?”

  “At least,” the ortho said. Logan could read the truth in his eyes. The was done for, washed up. That was fine. The Condors had offered him a few different positions, offering him everything from scouting positions to front office, from an adjunct coach, working specifically with the quarterbacks, to being the face of the organization. Despite being in Des Moines, he was still thought of as a Condor, and the press kept pushing that.

  “Doctor Randall, can you fit me in as soon as possible? Text me when you know how your schedule is. And Hal,” he said, addressing his agent, “Let’s talk tomorrow.” He stood, extending his hand to each of the people in the office. It was a goodbye, even if nobody actually voiced it. He wouldn’t be playing in Des Moines. Hell, he wouldn’t be playing anywhere; he’d be lucky if he could throw a ball around with Greg in a couple of years.

  Greg. His son. He and Julie were what mattered most. He was ready to retire and settle down with them. If only she’d take him. But there were so many questions. Was she seeing anyone? Did she even want him? They’d had such a brief time together romantically, and all too soon it had changed into discussion about Greg and his needs and progress.

  He simply couldn’t miss out on a more time with Greg—and Julie. Maybe the injury was a gift. A chance to finally be with his family.

  ***

  Logan’s day was filled with wrapping up details. The moving company would pack up his things; he’d bring a small suitcase home with him. His agent would work with the team and work out a contract settlement. He’d wrapped up every detail he could and bid Des Moines a quiet goodbye.

  His flights were on time and Logan spent the time before, during, and between the flights with his earbuds jammed into his ears, trying his best to be invisible. A couple of young kids approached and asked for autographs and he complied, telling them to get good grades in school. He felt suddenly paternal, and the rush of emotions that brought forth had him playing his music louder, trying to drown out the little voice in his head reminding him he’d missed out on so much with Greg, not to mention Julie.

  Logan picked up a rental from the airport and drove to Julie’s apartment, looking at the cracked sidewalk and the streets critically. How had he allowed chasing a football dream, a dream he had already acquired, to blind him to what he needed most—family.

  Could Julie forgive him?

  He got out of the car, his heart racing, and headed for Julie’s apartment.

  “I know, Mrs. Morrison, but he has colic. I’m sorry he’s disturbing you. Calling the police isn’t going to make him stop crying. He’s a baby.”

  Logan could
hear the tears and frustration in Julie’s voice. He’d made a point to not connect with any of her neighbors, opting a head down approach until she’d answered the door, but he’d heard about Mrs. Morrison and how bossy she was.

  “Julie? Everything okay?”

  Her eyes widened and she almost dropped Greg, who was wailing.

  “Give him here,” Logan said, taking the baby from her and rubbing his back. Greg burped and sighed, falling blessedly silent.

  Julie, on the other hand had something to say. Logan could tell by the way she drew her shoulders back, standing taller.

  “Mrs. Morrison, there are certain things out of my control. Greg crying is one of those things. I need for you to go back to your apartment. If you feel the need to call the police again, you go right ahead and do just that. They’re not going to arrest my baby for a noise complaint and they’re not going to bully him into silence. You’ve tried that, see how well that worked for you.”

  She turned her attention to Logan and her posture softened. He could see the exhaustion written all over her face. It was time he stepped up to the plate.

  “Ma’am, I’d like to spend some time with my family. Please leave.”

  “F-family?” Mrs. Morrison said, clearly perplexed.

  “Yes.” Logan eased past her and into the living room, the playpen taking up most of the space. “Julie, c’mon.”

  The sound of the front door locking made his heart clench. They were alone now, and it wasn’t a simple conversation Logan desired. He wanted a heart to heart with her.

  And more.

  “Hi,” she said, holding out her hands for Greg. He wasn’t ready to give his son over yet. Julie gave him a fond smile and sat on the couch while he settled in the overstuffed chair a profound choice of mirroring their positions when she told him she was pregnant.

  “Hi,” he replied. “Have you had dinner?”

  “Microwave meals,” she said, an edge to her voice. “Microwave meals have become my diet.”

  “Oh.” Logan looked down at Greg, cuddling him close and stroking his hair. “I’ll never understand why—”

  “No you wouldn’t,” Julie said furiously. “You’ve been in Iowa, for God’s sake, getting injured, making us worry, doing…” She lost steam there and trailed off, wiping her eyes over cheeks he just now realized were tear stained.

  “Julie, I’m back and I want this to work. I want us to work. We had something that first night; I know you felt it. I know what we had was unlike anything I’ve ever felt.”

  “And so you went to Des Moines to try to figure it out with every eligible woman there.” She sighed and put a hand up. “Sorry, uncalled for. You have your life and I have mine. We share a child. I don’t get the right to harp on you about everyone you date.”

  Date? Where had that come from?

  “I don’t….I haven’t….Date?”

  She rolled her eyes. “You had a bunch of women dangling off your arm.”

  What the hell? Logan had no idea what she was talking about. He tried to bank the anger and frustration, but Greg must have sensed it and started crying.

  “Rub his back,” she said shortly. Logan did, trying to work out what she meant by dating, though her comments ignited a flare of hope inside him. Was she jealous? Could she be interested in trying this crazy thing out?

  Logan held his son, trying to work out what to say. He had the feeling that this would be monumental, that these moments could be life changing.

  “I haven’t dated or slept with anyone since you, Julie. I...couldn’t.”

  Her eyes widened at that and her vulnerability shined right through.

  “Why?” she asked in a whisper.

  “Because I can’t get you out of my head. Julie, I want to share my life with you. Please…”

  Oh god, was he begging? “Please give me a chance, Julie.”

  She didn’t answer him, didn’t say a word, even though her eyes glistened with tears that he wanted to kiss away, though he didn’t dare. He’d laid himself bare and now it was up to her. The ball was in her court.

  “Are you here to stay?” she asked in a small voice.

  He nodded. “I’m done. The shoulder has taken too much damage. All we have to do now is work out the details.”

  “What happens next?”

  “I don’t know,” he told her. “I’d like…” He stopped. Swallowed. Gulped back the rush of emotion. “I’d like to explore a relationship with the woman I’ve fallen for.”

  Again, she fell silent, just watching him, though he suspected her tears were almost ready to fall. She reached for her phone and though he wanted to ask what she was doing, he held off.

  “Mom...It’s me. Can you and Dad take Greg for a while. Why? Um...Logan is here and we need to talk.”

  She paused and he saw one lone tear trickle down her cheek. “He says he’s staying.” Her voice broke on that last word. “He said… He wants to try.” There was a long pause and she nodded, as if her mother could see her. “Thank you, Mom. I’ll have him ready.”

  She disconnected the call and wiped her face. “Mom and Dad will be here. We’re going to talk.”

  “To talk,” he echoed. He wanted so much more, but he knew he had to wait until Julie was ready, if Julie would be ready. It was entirely possible she would just want to parent with him and had no interest in a relationship, though he suspected she wanted him as much as he wanted her. He’d read the desire, not to mention little flashes of love, in her eyes.

  Her tears told the story too, giving him that thread of hope that started deep in his soul and began growing slowly, but surely.

  Chapter 9

  What a day!

  Julie couldn’t believe this. First, Mrs. Morrison had screamed at her and Greg, then, of all people, Logan had come to the rescue. She hadn’t known he was coming to LA for treatment, but it made sense. His parents were here, his sister and niece, even his fish.

  It looked as if she wasn’t the only one who’d held a torch. She’d never expected Logan to open up and let himself be vulnerable. Though she had no reason beyond gut instinct to trust what he said, she believed it to be true. But that opened up a whole other can of worms.

  “Why did you leave that first day?” he asked, and she shouldn’t have seemed so surprised that they were on the same wavelength.

  “I looked at your cell,” she admitted, realizing how immature and idiotic as that had been. “I saw a bunch of names and I figured I was just another notch on your bedpost. NFL superstar, choice of any woman in creation. Why me?”

  He shook his head, sighing. “Cheerleaders looking for a night of fun. I’m not interested and I’ve never indulged. Julie...I’m not the player you think I am. I’m as far from that reputation as it comes. Sure, I’ve had some casual sex, but I’m done with that. I don’t want anyone but you. I would have told you that morning we had something special, but you were gone so quickly.”

  He sighed. “I don’t think you were ready to take a chance, so you ran.”

  “Neither of us were ready,” she pointed out quietly. Julie reached for Greg and Logan handed him over, settling back in the chair and leaning forward. “I did a really stupid and immature thing by running, but if I hadn’t run, it wouldn’t have worked anyway. Des Moines to LA is a million miles away.”

  She wanted to believe him, but the pictures kept trickling through. She opened up her laptop and let it boot up, then navigated to a folder on her desktop. She was getting really good at doing this.

  “Amanda Grant, Jennifer Whey, Nicole Calwind.” She punctuated each name with a pointed finger at the images on her desktop. “Katrina Bordeaux. Look at you kissing her shoulder. How can I believe you, Logan, when I see all these pictures. And while you were squiring the Des Moines fucking elite, I was here, trying to be Mom and Dad to Greg.”

  “I don’t know,” he said, leaning over to look at the pictures. “Charity events. I didn’t even know most of their last names. These are girls that have a connect
ion to the team, and I was asked to escort them, so I did. Des Moines is a pretty small city.”

  “Yeah, I know. And you were the celebrity there with all the pretty girls on your arm, while I was waddling around and trying to get to the bathroom in time to toss my cookies.”

  He raked a hand through his hair. “I told you…” He shook his head. “I’m sorry, Julie. I’m sorry I wasn’t here. I’m sorry...for it all.”

  Logan closed his eyes and she could hear his shuddering breaths. “All I wanted was you, Julie. I don’t know how to make you believe it.”

  “I don’t think you can,” she said quietly, closing the laptop. “I don’t know where we go from here.”

  Logan looked at her, and she could see him fighting not to cry. It was in his movements, in the way he shuddered, and the little whimpers she was fairly sure he had no idea he was emitting.

  Her heart broke, but she couldn’t think about letting him shatter it into even more pieces. “I have to get Greg’s bag ready,” she told him, wondering if there was even a point in trying to make this work. Why not keep Greg here anyway? But Mom and probably Dad were on the way. “Here, you hold our son, and I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

  Julie kept her head high as she went to the second bedroom, which was more like a closet. As she gathered his things, Logan’s voice filtered in. Julie suspected he had no idea how the apartment funneled sound to the back rooms.

  “I love her, buddy. How can I get her to understand. Those girls, they came in their own limos. I was just there for conversation and the red carpet. It is all smoke and mirrors, Greg. And I may lose your mom because of that. I just want a shot with her to show her what I feel for her is real. It is real, Greg. You were conceived on one amazing night and I want us to have a lifetime of them. I should have told her sooner. I shouldn’t have missed a day without you. All I can say to you and your mom is that I’m sorry.” He choked off a sob.