by Carly White
When she got down to the outdoor stadium, the place was already packed. She had been given a seat down by the front so that she could get a good look at the game. The problem was though, that Lou didn’t know anything about football in general. All she saw was a bunch of guys running around and jumping on each other. Lou would never get sports or the reason that the crowd behind her would cheer so loud.
Lou had a little bit of the fever when the game was coming to an end. It had been a good win for the school and it was Phil that had made it all possible. He was a sight to behold on the field and Lou was like the rest of them, chanting his name after the win. It was a good night for the small school and if there were recruits in the stands, Lou was sure that Phil’s performance had guaranteed him a good price at the draft.
After the game was over and the stands started to unload, Lou tried to make it to the field to get her interview with Phil, but he was surrounded by well-wishers and she was unable to. It was her job to get an interview, so after a time when there was less people Lou made her way to the locker room. She knocked and when no one answered, she pushed the door in slowly.
There were men in all state of undress and she felt her cheeks turning red. It wasn’t the first time she had seen such a scene, but it was overwhelming to have all of those eyes on her. “Has anyone seen Phil?”
A tall blonde man stood up in a towel. “I will be Phil, if that is what you want to call me.’
Lou waved him off. “I am here for the paper, not that. Why don’t you cover yourself or I can take a picture for the newspaper if you like.”
She smiled as he scowled at her. She didn’t know who he was, but she was sure he was a dumb jock like all the rest. No one told her where Phil was, so she was forced to walk through the small locker room until she found him in the shower room. She said his name softly and he turned around suddenly. Charlie had been right, her painting was realistic. “Um, sorry Phil. I was just hoping for an interview when you were done. I was trying to catch you before you left for the evening.”
“Well here I am.”
He seemed unabashed by his own nakedness and as she couldn’t meet his eyes or anything else on his body, she turned her head. “I will wait for you until you are done if you don’t mind.”
Lou scurried out of the locker room, her heart pounding in her chest. It was an eternity until the man came out. Some of the others gave her a smile and leer as they exited the shower room. Lou was about to walk away when she heard him say her name. Why did she like the sound of it so much?
“Lou?”
“Yes, so I was hoping that you would want to give an interview for the paper. You are practically royalty to this school, so they want to know how it feels to win against Bishop?”
“Bishop has always been our rival and it is good that we won tonight.”
“So what are you planning to do after this season?”
“I plan to get drafted and make millions.”
“Yes, but do you know which team you are looking into?”
He shrugged and started to walk towards the parking lot. She was supposed to get more, so she followed him with her small tape recorder. “I don’t know what team yet. All depends on who gives me the best contract.”
“Are you trying to stay close to home?”
He shook his head that he wasn’t. “I don’t really have anything here to keep me. If that were to change, maybe I would stay close.”
Phil was looking at her in such a way that made her blush. Surely he didn’t mean her? How could he when he didn’t even know her. “I see. So you have no family here?”
“I have some family here, but it has never been a good enough reason to stay.”
Lou couldn’t shake his eyes and she finally looked down. “I am sure that wherever you go, you will do great Phil. I never much got sports, but without you tonight, I doubt we would have won.”
“Thank you. I was hoping to play well because of the scouts.”
“Well you did.” Lou stopped herself, not sure why she was being his cheerleader. He had been great though and through it all, she could admit that. Phil was way better than Dante had ever been. “You did. Since Dante left and you were put on first string, our team has won more than ever.”
She stopped when she realized that she had said her ex’s name out loud. Lou was sure that he didn’t know who she was and she wanted to keep it that way. Phil stopped and looked at her. “Thank you Lou. From you, I know that means a lot.”
Lou paused with him for a moment, looking up into his face. He seemed genuine and she wondered if Charlie was right about him. She usually was and it Lou wonder if she had been too harsh with the jocks. It had been years and that little tape had been done over and over again by other women. Cell phones were everywhere and drunken girls showing too much was not that uncommon.
“So what other questions do you have?”
She flipped through her small notepad and searched for something witty to ask. It was hard to talk to him, let alone think at the same time when he looked at her in such a way. Lou should have never seen that painting, because now it was impossible to look at him in the eyes. “I don’t know. Is there anything that you want added into the paper?”
He shrugged that there wasn’t. Phil had never liked all the publicity that came with the sport, but he knew he would have to get over it if he was going to play in the NFL. “I don’t know. Just don’t focus on me. There were a lot of other great plays and players out tonight and I don’t want them to be forgotten. We are a team and not one person can do it alone.”
She was surprised by his request. He was humble too.
“I will make sure to do that. Most guys want all the glory for themselves.”
Phil didn’t want it. He had enough attention and felt like he didn’t deserve it. There were more people that had better plays than he did. “There is no glory if there isn’t the others.”
“But the article is on you and your great success at the school. It’s a puff piece for the school more than anything. They are going to spew out your accolades for years to come. One of the great players came from their school, that sort of thing.”
Phil hadn’t thought of that, but it didn’t erase his uneasiness with the plan. He didn’t want to be pushed to the top. “I get that, but I am not the only one that will be drafted from this team. Carlos was looking great tonight and I have heard rumors that some of the recruiters were here to see him as well.”
Lou didn’t know what to say. She was figuring that she would have to stroke his ego a bit, but it seemed the last thing that he wanted. “Okay, well do you want me to interview him instead?”
“I was hoping that you would come to the after party and then you can interview them all.”
Lou shook her head. There was no way that she was going to another party. “No thank you. I think I have all that I need from you. You did well Phil. Have a good evening.”
She turned to walk away and he stopped her with a hand on her arm again. She looked down at the grip. “You seem to have trouble keeping your hands to yourself Phil.”
He moved his hand away. “Sorry about that, but what do I got to do to get your attention?”
“Why do you want it so badly?” Lou figured it was because she was the only one not willing to give it to him. Men always wanted what they couldn’t have.
“Because I can’t stop thinking about you Lou. Ever since the other night at the party, you have not given me the time of day.”
“You are just not my type.”
“I’m everyone’s type.”
She kind of giggled. “Yeah, you keep telling yourself that then.”
Lou walked away and Phil waited to see if she would look back. When she finally did, he knew that he had her. While she liked to pretend that she didn’t want him, he could see it in her eyes. But she was going to be harder to crack than he figured. Phil was a patient man, when it came to things that he really wanted and for one reason or another, he really wanted
Lou.
Chapter 7
Lou wrote up the article that night at her apartment. Charlie was out with her boyfriend and though it was quiet like she liked it, she wondered for the first time if she should have gone out instead. Lou was getting to the conclusion that Charlie had been right. She had wasted so much of her college experience on studies and now that it was almost over, she wondered if she should have done more.
It was too late by the time she finished the article and emailed it to the editor. She went to bed that night thinking about Phil and men like him. Had she been that wrong about him?
The next morning Lou woke up and spent much of her day at her parent’s. She tried to make it home every other weekend for at least a day or so. Charlie was still over at her boyfriend’s house and though she usually went with, Lou was left to face her parents on her own. They were the drive that pushed her, reminding her that college wasn’t for fun, but for the education she needed to go on with her life.
After a couple of hours of their reminder, she felt a little better, but still wondered in the back of her mind, what it was that she was missing. The man in the painting and the humble man from the night before kept creeping into her mind. He couldn’t be as great as he appeared.
Lou made her way back to the campus Sunday night and was relieved to see her friend back. Charlie may have liked to act like she didn’t care about her boyfriend, but Lou knew that she was in love and smitten. “So has James convinced you to stay there yet?”
Charlie had an almost guilty look on her face. “You know that I won’t leave you with the apartment. The rent is too high for you, so I will still pay my part, but I have been thinking about staying with him.”
She looked nervous and Lou tried to calm her. “It’s no worries Charlie. As much as you like to deny it, I know you are just as in love with him. That is a good thing Charlie. You two are perfect together.”
“I know. I just worry about you Lou.”
“I will be fine.”
They talked for a little while longer before going to bed. Lou knew that she was going to miss her desperately, but she didn’t want to be the one to hold her friend back. It wasn’t fair to her and once she realized that Lou was okay with it, Charlie had one of the happiest looks on her face. Lou though, was a little sad when she laid down that evening. College was coming to an end and it felt like she hadn’t even been there that long. All of her time studying was wasted in a way, and now she wished that she had done more while she was there. But the time for all of that was over.
She went to bed thinking of it all, but there was a moment when she thought of Phil again. He was the man that kept running around in her head and she still wasn’t so sure why. It wasn’t just his physical form that attracted her.
***
Monday morning the two girls went to separate classes in the morning, but Lou ditched her second class to go to art instead. She had all of her supplies and was introduced to the teacher. “You will like our class today. We will be doing nudes again.”
Lou was not expecting that, but her friend seemed to know what was going on. When Lou saw Phil walk in and start to un-robe, she closed her eyes and said a little prayer for strength. As it all came off, she swallowed hard and tried to look away. Charlie noticed her friend’s reaction and smiled to herself. They were perfect together, even if her friend didn’t know it yet.
“It will be fine Lou. It’s just a guy. It’s not like you haven’t seen it all before.”
Lou nodded, but the lump in her throat was getting thicker. She had seen it all before, but Phil was a whole other subject. The way he looked at her, not smugly, but knowingly made breathing hard. Phil knew exactly what he did to her and he chose to face her throughout the class. By the time it was over, Lou was beet red in the face and just wanted to leave.
She was picking up her station and her supplies. She didn’t notice the now-clad Phil walking up to her until she heard his voice right behind her. “I hope this isn’t going to be in the paper.”
Lou stopped putting the brushes away and looked back at him. “Doubtful, though I am sure enough of the school has seen your junk that it is unnecessary.”
“Man you are mean today. What do I have to do to get you to like me?”
“Why does it bother you so much?”
“I don’t know, but it does.”
“I have nothing against you personally Phil. I just don’t date jocks.”
“Anymore.”
“So you did recognize me.” She was disappointed and started to walk away. Again, he stopped her and she looked at the touch.
“I didn’t know who you were until one of my friends said something. I don’t care about that video.”
“Oh, so you have seen it?”
“Many times.”
Lou didn’t know if she should smile or scowl. “Is that what you want? You want a little strip tease?”
He shook his head. “We aren’t all like that Lou. I just want to go out with you. Go out with me one time and I won’t bother you again.”
“Promise?”
“Yes, if that is what you want. But go out with me tonight.”
“Fine, where do you want to go?”
“Anywhere you want.”
She smiled at him finally. “Okay I will call you later.”
Phil’s face grinned and he let her arm go. Charlie had watched it all and she too had a smile on her face. She didn’t know why she knew it was supposed to be for them two, but ever since she seen her friend’s face as she looked at that painting, she knew. Charlie wanted her friend to be happy and there was something about the way Phil had talked about her. She had just known.
Charlie didn’t say anything as the two girls walked home. Their paintings were rolled up as they walked back to the apartment. “So you and Phil huh?”
Lou made a face. “Don’t start Charlie. It’s not like that.”
“Of course not.”
Chapter 8
Lou hadn’t been so nervous for a date in a long time. It had been a month since she had broken up with Danny and though she had cared for him, she hadn’t felt so excited for a date in a long time. Maybe it was the perfect body of the man that made it so sweet, but there was really something else in his eyes that she hadn’t been able to deny. Maybe Charlie was right and he wasn’t so bad after all. He certainly didn’t look bad.
She called him to come pick her up and he was there within minutes. Lou was wearing one of her friend’s dresses. It was long and flowing, but strapless at the top. His eyes made her almost blush with the way he looked at her. She could tell that Phil liked what he saw. It was strange as she walked to the car with him, to think that they had both already seen each other naked.
“You look great Lou.”
“I’m sure you say that to all of your dates Phil.”
“I do, but I actually mean it when I say it to you.”
Lou smiled back at him and waited for him to get to the other side of the car. When he got in, he closed the door and then leaned in for a quick kiss before she could stop him. It was nice and quick, his lips soft and she wanted more, but looked away when it was over. Her body was still recognizing him as the one from the painting and she wanted him. It didn’t matter that he was a jock or the star football player, in that moment, he was just the man she had painted earlier in the day.
“So where are we going?”
“Call’s Bluff.”
It was the local make-out place for the college kids that wanted to get off of campus. His eyes lightened and she shook her head. “Not because of that Phil. There is supposed to be a comet show tonight that I wanted to see and it is the only place far enough away from all of the lights to see it good.”
He tried not to look disappointed. Of course she wasn’t going to just fall into bed with him. He would have to work on her. Lou wasn’t like other girls that would drop their panties to make him happy.
“Okay. I didn’t know that you were into astrology.”
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br /> “It’s one of my hobbies. I used to come out here with Danny…” She stopped herself. It was never kosher to talk about her ex’s in public.
“He really was a douche. You know that right?”
“I do now.”
There was a quiet that went over them as he drove up the bluffs over the city. Phil was never nervous, but he was then. He wanted her to see passed what he did and who everyone thought he was. “So how did you like art class?”
“You mean, how did I like looking at your penis for an hour?”
He face got a little heated. She had a way with words. “Yes, I guess that is what I meant.”
“Kind of like watching strippers I guess. Look, but you can’t touch.”
He laughed a little. “Well you are always more than welcome to touch Lou.”
She sighed. “I am sure that is what you say to all of the girls.”
“Not all of them.”
“Just the pretty ones?”
Phil didn’t answer, knowing that if he said the wrong thing, she wouldn’t give him the time of day. “I will admit that I have had my share of women, but I am looking for more than just looks.”
“Oh? What changed your mind?”
“You did.”
Lou didn’t know what to say, but the man had a way of smooth talking. She ignored the answer and sat up in the seat as they got closer. “Park over there so the trees won’t be in the way, okay?”
He was not used to getting orders, but she seemed to have no problem giving them. He parked where she wanted, waiting for her to tell him if that was okay. “This is good. We have to hurry though. It is supposed to start any minute.”
Phil could have cared less about the show and as they sat on the grass together, she was looking up and he was looking at her. There was something in the way she smiled back at him with a disarming smile that made him think that he had a chance. He had been watching her instead of the sky for some time and when she looked at him in such a way, all Phil could think about was how beautiful she looked in the moon light.
His hand moved towards her and she looked down at where they touched. Lou looked back up at the shooting stars and comets that were streaking across the sky. It was better than she had thought it would be and she knew that it was because she wasn’t alone. Phil was there with her and as he pulled her back towards him, he put her head down on his chest.