by Lucy Snow
“Oh yeah? How’s that?”
“People don’t need to be congratulated for what they’re naturally good at, Lance! That’s what I do, win games!”
“And all those games you lost till today?”
Oliver waved them away. “Bumps on the road, my man, growing pains. All in the past - we’re in the present now! Come on, get happy again!” Oliver was smiling ear to ear, and had never looked more punchable than he did in that moment.
“It’s good to enjoy a victory now and then, Oliver, but around here we don’t celebrate quite on that level.”
“Then things around here are gonna change a little bit, my man. I know all that Patriot Way nonsense that everyone spews around here, but it’s time we had a little fun! It’s time we celebrated a little more. It’s time we celebrated me.”
“Oh yeah? One victory and you’re sure this’ll be a streak for the ages?”
“You know it, you know it. I can feel it in my bones, it’s gonna be all wins from here on out. With Olly at the helm, the Patriots can’t lose.”
“You know, Oliver, quarterbacks aren’t always the best. It’s a team game out there - everyone has to work together in order to secure the victory.”
Oliver nodded his head vigorously. “But guys like playing for a winner. Winning brings a special kind of motivation.” He looked at me with an evil smirk. “And to the victor, goes the spoils.”
“What kind of spoils did you have in mind?”
“Oh, I’ve got my eye on some around here. And I don’t just mean your starting job, but throw that in there too.”
“I don’t follow.”
“Yeah, I figured you didn’t. I heard a lot about you, Lance Parker, that you’re some kind of football robot or something, ain’t got eyes for nothing else besides the game.” He hooked around, like he was about to tell me a secret. “And that,” he started, softer this time, “is why I think you don’t play as well as you could. Too much focus, man! Not enough living, not enough enjoying yourself!”
“Thanks for the advice, Oliver.”
“Free of charge, my man, free of charge. You’re gonna have a lot of time to think about that while you watch me start from here on out.”
“Don’t get ahead of yourself. I plan on playing again this year.”
“Yeah, maybe in garbage time when Coach Armstrong wants to make sure the face of the franchise don’t get hurt. ‘Cause that’s me.” Again that smile.
“I think this conversation is over, Oliver.”
He looked up at the clock on the wall and nodded. “You right, you right. I gotta go meet up with some reporters anyway, promised them an exclusive or two. Might even get a little time with that Calloway tonight.”
I stopped cold. “Calloway?”
“Yeah I’ve been working on her a little bit, and I think she’s finally coming around. I got Morris to assign her to me for this past game and I’m thinking about making that assignment permanent.”
“She works with me.”
Oliver folded his arms under his chest. “She works with the starting quarterback, Lance. Up till now everyone around here has been still thinking of you as the starter, but I promise you this - after today that’s gonna start to change. Calloway might find herself assigned to me on a more regular basis from here on out.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Get the fuck out of here, Oliver.”
“Walk over here and make me, Parker.”
He had me over a proverbial barrel. I couldn’t just walk over to him, not without my crutches, and not without giving him way too much time to respond. Fights among players happened all the time, but I never got into them, despite how much I wanted to right now. “Fuck you.”
“So he does have emotions after all? All because I brought up the tasty Miss Calloway, I see. Interesting, very interesting.”
“This isn’t over, Oliver. I’m going to start again this year.”
“We’ll see about that. Alright, you enjoy your evening…lying in bed alone, I guess.” Oliver turned and headed toward the door, stopping and looking back at me before he opened it. “Oh yeah, and Lance?”
“What?”
“Thanks for all the advice. Big help, man. I couldn’t have done this without you.”
Then he was gone. I lay back in my bed, not surprised that Oliver was twisting the knife in my back, but definitely surprised at how fast it had happened and how deep he was twisting it.
I needed to get out of here. I didn’t know what to do.
There was a knock at the door and I whipped my head around, gathering my energy in case Oliver came back. Injured or not, I was gonna wipe the smug smile off that bastard’s fucking face.
It was Charlotte, looking gorgeous as ever. I nodded and she came in, and as soon as I saw her I could feel myself relax. She had such an amazing effect on me, as soon as she came into the room things looked up, like there was hope again.
“Hey, Lance,” she said, “I was just coming to the station outside and I saw Oliver coming out.” She looked at me and I could see her demeanor change, like she was scared. “Everything, uh, OK?”
I looked down and realized my hands were clenched into fists so tight my knuckles were turning white. “Oh, yeah, sorry about that. Oliver was here, and that guy…well, that guy and I don’t get along at all.”
“I know the feeling,” she said, coming into the room and stopping at my bed. “I’ve been working with him these last few days and it hasn’t been great.”
“This first victory of his has already gone to his head. He was in here talking all this shit about how he’s never giving me back my starting job.”
Charlotte nodded, reaching out and touching me on the shoulder. I closed my eyes, enjoying her touch. “He told me the same thing.”
“I can’t let that happen, Charlotte. I gotta get better fast and get back on the field.”
“I know, Lance, I know. Your injury is healing up, but it’s still gonna be a few weeks.”
“I…I need help, Charlotte, I need help to get back where I need to be. I need you in my life.”
She looked for a second like she couldn’t believe what I had just said, but that passed as quickly as it appeared. “But what about your rule? What about waiting till the season was over?”
I looked down. “I know about the rule. Trust me on that. I know that it’s gotten me this far, but I also know that I don’t want to stick to it for a minute longer if it means I’m hurting you, if it means I’m keeping you away.”
She looked at me warily for a second, before smiling. “I’m here for you, Lance. I’ll help you in any way I can.”
I put my hand on hers, and saw her close her eyes at my touch. I marveled at how much we affected each other, how strong each of our hold over the other was.
We held each other like that. And everything already felt better.
CHAPTER 14 - CHARLOTTE
Even though I had only known Lance Parker for a few weeks, I still felt like I had a good handle on what kind of man he was. So when he asked me, of all people, for help in getting back on the field so he could chase his dream, I was shocked.
It was only a few weeks ago that Lance had told me he could heal up by himself, that he didn’t need my help, that he could go it alone. Of course, that hadn’t been true from the start, but I had kept my distance from him all the time.
Aside from, you know, when he kissed me a couple times. And that one time we had sex in this very room. But let’s move on and not pay as much attention to those, OK?
Still, I was floored. Lance was the last guy I expected to turn to someone else for help, but here he was, asking me as sincerely as he knew how. My heart immediately went out to him, and I wanted to jump into his arms and have him hold me all night.
I would have settled for the other way around, but that might have looked and felt way more awkward for the both of us.
“Anything I can do, Lance, really,” I started, breaking the silence we both had let linger for what felt lik
e forever, but was probably closer to 30 seconds. Big difference, there.
I sat down on the bed next to Lance, and he pulled me in quickly, kissing me hard on the lips. I opened my mouth slightly and let him in, thrilled beyond belief that we were kissing again. It felt so good to have his arms wrapped around me like this. I didn’t even care in that moment if someone wandered by or even into the room and interrupted us.
All that mattered was that Lance Parker was kissing me. And I was kissing him back.
Finally, though, we had to separate. I sat back and adjusted my clothes to make sure everything was in order. Lance kept looking at me.
“I know, Charlotte, I know. You’ve been wonderful these last few weeks and I’ve been a dick. I’m really sorry about that.”
I wanted to agree with him, to acknowledge that yes, Lance Parker, you had been a dick a few times. But at the same time, after weeks of watching him basically stuck in this room, I couldn’t bring myself to come down hard on him.
It was as if I had just realized that these last few weeks were even harder on him than they were on me. That seemed like an obvious notion, but for some reason it just hadn’t occurred to me.
“Thank you for that,” I said, trying to find the best way to accept his apology without really turning the screws. “I know you’ve been hurting these last few weeks and it’s been tough to watch you go through it. I know when you’ve lashed out that that was the reason.”
He looked at me wearily, like he was just getting ready for a long sleep. “I’ll do better, I promise. From now on.”
It warmed my heart to hear him say that. I could already feel my spirits lifting. “You look like you could use a nap.”
“I think that sounds pretty good.” He looked out the window and saw that it was still bright out. “I would invite you to join me, but someone else might see.”
I gave him a polite smack across the shoulder, smiling. “Jerk. You know I shouldn’t be fraternizing with my patients like that.”
He reached around and cupped my ass with his giant hand. “No, of course you shouldn’t. But we both want you to anyway.”
“Save it for when you’re better, Mister…”
“I think we proved last time that even while injured I can still take care of you in that department, Charlotte.”
I had to admit I loved this side of Lance. When he got in a good mood and could really let loose like this, I loved it. Even if all he could do was think about having sex with me…that sounded pretty good to me too! I just really enjoyed seeing him in such a good mood.
It made everything better.
“I’ll be outside, captain horndog.”
He still had his hand on my ass. He squeezed again, and I squealed in delight. “Stay close, I might have a nightmare and need you to hold me.”
“I have a feeling any nightmares that find you will get beaten off with a stick.”
“I thought you were saving the stick for all the other girls who want to get with me.”
All I could do was shake my head. “Something has gotten into you today, Lance Parker, and I don’t know what it is. In fact, it’s not just today, you’ve been different all week.” I folded my arms under my chest, not just because I was expecting an answer, but also because I knew Lance liked looking at my boobs like this.
Lance looked down and back up again, definitely falling for my trap. I loved that I could do little things like that to him. “I dunno what it is, if you’re asking. Maybe it’s you? You’ve been looking mighty fine lately…”
I smacked him again. “Ugh! I look this fine all the time and you know it.”
“Inflated ego, much? Someone’s in a good mood today.”
“You really are the worst, Lance Parker. Did I ever tell you that?”
Lance parked his hands behind his head, looking at me with a huge grin on his face, a grin that made me want to eat him right up. “All the time, but not nearly often enough, Charlotte.”
“I’ll keep that in mind. Take your nap.”
“Only if you’ll be there in my dreams.”
“OK that was one step too far.” I was still smiling, though.
“I know, I know, but I had to take the chance, just in case.”
“Just in case what?”
“Just in case you decided to join me in this comfortable bed.”
I shook my head. “Take your nap, Lance. You’re getting a little delusional.”
Lance sighed. “Oh well, I’ll always have dreams of last week.”
“I’ll clean up a bit here then check up on you in a couple hours. Sleep tight.”
Lance closed his eyes and I walked around the room, checking to make sure there was enough of everything stocked. Extra pillows, blankets, all the things he’d need over the next few days. Everything seemed in order.
I turned around and watched Lance fall asleep. He seemed so peaceful now. I had seen him asleep many, many times over the last few weeks, but today was the first time it seemed like he was truly at rest - like he had been in my bed at my apartment the first night we met. I wondered if he was settling in for the best sleep he’d had since then.
I tried not to make any sound and then got ready to leave the room and head back to the nurse’s station outside.
I was still thinking things over, thrilled that Lance had suddenly turned things around mentally, especially with regards to me. Yeah, he still had his rule, but it really seemed like he was at least willing to explore getting rid of that rule in the name of…I dunno, personal happiness?
This was already a season off the rails, and nothing had gone like he had planned. Now he was fighting for his job back, and it was going to be an uphill battle.
Maybe he was willing to reconsider all that he knew in order to do whatever it took to get back on the field and salvage his career in New England.
Well, Oliver Lee would have something to say about that. I could feel the bile rise in my throat as I thought about Lee and his smarmy attitude. I wanted to slap him so hard every time he looked at me. I knew he was trying to get into my pants.
My hand froze on the doorknob. I felt myself get cold. No, that couldn’t be it. Lance’s attitude change toward me couldn’t be because of Oliver, it just couldn’t.
But it could be. And I had to know. I cleared my throat, still facing the door. “Lance?”
He made a small sound, and turned over, like he was already asleep, but I knew that sound, I knew better by now.
“Lance,” I said, louder and more forcefully this time. “Wake up.”
“Huh?” He called over, sleepily. “Has it already been two hours? That was fast…”
“Nah, you hadn’t fallen asleep yet.”
“Then what’s the big idea? In my head you were already wearing a tiny little purple bikini, and there wasn’t even any water around.” He smiled at me.
What would have turned me to mush 5 minutes ago, just brushed off now. “Lance, listen to me.”
“OK, Charlotte, I’m listening. Also, I’m half asleep, so none of this is really happening.”
Now I walked toward him. “Yes it is, Lance, I need you to answer one simple question for me.”
“OK, OK, shoot.”
I tried to find the right words to say it. “It occurred to me that this change of yours started last week. Right after Oliver Lee came to visit you. And just now, just before I came in and you got all lovey-dovey with me, Oliver Lee was just in here.”
Lance scowled at me, fully awake now. “Charlotte, is there a question somewhere in there? Because I sure as hell can’t find one.”
“Yeah, I’m getting to that. Here it is: Did you suddenly warm up to me just because Oliver Lee intends to take your job, and intends to take me too?”
Lance looked like I had reached out and punched him in the face. “No-no, Charlotte, that’s not it at all.”
I pounced, already livid. “I think it might be, Lance! You spend all these weeks talking all this shit about doing it alone, about getting
back on the field, about your rule and how you can’t get close to anyone during the season because it wrecks your focus! And then when Oliver Lee comes in here and threatens, really threatens to take what you want, what you think is yours, suddenly you’re all open to change things up?”
“I know it looks bad, but…”
“I don’t really see how it could look any worse.”
“Let me explain, Charlotte…”
I tapped my foot on the floor. “Please do.”
Watching Lance try to figure out what to say to me right then was one of the toughest things I had ever had to endure. I don’t know if I could really say that I was in love with Lance Parker, or if I was ready to admit to myself that I was, but I could say without a doubt that if this wasn’t love, it was the closest thing I’d ever experienced to it.
But to see him stutter and start and come up with nothing, to flounder around as he tried to explain why he suddenly wanted to be with me, was just the most painful and heartbreaking thing in the world.
I couldn’t let this go on any longer. “You know, what, Lance? Save it, I don’t want to hear it.”
He stopped and just watched me, unsure of what to say next.
“I’ll let you get back to your nap, and I’ll be back in here in a couple hours to check on you. And of course, I’ll do whatever I can do professionally to help you get back on the field and keep your job. But that’s as far as I’ll go.”
Lance stayed silent as I left the room. I leaned against the wall outside, suddenly unsure of myself.
What had I just done?
CHAPTER 15 - LANCE
The next couple weeks were good on the recovery side, but terrible on everything else. I was getting stronger by the day and it looked like I could start practicing again really soon. That was the only good news.
Charlotte barely spoke to me. That was the bad news. She had correctly figured me out even if I hadn’t been able to admit it to myself - I had been scared by Oliver Lee, scared of both losing my job and losing her to him, and it made me lash out, act toward her the way I knew she wanted me to.