Julie walked across the field, and then took a seat on the home team bench.
He followed her lead and sat next to her, making sure to leave at least a foot of empty space.
“I can’t believe how big the stadium looks from here.” Julie’s gaze roamed around at the green field spread out before them.
A large, dark scoreboard was set off to one side, and tens of thousands of stadium seats surrounded them.
“Playing in front of a full house must be exciting. I can’t even imagine what that must feel like.”
“At my first pro game, I was so nervous I threw up right before running onto the field. I still get amped before every game. It’s pretty exhilarating…the crowd and the noise. I’m very lucky to do this for a living.”
A football bounced off of his feet, and he heard a small voice pleading to play catch. How could he say no? He picked up the football and told Aiden to start running. Reagan passed him the football, but it slipped through Aiden’s outstretched hands and fell to the ground. He laughed as the kid scooped the ball and held it to his chest then took off toward the goal posts, going in for a touchdown.
****
As Julie watched them play, her eyes welled with tears. Her heart warmed to see Aiden so over-the-moon happy.
Reagan instructed Aiden on how to catch the football with his body, instead of just with his hands. Both their faces were tinted pink. Reagan’s from a slight sunburn that tipped his nose and cheeks, while Aiden’s was from pure exertion.
Frowning, Aiden listened to the instructions. His whole body glowed with awe and adoration.
Reagan threw the ball gently to Aiden. For the tenth time in a row, the ball slipped from his grasp. Reagan’s display of patience was award-worthy. Even a saint would be frustrated, but time after time, he only yelled back words of encouragement.
While they played, she noticed Reagan looked more natural today, in the khaki shorts and blue button-down shirt, rather than the expensive suit he’d worn at the banquet. The light cotton, short sleeve shirt accentuated his wide shoulders and thick arms. His blond hair was messy but still looked stylish. Chrissy was right—he was hot. Over six feet of all-American hunk. Luckily, she was just experiencing an innocent physical attraction. No danger of a broken heart. At this point in her life, she wouldn’t fall for any man, let alone a football star with a Hollywood girlfriend.
Noticing the time, Julie got off the bench and walked in the direction of an outsized Aiden tackling a much-larger Reagan. “Aiden,” she shouted, waving to get his attention. “We should probably be going now. Mr. Harrison had a busy day, and I’m sure he’s ready to go home.”
Reagan lay flat on his back with Aiden pinning him to the ground. With one motion, Reagan stood and brought Aiden along. He walked over to Julie, carrying her son safely tucked under his sturdy arm.
“Awwww,” Aiden said in a fit of giggles. “We’re having so much fun.”
“Yeah, I can see that.” Maybe too much fun. Aiden would soon be a sleepy puppy.
Placing Aiden back on the ground, Reagan came over to stand next to her. “I heard the kid’s stomach growl and I’m getting kinda hungry, too. How about you two join me for dinner? There’s this burger and custard place a few blocks from here…Fuzzy’s. The joint isn’t fancy, but they have the best burgers in Timber Lake. What do you say? I hate to eat alone.”
“Can we, Mom?” Aiden asked while hopping around, pulling on her arm. “Reagan doesn’t want to eat alone.”
His concern for his new friend was endearing. She was outnumbered and knew it. “All right, let’s all go to Fuzzy’s. We wouldn’t want poor Mr. Harrison to eat alone.”
Reagan and Aiden high-fived, and Aiden raced toward the tunnel.
As they followed side by side, Julie turned to Reagan. “Thank you for doing this for him.” She touched his arm, sending an electric charge surging through her, multiplying as the sensation traveled down her spine.
Reagan swallowed and buried his hands in his pockets. “It’s no problem,” he finally said. “I’m having just as much fun as Aiden is.”
Walking off the field, she wondered if Reagan really meant what he’d said. Did he really enjoy playing with Aiden? This all would be a mistake if Reagan ended up disappointing her fatherless son. But when she watched him lift Aiden and drape him over one shoulder, she knew he was sincere. And she couldn’t have been more delighted.
****
They decided to drive their own cars to the restaurant. When they entered, the reaction Reagan received amazed her. The scene looked like the parting of the Red Sea. Everyone made way for the popular football player and his guests.
“You can let Mr. Harrison get a table ahead of us,” a short, balding man said to the hostess. “After last season, he deserves it!” The group with him nodded their approval.
With a few handshakes and high-fives, they were led to a booth. Reagan was popular because he strived for excellence. How hard did he have to work in order to maintain that standard? Did the pressure ever get too much?
The TV mounted on the wall was currently tuned to a news show. The screen flashed footage of pre-season training camp. Stopping, she watched the video clip of a man catching the football, only to be taken down by a much-larger man. Was that Reagan? She looked over and saw his proud smile. Wow. She never wanted to be on the receiving end of one of those tackles.
Julie slid onto her seat, scooting over to make room for Aiden. Wonderstruck, she watched Aiden get seated across from her, next to Reagan.
A young waitress rushed over with their menus, ogling Reagan.
He reacted calmly to the unwanted attention and excitement his presence incited. Motioning to Julie, he requested the waitress take her drink order first.
“My son will have a root beer, and I’ll take an ice tea with lemon,” Julie said.
Reagan ordered an ice water, and the eager server went to fill their order.
“You get this kind of reception everywhere you go?” Julie questioned. “Does this ever get old? All the hero worship and people falling all over themselves to impress you?”
He looked amused by her puzzled expression. “The attention does get tiring. Since Timber Lake is on the small side for a city that has a pro football team, there are not many places I can go unrecognized. Luckily, the town is used to seeing us players out and about.”
“I’ll never understand why people idolize athletes,” she said, and then let out a laugh. “Here I go again. My husband thought the Warriors team walked on water. So who am I to judge?”
Reagan turned to the boy sitting right next to him. “So, Aiden, what’s your favorite part of Warriors Stadium?”
At the sound of his name, Aiden straightened in attention. He’d been eyeing the wall of video games. “I thought the locker room was neat. Do you really have to wash in the big shower? I would wait until I got home to take a bath.”
Reagan laughed. “Yes, we all shower in that big room. We get very smelly by the end of a game.”
Their drinks arrived, and the waitress asked Reagan if he was ready to order. He again motioned to Julie. The girl blew out a breath before turning her attention to Julie. After taking Julie and Aiden’s meal order with a trembling hand, she finally turned her attention to Reagan.
While she listened to Reagan order a seemingly endless amount of food, Julie’s jaw dropped. How could any one person eat so much?
“What? I take it you’ve never eaten a meal with a football player during pre-season training.”
“I’m glad I don’t have to pay your grocery bills. I only cook for Aiden and myself, so we don’t go through a lot of food. But when John was home, I would make huge meals. He was always so happy to eat real food after months of crummy Army provisions.”
“My daddy fought in the Army,” Aiden said with a quiet voice. “But he died. We moved here to be closer to Grandma.”
“Your dad was a very brave man, and you should be proud of him.” Reagan then turned to Julie
. “I’m sorry for your loss. I know that phrase sounds like hollow sympathy, but I really mean it. The men and women fighting in our military are the real warriors.”
“Thank you.” Sincere compassion shone in his eyes. Since she’d gotten to know Reagan, she’d thrown out the ‘dumb jock’ tag. There were many layers to him, and she liked what she found once she started to peel them back.
Their food soon arrived, and the waitress had enough sense to serve Julie and Aiden first, which earned her a smile from Reagan.
“Mom, can I go play video games?” Aiden asked.
“After you finish your meal.” She pointed to his plate, filled with a cheeseburger and fries.
“I’m glad I don’t have to eat all the food Reagan got.” Aiden looked wide-eyed at the spread.
“Someday, maybe in high school, this won’t look like so much. If you’re still playing football, you’ll need to eat a lot to stay big and strong.” Reagan flexed his arm.
Oh, my. The arc of his huge bicep, which should be given its own zip code, practically made Julie swoon.
“I can see my food budget going up, even as we speak.” She popped a salty fry in her mouth. To think of Aiden as a teenager was hard to imagine. Since he was only seven-years-old, that day seemed far away. In between Aiden’s chatter, she asked about Reagan’s football season—when it started and how many games they played during a season.
“We play four pre-season games during training camp,” Reagan explained. “Then, the regular season starts in September, which is thirteen games long. Maybe more if we make the playoffs.”
Aiden piped in. “My football team plays ten games. We’ve won two games and lost four. How many do we have left, Mom?”
Julie reached over to grab a napkin from the dispenser on the table, and then handed it to Aiden. She motioned for him to wipe off his ketchup-covered mouth. “You have four more. The next one’s this Sunday. You’ll be playing Michael’s team.”
“I play wide-receiver. I have to catch the ball, run to the end-zone, and try not to get caught or drop the ball. I drop the ball sometimes,” Aiden informed him.
“I have this Sunday off with no practice. Would it be all right if I come and watch your game?” Reagan asked Aiden.
The boy bounced on the booth and let out a shout. “That would be so cool! My friends didn’t believe me when I said I met you. Will you really come?”
“Only if it’s okay with your mom.” The arch of Reagan’s eyebrows rose higher over his bright, blue eyes.
Both of them looked across the table at Julie, expectation all over Aiden’s face. Julie wanted to say no. She didn’t want her son too attached to Reagan. He was a popular, hard-hitting, and very attractive football player. And she was a single mother of an impressionable son. This situation could go wrong in so many ways.
“All right.” Finally agreeing against her better judgment. “You’re a saint to spend your free time watching a youth football game. Maybe I can take the opportunity to learn something about the game, if you wouldn’t mind giving me a lesson from the sidelines.”
“Sure, you’ll be an expert before you know it.”
I highly doubt that. “I’ll give you the time and directions before we leave.”
“This is going to be the best game ever!” Aiden said. “Can I go play some video games? I’m done with my food.”
Reagan handed him several quarters, and Aiden was off and running.
Their waitress came back to see if they needed anything else, and then laid the bill on the table.
Julie opened her mouth to offer to pay her portion of the bill.
Reagan shook his head before a word left her lips. “This was my idea and my treat.” He pulled out his wallet and grabbed two fifty-dollar bills.
Their lucky waitress had just earned herself a huge tip.
With his wallet put away, Reagan took a pack of gum out of his pocket and put a piece in his mouth. He then offered her a piece, which she accepted.
Peppermint gum. A good scent on him.
Reagan’s cell rang, and he picked it off the table.
The name Brynn was clearly displayed on the screen, and she shifted her gaze toward Aiden, who was now gripping the steering wheel on a racing video game.
He hit the ignore button and set the phone face down.
Looking back at him, she caught a quick flash of uncertainty cross his face, like he wanted to take the call but didn’t want to be rude. “Thanks for everything.” She grabbed her purse to get ready to leave. “You really went out of your way to make Aiden feel special. I don’t know how I’ll ever be able to thank you for your kindness. But don’t worry, it can be our secret.” She gave him a teasing smile. “Wouldn’t want to spoil your bad boy reputation.”
Breaking eye contact, he shrugged his broad shoulders and his gaze dropped to his lap. “No need to thank me, plus my reputation could use a little sprucing up.” He shifted his gaze back to her and leaned forward, his hands resting on the table between them.
He now held something in his right hand. The mystery item was hidden in his fist, which lay face up on the table. As he opened his hand, one finger at a time, several quarters were exposed. Motioning his head toward the video-game machines, he gave her a challenging grin. “Ready to play, or are you chicken?”
She sent him a wary look. He was very charming and seemed to be an expert at using it to get his way. Sliding out of the booth, she lifted her head to stare him straight in his blue eyes. “Let’s go,” she said, pinching her lips tight to cover her growing amusement. “You better bring your A game, because I play to win.”
Chapter Five
Three days later, Mary sat with her daughter at the kitchen table, deep in conversation. They both looked to see Aiden stumbling down the stairs, heading over to the sofa and his favorite cartoons.
“Mommy, can you get me something to eat?” he asked in a raspy voice.
“Sure, what would you like sweetie?” Julie asked the little boy who was sporting a severe case of bed head.
“I want a bowl of Fruity Flakes…and toast with peanut butter…and scrambled eggs…and orange juice, oh and a big glass of milk.”
“I don’t think all that will fit in your tummy. How about eggs and juice?”
Aiden nodded, and Julie went to prepare his breakfast.
Mary moved into the family room to say good morning to her grandson. She snuggled next to his little body on the sofa and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “Morning, sunshine.”
“Hi, Grandma,” he said, leaning into her. “Reagan said when you play football you need to eat a lot. I’m going to eat a lot today so I can play good. Grandma, did you know Reagan is coming to watch my game today? He’s picking us up in his fancy car.”
“Your mom told me, you’re a lucky boy.” Reagan’s kindness meant so much to her grandson. He craved the attention of a male role model, someone who took an interest in his achievements, a man in the stands to cheer him on.
“Reagan’s really tall and strong.” Aiden flexed his lanky arms. “He showed me this place in the stadium called the weight room, and he lifts these heavy weights to get stronger. I want to do that, too, but Mom said I have to wait ’til I get older.”
“Your mom’s right. Did you have fun at Warriors Stadium?”
“Yes.” As he shook his head, his hair flopped over his eyes. “It was great, and I got to run on the field. Reagan even played football with me. Grandma, what if he thinks Mom’s pretty? He’s always looking at her and smiling.”
“Well, your mom is very pretty, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Reagan thinks so, too.” Mary watched her daughter bring over Aiden’s breakfast plate. She had no doubt any man who spent time with Julie would find her attractive. Maybe, she hoped, Reagan’s friendship would be a blessing for not only Aiden, but Julie as well.
Once Aiden had his food, Julie and Mary went back to the kitchen table to continue their discussion.
Julie twirled her coffee mug between her palm
s. “I don’t understand the secrecy. What could have possibly happened in Afghanistan that the Army is trying so hard to cover up? John was my husband. I have a right to know how and why he died. Heath Carter, John’s closest friend, hasn’t spoken to me since the funeral. All my emails to him have gone unanswered. I don’t know what else to do.”
Mary put her arm around Julie’s shoulder and kneaded out her tense muscles. “Julie, you are dealing with the US Army and very sensitive operations in a war zone. You spent enough time at Fort Bragg to understand how they operate.”
“I won’t stop until they give me answers. I need to know what they’re hiding. While John was over in Afghanistan, his life was constantly in danger. But something was different about his final mission. In his last letter, I think there was something he wanted me to know, in case he never came back.”
“Did you ever hear back from the senator’s office? A government official may be the only avenue for information.”
Julie shook her head. “Nothing but a condolence letter signed by our esteemed Senator. When I finally got a hold of someone in the office, I was told there’s nothing the senator could do. John’s just another dead soldier.” She brushed away a tear with the back of her hand. “I’m thinking of hiring a lawyer.”
“Don’t give up. I’m sure someday you’ll get the information you’re looking for. While you’re waiting for answers, don’t forget to move forward with your life.”
“What life?” Julie mumbled and looked away.
“The life you’re building in Timber Lake. Last Thursday, for example, taking Aiden to meet Reagan Harrison was fun, right? Aiden really took a liking to him.”
Julie smiled. “That might be the understatement of the year. Aiden can’t stop talking about him. I thought he would lose his mind when Reagan offered to come watch him play.”
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