by Chase, PJ
It was one thing if Alyssa's father was spending his time curing cancer or ending poverty. It was another that all this time and energy that Brett could have spent at home with his family was instead spent obsessing over football. That was a hard thing to stomach. Whereas the fans only cared about how many wins Brett led their favorite team too, Alyssa was more hung up on the softball practices and recitals her father didn't show up for. That had a cumulative effect on not just Alyssa but her mother too.
Sometimes Alyssa looked over at her mom and felt so sorry for her. Even when her father was at the dinner table, his head was often still on the football field. There were a few times that Alyssa saw her mother wanting to speak up, but she never did.
Alyssa didn't want to have a life like that. She didn't want to date football players because she didn't want to end up marrying one eventually. She never wanted the same look in her eyes that her mother had. That look of quiet desperation.
While football players were off the table, Alyssa didn't what kind of guy she'd ultimately end up with. But most likely that man wouldn't be found in Juniper Flats. Not only was it a small town, but it was a football mad town. And Alyssa didn't want to be with some fanatic. Her friends had told her stories about pro football widows. Women with husbands so passionately devoted to football that on Saturdays and Sundays when the games were on, the women felt husbandless.
Alyssa hoped she'd find a man with other passions. Music or movies, art or nature. Something they could enjoy together instead of something that would drive them apart. Where she'd find that guy though, she didn't know.
Chapter Four
"I can't believe Dallas University is taking so long to send out their acceptance letters. My nerves are completely shot here," Julie Abbott said.
Julie was Alyssa's best friend. They met in kindergarten and had been close friends ever since. And even though they were both looking forward to college, it almost certainly meant after graduation they'd find themselves in different cities. Julie's first choice was Dallas University. Apparently they had a top notch zoology program. Alyssa's future was still up in the air. But with college acceptance letters arriving in the mail everyday, they'd both have their answers soon. In the meantime, it was nail biting time.
"Yeah. I think we're all a little antsy to find out where we'll be going," Alyssa said.
"Oh come on. Stop pretending like you'll be going anywhere but Texan U," Julie replied.
"Julie, nothing is for sure," Alyssa said. "Besides, who says I want to go to Texan U?"
"Wow, the stress must be really getting to you, because you're acting crazy all of a sudden," Julie replied.
Just then Todd Driscoll made his way over to Alyssa.
"Hey Alyssa. I didn't see you at the game the other day. What's up with that?" Todd asked.
Todd was just the kind of football player Alyssa was trying to avoid. But ironically he was exactly the guy Alyssa's parents wanted her to wind up with. But he was more than just a football player. He was also a basketball player too. So instead of endlessly yammering on about how many touchdowns he'd thrown, instead he yammered on about how many blocks and rebounds he was getting per game. Sports was rarely far from his mind though, and romance was never on his mind--which was great when he was talking to other guys. But when he was talking to women, the sports references grew old in a hurry.
Of course, Alyssa seemed to be alone in her opinion. Julie for example could listen to him flap his lips all day about sports while she gazed at his tall, lean, muscular body and movie star good looks. Then again, Todd wasn't interested in Julie. He was interested in Alyssa instead. But Alyssa couldn't imagine anything more boring than a guy prattling on about the pick and roll all day every day.
"Yeah, I've been really busy lately," Alyssa replied.
"You really missed out. I torched Western High for a triple double," Todd bragged.
"Well, good for you," Alyssa said.
"You really should have seen it. I busted out this new spoon dunk I've been working on. It was epic," Todd replied.
"I wish I would have seen that," Julie blurted out.
But Todd's focus remained squarely on Alyssa.
"But lucky you though. You can still see me in action. We have another game tonight. It's a big rivalry game too with Jefferson High," Todd said.
"Good luck," Alyssa replied, politely.
"Wait. Does that mean you're not going to come?" Todd asked.
"Look, basketball just really isn't my thing," Alyssa said.
"But you never went to any of my football games either," Todd replied.
"What can I say? I'm not a huge sports fan," Alyssa said.
"How is that even possible? I mean your dad is--"
"I know who my dad is," Alyssa interrupted.
"Alright, so you're not into sports. What do you say I take you out to dinner sometime? There's this great new place off 5th street where they have TV's right there in every booth," Todd said.
Finally Alyssa had heard enough. She was tired of beating around the bush. Tired of tap dancing politely around her feelings. Tired of trying to subtlely let Todd know that she wasn't into him. So she just told him the truth.
"Look Todd, I'm just not interested in you. I'm sorry," Alyssa replied.
Todd's jaw nearly dropped. The man had never looked more surprised in his entire life. He did not take the news well.
"Wait, but how can you not be interested in me? I'm Todd Driscoll," he boasted.
"I have to get to class," Alyssa replied.
"You're going to regret this. I'm going to be in the hall of fame one day," Todd added.
***
"What's wrong with you?" Julie asked, as she and Alyssa rounded the corner in the hallway.
"What are you talking about?" Alyssa wondered.
"How could you not want to be with Todd Driscoll?" Julie asked.
"Julie, were you not listening to that conversation? Everything was about him--and sports--and how awesome he was at sports," Alyssa explained.
"I know, but he's so hot," Julie admitted.
Alyssa rolled her eyes. "Could you really be with someone that talked about themselves the whole time and paid no attention to your feelings or interests?"
"Alyssa, this is Todd Driscoll we're talking about. My dad says he's practically a shoe in to make the pro's one day. Do you have any idea how rich he's going to be?" Julie said.
"Julie, there's more to life than money," Alyssa insisted.
"Yeah, like a smoking hot body--which he absolutely has. Do you realize the life you're giving up? If you two ended up getting married one day, you'd be totally set. You'd never have to worry about another thing," Julie said.
"Except him cheating on you. When he was dating Tanya Reynolds last year, she told me that he caught her cheating three or four times. And when she confronted him, he acted like she was blowing it all out of proportion. Like he was entitled to be with as many girls as he wanted," Alyssa replied.
"Oh," Julie said, deflated.
"Todd Driscoll wants what he can't have. But once he gets it, he starts wanting someone new to play with," Alyssa said.
"Well, maybe he's changed," Julie suggested.
"Are you kidding? The only thing that's changed with him in the last year is that he's started to refer to himself in the third person," Alyssa said.
I'd also like to tell you about a new great sports romance author Carly Kennedy and her new MMA romance:
Sierra Stone was doing was happy. She was engaged to a great guy, her cupcake business was taking off after her videos went viral on YouTube--things were going well.
Then it all came crashing down around her. The same day she found out her father was dying of cancer, she caught her fiance sleeping with another lawyer at his firm.
Distraught--she moves in with her Dad to look after him. When he dies a few weeks later, his dying wish is that she takes over management of his second love in life--his sports team.
She reluctantl
y agrees, but her presence is not welcomed by many of the team members who are loyal to her father and have no interest in playing for a girl.
Enter Quentin Quade, a bad boy New Zealand rugby star who was recently banned from the sport for fighting with a fan. When he flees to the US to get away from the bad press and the sport he loved, Sierra approaches him to act as a consultant for the team.
He only agrees to help after she promises to introduce him to her friends boyfriend, MMA title holder Weston Haley. Quade wants to be a fighter. He sees Sierra as his meal ticket.
Will they learn to work together?
Will Quade help meet her fathers dream?
Will Sierra help Quade find a new life, as a MMA fighter?
Or will they realize that what they are really looking for, is love?
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