Chapter 4
“This is where we separate the men from the boys. All of you have a lot riding on this, but what I need you to do is to forget about that. Treat this like any other game and put your team work to good use. Once you go out through those doors, the crowd will be overwhelming, but this is your time to block that out and do what needs to be done.” The coach needed this more than he could ever tell his players. He was drowning and this was the only way that he could survive. Gambling was an addiction and one that he felt like he could conquer, but every time it was like taking one step forward and one step back.
“You heard the coach. As your captain, I’m telling you that we can do this. We’ve done the impossible before and I may be new to the team, but I think that I’ve proven my worth. Today is going to be different. Each one of you needs to pull your weight. I know what I can do, but I can’t do what I normally do. It was selfish of me to think that I could carry this team, when all of you contribute. Let’s do this together. I’m sure that victory is at hand.” Judson was saying the words, but he didn’t feel the full effect of them. It was basically a boilerplate special that he had come up with any time that there was something on the line.
They ran out into the field with the crowd screaming for blood. There were those waving their banner and calling attention to themselves. There also those that had painted themselves to become a spectacle. Everybody was chomping at the bit and then the game began.
Samantha sat on the black leather couch with the two officers outside the door guarding her person. She saw the love of her life Judson with number 22 on his back. He did look good in uniform, but she knew that he looked a whole lot better out of it. “I think that I might want to convince him to wear the uniform after the game. I know that it’s going to be sweaty, but it’s his manly musk that is more important to me than some over the counter bottle of aftershave. I think it’s the heat of the animal that does it for me. I’m sure that if we could bottle that, we would make a fortune with women begging to have their man where what I have in my possession 24 hours a day seven days a week.”
Samantha was squirming in her seat, eating a bowl of chips madly. She really didn’t concern herself on her waistline and that was something for the New Year’s resolution. The one thing that she knew about herself was that she could be comfortable in her own skin. Judson loved the way that she was and she had no interest in changing for him or anyone. If she wanted to lose weight, she would do it herself, but her doctors had said that she was healthy and that was all that mattered.
“I don’t care what you say. I’m going in there, whether you like it or not. Take your hands off of me, unless of course you want a lawsuit that will cost you millions.” Samantha could hear some kind of commotion going on outside the door and decided to investigate for her own curiosity. “I’m Judson’s agent and this is my assistant and we’ve come personally to watch the game with her.” Sarah had found out that Judson was seeing someone and was not going to let some police officer stand in her way of greasing the new girlfriend.
“I’m sorry, but this room is off limits. I don’t even know how you found out that she was here.” The officer was holding back a typhoon in the making. She was a force on to herself. He was thinking that he might have to use bodily force to detain her.
“I think that I can take it from here.” She opened the door and she thought she saw the coach at the end of the hall. She didn’t get a good look to know for sure, but he did seem familiar. “I wouldn’t mind the company. I’m sure that if Judson trusts her, then we can do. I’m personally vouching for them to come in here with me.” “I’m kinda glad to have the company. I was going a little stir crazy on my own. Judson talked about his agent to be and maybe it wouldn’t be such a bad idea to get in on her good graces” Samantha escorted them through. The officers weren’t exactly happy with this latest development.
“We’ll be out here if you need us.” He went back with his partner to stand nonchalantly and make it look like they were not there to protect anyone. He was a little curious to know how the agent had found out, but it was obvious that Judson had a big mouth.” That didn’t know at the time that Judson didn’t even know himself and that information was only for their ears.
“I do believe that Judson has been hiding you from me. I’m wondering why that is. You don’t look like a gold digger and you certainly don’t look like a bimbo that’s looking to get them some. You actually look normal and that in itself worries me. Why would somebody like you be caught dead with a guy like that? I think that we both know that he’s not exactly a one woman kind of guy.” Sarah thought that she could scare her into leaving him. He was better off alone and she was worried that this woman was going to have some kinda say in his career.
“We don’t know each other, but I would like to remedy that.” They talked for some time and she used her considerable charm to make Sarah think that she was the best thing that happened to Judson in a long time. “I like Judson and I won’t let anybody hurt him in any way. I think that we understand each other.” “I’m not one to judge, but this girl is only out for herself. She trying to make me think that she has Judson’s best interests at heart, but I see right through her ruse. She wants to line her pockets. The other one is quiet and doesn’t say much. I think Sarah called her Jennifer, but I’m really not 100% sure on that.”
“I was right about you and I think that you might be best for him. He’s been flitting from girl to girl and there’s no telling when he’s going to get somebody pregnant. He thinks that he’s immune and that using a condom is always effective.” This made them both laugh and even Jennifer found this to be amusing. “I have two children that weren’t exactly planned. Things happen in the heat of the moment and I hope that you will think on that the next time that you get together with my client.” Sarah was wearing a very expensive blue and black pantsuit that made her look more important than she really was. Judson was her only client and having him discuss making her his agent was a life altering decision for the both of them.
“I don’t want an instant family and when I decide to have children, it will be a decision that we make together. His well being is the most important thing to me. He does need to stop show boating, I think that you can see from the game that he has toned that down considerably. He actually threw the ball to one of his teammates, instead of carrying it down the field on his own.” I don’t want to change him, but I think just knowing me has done that. I’m sure that it has a lot more to do with having his life flash before his eyes, but I don’t see any reason why I can’t take credit for that. I want to believe that these girls will abide by his wishes, but I’m not sure that I can fully trust them.”
“It’s interesting that you say that and as long as you make it legal, the sponsors will be eating it up out of my hand. A family man is something that they can sink their teeth into. I’m not suggesting that you run down the aisle, but getting that ring on your finger won’t be the worst thing that has happened to him.” The game was tied and soon was in the last quarter. One touchdown either way was going to make or break the game.
“We’ve been sitting here for the last 3 hours and I believe that the next play will be history making.” Jennifer hadn’t said much, but her eyes were glued to the game. She loved the little uniforms and how they hugged the bodies of those very athletic men.
They were on the edge of their seat and when the ball landed in Judson’s hand the whole stadium went, so quiet that you could almost hear a pin drop.
Judson had a decision to make, as he avoided contact with the other team and was this close to winning the game by one touchdown. He saw the goal line. He took a deep breath and decided that he was never going to be told what to do by anyone.
He could hear his coach screaming on the sidelines. Judson felt like he was moving in slow motion. He avoided a tackle by leaping over top of the man and continuing on his journey to a moment that would have everybody talking for years to come. He held the ball firmly and saw out of his peripheral vision that a huge hulking form was coming for him. He danced to his own tune, turning slightly and once again preventing the inevitable impact to bring him to the ground.
Blocking everything out of his mind, he barreled forward and came to a stop with the crowd on its feet. The buzzer went off, as he spiked the ball and gave into his need to dance to the amusement of the crowd.