Back at the hotel, all of the players are acting like rabid hounds. We all take turns pouring shots for every single player. The guys are like eager wolves. They’re waiting to get all their fixes tonight. Women. Booze. A good fucking time. I can’t say I blame them. I thought I was above all the shenanigans, but it turns out that I’m not. I’m having fun with my buds again.

I hold my glass in the air, smiling drunkenly. “Wait, wait! Cut the music!” The bartender turns off the speakers for me. “A toast!”

Everyone claps their hands, laughing. “Look at all of you,” I say. “You’re maniacs!”

Bronson pounds his fist against the wood railing of the bar. “You’re god damn right! We’re a pack of filthy animals!” he yells. The men cheer alongside his celebration.

“In all seriousness. I dedicate this shot to all of you bastards. I hope you all get laid tonight. I hope you all wake up in a pool of vomit. And I hope you can’t make sense of tomorrow. It’s time to fucking party!”

I guzzle my shot as fast as I can. Bronson runs up to the table and grabs my legs, forcing me over his shoulders. The men follow suit, holding me up in the air and cheering. We move from the bar, to the team bus. We head to the party, but not without passing the bottle of tequila around.

I’m already drunk at this point, but luckily I know how to hold my liquor. I grab the bottle and finish it for everyone, despite their cries of anger when they realize the bottle is finished.

“There’ll be a lot more alcohol at the party,” I say.

While the guys keep the antics going, I take a moment to tune out and look outside the window. In my drunken daze, I realize that I never really took the time to see how beautiful this place is. There is a huge part of me that just wants to go home, but another part of me wishes I had explored more. With such a rigorous practice schedule, it has been impossible to do any other activities. I hear the trails here are beautiful. Maybe someday I’ll get the chance to come back.

Beyond the pines, there are the lights and sounds from the club. As the cool breeze enters through the window, the bus slows to a halt. Even though the season hasn’t even started yet, I get the feeling that all of this is coming to an end for me. The game isn’t as exciting as it was in the beginning. I want something real. I want a woman. Or maybe I’m just being sentimental. Who knows?

We pour out of the vehicle, ready to have the night of our lives. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but there’s a feeling that’s pervading everyone tonight. It’s a feeling of celebration, as if this night is the night of all nights.

“I haven’t felt like this in years,” Bronson says, as soon as his tennis shoes reach the ground.

He surveys the landscape, trying to decide where he should start. Party-goers and fans wrap around the building. Some call out to us. A few photos go off, nearly blinding me. We decide to make our way inside, walking up the set of stairs.

When the second set of doors are opened by the club’s bouncers, a whole new vibe is presented. Flashing strobe lights, pumping music, and dancing party-goers go wild in front of our eyes. The guys immediately eat it up, but I don’t. The insatiable appetite of man has already begun. It’s not long before most of the guys grab a girl to talk to. Some grab more than one.

I pound drink after drink, after drink, while I sit with Bronson and Cruze. A crowd of women surround us, laughing at every stupid joke Bronson makes. They don’t care if he’s a caveman or not. They just want one night with the famous sports player. Shit, they probably don’t even know our names.

For me, the whole thing is laughable. Every face is plastic, just what Bronson likes. Their outfits are cheap and their jewelry catches the eye, but it’s ready to be discarded at a moment’s notice. Soon, the alcohol puts me into a state of boredom and I realize that what I was waiting for isn’t here. There is no woman I’d want to take home here. These women have no secrets to share. They keep it all out in the open for everyone.

Cruze, being the intuitive guy he is, notices something immediately.

“What’s wrong, bro?” he asks.

Bronson and the rest of the ladies are too invested in their folly to notice.

I laugh. “I don’t really know. The alcohol maybe,” I say. “I think I’m going to take a step outside.”

“Alright,” he says. “Hollar if you need anything.” He pounds my fist in solidarity.

I make my way back downstairs. When I get back into that fresh air, I feel a hell of a lot better. I walk around to the side of the building and lean against the brick wall, away from everyone else. In the distance, at the other end of the building, there’s a woman. She looks over and nearly jumps back with surprise. Her eyes squint against the darkness.

“Shit!” she cries out, placing her hand against the brick wall.

“I didn’t mean to scare you,” I say. “Just had to take a breather for a second. Looks like you had the same idea.”

She laughs and takes a step forward. “No worries. Just didn’t know anyone was there,” she says. “It’s a bit crazy inside.”

Her voice is pleasant and reminding of comforting things. I can’t make out what she looks like, but I get the idea that she’s not like the rest of the women at this party.

“Yeah, it’s not really my style if I’m being honest,” I say. “I always get revved up about these things, but I think I’m getting bored of the bullshit, you know?”

“Are you here because you won tickets too?” she asks me.

I chuckle and look down at my boots. “Nah,” I say. “I know someone on the team. They got me in. You a big hockey fan?”

She takes another step forward. “Hockey fan?” She laughs awkwardly. “No. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a full sports game. Hockey’s kind of boring. No offense if you’re one of those guys who religiously watches it or something. It’s just not my cup of tea.”

“No offense taken,” I say. “So, what’s your cup of tea?”

“Well, I like to read, I guess. I like to relax. Sometimes I’ll feel rebellious and stuff my face with ice cream while I cry and watch The English Patient,” she says. “I suppose that’s not too interesting.”

This time, I take a step forward to get a better look at her, but the lighting is all off. We’re both covered in shadows. “A dreamer, huh? You don’t meet too many of those these days. I like it. I’m kind of a dreamer too,” I say. “So where’s your friends?”

“Friends? Oh, Sharon is inside with some guy she invited. I was beginning to feel like a third wheel or something.”

She laughs to herself. Again, she moves forward and this time, I can see her face. I nearly jump out of my boots when I realize who I’m talking to. First, I notice those lips of hers. Then I see her stomach in that crop top and I know I need to have her.

“Shit,” I mutter. “Didn’t I see you somewhere recently? Have we met or something?”

Her eyes widen. She bites her lower lip and walks up to him. “Yeah, I think maybe we might’ve seen each other before,” she says.

“At the gym.” The words come out at the same exact time.

“Hey, you’re on the team, aren’t you? You’re totally lying to me about your friend getting you in,” she says, smiling big.

“Well, technically I wasn’t lying. I do have a friend on the team. It just turns out that I play a little too,” I say.

I want to reach out and touch her cute belly. I want to feel her soft skin against my fingers. I want to run my hand down the front and rip that red skirt off her. I want to taste her.

She laughs lightly. “So you’re like the star player or something? Mr. Big Shot?”

“Nah. I’m not a star. I don’t like the spotlight that much,” I say.

I remember back in college, back when the spotlight actually felt good. Everything felt so new, so authentic. But when you get a taste of reality for too long, you start to realize that having cameras shoved in your face for the rest of your life isn’t so great.

“I just like to play and the money’s not too bad either,” I admit.

“That’s fair,” she says.

We’re standing so close to each other. I can hear the saliva swallow down her throat. I can smell her perfume. It’s sweet, just like her. I glance back down at her body, taking in the whole picture. I’m drunk, but she’s the hottest woman I’ve ever fucking seen.

“Are you leaving soon?” she asks me.

I look back at the building behind us. The parking lot is riddled with smokers, loud-talkers, and people who want to somehow find an “in” to the industry. Our bus is parked, empty, and lifeless. There’s no leaving yet.

“The party? No, not yet. It’s unfortunate.”

“I meant Seattle,” she says.

Fuck, I have to stop drinking tonight. I don’t feel that drunk, but it’s obviously making me think of all the possibilities we could go through together. Imagine the positions we could find ourselves in… Her smile could light up a room, but I’m wondering what it would feel like to have those lips around my cock. I bet she likes to have some fun.

“Oh, Seattle. Right. Not yet. In about a week,” I say. “I have to admit, I’m not a huge fan of the place. I’ve lived in Chicago for a while now. It’s too green here. I like a certain level of dirty.” Our eyes meet once more and I know she understands what I’m getting at.

“You need to explore more. There’s a lot to do this in city. It’s really beautiful when you take the time to see it,” she says.

“That’s what they tell me,” I reply. Please, just let me get under that skirt. Let me put my lips around you. Let me worship your body.

“Well,” she gulps, “I think I should probably get back inside and find my friend. It was nice talking to you.” She’s bouncing on the edges of her heels, eyes darting toward the front of the building. I can’t let her leave. I need to continue this, at least for another hour.

“Wait,” I say. She stops and delays her exit. “You’re right. I haven’t really seen the city at all. I was actually thinking of going on a walk. You can join me if you want.”

Her eyes trace the building. She bites her lip and thinks about it for a second. “I don’t know,” she says. “Sharon might wonder where—”

“This party is going to last until four A.M. We can be back in less than a couple hours. It’s only ten,” I say. “Feel free to go back inside with all those amazing people, but I’m trying to get out of here for a second.”

There’s no thinking about it this time. She smiles and nods her head slowly, as if she has made a decision.

“You know what? Okay. I’ll walk with you. I guess you need a tour guide, right?”

I put out my hand. “By the way. I’m Lawrence,” I say.

“Jacqueline.”

Her hand grabs onto mine. I feel that unfamiliar rush of excitement enter my body. It’s been a long time since I felt anything like it. I get the sense that things could play out very well with this woman. Tonight, anything can happen.

Tonight, I’m going all in.