Chapter12
The nurses and doctors were very well informed that Aaliyah was going to this dinner, going to stand, and even walk as much as she could to be by her man. She wanted him to be proud of her, wanted him to not even think of any of the other women that he could have on his arm. She wanted his mind solely on her, no matter how much she had to do to get it.
Caroline’s pick for a dress, she had to admit, stunned even her when she tried it on. It clung to her body, showing off her curves, the slit high to reveal her legs, and draped just low enough in the front and back to catch any man’s eye. After trying it on, she knew there was no way she was going to sit in that wheelchair all night. Of course, she had no expectation that she would be able to walk the red carpet with him and dance against him like the other girls would, but damn it, she was going to show off that dress.
She didn’t want to tell Max what she planned, just in case she wasn’t able to stand and take steps—it would break her heart to feel like a disappointment. But she worked with her physical therapists and pushed herself hard on her exercises in her room. Sheer determination and stubbornness made her keep going through her pain and frustration, but that feeling she had when she took her first unassisted steps, three simple shuffling steps, brought tears of joy to her own eyes. Just a matter of weeks before, they weren’t sure if she was even going to be able to ever feel her legs again, and here she was, teaching herself how to walk again.
Seeing Max’s face when she took her steps, those little shuffling steps, was like that feeling of pride and amazement all over again. The way his eyes had shone when she moved, the way he held her so tightly when he caught her, and the way her body curved to his as he held her made every feeling of apprehension subside. Finally, after so long of feeling alone with few friends and no family, she felt like she belonged to someone. And that was a feeling she never wanted to let go of.
But the easy feeling that had filled her when she was in his arms quickly sank to nervous butterflies as the limo pulled up to the building and she saw the cameras and people bustling around the red carpet and, consequently, the entrance. She’d been held up so long in her little hospital room, a cocoon where Max was just Max instead of the biggest athlete in the country, that the shock of the spotlight caught her off guard. Her hand instinctively tightened around Max’s, and he squeezed back.
“You have nothing to worry about,” he whispered to her and kissed the soft spot behind her ear. “The public already loves you; it’s me that they aren’t so sure about,” he joked. She tried to smile, but her mouth had gone dry. They loved her because she was America’s little hurt, stray puppy dog. They didn’t love her for who she was in real life, only what the media spun. Not that she had anything to hide, but what if they found out that she was boring? Not worth Max’s time? That he should be with someone more in his own league and not in the coffee runner league?
The moment the door to the car swung open, flashes started going off everywhere. Eli had warned her that it was going to be like this, that everyone was going to want the first pictures of her and want the first exclusive. She’d purposefully hidden herself under the metaphorical rock after her accident had made the gossip pages, simply so she could hide from it all herself.
But now it was time to step out from under the rock and into the spotlight that she was choosing to be in by being with Max. She watched him step out of the car and give a slight wave and smile to everyone before he turned back toward her to offer her his hand. It amazed her how graceful he was with his long legs and his muscular arms. He moved as a duck moves in water, with natural ease and fluidity. She had to wonder, as she scooted toward the edge of the backseat and took Max’s hand, if she’d ever be as natural as he was in the spotlight. But another thought followed on the tail end of that, would he even keep her around long enough for her to become that comfortable?
Aaliyah had absolutely no idea where that idea came from, and she had to admit it horrified her to think like that. Max had been nothing but caring and supportive for weeks, and the proof was there as she peered from the doorway of the car and saw that Max already had his driver waiting with her wheelchair.
“You ready?’’ he asked.
She was still in the darkness of the car, at the edge of the seat. She could slide back into the shelter of the bubble she’d created or she could step out and be the girlfriend that she wanted to be, even without her ability to walk perfectly. One last deep breath, and she carefully swung her legs out of the car, the slit making the fabric of her dress slide off to reveal her smooth legs. Aaliyah smiled at the recent memory of Caroline insisting that she needed to wax her legs. Caroline had been right. She’d thank her later.
For a moment, Aaliyah felt her body relax and her heart rate slow as Max’s arms wrapped around her waist to help her stand. But the questions started pouring out of the reporters’ mouths faster than she could keep up with them. Her body stiffened, the softness that she felt from Max’s arms was a distant memory as she felt the panic from the spotlight hitting her again. Max snapped his fingers, and Aaliyah’s wheelchair was pushed beside her as she was eased down into it.
From behind her, she could feel Max pushing her toward the door. She could only hope that once she got inside, the bombardment of questions would stop. But the moment her chair crossed over the entrance, a reporter was immediately at her side.
“Aaliyah, how are you feeling? How has Max been as far as taking care of you? Do you see this relationship lasting? Are you working toward walking down the wedding aisle?”
Before Aaliyah could say anything, Max’s voice came loud and clear from behind her.
‘‘This is Aaliyah’s first night out in a long time, so she won’t be spending it answering questions. She’s strong and beautiful, and I’m so happy to have her with me tonight.”
The breath that she’d been holding sizzled out of her, and a smile replaced her worried look. Max wheeled her around the room and introduced her to his teammates, coaches, and anyone else he knew. There were lots of the people she had heard of from working in the office, but it was different meeting them in person instead of just seeing their names on paperwork.
It was pleasantly surprising how nice and welcoming everyone was to her. She had to admit she was amused by how much people seemed to be interested in her when just a short time ago, she was simply a quiet office mouse. But now that she was such a big part of their spotlight, suddenly everyone wanted to know her and know about her. Max handed her a tall bubbling glass of champagne, which she only sipped and mostly spent twirling in between her fingers because of her medications, but even just the few sips she took made her feel more at ease, more relaxed.
She regaled people with the tale of her accident, how she’d felt after, and the day she was able to move her toes again. No one really asked much more about her, and why would they? The only truly interesting things about her were her accident and the fact that she was dating Max. But dating Max was something no one asked about and instead everyone joked about. The night was filled with comments about her being the one to tie him down and that she better double knot the ropes so he can’t get up and run away. His teammates told her stories of his famous nights out and how many girls he could pick up in a night. With each tale and comment, she could see something in Max change, a light dim in him.
She did her best to try and smile and act as if none of this bothered her, as if she was so secure that she had no worries at all about Max and his previous life, or the fact that at the drop of a hat he may decide he wanted that life again. But what worried her more was the light that was dimming in Max. Was it possible that hearing all of those stories and seeing all of the long-legged, sexy women on the arms of his friends was making him jealous?
Max had wheeled Aaliyah over to their table for the night, and Aaliyah sat there quietly, taking everything in.
“How are you holding up?” Eli pulled a chair up next to Aaliyah, and she was grateful to see him.
“I’m doing okay. Getting a little tired, I guess.”
Eli nodded and told her dinner would be coming out soon; then she’d be able to get back to the hospital and get some sleep. The thought of the hospital made her stomach turn—the smell of the disinfectant, the inability to get a solid night sleep between the noise and the lights. She was dreading it, but she also knew she wouldn’t last too much longer with all of the bustle happening around her.
“Do you think Max can change?” The question popped out of her mouth before she even realized she wanted to ask it.
Eli looked wary for a second. “What do you mean exactly?”
Aaliyah felt herself slump back into her seat a bit and chewed thoughtfully on her lower lip.
“I see all of these girls looking at him, everyone telling me his stories about other women, and every story they tell, I see part of him become uneasy. Maybe he is second guessing being with me? Maybe he’s even missing his bachelor life? It’s such a big deal that he has a girlfriend, maybe it’s too big of a deal.”
In all of Aaliyah’s life, she’d never been a secure person. A girl, then a woman, on the shyer side, who never thought she’d really be anything special. And now to be dating someone with such a high profile, it was enough to leave her spinning in worry. When they were in the hospital room, everything seemed fine, so perfect. At least as perfect as it could be. But outside in the real world, things were obviously very different.
“Max cares about you, a lot. I’ve known the boy since we recruited him. No, he doesn’t have the best reputation, I can admit to that. But I’ve also never seen him look at anyone the way he looks at you. Trust me, I’ve been watching him like a hawk all night, and the only thing I’ve seen him do is stare at you. Then again, who wouldn’t in that dress you’re in?”
A smile of comfort crept out, and Eli patted her cheek.
“That’s better. You’re so much more dazzling when you smile.”
“You hitting on my girl?” Max teased as he came walking over with another small glass of champagne for her and, judging by the strong odor coming out of the other glass, a whisky for himself.
“Just telling her how gorgeous she looks tonight,” Eli answered. “I’m going to go find my date somewhere in here.”
Max took Eli’s seat next to Aaliyah. “He’s right, you know; you do look gorgeous.”
The odor coming off of him was strong, and Aaliyah was sure that while she’d been chatting with Eli, Max had not only been getting their drinks from the bar, but also having a few extra shots.
“Having fun?” she teased.
“Way more fun with you here.” His words sort of slurred, but she trusted them just the same.
He leaned over and kissed her on the lips, surprising her for only a moment before she melted into him and kissed him back. She could hear the click of a camera and saw the same reporter from earlier catching their kiss. Max looked up and blushed a little.
“Sorry, that’s probably going to be in the paper tomorrow.”
But Aaliyah smiled. Let the papers see, let the whole world see their kiss. Let them know that she’s with Max, that she’s his girl. In that moment, she decided people could guess or criticize all they wanted, it didn’t matter. All that mattered to her was that she was in the arms of the only man she wanted to be with.