CHAPTER TWELVE
First downs to touchdowns that’s how we roll.
Ana opened the door and was greeted by two of her best friends. “Welcome, ladies. Thank you for coming to my first football party. I recorded the games from the last couple of weeks and expect you both to help me understand what Jack does every week.”
Ronnie and Ella walked in and gave her a once-over. She glanced down at her outfit and then back at them. “Too much? I didn’t put the hat on, so I thought it was okay.”
“Dear Lord, who are you and how do I help you escape from the madness?” Ella asked.
“You could have painted your face, and the look would be complete,” Ronnie replied with a laugh. “I’ve never seen you wear the gear of anyone you’re dating.” She watched Ana twirl around and was greeted with Jack’s name emblazoned across the back. “I guess it’s official.”
“Come in, and I’ll get you guys something to drink.” She led her friends into the kitchen and poured them margaritas. Holding up her glass, she proposed a toast. “To being a football girlfriend, God willing it’ll be something I survive.” They all clinked glasses and stared at one another. “How in the heck did this happen? My boyfriend is a professional football player, and he posed for ads yesterday in his underwear so that he could give me a foundation with a million dollars. I’m not sure what part of that is the most disturbing: the fact that people are willing to pay him to take off his clothes or that he gave me a million dollars.”
“Stripping down to your underwear is definitely the disturbing part,” Ella commented as she drained half her drink.
Ronnie sipped her drink and then slid her hand on her hip. “I need chips and guacamole if I’m going to give your question the proper consideration it deserves.”
“Should we eat in here or do you want to go in and start watching the games that I recorded?”
Ella and Ronnie answered in unison, “Eat first.”
Ana started loading up the table with the food that she’d prepared. “Thoughts?”
Ella studied the table and took inventory. “This isn’t bad for a first effort. I’ll have Mama send some of her recipes that she uses every Sunday since you’ll need a cheese ball and crackers to make it a respectable gathering.”
“As much as I respect your genetic superiority when it comes to anything football, I’m going to have to say no to the cheese ball. I am, however, totally open to the idea of a good pimiento cheese sandwich.”
“Oooh, I love pimiento cheese sandwiches,” Ronnie commented. “Nobody makes a better one than Mama. I’ll have Gerald whip some up for our next football get together.”
“Fine, no cheese ball. How about chili? You have to have some chili,” Ella said as she loaded a chip with dip.
“I think chili is a great idea. I’ll try that next time. By the way, Ella, where is your jersey with Clark’s name across the back?”
“In a box in my dining room. He sent me a lot of stuff, and I haven’t worn anything yet. I understand the meaning of wearing someone’s jersey, and it’s not something to take lightly.”
Ana refilled their glasses and then passed out plates. “So, what’s going on with you and Clark?”
Letting out a big sigh, Ella placed her head on the table and looked at her friends. “I tell you, that man is so frustrating since he’s not acting at all like he should. It’s really starting to bug me.”
Ronnie patted Ella’s back. “He’s acting exactly like a middle linebacker should. He’s been known to eat small animals and children to accomplish his goal. He runs the defensive line like a general and doesn’t let anyone slack. He’s also mean as hell and not afraid to go after anyone who gets in his way.”
“I know all of that, Ronnie. I’m talking about his desire to have a relationship. He makes me go on dates and hang out in order to have relations.” Tapping her head against the table, she moaned. “Why does he have to be this way?”
Ana stared at their friend in confusion since Ella had always wanted a commitment. Why she didn’t want one from the man who was offering it wasn’t immediately evident. “What’s with the new attitude about men, and specifically Clark?”
“I’m not interested in having a football player as my life partner. Nothing about what we want in our lives is similar, and that means neither of us is going to end up happy. And, yes, he’s heading in that direction.” Sitting up, she picked up her drink and took several large gulps. “I should just stop seeing him now and be done with it.”
“If you really are not interested, then you need to let him go,” Ronnie commented as she refilled their glasses. “You wouldn’t want someone to do that if the situation was reversed.”
“I know; I’m just not ready yet.” Rolling her eyes, she groaned. “I know what that sounds like and I’d appreciate if you both wouldn’t say anything more.”
“Having someone show up who is utterly perfect and yet not part of your plan is a real pisser,” Ana commented as she sipped her drink. “And I say that without an ounce of irony.” Looking between her two friends, she knew they got it, and that gave her more comfort than she ever hoped to have.
Ana stared at the TV as shook her head. “He’s an animal.”
“You didn’t know?” Ronnie asked.
“I guess in some vague way but seeing two games makes it very specific.”
“How turned on are you?” Ella asked as she leaned forward and took a handful of popcorn.
“A lot more than I’m comfortable admitting.”
Ronnie let her gaze bounce between her friends. “Now is a good time for me to shout an; ‘I told you so,’ since neither of you could understand why I ever dated Brian in the first place.”
“I get it,” Ana said. “I totally get it.”
“Thank you,” Ronnie replied as she ate a piece of popcorn. “Not that the relationship was anything in the end.”
“Except a big fat lesson,” Ella said.
“Yeah, I’m still trying to digest that one,” Ronnie replied.
“Did you see how scary Jack looked when he was glaring at the opposing team?”
Ronnie closed the computer on her lap and glanced up at the screen. “That’s not even his worst look. You should see him when he’s really pissed. They won this one, and no one got past him, so he was relatively civilized.”
“Is that why you didn’t want him to go after me?” Ana asked.
“No. I just wanted his intentions to be serious, and I wasn’t sure if he was capable of it.”
“Because of who he is or what Brian did to you?”
“It was a little bit about what happened to me, but it was also about the women that Jack used to date. I wanted him to completely understand you were not to be taken lightly.”
Ana pulled the bowl of popcorn into her lap and started eating. “Are you going to tell me what kind of women he used to date?”
“He dated a lot of women who were not your intellectual or emotional equal and seemed to be only interested in a good time. Which is great, as long as that’s what everyone wants, but you’re not good-time Sally, and I wasn’t going to let him think you were.”
Ella took the bowl of popcorn out of Ana’s lap and shook her head. “We are not the type of women who should be swimming in this pool. It’s not our natural habitat, and when that’s the case, things don’t turn out well.”
“Okay, Susie sunshine. You can stop now,” Ronnie said. “Jack seems to be behaving well and has serious intentions toward Ana. Let’s give him the benefit of the doubt.”
Ana grabbed the bowl of M&Ms and started shoving them into her mouth. “When we were out the other night at Joe’s, some women in the bathroom were talking trash about me. They didn’t know I was in the stall, so I had the pleasure of hearing everything they thought. Let me tell you, it wasn’t pretty, and it’s not something that I want ever to hear again.”
“Did you tell Jack about it?” Ella asked, as she took a handful of M&Ms and put them in the popcorn bowl.
“No. I didn’t want to let him know that it bothered me. Anyway, I was soon trampled by his fans and being taken to the ER in an ambulance.”
“That really was the date from hell,” Ronnie said as she stifled a laugh.
“We haven’t attempted another one, and I’m glad since the one was more than enough.” Returning her attention to the game, she noticed Ronnie picking up her computer and flipping it open. “Do you mind watching Brian in the game?”
“Not really. I’ve let it all go and am ready to move forward. I’ve come to the conclusion that I was more embarrassed than hurt and all of my angry feelings were probably a result of that more than any real heartbreak.”
“I thought you’d really fallen for him back then,” Ana said.
“Looking back, I realize it was probably a case of infatuation, and nothing more. He did me a favor by screwing up so badly since there was no coming back from what he did. I’m calling it a blessing now and am grateful he did it sooner as opposed to later since it saved me from a real heartbreak. I think it’s his nature to be distracted, and his head will likely always spin toward every shiny thing that crosses his path, so I was lucky I got out when I did.”
“I’m so happy and know this has eaten at you for the last year.” Ana looped her arm around Ronnie’s shoulders and squeezed. “I think letting it go is a sign that something fabulous is coming your way.”
“I hope so,” she replied. “Like I said, it was probably my ego in pain more than my heart, since he humiliated me in front of a lot of people. But in the end, it says more about him than it does about my clients or me, and they don’t think less of me because I made an unfortunate dating decision.”
“Considering most of their personal lives, you are closer to a nun than anything else,” Ella commented as she returned her attention to the game.
Ana turned back to the TV and saw Jack’s intense expression as the camera zoomed in on a close-up and realized she’d seen a similar look when he’d been kissing her.
Was Jack as serious about her as he was about his career?
Hearing Ronnie mutter something, she turned. “What did you say?”
“I said that I’m going on a date tonight and should get going.”
“What?” Ella shrieked.
Sitting up, Ronnie smoothed out her hair. “I have a date tonight with a gentleman who can’t seem to take no for an answer. I’ve decided to have a meal with him, so he’ll leave me be.”
“Details,” Ana demanded.
Letting out a long sigh, Ronnie crossed her arms. “It’s not a big deal. The head coach for the Jacksonville Gators has been buzzing around for a while, and we’ve spoken several times since a lot of his players are my clients. He had some questions about the budgets that I set for them, and the discussion that resulted was rather loud and contentious. Which apparently, he took as flirting because once we were done wrangling, he asked me out. I’ve refused him a hundred times, and he finally wore me down.”
“Holy mother of new beginnings,” Ella said quietly.
“He’s a northerner, and I don’t have much hope, but it should be entertaining. Gerald is very excited about this, and you know I would do just about anything for him. So I’m going on this date, and I’ve promised to be charming and not tell Chase Bedford off at the first opportunity.”
“Praise God. A real date for Ronnie,” Ella sang.
“We expect all the details tomorrow at Alex’s house. He’s finally back from his vacation, and he’s expecting us for dinner,” Ana informed them.
“Where did he go after they lost their spot in the Series?” Ella asked.
“He went to Mexico with a bunch of guys, and they drowned their sorrows in beer and fishing. He wants us to come around four for a bar-b-que and swimming,” Ronnie added.
Ana heard her phone buzz and saw Jack’s face. “I have to get this. Leave the dishes, and I’ll take care of everything later.” She heard kissing noises from them as she walked into her office to speak with Jack. “Hi, honey, I have so much to tell you…”