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I stopped reading halfway through the texts. But it didn’t end then. Isabella called me in the hotel room that night to make sure I wasn’t going out before the game.
“I’m just making sure you’re doing what you said,” she replied. “Instead of going out to clubs.”
“I don’t go to clubs before games.” Only when you drag me to them, I thought.
“I know what those other boys do,” she insisted. “You all think you’re sneaky, but you’re not.”
A two-hour phone call kept me from studying the Chargers scouting report. By the time Isabella finally hung up, I was emotionally and mentally drained.
The game against Los Angeles started off strong. On the opening kick-off, Kincaid ran the ball all the way down the field for a touchdown, giving us an early lead. Two plays later, our defense intercepted the ball, giving us another possession.
But the Chargers defense was one of the best in the league. Every time the ball was hiked and I ran across the field, their safety—one of the defenders—stuck to me like stink on shit. I couldn’t get open.
Dallas made up for this by focusing on his wide receivers, and by running the ball more. I spent the game doing a lot of blocking and screen coverage. And although I was able to be useful that way, I liked to actually catch the ball, not just be in the neighborhood.
We won the game with a field goal as time expired. My final line was two receptions for eleven yards.
“I’ll get you the ball more next game,” Dallas told me after the game in the locker room. “You were covered for most of the game.”
“I got plenty of separation on those last two drives,” I replied.
Dallas buttoned up his dress shirt and shrugged. “The Chargers secondary was weak. So I took advantage of that and fed Kincaid the ball.”
“And what a feast it was!” Kincaid shouted, which drew plenty of cheers. He made a motion with his hand like he was shoveling cereal into his mouth with a spoon.
Everyone laughed, but mine was forced.
Isabella told me she would be waiting when our plane landed Sunday night, but she wasn’t anywhere to be seen. I breathed a sigh of relief and hopped into my car to head home. After the mediocre performance I had, I just wanted to sit on the couch and watch the night game.
But when I got home, I found Isabella sitting in the elevator lobby of my condo.
“Baby!” she said, throwing herself into my arms. “I’m so proud of you. That’s a big win.”
“I didn’t have a great game.”
“Really? I couldn’t tell. It’s a team game, so the win is what matters, right?”
“Right.”
She stared up at me with large eyes. “I don’t want to fight anymore. So if you’re sorry, then I’m sorry too. As long as you’ll always put my needs first.”
I didn’t feel like dealing with her, so all I said was, “Okay.”
She raised one of her pencil-thin eyebrows. “Nuh uh. I said I would be sorry, but only if you are too. So…?”
Something tightened painfully in my chest. I ignored it and said, “I’m sorry.”
“I thought so!” She kissed me on the cheek and said, “Now let’s go upstairs and make up.”
“I’ve got to take Luna for a walk first,” I said as we got into the elevator.
Isabella crossed her arms. “What happened to putting my needs first?”
“My neighbor has been letting her out, but the last time was eight hours ago,” I said.
“She’s a dog. I’m your girlfriend.”
“It’ll take five minutes,” I insisted. “Then you can have me the rest of the night.”
Isabella pouted as we went into my penthouse. But I didn’t care because Luna was excited to see me. I wrestled with the dog for a few seconds, put the leash on her, and then took her downstairs and to the park across the street.
Taylor’s a dog person, I thought while Luna sniffed around. She told me after we played trivia. I bet she would like Luna.
As if she could read my mind, Luna turned and stared up at me with her blue eyes.
“I know, girl,” I said. “Trust me, I know.”
