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Axel:Of course he was because you would never be on the naughty list.
Me:Ha Ha.
Axel:Goodnight, good girl. ;-)
Me:Goodnight.
I sighed, setting my phone aside. Curling my hand under the pillow, I closed my eyes and thought of happy memories of past family gatherings with my dad.
Two weeks later, I was in Miami with the team. The Falcons easily won their semifinal game last week in Arizona. Now it was on to the championship. We were all set up in our hotel, and I was rooming with Andrea, another girl who was also interning on the training staff. We had a full schedule of being with the team on the practice field all week while they prepared for the game.
The football players had an even busier schedule, which included long practices and staying afterward to sign autographs and speak to the media. Each night, there was some event for our team, as well as the opposing team, leading up to the game. Another press opportunity to promote the national championship game. Trust me, the universities were getting paid well for this event, and these teams were their cash cows, especially the stars.
In addition to all of that, it was ridiculous how many stars came out to watch the practices. Anyone from actors, famous athletes in any major sport, musicians, popular, influential people, and people from all over the world seemed to be centered at this event, as if it were the World Cup or the Super Bowl. Miami was already a massive international city, and this game seemed to bring out everyone from all over the world.
And who was at the center of all this activity? Hillside’s running back, Axel Thomas. As soon as Coach blew the whistle to end practice, media members had mics and phones shoved in Axel’s face, looking for the perfect sound bites. That didn’t include the scheduled times he was supposed to address the media at the podium on a daily basis.
And then there were the girls… They were everywhere, and they all looked like models, actresses, and influencers. They flocked to Axel like bees to honey. Wanting his autograph, wanting his time, one even had the audacity to unbutton her shirt so he could sign the swell of her boob. Luckily, a Hillside public relations person was there to shuttle her aside.
It was madness, and Axel seemed to take everything in stride, keeping that million-dollar smile in place. He said the right words, and he teased and spoke easily with the media. He charmed and enraptured the audience. If anyone could handle the grandest stage in the collegiate world, it was him.
He was larger than life and so far out of my league that it was almost farfetched to think that what’d happened in the training room weeks ago actually happened. We hadn’t spoken much, only in the capacity of how all staff and football players interacted on the field.
Gathering up towels from the practice bench, I walked around the large crowd surrounding him to make my way to the locker room.
“Natalie. Wait up.” I glanced over my shoulder to see Trey coming up behind me.
“Hey. How’s your ankle?” I asked. Trey had been battling an ankle sprain for most of the season.
“It’s holding up.” He smiled and reached out to take the heap of towels out of my hand. “Let me get those for you.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“I don’t mind.” He bumped his shoulder with mine. “It’s the least I can do, considering all you do for the team.”
“Thanks.” I remembered the words Axel said that night about him and shook it off. Surely, he didn’t mean it. Or didn’t actually care. With that thought, I looked over at the massive huddle surrounding Axel, watching as he spoke to one of the reporters from ESPN. Somehow, he turned and caught my gaze. Then his eyes narrowed as he looked at Trey standing beside me. Without missing a beat, he turned back to the reporter and continued answering questions.
I drew my gaze away from him and asked Trey, “How do you like Miami?”
“I love it. I grew up here. You can’t beat the weather. Of course, you have to watch out for tropical storms and hurricanes, but other than that, it’s great.”
We passed through the corridor of the stadium, heading toward the locker room. “I’ve never been to Miami.”
“If I had the time, I would take you to some of my favorite places around here that aren’t the usual tourist spots.” He winked at me. “Maybe someday.”
“Maybe.” I lifted my lips, knowing he was full of shit.
He passed by a hamper with towels and clothing in disarray and dumped the towels inside. “Anyway. I gotta get ready to speak at one of those lovely after-practice press junkets. I’ll see you around.”
Before he turned around, there was a flash of a white shirt and a body taking Trey to the ground. The next thing I knew, Axel had Trey in a chokehold. “The fuck did I tell you, Lomas?”
Trey’s face was turning red, but he had a smile on his face, not seeming the least bit concerned. “I was helping her, man. Calm the fuck down.”
“Axel, stop,” I warned, but he didn’t relent.
“I told you to stay the fuck away from her.”
“We weren’t doing anything,” he gasped, while Axel pressed his forearm into his neck.
