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ChapterTen
Rhys
Two months ago
Levi and Colin were sitting in the stands at my request, waiting for the game to be over so they could watch me propose to Mel. After almost a year together, she told me she was ready to share our story with the world, and I warned her I was going to make that happen in a big way.
No one in my life had met her yet, and Levi and Colin had no idea Mel was sitting behind them all night. It was part of my plan, to make sure their seats were close, so every time I looked into the stands I could see the people that meant so much to me, without losing too much focus on the game.
When the whistle blew for an injury early in the game, I took the moment to walk to Cruz near the goal.
“Look up behind the bench. Third row, behind Colin and Levi.”
“Is that her?” He squeezed water into his mouth while he inconspicuously eyed Mel. It was far away, but close enough for him to see that she was really there, that she actually existed.
“Yeah,” I sighed, acting almost like a teenager. I was so in love and happy, that it was hard not to float on cloud nine.
“Does she have any clue what you are doing tonight?” Cruz laughed.
“I warned her I was going to make a scene, but she doesn’t know I have a ring.”
“I’m hanging around for the show,” he nudged me as I walked back to midfield.
“You better,” I shouted.
The whistle blew again and action resumed. It was Mel’s first game, and I wanted to show off for her, make her proud to be my girl. By the time the whistle blew for the half, I had scored three times–a hat trick–and we were leading the game against Seattle, my former team.
Little did I know that when I smiled up at Mel, and winked before heading into the locker room, it would be the last time I ever saw her. When I returned to the field for the second half, I couldn’t find her during our short warm up. But worry didn’t set in because I assumed she had gone to the bathroom or the concession.
When play resumed, I kept looking up to see if she was back in her seat, but she never was. I got antsy and unfocused. Something felt wrong, and eventually, I had to ask Coach to pull me from the game.
For thirty minutes, I tried calling and texting her from the locker room, leaving her messages that I was worried. I even texted Levi and told him she had been behind him all night, and asked if he had seen her move anywhere.
The answer was no.
When the game ended, I made my way back to the field and scoured the stands for any sign that she had just moved seats, or had seen someone she knew. Maybe she ended up chatting and lost focus on her phone and the game.
Colin and Levi were eyeing me with concern, Cruz was waiting alongside me, and a few teammates were waiting around to see me propose. But eventually, the stands cleared out, and the guys hit the showers.
A girl had come up to Colin, and was talking to him, while Levi made his way to the field. Whoever Colin was talking to turned my way and my eyes locked onto hers. We both stared as I got lost in her eyes for a minute, feeling so much familiarity and comfort, that everything felt okay for a moment.
Not until she turned away and walked up the stairs of the stadium did I remember what I was supposed to be doing. Mel, I was looking for her, and I was worried.
When Colin said all his goodbyes and joined me on the field, my first instinct was to ask him who the girl was. In fact, the words were right on the tip of my tongue when my phone finally buzzed with a message.
Thank the gray haired guy in front of me tonight for discussing your plans, it spared you the embarrassment of me having to tell you no to your face. Why couldn’t you just be happy with the way things were?
“Was it her? Is she okay?” Levi asked.
“What happened?” Colin added.
I tossed my phone at Colin, the gray haired, big mouth bastard, and walked away, leaving Mel’s message at his feet, and my heart shattered into a million pieces.
ChapterEleven
Ash
“That was you,” Rhys mumbled, coming out of a daydream.
