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Over the months that we’ve been together, he has brought me many times to his favorite places in San Francisco, the museums.
I was quite surprised the first time he brought me to a museum. We spent the whole day walking through the artistic works at the San Francisco Museum of Contemporary Art.
“I love this place,” he said, as we walked through the various paintings, sculptures, and architectural works. He spoke with suchmarvel, wonderment.
I was a science girl through and through. I liked the paintings and admired all the exceptional works of art. However, I was pretty sure Zander was looking at everything through a different lens.
When I asked him why he wanted to be an architect, he smiled and said, “I love creating something out of nothing,” he looked around the room that we were currently standing in, “You see, babe, this space here, used to be just land, nothing. Look at this now, it’s a grand building, with grooves, character, and attitude. I love playing football. It’s my passion. Architecture is my second passion.”
Curiosity got the better of me, Zander was the only son of a computer magnate, and it behooved me that he was not going the path or maybe something similar to what his father did. “It’s really great that you know what you want. How about your parents, your dad, doesn’t he want you to be in business with him?”
His eyes betrayed the tiniest of flicker, “Nothing would make my parents happier than for me to quit football. I know that they’re not comfortable with me getting pinned to the ground by 2-to-300-lb men. My dad wants me to join him. It’s just not me, you know?”
I held his hand; he looked slightly uncomfortable telling me about this.
“They have been very supportive. They might not agree with what I want to do; but, they respect my decision,” a slight smile lit his face, “and for that, I am thankful.”
Chapter Thirteen
“Doubts creep in when insecurity sets in.”
Sedona
Away games were torture.
For the simple fact that he was away.
I never thought I could miss someone's presence as much I did. Just his.
The only upside to Zander's away games was that I could DVR them. It was coincidentally hell-ish that all his games were scheduled on the nights that I had to wake up super early in the morning. As much as I wanted to, my body has been attuned to 6 ½ hours of sleep. Any less than 6 ½, I didn't function. Or barely. I couldn't be barely functioning for clinicals.
Right now, he was in Texas. Then, the team was off to New York. Hewas gone for almost a week.
As soon as I got home, I turned on the TV in my room, leaving the sound off. I did not like listening to the commentatorswhile watching the game. The game was still on. The app on my phone showed that Zander's team was behind by a field goal, 27-23, with 4 minutes remaining in the 4th quarter. Texas University had possession of the ball. Whew! This was going to be a close game.
I set my homework aside for a few minutes.
I was biting my lip watching the game.Yikes.Texas U was going to score, they were in the red zone. If they did, they would win. I was praying for a sack, a fumble, or an interception and, closed my eyes. I peeked through my right eye nervously and screamed. Texas U just had an interception.
"Sedona, is everything ok?" I heard Nalee's voice outside of my door.
Ohmigosh, she must've heard my scream.I thought she wasn’t home.
I hurriedly got up, not lifting my eyes away from thescreen. The San Francisco Mariners’, offensive line, stood up from the sidelines and jogged towards field position.
"Sorry, Nales. I got too excited. Do you want to watch with me?" My eyes were glued on the screen.
Nalee came in and plopped to the side of my bed. I heard her say, "Sure."
My heart was beating so fast. Zander's team needed this win. He had been talking about it for days. With this win, they would clinch the division.
The San FranciscoMariners had possession of the ball at Texas U’s 35-yard line. The defense was in blitz formation. Zander audibled to change the play with hand signals. The clock was ticking, 1:30 minutes left on the game. Zander threw a pass; the intended receiver fell before catching the ball. 1:19 left. Zander threw another pass, he overthrew the receiver. I saw Zander shaking his head. 0:38 remaining. Zander was in shotgun position, stepped back to pass and threw deep into the end zone. His receiver, Domair Harris, caught it. Touchdown, San Francisco!
Nalee and I screamed and jumped like girls on fire. A game was not over til it was over but it would take a Hail Mary for Texas U to win.
As the clock reached 0:00, we were laughing and hugging each other. The camera panned to Zander and the Texas University quarterback shaking each other’s hands. Gemmie Gonzales, college sportscaster, with a microphone on her left hand, pulled Zander aside.
"What do you think of the win tonight, Zander?" She was a pretty, blue-eyed lady, who was probably in her late 20s.
