shove, “Now get off of me.”
I jumped into the cab of my truck, and started the engine. I glanced out my window to see him standin’ there, deep in thought as I pulled away. I wasn’t sure what his end game was when it came to me, but my future meant far more to me than the satisfaction of knowin’ that I kicked his ass. As I made my way through the winding parking lot, I found myself thinkin’ back on all the good times I had playin’ ball in middle school and high school. I was one of those guys, the ones that made football their entire life, and never took the time to actually get a life. Sure I had dated my fair share of girls, but nothin’ ever stuck, and I was finally starting to realize why. Without football, there was no way I could make anything else work in my life.
Diem’s beautiful face flashed through my mind as I drove around thinkin’ about all the girls I could’ve settled down with. Unfortunately, none of them were her, and now that I’d met her, I knew there was nobody else out there for me, and if I couldn’t have her, well, then I didn’t want anyone. I thought back to earlier today when I ran into that poor girl, and I started to feel like an even bigger ass for not stoppin’ long enough to apologize. I could’ve sworn it was Diem, and on any other day, I probably would’ve stopped to see if it was, but football had consumed me, and I was obsessed. Obsessed with bein’ the best, bein’ the first one there and the last one to leave, and making sure everyone else knew I was the best as well. It was pathetic, I know, but sometimes you don’t get to choose your obsession. I sure as hell didn’t get to pick mine.
The next few days went by at a glacial pace, and I was literally countin’ them down until game day. Knowin’ that I needed to prove myself to my new coach, my new team, and to all the scouts that were most likely going to show up was almost more pressure than I could take. I was really startin’ to feel the pressure, and that’s when I decided to call the one person in my life that could always talk me off the ledge. I wasn’t sure if she would answer my call, but I kept my fingers crossed as the phone began to ring.
“Joey?”
“Oh my god, I’m so glad you answered.” I let out a sigh of relief.
“Of course I answered. Why wouldn’t I?”
“I don’t know. I know you’ve got a life, and you’re busy and all that good stuff. I’m not botherin’ ya, am I?” I held my breath as I waited for her answer.
“Of course you’re not bothering me. What’s going on, Jo?”
“I don’t know, Kayla.”
“Wow, I haven’t gotten a Kayla from you in forever. Must be something serious. Give me one second, I’m going to make sure Madison can keep an eye on Mia for me while we talk. Just give me one second.”
“K.” I sat there tapping my fingers against the steerin’ wheel, nervous as all hell to even talk about my feelings, let alone talk about them with Kayla of all people.
“Okay, sorry. Let me just go out on the porch.”
“Drink a glass of wine for me too.” I laughed.
“Ah, you know me all too well, Joey Green. So what’s up?”
“I’m just havin’ a rough go at it so far. I came out here chasin’ a dream, and I know it’s only been a week, but I feel like I’m already failin’ at that dream. Honestly, I just want what all of y’all have. You, Glenn, Madi, Cami, y’all found what you wanted in life, and actually got to keep it. It would be awesome if I just had someone to come home to. Someone that would support me no matter what, and loved me for me, flaws and all. Sounds cheese, I know.”
“Oh Jo, it’s not like we all didn’t have to fight to get there. Look at what your brother and Cam have been through. Those two have more heart and strength than I have ever seen. It just takes finding the right person, for you. Even Madison and Me had a hell of a time. It’s
I jumped into the cab of my truck, and started the engine. I glanced out my window to see him standin’ there, deep in thought as I pulled away. I wasn’t sure what his end game was when it came to me, but my future meant far more to me than the satisfaction of knowin’ that I kicked his ass. As I made my way through the winding parking lot, I found myself thinkin’ back on all the good times I had playin’ ball in middle school and high school. I was one of those guys, the ones that made football their entire life, and never took the time to actually get a life. Sure I had dated my fair share of girls, but nothin’ ever stuck, and I was finally starting to realize why. Without football, there was no way I could make anything else work in my life.
Diem’s beautiful face flashed through my mind as I drove around thinkin’ about all the girls I could’ve settled down with. Unfortunately, none of them were her, and now that I’d met her, I knew there was nobody else out there for me, and if I couldn’t have her, well, then I didn’t want anyone. I thought back to earlier today when I ran into that poor girl, and I started to feel like an even bigger ass for not stoppin’ long enough to apologize. I could’ve sworn it was Diem, and on any other day, I probably would’ve stopped to see if it was, but football had consumed me, and I was obsessed. Obsessed with bein’ the best, bein’ the first one there and the last one to leave, and making sure everyone else knew I was the best as well. It was pathetic, I know, but sometimes you don’t get to choose your obsession. I sure as hell didn’t get to pick mine.
The next few days went by at a glacial pace, and I was literally countin’ them down until game day. Knowin’ that I needed to prove myself to my new coach, my new team, and to all the scouts that were most likely going to show up was almost more pressure than I could take. I was really startin’ to feel the pressure, and that’s when I decided to call the one person in my life that could always talk me off the ledge. I wasn’t sure if she would answer my call, but I kept my fingers crossed as the phone began to ring.
“Joey?”
“Oh my god, I’m so glad you answered.” I let out a sigh of relief.
“Of course I answered. Why wouldn’t I?”
“I don’t know. I know you’ve got a life, and you’re busy and all that good stuff. I’m not botherin’ ya, am I?” I held my breath as I waited for her answer.
“Of course you’re not bothering me. What’s going on, Jo?”
“I don’t know, Kayla.”
“Wow, I haven’t gotten a Kayla from you in forever. Must be something serious. Give me one second, I’m going to make sure Madison can keep an eye on Mia for me while we talk. Just give me one second.”
“K.” I sat there tapping my fingers against the steerin’ wheel, nervous as all hell to even talk about my feelings, let alone talk about them with Kayla of all people.
“Okay, sorry. Let me just go out on the porch.”
“Drink a glass of wine for me too.” I laughed.
“Ah, you know me all too well, Joey Green. So what’s up?”
“I’m just havin’ a rough go at it so far. I came out here chasin’ a dream, and I know it’s only been a week, but I feel like I’m already failin’ at that dream. Honestly, I just want what all of y’all have. You, Glenn, Madi, Cami, y’all found what you wanted in life, and actually got to keep it. It would be awesome if I just had someone to come home to. Someone that would support me no matter what, and loved me for me, flaws and all. Sounds cheese, I know.”
“Oh Jo, it’s not like we all didn’t have to fight to get there. Look at what your brother and Cam have been through. Those two have more heart and strength than I have ever seen. It just takes finding the right person, for you. Even Madison and Me had a hell of a time. It’s
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