I looked at myself in the mirror. I didn’t look like a surgeon. I didn’t look like the girl who had graduated at the top of her med school class. I looked like some girl so in love, she’d do anything to see her boyfriend play football .
I heard the knock on the door. Too late to undo this now, I reminded myself. I was in it. Totally in it .
The driver dropped me off under the stadium and showed me where the elevator was that I was supposed to use for Wes’s private box. I wore the credentials tag he gave me around my neck and showed my ticket to the security guard at the elevator .
“Go Wranglers,” he grunted as the elevator doors closed .
My first AFA game, and I was going to sit in the most elite player’s box in the stadium. I’d seen the boxes on TV. But up close, I knew this would be a completely different experience .
Two weeks ago, I was on my couch, watching Wes walk the sidelines, and now I was here as his girlfriend. His number one fan .
I pushed open the door to the suite, and came face to face with a man with broad shoulders and an eerie resemblance to Wes .
“This is a private suite, ma’am. There’s an usher in the hall that can help you find where you’re supposed to be .”
“Oh no, this is where I’m supposed to be. Wes Blakefield’s box ?”
The man looked at a woman, who was picking through a tray of fruit. “Gloria, did Wes mention this to you ?”
She looked me over. “No. Honey, who are you ?”
Oh God. This was embarrassing. Horrifying. I knew it even without them having to make the proper introductions. These were Wes’s parents. How could he not tell me his parents were going to be in the box ?
I stretched my hand forward. “Hi, I’m Lennon. Wes’s, uh… Wes’s friend .”
Gloria dropped the strawberry in her hand and came over to meet me. “Honey, aren’t you sweet? I’m Gloria and this is Bud. We’re the parents.” She smiled .
“It’s so nice to meet you both.” I wanted to tell them how great this was, but I’d heard nothing about Wes’s mom, and the only thing I knew about Bud was how he drove his son to be a compulsive winner .
Bud scratched the back of his head, and I pretended not to notice that I’d seen Wes do that same exact thing when he was working through a problem .
“So, Wes invited you here? To our booth ?”
I nodded. “Yes, sir.” I held up my ticket as if I had to prove it to him .
Gloria tugged on his arm. “Bud, it’s his box. Don’t be an ass in front of the girl .”
It was hard to smile. The tension was filling the deluxe stadium box. I didn’t know if there were enough beers in that bar to lighten the mood or not .
“I’ll just stay out of your way and you won’t even know I’m here.” I walked to the front of the glass and admired the field .
The cheerleaders were running with flags across the end zones. At least I had watched a few games with Wes, so I should be able to keep up. I didn’t want his parents to know I was a complete football idiot .
Gloria sat next to me in a leather seat. “I’m glad Wes has a friend.” She held a beer in her hand. “It’s usually just Bud and me up here. This will be fun.” She handed me a cold bottle .
“Thanks.” I smiled at her. I could see where Wes got the green in his eyes .
“So what do you do, honey? Model ?”
I choked. “Oh God, no…I mean, sorry. No, ma’am. I’m a surgeon at San Antonio Mission Hospital. In orthopedics .”
“And you’re with my son ?”
I nodded. “Mmmhmm.” I was going to need more than just this first beer .
“Well, isn’t that something?” She turned over her shoulder. “Bud, did you hear that? Lennon is a surgeon .”
“Surgeon? Not a cheerleader or a swimsuit model? Huh .”