Sweet Satisfaction

I followed her. “Hey, Lennon. I wanted to ask you something .”

She pulled a thermal cup from the cabinet. “What is it ?”

I scratched the back of my head. As if last Sunday wasn’t enough of a first with my parents, this was going to be another zinger. “I want you to fly up to D.C. with me for the game Sunday .”

She fastened the lid and spun to look at me. “You want me to go to the playoff game ?”

I’d never taken a woman on the road. I’d never wanted to. Never needed to. There were always women in whatever city we played. But looking ahead to Sunday, I didn’t want to leave Lennon behind. I wanted her with me wherever I was .

“Yeah, thought it’d be fun .”

“But your mom said you couldn’t be distracted. And besides, they’re going. I don’t think your dad is my biggest fan .”

“Don’t worry about them. You already knew my dad was an ass. I want you there with me. We’ll have our own suite .”

“But don’t you have to stay with the team ?”

“Well, yeah. Team hotel, but it’s not like I have a roommate. I’m the QB. I promise you’ll love it. I’ll fly you up on Saturday .”

She did that nervous thing where she clicked her fingers against the counter. “You sure? D.C .?”

“I’m positive. I want you there. I liked having you in my box .”

“All right. I’d love to go.” She picked up her keys. “I’ve gotta go. I’m late .”

“Bye.”

I walked over to the coffee pot and poured myself a cup. When had I become this man? I was so fucking crazy about her, I couldn’t think straight. I didn’t want another woman. I didn’t care about the poker games anymore. Nothing mattered to me other than football and Lennon .

I leaned against the kitchen counter. Maybe it was all the drugs pumping through my system, or maybe this was the side effect of falling for Dr. Ashworth .

Twenty

Lennon

W e would be landing in D.C. in twenty minutes. I fidgeted with my cocktail napkin and looked out the window as the plane began to descend. I should have told him. I thought about it all week. And what Gloria had said was true. Playoffs were a time we’d never see each other .

He crawled into bed so late I didn’t know what time it was, and it wasn’t really the right time to tell him I’d left an ex of a live-in relationship behind in the city we were traveling to. Besides, would Wes eve

n care? He’d never asked about my past. It was as if we had some unspoken rule about talking about our previous lives .

I tried to push Ben out of my head. D.C. was a huge city and there was no reason to see him or relive the hurtful memories. I was happy with Wes .

I pulled my luggage behind me down the jetway and looked for the sign with my name. Wes liked to arrange cars for me .

But when I saw the driver holding this one, my jaw dropped .

“What are you doing here?” I ran and jumped in his arms .

“Shh. Don’t blow my cover.” He kissed me quickly and picked up my bag. “Apparently Sharks fans haven’t noticed me with this hat on .”

I laughed. He was one of the most recognizable people in the country .

“How did you get away from the team meeting ?”

“Hasn’t started yet. Our flight got in an hour earlier, so I thought I’d wait for you here. We can ride to the hotel together .”

He ushered me into a long black car that was waiting for us by the curb. “I love this surprise .”