Hard & Deep: A Football Romance

She had a couple of choices. She could either take the time to put everything back on the hangars and get it all organized, or she could do the quick option.

It's all going in the closet, she thought, picking up armfuls of clothes. She dropped them into a pile in the closet and repeated the process until everything was picked up. The mess was at least hidden now. It was good enough so that she wouldn't look like a total slob if Oliver saw her room, and she was really hoping that he would.

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; “Sorry about that,” she said, stepping out of the bedroom and putting on a big smile.

Oliver was already seated at her small table in the corner of what she called her “dining room”. It was hardly a dining room, though. More like a few square feet of unusable space that was wedged between the living room and kitchen. It was just enough to fit her table and two chairs.

“No problem,” Ollie said, pushing his bangs off of his forehead. “Your place is great. I like it.”

“It's tiny,” Elsie said. “Someday I'll get a house.”

“It's small, but nice.” Ollie glanced around, then refocused his gaze onto Elsie. “Plus, it's close to where you work. Can't get much better than that.”

“Living above your business is a mixed blessing,” she said, taking a seat in the chair across from Ollie. “Sometimes it feels like I can never get away from work. It was actually really nice getting to treat you over the past few months. I got out of this building for a few hours.”

“I enjoyed it, too,” he said, as he put a plate in front of her. “It's been a nice little vacation. And I use the term 'vacation' lightly, since you put me through some of the hardest workouts of my entire life.”

“I'd say it paid off, though. We whipped you into shape.” Elsie smiled warmly, but her heart sank a little bit. She was going to miss those workouts and all of that time with him.

“You sure did,” he said, patting the top of his once-injured knee. “You fixed me and I was pretty sure I'd never be fixed. Thank you, Elsie. Seriously. I honestly don't know what I would have done if it wasn't for you.”

Elsie blushed at the compliment. “Just doing my job.”

“No, the attendants at the fair, they were just doing their jobs. Not you, though. It was more than that,” Ollie opened up the takeout boxes while he spoke. “You work miracles. Something about your touch and your passion for what you do. I hope that you see your work as more than just a job. Because what you did for me was nothing short of incredible.”

“You're making me blush,” Elsie said, sweeping her hair over her ear. “Don't stop.”

“You deserve it,” he said. “And also, you deserve some of this sesame chicken. It smells amazing.”

“It really does,” she agreed, as she put some of it on her plate. Her stomach grumbled and her mouth watered. Cotton candy was great, but it wasn't exactly filling.

She was about to take a bite, but Ollie stopped her. “Wait, hold on a second. We should do a toast. Do you have anything to drink?”

“Yes, a toast is in order.” Elsie nodded as she stood up from her chair. “I have some boxed wine in the fridge, but I think that's about it.”

“That will work,” he said. “But you sit down. Let me get it. I want to spoil you tonight.”

She smiled and stopped in her tracks. “Are you sure? I can get it.”

“Nonsense.” Ollie got up and led Elsie back to her seat. “You just relax and eat. I'll get the wine. This is supposed to be a date.”

She sat back down in front of her plate, watching as Oliver disappeared into the kitchen. Her heart ached with how much she was really starting to like the guy. The more she got to know him, the more she realized he was perfect for her. It wasn't just his good looks, though that definitely didn't hurt. It was the way he made her feel. Especially now that the whole patient/provider stigma was gone. Ollie treated her like a princess and made her feel like she was his whole world.

To think, this is only the first date we've been on, she thought. I can't imagine how great things could be if he didn't have to leave.

In a flash, Oliver was back. He had in his hands two wine glasses, filled with the best boxed wine money could buy. Which also turned out to be the most inexpensive wine that could be purchased at the corner store. He handed one of the glasses to Elsie and then took his seat. Holding his drink in the air, he paused and gazed into her eyes.

“What should we cheers to?” he asked.

How about... how freaking gorgeous you look when you're dressed up like a cowboy? She thought, quietly to herself.

“I don't know,” she replied. “Your recovery?”

Ollie nodded slowly. “Yeah, my recovery. But also, let's do a cheers to the car accident that brought me here.”

Elsie raised her eyebrows. “You want to toast to your car wreck?”