Hard & Deep: A Football Romance

“That's what I like to hear,” Adam said, before taking a sip of his drink. “And that's worth celebrating, if you ask me.”

Oliver hadn't been sure that he even wanted to go out tonight. His buddies had talked him into it, saying that it would be good for him. He wanted to believe them. He wanted to think that there was something he could do that would actually get his mind off of Elsie, but she was the only thing he could think about, and being at the club didn't help at all. It only reminded him of the car wreck. The wreck that led him to meeting the girl of his dreams.

I should call her, he thought, then immediately changed his mind. No, I can't. She's home with her family. As much as I want her right now, I can't to do anything that would hurt her. I can't give her false hope that a long-distance relationship could work. Because they never work.

Sean came and sat down on the other side of Ollie. “How you been, bro?”

“Better now,” Oliver greeted his friend. He clasped the other man on the shoulder in a friendly greeting.

“I was worried about you, man,” Sean said. “It's good to see you in person and not just hear you on the phone.”

“Likewise,” Oliver explained. “Though I really appreciate our talks. It was great to have a link to the outside world.”

“You're all healed up now, though?” Sean asked.

“Absolutely.” Oliver patted the side of his own knee, the one that had been injured. “Better than ever.”

“For real?” Sean raised his eyebrows in suspicion. “Or are you just saying that so coach will let you train?”

Ollie shook his head. “I'm dead serious. I'm a hundred percent. Honestly, I've never felt better.”

“Good to hear,” Sean said, reaching for a drink. “Because I'd be worried sick about the Bandit's future if it wasn't for you. We've been running drills with our second and third string quarterback and it's not the same. They've got good arms and a tight throw, but they just aren't consistent like you are. They're missing that intuitive element. I'll be glad to have you throwing me the ball again this next season.”

“Me too, man,” Oliver said. “Me too.”

While Ollie caught up with his friends, the crowd that surrounded their VIP became more and more chaotic. The club was packed now and the news that The Bandits were in the house had spread faster than a Colorado wildfire. A few girls clamored over the ropes that separated them from the crowd. One of the bouncers tried to stop them, but Adam allowed them over.

“Pretty girls can hang with us,” Adam told the security guy. “Everybody else can leave us alone.”

There were three of them. Two brunettes and one blonde. They all looked like they could have been models if they'd wanted to. They were tall and skinny, with high cheek bones and glowing skin. They were wearing next to nothing and what was there left little to the imagination. A slight breeze would have exposed them. Normally, Oliver would have been delighted to have girls like these come and sit next to him. But for some reason, as they approached, he felt more repulsed than attracted.

“Oh, my God, it really is Oliver Lance?” He heard the blonde girl say to her friends. “I thought it was him, but couldn't believe it until I got close.”

The girl sat on Oliver's lap, wrapping an arm around his shoulder. She smelled like over-priced perfume and tequila. She was beautiful, though. No doubt about it. A so-called “ten” in most men's books.

She's nothing compared to Elsie, he thought.

“I love your new hair,” the woman said, running her fingers through his hair. It made him pull away. She looked more confused than annoyed.

“Everything okay?” she asked. “Why so blue?”

“It's a long story that I'm positive you wouldn't want to hear,” he said, his words barely audible over the increasing volume of noise in the club.

“I'm all ears,” she replied. “Just let me take this shot first.”

Ollie rolled his eyes as the girl took shots with everyone in the VIP section. He looked around at his surroundings. His best friends were there, his wallet was full of cash, expensive alcohol was on the table. Beautiful women surrounded him and he knew that any one of them would have gone home with him at the slightest suggestion.

It was everything that he should have wanted. These things used to satisfy him completely. And yet, as he scanned the room, all he could think about was the physical therapy girl in Iowa. The girl who had entered his life out of nowhere. She'd not only stolen his heart, but her simple existence had changed his perception on everything that he thought he knew. What he had once perceived as valuable; the club, the girls, the money, the fame. It all felt worthless now. Empty. It made him feel out of place, as his thoughts were hundreds of miles away. It made him wish he was back in the quiet of the farmhouse, waiting for Elsie to show up with a Thai chili pizza.

Ollie slid out from underneath the girl who was sitting on his lap. He got up and made his way toward the exit of the VIP area.

“Hey, where are you going?” Adam stepped in front of Oliver.

“Just heading outside real quick,” Ollie said. “I'll be right back.”

“Alright,” Adam replied, taking a step to the side to allow him through. “But hurry back. I've got more girls coming by. You know they'll want to

meet the great 'Oliver Lance'.”