Hard & Deep: A Football Romance

Well, I guess I could. But I really shouldn't, she thought. No need to add a heart attack and a stomach ache onto my already horrible evening.

She pulled out her phone to text Ollie. She suddenly felt a little nervous, almost giddy, about texting him. In all of their interactions over the previous few weeks, this would be the first meet up that had nothing to do with his physical treatment. Elsie was about to step over that line between patient and friend. There was a moment of hesitation. In the back of her mind, she knew that there would be no going back once that line was crossed.

Elsie wrote out a short text to Ollie three times before finally hitting send. The message simply read: “Want some pizza?” She bit her lip as she pressed send.

Hopefully he's hungry, she thought. I really don't want to have to bring this monstrosity of a pizza home with me. I won't have room in my fridge. I really hope he says yes. And not just because I need help eating the pizza. I also want to see him. I need someone to talk to.

The pizza shop kid pulled the massive pizza out of the oven and boxed it up, before calling Elsie's name. She walked up and paid, then balanced the box with both hands, using her backside to push the exit door open.

“This thing is heavy,” she whispered, tromping through the snow to her car.

But God, it smells amazing, she thought.

Steam rose out of the pizza box as she got into the driver's seat and started up the engine. She hadn't even had a chance to put the car in reverse before her phone chimed. It was a text response from Ollie that said, “Pizza sounds great”.

Elsie read the message and relief flooded through her. Not only did she have someone to help her finish the pizza now, but she also didn't have to spend the evening by herself.

“Be there in fifteen minutes.” Elsie replied in text.

Without even realizing it, the start of a smile began to show on her face. She pulled out of the parking lot and pointed her car into the direction of Ollie's farmhouse. For a fleeting moment, her worries fizzled out of her mind and her he

art ached just a little less. She wasn't even with him yet, but Oliver was making her feel better already.

Chapter 10

Ollie

With a newfound energy, Oliver pushed the comforter off of him and swung his legs over the side of the bed. His knee was throbbing, but his excitement of seeing Elsie helped the pain to fade. The text that he had just received from his physical trainer was completely unexpected, but very welcomed. Not only was he hungry and unable to sleep, but he was also admittedly lonely. A visit with her was the thing he needed most and it was as though she had read his mind with her offer.

I probably shouldn't be eating pizza, but really, who cares? He thought. I can cheat one meal, especially if it means I get to see Elsie.

No longer having to use his crutches, Oliver hobbled out to the living room and unlocked the front door. Then he took a seat on the couch to wait for Elsie. Elevating his leg on the coffee table seemed to help the pain, but only slightly. He didn't care, though. He knew that Elsie would make him feel better. Maybe he could talk her into giving him one of those amazing knee massages to help ease the pain.

While Ollie waited, he couldn't get the conversation he had had with Nikki the other night out of his mind. He was still riled up over it. He couldn't believe that she wanted to fire Elsie and for no other reason than that she happened to be female. The idea that Nikki was letting her jealousy infiltrate his business was where he had to draw the line.

Nikki needs to be worried about the business, and only the business, he thought. Otherwise, I'm going to have to figure out a way to let her go. I can't risk everything I've worked for, just because of an old fling. And if she thinks I'm ever going to get back together with her, she's wrong. That will never happen. Never.

His thoughts were interrupted when his doorbell rang. Slowly, he pushed himself back to a standing position and hobbled to the door. He could have just called Elsie in, but wanted to show her how much better he was getting physically. When he opened the door, he was greeted by a blast of icy air and a warm smile from the most beautiful woman he knew.

“Pizza delivery!” Elsie said, balancing the giant box in her hands.

It smelled amazing and Ollie's mouth watered just thinking about how good it was going to taste.

“Come in, come in,” he said. “It's freezing out there.”

The cold air fought him as he closed the door behind her. The storm was getting worse and the snow was quickly piling up on the deck.

“Here, let me get that,” Ollie said, taking the pizza out of Elsie's hands.

“Just hold it for a second while I take my jacket off,” she said.

He watched her remove her coat and his eyes drifted downward. She was wearing a soft white sweater with dark jeans and looked incredible. It was different than seeing her in scrubs. It was real, not medical.

Whoa, he thought. She looks great. I could definitely get used to seeing her like this.

“You look really good,” he said, flashing a smile. “I was starting to wonder if you only had scrubs in your closet.”

She laughed, taking the pizza back. “Yeah, it's not often I get to wear something normal. So I take the opportunity whenever it presents itself.”