Hard & Deep: A Football Romance

“You did it!” she squealed.

“Wow, you actually did do it,” the attendant echoed, handing him the over-sized bear. “I've been here all day and I haven't seen anyone get close. You might have quite an arm on you.”

“It's all in the wrist,” Ollie said, with a wink. He then turned to Elsie, handing her the bear.

“Awww,” Elsie said, cuddling into it with a happy grin.

“It's as big as you are.” Oliver laughed, as he watched her wrap her arms around it.

“I know, I love it,” she said, giving it a squeeze. “Nobody has ever won me anything before. Thank you.”

He loved the way her eyes sparkled when she smiled at him like that. It made him feel like the center of the world. It was better than lifting a trophy over his head, or at least pretty darn close. He felt like the MVP with her.

Oliver smiled, putting an arm around her shoulder. Then they just walked. They didn't run to any rides or sprint to the food, they just strolled next to each other enjoying themselves. The sounds and smells and their company was enough. It was all they needed. It was so simple, yet so perfect. Oliver couldn't have asked for a better date.

It's funny, a few months ago, I would have thought doing something like this would be dumb, he thought. I'd have called this a waste of time and probably said I'd rather be out at a club, getting drinks with my boys and any beautiful women who wanted to join. But now, all of that seems dumb. This county fair with Elsie is so much better than any of that.

Oliver knew that it wasn't really the fair he was enjoying, it was Elsie's company. Her smile, her laugh, her lighthearted sense of humor. That was what made the fair so much fun. They could have been anywhere and he would have been having a great time, as long as she was with him.

I think I could even enjoy myself at the DMV with her, he thought to himself with a chuckle.

The sun had dipped over the horizon and the air was beginning to cool. He considered suggesting to Elsie about going on some more rides or maybe getting a funnel cake or two, but what he really wanted was to spend some alone time with her.

The fair was fun, but the constant onslaught of people approaching the two of them had become just too much to handle. It was either somebody coming up to say that he looked an awful lot like Oliver Lance, or it was someone who knew Elsie and wanted to say hi. Either way, it seemed like the only time they had gotten a chance to breathe was when they were on the Ferris wheel.

“So, want to check out any more rides?” Oliver asked, hoping she was ready to be alone with him too.

“No, not really.” Her response was music to his ears. “To be honest, I was wondering if you wanted to maybe get some take out Chinese or something. I'm starving for food with at least a little bit of nutrition. We could eat at my place.”

“Chinese?” he repeated, his own stomach rumbling in response to the word.

“I mean, you're probably used to going to fancy restaurants and clubs, but there aren't any around here, and-”

“Chinese sounds perfect,” he interrupted her. He loved that she relaxed into a big smile. “But you do remember that we drove a tractor here, right? You don't think they'll mind if we park in front of the restaurant in the John Deere?”

Elsie leaned her head against Ollie's shoulder, as they made their way toward the parking lot and the tractor they rode in on. “You have to remember just how small of a town this is. I doubt it will be the first time a tractor has pulled up into the Chinese restaurant's parking lot.”

“It's settled then,” Ollie said, as he helped Elsie and her bear onto the seat of the tractor, before sliding in himself.

He started up the engine and pointed the tractor back toward town. More than a few people turned their heads to watch as the Oliver Lance look-a-like, a town's physical therapist and a giant pink teddy bear pulled out of the parking lot on a John Deere tractor. Oliver knew it would be a story that many of the town's people would enjoy chatting about for the next few weeks.

Chapter 16

Elsie

Elsie smiled from ear to ear as she unlocked her front door. Oliver was next to her, his arms overflowing with takeout boxes from the Chinese restaurant. The smell of sesame chicken and fried rice filled her nostrils, making her stomach rumble.

“I still can't believe the expression on the restaurant owner's faces when they saw us pull up in the tractor,” Elsie said, as she stepped into her apartment and set her new teddy bear down on the chair near the front door. “They looked as us like we had come from another planet.”

“We definitely made an impression,” Oliver said. “They're probably still talking about it.”

“Sorry, my house is kind of a mess.” Elsie quickly picked up her living room area. “If you want, you can grab plates from the kitchen. We'll eat at that small table in the corner.”

“You got it,” Ollie said, kicking off his shoes and walking toward the kitchen.

Elsie couldn't remember the last time she had had company at her place that wasn't family. She wasn't used to having to keep things in order. As soon as she had picked up the living room, she went straight to her bedroom. The after-effects of her indecision on what to wear that evening was still there. Clothes were scattered on every possible surface.

Crap, she thought. It looks like a tornado came through here.