Chapter 6
"It's game time, Cullen! How're you feeling?" Coach Peters asks.
I give him a look, knowing damn well he's not asking me because he actually cares, he just wants some reassurance we're going to win today. "I feel good."
"And the ankle? Do you want to get it looked at?"
"I know you'd have my ass in Carlisle's office if you thought I needed to have my ankle examined again. Even if it was only as a precaution. What is this about?"
Coach Peters's face morphs, and I watch as he tries to gather his thoughts. He looks as though he's going to have a fucking breakdown right there in front of me. And while most of the time I would relish it, right now, I don't think I could take as much pleasure away from it. It's too close to kick off.
"The other coaches and I have decided to bench Uley."
I look at him skeptically. "Why?"
"Because you were right. He was playing like shit and we could see it. His shoulder is holding him back and we don't know when it will be right."
"Okay?"
"Coach Daniels is considering speaking with his agent."
"Why are you telling me all this?" I wonder. This is team business bullshit. It's not information the quarterback is typically privy to.
"The other coaches and myself are concerned about who we might try to bring in as a replacement."
I look up at Coach Peters and glare. I knew there was a reason why this asshat was talking to me like this. "Who were you thinking?"
"James Marshall."
I shake my head. This is fucking ridiculous. They think Uley is bad and they want to replace him with the shittiest linebacker to grace the fifty yard line. Pathetic. "Why are you even consulting me? Does my opinion suddenly matter or something?"
He shrugs. "Like I've always said, your opinion matters to a certain degree, but it's us coaches who have to deal with the repercussions."
"I get that, but why are you telling me about the player possibility."
"Because we understand there may have been bad blood between you two back in college."
"May have been?"
He shakes his head.
"Yes, there was bad blood. That's an understatement. Marshal isn't worth the jersey. If you draft him, I might just go back on my contract."
"Don't start talking crazy, Cullen."
"Well then you stop talking like you're going to ruin this team."
"Ms. Brandon thinks it would be a good PR move for you two to make up…publically."
"Good for her. She works for me. You do understand that, right?"
"She said it would humanize you. Make you more likeable. That could be very good for your reputation. Something you so desperately need to improve."
"I'm fairly certain that recently I've shown how honestly human I am. The blood drive went phenomenal and I have an appearance at the kids' hospital this week. I don't think we need to bring Marshall into this to better my reputation."
"Cullen, I wasn't really telling you all of this to get your opinion, it was that Ms. Brandon figured this would be a better way of breaking the news. The thing is, we're taking on Marshall and you're going to be the one to announce it at the press conference after the game. I want it to sound sincere and you elated that he's joining the team. Got me?"
"What did Alistair say?"
"He was the one who asked me to relay the message to you. If it doesn't come out right. He's benching you for the two weeks I threatened you with at practice. Plus, there will be other repercussions. Get your ass in gear or get out of here. Understood?"
I shake my head and roll my eyes. This is the last fucking thing I need. Not to mention that my game mojo is completely gone. Jesus Christ! I'll be doing a press conference about this asshole after we've lost. Fuck!
It's a brutal game. We're beaten on heavy and hard. While I'd like to say we put up a good fight, our defense was seriously lacking. There were plays that scored which shouldn't have made it off the line. Pathetic mistakes like that are going to be what costs us the playoffs. We need to pull it together now, or we're going to be done before post season.
Walking into the tunnel, I try to throw on a happy face, but I can't help feel like a failure. While none of my plays were our downfall, I still feel as though we lost because of my lack of mojo, and if it wasn't for Coach Peters and his ridiculous announcement, we wouldn't be here right now.
I see the fans and try to get excited. My heart just isn't in it, though.
Taking a few pictures and signing a couple autographs, I move right down the line, trying to make it into the locker room.
But right there, right before the locker room entrance, is Bella. She's standing among the crowd, with her sparkling brown eyes and her sweet smile. I wonder briefly if it's actually for me. That is until I notice a little girl standing next to her.
"Bella," I greet.
"Cullen," she replies, but her smile is still holding.
"Holy cow! You actually know him! You're Edward Cullen!" the girl, about twelve, squeals.
"I do!" Bella tells her with a grin. "Give him your foam finger and I'm sure he'll be glad to sign it for you."
I smile down at Bella, trying to keep her as happy as she looks right now. I wouldn't want to change that for anything. It's a different side of her I find myself enjoying...a lot. She carefully takes the foam finger off the girl's hand and passes it to me, along with a marker.
I take it from Bella as gently and begin my usual routine, but then, I stop. This girl is so excited to meet me, and Bella probably looks like a hero to whom I can only assume is her daughter. I might as well make her year here. "What's your name, sweetheart?"
"Kate," she whispers, blushing furiously.
I smile and tell her what a beautiful name Kate is before signing the finger to her.
"Do you want a picture?" I wonder with a soft smile.
"She'd love one, but I forgot my phone and I refuse to let her have one with a camera at her age."
"Okay, let's use mine. Bella, I can just text it to you after?"
She shrugs, looking rather unsure, but Kate makes up her mind for her. "C'mon! It'll be great! God, I can't believe you know this heavenly man."
With that, I whip out my phone and pose with Kate first, letting Bella take our picture together. Then, I take one with Bella and Kate. Wrapping my arms around each of them, mugging for the picture while Bella snaps it off.
"Oh, my God, this is the best day ever!" Kate exclaims, while Bella shakes her head. She sure as hell doesn't look old enough to have a daughter that old, but hey, who knows, mistakes happen I guess.
"Thank you, Edward," Bella whispers, handing me back my phone.
"No problem at all," I return. I don't mind making dreams come true, especially when they involve me.
"I owe you," she insists.
I wave her off. "You're fine. Just, uh, give me your number so I can get you these pictures. You know?"
She nods, scribbling out her number on the paper. "Thank you again."
I smile and finally walk into the locker room. For a brief moment with Bella and Kate I had forgotten I have a press conference ahead of me and even that we lost. Dreading the evening ahead, I grab my clothes and march toward the showers.
Wanting to take a long, hot shower to try to get my head in the right place isn't an option.
"Cullen, we need you out here for a briefing!" Alice shouts from the shower doorway.
I shake my head and brace my hands against the wall, dropping my head to my chest and letting the hot water run down my back; trying to calm the ire I feel building inside me. This is ridiculous; I never get any peace, and Lord knows I won't until I retire.
Maybe it'll be sooner rather than later…
Hurrying around to get dressed and look presentable, I finally exit the shower, ready to be coached on how I'm supposed to talk about the game and give that asshat some kind of welcome to my team.
"How're you feeling?" she asks, watching me walk, carefully.
"I feel fine. I just want to get this shit over with."
"Remember you have an early morning tomorrow."
I grimace at her, not remembering what form of hell she has planned for me, though, I'm sure it'll be legendary. "It's not as if I'll be partying tonight."
"I know, I know, but this is for the best," she declares, rounding up Coach Peters, Thompson, and Daniels.
I begin to shake my head, absolutely hating what's coming my way. I don't want to hear about their reasons for bringing this guy on and I certainly don't want to be the one to offer him an olive branch. It's not my style.
"Edward, it's a done deal, you know that, right?" Coach Thompson asks seriously.
I give him a curt nod, straightening out my shirt and walking through the door. There's going to be eyes on me everywhere and I'm going to need to come off as sincere. I'm hoping to make Maria and my mother proud tonight. Too bad one of them won't be watching from home.
With a deep breath, I step out into the room smiling. The handlers direct me where to stand and I try to get there as fast as I can. I just want to put this day behind me.
Staring down the barrel of the very oppressive camera, I attempt to put on a good face. I know my warnings and even though it goes against my better judgment to welcome this asshole to the team, I understand I have to.
"Is there anything you would've done differently in today's game?"
"There're lots of things I would've done differently, but we can't live in the past. We can only learn from our mistakes and improve on the future. That's why I'm announcing our newest addition to the team: James Marshall. He'll be joining us next week and we hope he'll be the strength we need on our defensive team."
It may not have been as welcoming as it could've been, but I tried my very best and I'm pretty sure I didn't suffer any catastrophic injuries lying as deeply as I did.
There are tons of questions, none of which I have any desire to answer and most of which I don't actually know the details of. Such as, I'm not familiar with what his signing bonus is. Nor do I give a shit, either.
Once the hounds are exhausted, I'm allowed to leave and go home. It feels so good to breathe and take in everything around me outside of work. I hate those press conferences, but most of all, I hate James Marshall. Knowing he's going to be a teammate, all too soon, isn't sitting well with me.
It's certainly going to make for an interesting, and God only knows what else, season.
*OM*
"Edward, darling, you need to wake up," Maria calls.
I grumble out something I hope sounds intelligible.
She retaliates with a wooden spoon and a pan. The sound won't stop, so I'm forced to actually get out of the perfect cocoon I've been peacefully sleeping in. "Edward!"
"What?" I rasp, rolling out of bed.
"You have work today!"
"No, correction, I have hell today," I respond, trying to keep my feelings in check. There's no need to explode at the only woman in this world whom I love.
"Kids are not hell, especially sick ones," she tells me coolly; with an attitude only she can get away with.
I give her a nod, understanding there is no arguing with the woman. There's no use, nor is there an actual need. I love her and she loves me. We don't necessarily need to see eye to eye on everything.
I scramble to get ready so I don't piss her off any further and hurry downstairs for some much-needed breakfast to start my day. I don't know what I'd do without her.
She's laid out quite the spread, and to apologize I kiss her forehead when I reach her. "I'm sorry about earlier."
"It's fine," she murmurs. "I know this isn't your favorite thing in the world."
"You're right. I really wish I could spend my day just about anywhere, but the hospital."
Her eyes cut to me. "I bet those kids do, too. Too bad they don't have a choice like the footballer who's coming to see them today."
I frown.
"Don't give me that Edward, you can be generous and give of yourself. I know you can. God knows you can."
"Don't bring him into this," I say firmly, taking a seat at the table.
She shakes her head as starts dishing herself up.
I dig in, not wanting to deal with Alice if I'm late today. Looking around the kitchen for anything I can make conversation about, I see a pile of wrapped presents and quickly look back at Maria. "What are those?"
"They're for the kids."
"I figured that, but why are they here."
"Because you're going to personally deliver them today," she informs me in a tone I know not to argue with.
Still, I can't help but wonder why I'm bringing gifts. I understand the holiday season is coming up fast, but it isn't quite upon us yet.
"I think the presents will serve to put a smile on these kids' faces. They probably don't get many gifts since their parents are stuck with hospital bills."
I think about that for a few moments and realize how hard it must be for a kid stuck in the hospital because they're sick and there's nothing they can do about it. I offer Maria a smile and realize I really shouldn't question her actions. She always means well.
Pushing my seat back I try to focus myself on the day. Now that my head is in the right place, I need to get to the hospital and do the job I'm supposed to do. It's important, I suppose.
Grabbing the gifts Maria has thoughtfully gotten and now placed in a big red bag, and taking my keys to my Jeep Wrangler, I kiss Maria on the forehead and wish her a good day.
"You too, sweet boy," she calls after me on my way out.
In the Jeep, I try to focus on the day ahead of me and not let my thoughts be clouded by the past and shit I can't change.
Though, one thing is still really haunting me—besides Maria's sad eyes. The fact a son won't call his mother and even goes as far as to tell her he didn't want to talk to her anymore. I may just have to have my lawyer contact Tony. Things like that can't happen. Not to a sweet woman like Maria. It's not fair. Not in the least.
Pulling into the parking lot there're camera crews everywhere, and again, I'm unsure of where to park, but this time around, I simply take the first one I see. Today's for the kids. Fuck my reputation. If Alice thinks it's so far down the toilet then she can get another blood drive rallied together or even a donation drive or some shit like that.
I grab the bag of presents and attempt to walk in, but there's a crush of cameras and instantly I'm swarmed. I drop the bag and some gifts fall out and I really hope nothing Maria bought is breakable.
Thankfully, a God sent handler comes out and pushes everyone back, allowing me to collect the bag and gifts I dropped and make it into the door. I don't even pose for pictures because Maria's right: today is about them. The kids who are stuck here day in and day out. I don't think I could've handled that kind of sentence as a child.
I certainly know I wouldn't be where I am today if I had been in a hospital like that.
"You'll need to sign in with ID, it's for security purposes," the handler informs me, pointing to the station across the lobby.
"Okay," I agree, nodding, still carrying the huge gift sack and more presents than my arms can fit.
I set down the mountain of gifts and wait for a nurse at the station.
"Can I help you?" A voice comes from behind the mountain.
"Yes, I need to check in, please."
A clipboard with a paper slides to the side of the presents. I take the pen and fill in my name, reason for the visit and the time, before taking my wallet out and sliding my ID over to the nurse.
"Cullen?"
I grimace. While I love my fans, they sure do make me who I am, I don't want make this day about anything but the kids. "Yes?"
"It's you," Bella says, poking her head around the pile of gifts.
"What're you doing here?" I wonder in shock.
She shrugs. "I've decided to go back to my roots."
I raise an eyebrow in question wondering what she means by that, but she waves me off.
"I'm the lucky sole who gets to guide you around the hospital," she announces with somewhat of a smile.
"Aren't you new here?" I have to ask, since I know she clearly had another job.
"Not really."
"Okay," I say, feeling confused, but gather up the presents and follow her.
We head up three floors, which is a silent ride, thanks to Bella. When we exit the elevator, she tells me I need to don a mask, hospital gown, and gloves before meeting any of the patients. I nod and set the gifts down before getting dressed as she's instructed.
I certainly have no desire to make these kids any sicker than they already are.
There are lots of rooms to visit and Bella is very clear when she says these kids shouldn't get too worked up. I agree and let the visits begin.
Seeing their faces light up and their eyes brighten is something incredibly special. Moments of my life I know I will remember for a long time.
One little girl knew someone from the team was coming today, she had a jersey on over her clothes and even a Pats hat on. She looked adorable.
"Oh, my goodness! It's you!" the little girl squeals.
"It is," I assure her calmly, hoping she calms down too. Bella's giving me a look that says this behavior isn't good.
"I watch every game!"
"Really?"
"Oh yes, I wouldn't miss one for the world."
"That's awesome!"
She gives me a toothy grin and I ask her who her favorite player is.
"You, silly!"
This girl is after my own heart.
I hand her one of the gifts that's left and watch in amazement as she opens it. Silently, I thank Maria for taking the time to care about these kids. I now know who I want to donate to this year. The hospital could use some money, but so can the kids. I mean the parents, like Maria said, are probably so financially burdened they don't know what to do.
Hannah loves her new doll and we all watch as she plays with it.
I finally realize that Bella is snapping photos on her phone. I can't really understand why, but I roll with it, wrapping my arm around Hannah's shoulder and posing for a picture. This is one that I actually feel good about since I know it's not going to be immediately splashed all over the newspaper.
"Hey, we need to move on," Bella informs me.
I look at her wondering why, but then I see the doctor standing at the door.
I give Hannah a big hug and follow Bella out the door. I know it's important for her doctor to take care of her, but damn, she was just so touching.
At the end of the day, Bella leads me back downstairs. She looks tired, but happy. It's been one hell of a day and certainly not one I'm going to forget any time soon. There's something about kids that just make the world go round.
"Hey, thanks for taking time out of your day and leading me around the place," I say, feeling as though I owe her something.
"It wasn't a problem, it's part of my job."
Feeling a lull, I scramble to find something to say. I don't know why, but I feel as if I need to keep talking to her. It's odd.
"I hope you and your daughter enjoyed yourself last night."
"You mean even though you guys lost, pretty brutally, may I add."
"Yes," I cough out.
"Oh yeah, my niece and I really did enjoy ourselves." I note the girl wasn't her daughter, but decide not to harp on it, since Bella's not trying to cut me.
"Are you, uh, here from now on?" I wonder, awkwardly.
She nods.
"Oh yeah?"
"Well, not that it matters, but it's because I missed the kids. I was a registered nurse for a long time, but Carlisle mentioned I may want to venture into the physical therapy area, since I'd always had an interest in it. Sports therapists also tend to make more money than nurses. And I did that, but the team isn't as rewarding as time with the kids. So Carlisle released me from my internship, thankfully, and I was able to get my old nursing job back."
"That's pretty cool."
"I like to think so."
"Well, then, I guess I'll see you around."
"I guess so," she replies quietly. "Bye, Edward."
And with that, I give her one last, thoughtful look, then turn and head out into the parking lot that is still teaming with photographers.
Thank you to my beautiful Beta Midnight Cougar.
Quarterbackward is starting to show through, right?
Also, since it's the holidays again, you might be looking for that winter holiday read to snuggle up by the fire with. If so, please check out The Long Road Home on Amazon. Follow along the road home for the holidays with Shane and Josie. Read to find out if they can make their way back to one another or not.
Love you guys and thank you for your patience over the holidays. :)