Who's your daddy?
Season #1 – Episode 4
Disclaimer: Peter Berg and Kerry Ehrin get the nod this time. Italics are theirs and my flashbacks. I own nothing but if I did, I would have expanded that backstage scene a little more.
Rpunte0109 – Thanks for the compiments about staying within the story. I always try to do just do one missing scene from the episode, but end up do a few within the entire. I have trouble choosing. I do think Matt is very much like Eric and see that parallel. Although in this chapter I show the differences between them too.
Maryilee – Thanks for the review. I am going to try and stick with this and complete the first season.
Ericandtamiforever – I post as regularly as I can. The chapters get to be so long so that is why it takes me a week or so.
ICanStopAnytime – Thank you for all your feedback. I do appreciate it. The "foraging" scene is actually in episode #5. I think I told you it was this one, so my apologies. I also love the contrast between sensitive Eric and hard-ass Eric. I never really thought about the parallel bewteen J.D. father and Eric's father, but it's such a good point.
Naguabo – I try not to put the actual scenes from the show back to back with a flashback. Sometimes when the italics bleed together from one to the other, it seems confusing. I am trying to avoid that, but still give the reader both. Thanks for the kind words.
Guests – Thanks for taking the time to post a review. It makes me feel like I have some interest.
A/N: This was my first favorite episode because we got so much Tami and Eric here.
"Where are you going?" Tami asked, as Julie came out of her bedroom walking toward the kitchen. "You don't look dressed for bed."
Eric looked over the back of his recliner, taking in the image of his 15 year-old daughter. Tami, who was sitting on the couch, gave her husband a concerned look, so he spoke up. "She's not going anywhere, because if she was going somewhere, she knows that she has to ask us."
Julie let out an annoyed sigh. "I'm going to a party."
"What kind of party?" Tami inquired, already thinking 'no way' in her head.
"You're not going to a party." Eric said dismissively.
"This is why I didn't want to tell you." Julie figured she needed to take the mature route. "I could have lied to you and said I was going to Lois' house. I would like to go to this party. It's on Lois' block so if there is any trouble we can just walk back to her house. "
"Fine."
"Eric?" She couldn't believe that he would not only give in so easily, but also not consult with her first.
"Thanks Dad!" Before Tami could argue, Julie was out the door.
Tami looked at him, clearly pissed off. "What are you doing?"
"I know the party she's going to be at. I heard my boys talking about it in the locker room today. "
"Is that supposed to make me feel better? That the party Julie is going to be at tonight is a football party?"
"My boys are there. They know who she is. They'll watch out for her." He got up off his recliner and made his way to the front of the spot on the couch where she was sitting. "Besides that gives us at least three hours of alone time. When was the last time we had that?" He leaned down to kiss her lips, wanting to deepen it, but she pulled back.
"Sometimes you are so naïve." She smiled slightly, not letting herself lose her concerned train of thought. "You don't think those boys want to stick it to you?" He furrowed his brow in confusion so she continued. "You don't think they want to try and score with Coach's daughter and conquer some sort of forbidden revenge?"
Of course that thought crossed his mind. He knew this day would come and Julie would become the same age as his players. "Yes, the thought crossed my mind and then was immediately erased." He walked away from her and to the kitchen, opening the cupboard and grabbed two wine glasses. "Because they know I would kill them if they didn't anything to my daughter. I mean kill them, Tami." He grabbed the corkscrew and a bottle of white and started back toward her position on the couch. "I hear them in the locker room. I know how they talk. Hell, I did it myself. Believe me, they're not that stupid."
She gave him a genuine smile this time, allowing herself to believe him, even though she knew the idea of sex, not in the confines of their bedroom, was motivation to help him plead his case.
"Let's go outside, enjoy this bottle of wine and see where the night takes us?"
As they lay on their deck patio furniture, drinking their third glass each, they spoke about Julie adjusting to Dillon. Tami rested her body against Eric's, her back against his chest. He used one hand to hold his wine and the other to lazily stroke her arm. It wasn't until halfway through that third glass, that Eric let his fingertips brush over her breast.
"That feels good." He always liked to hear words of encouragement, not that he needed an education on sex. In fact, over the years, he had been the one to educate Tami. When he and Tami started dating, Tami really only knew one way and that was Mo's way.
"Yeah?" He moved his lips to that spot right below her ear lobe that drove her wild. He nipped her skin and she moaned softly. "How about that?" He was massaging her breast, circling his thumb around her nipple and pushing his groin into her lower back. He wanted her to know what she was doing to him. "And that?"
Tami leaned her head back, resting it on his shoulders threatening to drop the wine glass she was gripping tightly now. He moved his hand away from her breast and down past her stomach and to her crouch. The friction of his hand against her jeans was almost too much for her to take. She unknowingly opened her legs a little bit, to give him more access.
"God, Tami, you feel so good."
As some of the wine swished over the rim of her glass, he withdrew his hand from between her legs and reached for the glass. He leaned forward to set it on the table, and in one fluid motion, got up pulling her with him. He wanted to take her inside and make love to her right in the middle of the living room. Having a teenager in the house prevented them from that type of spontaneity.
Tami could feel the wine go straight to her head as she stood up. She was definitely buzzed. As he led her toward the house, she pulled back on his hand as he was out to open the sliding glass door with his other one. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pushing her breasts against his chest. The force of that caused him to stumble a bit, his back slamming against the glass. He loved when she got like this.
As he spun her around, his pushed his hardness into her groin. "A few more steps Tami, because I know you will never forgive me if I finish this right here, outside for all the neighbors to see. "
She reached for the handle and slid the door open, stepping backwards as Eric guided her to the couch. As she fell backward she grabbed the neckline of his shirt, balling it into her fists, making sure he came with her. Their kisses were hungry and Tami didn't want to wait to get undressed. She started unbuckling his belt and he rubbed his groin once again against her core. She undid the button with one hand as she grabbed him on the outside of his pants with the other hand. She slowly lowered his zipper, making eye contact and giving him a wicked smile, knowing he liked to be teased.
He liked to tease back. "Take your time. I can wait for you all night."
As if Julie was in on their game, they heard the front door open, Julie stormed down the hallway, making a hard left to her room. She didn't see them on the couch.
Tami struggled to get Eric off of her, as he struggled to steady his breathing. "Why is she home so early?"
"Something must have happened." She started walking away from the couch and toward Julie. "Take your time, Coach." She flirted, using his word from moments before. "Julie? What's going on? Are you okay?"
Eric could overhear her talking about "stupid football" players. That was enough to shift his brain to his daughter and her well-being. "Hey. What happened?" He asked, after buttoning himself back up. He made his way to her room, leaning against the doorframe.
"My new shoes got destroyed. Some dumb football player puked all over them"
"What football player?" Eric asked more out of concern for his player than Julie's shoes.
"Like I would tell you! It's hard enough trying to fit in at that school with the two of you working there. I'm not going to rat out the guys you coach."
"Eric?" Tami asked. "Could you give us a minute?"
Eric realized at that moment in time, Julie was growing up. She was going to need her mother more than him as she goes through those high school years. He knew Tami wasn't going to let any of these moments pass her by, wanting to be involved in Julie's life the way her mother wasn't.
When Tami emerged from Julie's room, Eric turned his head, looking at her expectantly. When she didn't say anything, he spoke. "Which one was it?"
"Excuse me?"
"Which one of my players was it?"
Tami stared at him in disbelief. "Are you serious?"
"What?"
"That's what you're concerned with right now?"
"Well, I'm not concerned about her shoes."
"How about the fact that our 15-year daughter was at a party where there was alcohol?"
He gave her an equally incredulous look. "Are you serious? Have you forgotten your high school years?"
"No." She shot back. "But I don't like the idea of her being around alcohol and football players."
"Why do you have to say 'football players'? Why can't you just say boys?"
"Because if memory recalls correctly, you were a football player and you would always be cornering girls after you had too much to drink." She knew she made a good point. "I don't like Julie being put in that situation."
He hated when she was right. Why was she always right? "I don't either, but she's smart. She knows better."
The next few days proved to be challenging for Eric. First he forgot about Julie's dance recital until Tami reminded him, yet again. Then VooDoo shows up late to practice while the whole team watched him swagger onto the field. Eric did not like that! "Practice starts at 4:00." That punk of a kid acted like he didn't even hear him. Now, the radio personalities were treating this kid like a celebrity, with Buddy supporting it.
Tami found him pacing in the living room one morning, listening to Buddy's voice over the radio. She started pushing the buttons extra hard in frustration, wanting the radio off.
"What are you poundin' around about?"
"Nothing. It's just this guy."
"VooDoo?" She questioned.
"Well.." He continued pacing rubbing his forehead.
"Don't let VooDoo get into your mind, babe."
"I just have a bad feeling about this"
Tami nodded, understanding. He told her about the stunt he pulled at practice. "Well, you should play Matt Saracen."
"I wish I could play Matt Saracen. I can't play Matt Saracen." He took a seat in front of her at the kitchen counter, covering his face with his hands, attempting to rub the stress out.
"Why don't you just play him?"
"Because Matt Saracen is self-destructive."
Julie interrupted them, asking about some party that was supposed to be hosted in their home. Eric could see Tami slowly getting upset because he forgot to mention it. Once he gave the details to her regarding the date and amount of people, he had the nerve to say, "It's going to be a lot of fun."
Julie watched on in amusement, loving to see her father squirm. "I'm going to wait in the car.
Julie was out of earshot when Tami spoke. "You have to stop doing this to me."
"I'm sorry. I really am." He got up off the stool he was occupying and made his way toward her in the kitchen. He was still rubbing his head, remembering the predicament he was in.
"You know?" She said holding her coffee cup, "You are so stressed out right now, and that is not good for your image. The media will pounce if they see you like this."
"You're right." He leaned over to give her a kiss on the top of her head. "And I am sorry." He grabbed his briefcase, and walked toward the front door to meet Julie in the car.
They were both feeling a bit sorry for each other. "Shred the stress, babe. People are going to start thinking you're not getting laid." She meant it as a joke, but when she saw him turn back toward her, she continued. "And we both know that's not true."
She met him in the doorway of the kitchen, as he whispered afraid Julie would overhear. "If we go by last night, then that statement is completely true."
She gave him a look which he knew well. Their daughter came first.
"That couch hasn't seen the last of us."
At practice later that day, he watched Matt implode before his very eyes. He wanted so desperately for Matt to succeed. He didn't want to have to start VooDoo. He didn't want Matt to take himself out of the running. He hated seeing VooDoo laugh at Matt's mistakes. Teammates are supposed to build each other, help one another out. So were coaches.
Eric decided he needed to talk to Matt. Eric knew what this kid had on his plate, and needed encouragement. The last time they spoke one on one, Eric felt like he made a breakthrough. This kid was starting to trust him and as a coach, he needed to remind Matt of that.
"Son, you're a mess out there?" He started the conversation with honesty.
Matt didn't disagree. "Yes, sir." He looked at the ground, losing every bit of confidence he built over the past two weeks.
"You need to get more focused, son." He said it more forcefully.
"Yes, sir." He couldn't help but think of Julie at that moment. She was the reason he screwed up those two plays. Why did she have to come onto the field like that?
"Now, I know what's distracting you." He said sitting back a bit, taking a more relaxed stance.
"You do?" Matt asked, wondering how mad Coach was going to be at this moment. It was his only daughter.
"Yes, I do. And I'm going to tell you something. You can forget about VooDoo, you understand me? This is within your reach. But not if you don't attack the opportunity and I mean attack the opportunity. Every day. Every practice.
"Okay." Matt said, with a tone of relief in his voice.
Eric sat back, wondering how to broach the next part of this Matt chat. He knew this was likely another part of his problem. He wasn't an idiot. He heard the locker room talk. He knew what went on with his boys. He knew they often teased Matt that he struggled with girls because of his shyness. "You got a girlfriend?" This kid didn't have a father around so who else was he going to talk to about this.
"Uh, no." He stuttered. Where was he going with this? "No, sir."
Eric swayed his head back and forth, a little annoyed that he was going to have give more to get more. "Is there someone you're interested in?" He said it a bit slower, hoping Matt would catch up.
"Uh, yeah." He certainly wasn't going to disclose who if he didn't have to. "Sort of."
"Sort of? Well, forget 'sort of.' You know what? Take her out. You understand me?" Eric got the feeling he wasn't seeing the full picture.
"Sir?" He was confused. Did he know his feelings for Julie? Was he okay with him making a move on his daughter?
"Movies. Dinner. Get her in the back seat of your car. I don't care, whatever. But I'm telling you, you need to get loose out there. You're wound up tighter than a rubber band, son."
Matt's eyes widened. "Yes, sir." Clearly, he had no idea what he was talking about, Matt thought.
"Good. So, tomorrow, you come to practice loose and focused."
"Loose and focused." He agreed. "Yes, sir."
Why was he still standing there looking shocked? "Get out of here."
He knew it probably wasn't the best advice, but he knew it would work. This kid needed to clear himself out – mind and body – so he can fully concentrate on football. He needed this kid to focus. How hard could it be for the quarterback to get a date? He never had that problem in high school. He knew his performance on the field was always better after getting laid.
She knew he was drunk. He was always so verbose with her when he drank too much. It was Wednesday night and it was sort of a ritual. Everyone partied on Wednesdays because Thursdays were out of the question. Thursdays they rested to gear up for Friday night.
They were all hanging out at someone's house, throwing back beers and passing around some scotch. Scotch was Eric's favorite. Tami was sitting on the couch with Mo, who had his arms wrapped around her. She held her beer with one hand, as the other rested on Mo's forearm, lazily rubbing it back and forth.
She saw Eric talking to his rally girl, wishing she could hear their conversation. She turned to Mo, asking him his thoughts so she could get a glimpse inside Eric Taylor. "Eric's a mess right now. What do you think he is saying to her?"
"Not much, I bet. He never has to say too much." Mo said, taking a swig of his beer.
She watched as Eric put his hand on her shoulder, partially an action of endearment, partially to hold himself steady. Then she heard him laugh, admiring his smile. "Girls always throw themselves at him, huh?"
Mo spoke the truth. "They want him to settle. They think they will be the one." He lowered his lips to her ear, whispering. "They want what we have." Tami smiled, loving how committed Mo was to her. She gave him a kiss, not letting him get too carried away.
Mo was always the loud one, the life of the party. "Hey Taylor?" He pointed in the opposite direction. "There's some pretty ones in there."
She continued to watch Eric making his way into the kitchen. His confidence was almost appalling. It made her wonder how he got like that. He put his arm around one of the cheerleaders, whispering something that made her laugh. She then, whispered something back that surprised him. Tami saw his eyes widen, and he stumbled back a bit. Mo started to loosen his embrace and get up. "I'll be right back. He needs to sit down."
She watched as Mo charmed the group of girls, putting an arm around Eric and making them all laugh. She didn't know what he said, but she assumed it was something flirtatious. Mo always liked to flirt. Tami knew it made him feel secure. He needed to know he could still get other girls if he wanted to.
Mo ushered Eric to the chair adjacent to the couch Tami was occupying. As Eric not so gracefully fell into the chair, Mo gave Tami a wink. "I'll be right back. She watched as he made his way back into the kitchen, wondering what he was doing.
Eric broke Tami out of her thoughts when he spoke. "You look pretty tonight."
"You look drunk tonight."
"That's because I am." He laughed uncontrollably.
"How many girls did you tell that to tonight?"
"Lots" He smiled, as he surveyed the room. "There are lots of pretty and willing girls here tonight." He never had to be a perfect gentleman around her. He could be himself. He wasn't looking to score with Mo's girlfriend, and because of that, they became friends over the years.
"What exactly do you say to them? No girl ever walks away from an evening with you pissed off. I don't get how you juggle that."
"I'm honest."
"Honest?" How honest was he as he used these girls to get laid.
"Yeah."
She looked around the room, surveying the girls. She often did this with him, telling her who was worth the time and the energy. "You got your eye on someone tonight?"
"Maybe." He winked at her.
"You better start winking in someone else's direction."
He laughed and leaned forward to whisper something to her. He rested his forearms on his knees as he spoke. "I know you understand the importance of this"
"I do?" She questioned.
"Yup." He held her stare, feeling like her blue eyes were sobering him up. "I know all about your Thursday nights."
Tami blushed a bit, before regaining some composure. She and Mo always had sex on Thursday nights. He, like Eric did not like going into a Friday night game without some sort of release, "What about them?"
"Locker room talk. That's all you get it. You understand my needs."
"Locker room talk huh?" She asked. He nodded and leaned back in his chair, almost satisfied with the information he let loose. It was Tami who uncrossed her legs and leaned forward toward him. "You know, you boys aren't the only ones who talk Eric."
She knew she struck a nerve as she saw some color drain from his face. "Anything you care to share?" He dared her.
"Not today. No. But, the details of your night with Ally definitely caught me by surprise." As her words flowed, Eric realized he was definitely sober now. "I didn't think you had it in you, Eric. You would not believe how much more in detail girl talk is compared to locker room talk. Girls tell each other everything, Taylor."
"Everything?"
She got up, wanting to rescue Mo from the gaggle of cheerleaders that surrounded him. Really, she needed to get away from Eric.
Tami was frustrated. He knew it from the angry looks she threw his way during the entire football party. Eric admitted he threw a lot at her. He also didn't expect the party to be this chaotic. Sixty-ish quickly turned into one hundred and Tami's level of anger rose every time the doorbell rang. She shot dirty looks in his direction like daggers in a medieval storming. They argued underneath the table when he realized she was hiding. They said things they would both later regret. He made mention of the fact that he needed her to get up and host, as if she hadn't done enough already. She told him how much she hated being the wife of a Panther's coach, although deep down, she didn't mean it.
All of their anger dissipated the second that brick was thrown through their living room window. This rivalry week was taken to a level that he wasn't even aware existed. He loved football more than anything. Almost anything. He loved his family more. The fact that football was endangering the safety of his wife and daughter was unacceptable. It was a game. It was a sport he loved, but where did he need to draw the line?
After he finished cleaning up, he started toward their bedroom, wanting desperately to crawl into bed and let sleep take over his body. He knew Tami was done. Physically and Emotionally. He expected her to leave him with the cleanup. He pulled the covers back and saw Tami roll over away from him. That was a huge red flag for him. He knew Tami didn't want to hear it. He knew that brick was her final straw – her breaking point. He wanted to tell her how scared that brick made him. He knew now was not the time.
The next day, he popped by Tami's office. He needed to talk to her. He wanted to make her understand. He sat outside waiting patiently as Tami paid attention to someone else. He played with his hat in his hands while she wrapped things up. As she appeared in the doorway, he stood up and smiled. There was another student waiting to see her, but he didn't care.
"Hey. I'm next."
"What are you doing here?"
He ignored her question. "It's very uncomfortable sitting out there." He shut the door behind her as she took a seat. "I'm sorry that you're mad at me."
She pursed her lips as she stared out the window, trying to gather her thoughts. "Hmm…I don't…I'm sorry….I'm not sure that that counts as an apology. I'm sorry that you're mad at me?" She questioned. "I'm not sure that actually is officially an apology. Do you know what I'm saying?"
"Alright. Come on." He started to plead. "You know what I got going on out there. I've got a very stressful job."
"You know what? Everybody's got a stressful job." She wasn't buying it.
"Alright. Yeah, but…."
"What? You don't think I have a stressful job?" She challenged.
"No. I'm not saying that. I'm just saying…."
She interrupted him again. "You know what? You know what I would love? I would love for you to try and talk to a bunch of confused kids who are hopped up on hormones and anxiety and stress."
He leaned back, leaving one arm balanced on one of his legs, taking more of a defensive position. He knew she was just getting started and there was no way he was going to win her over. He half listened as she went on. "Not just bark at them or tell them where they have to carry the ball for the next 30 seconds. But just to really sit down and talk to them.
"Okay." He nodded, getting ready to stand up. He was ready to admit to loss of this battle.
"No. Seriously. You sit down and you do that and then you can come back to me."
She got up because she was done. She opened the door, stood against the frame and ushered him out. "Next?" She called the student sitting out there.
Eric walked out with his head down, raising his eyes toward the student going in. "Watch out. She's a little pissed off this afternoon.
The truth was, that was the Tami he loved. The one that stood up to him and gave him a fight every once in a while. He loved that she never backed down easily. That was one of her most sexy qualities. They never had a passive relationship. They were both stubborn. They were both passionate.
Tami was not that way with Mo. Eric always thought Tami was always way too patient with him. When he started having feelings for Tami, he started challenging the way she was. "Why do you let him get away with that?"
Eric always told Tami she was a strong personality. "I love how you fight for things you believe in. I love how you don't back down." He told her once. She said she drew her strength from him, but he knew it was partially because of Mo.
Mo had hurt her so badly and instead of wallowing in it like most, she picked herself up and dusted herself off. She vouched to be better, smarter and tougher in her next relationship. She didn't expect Eric to knock those walls down at that time. "One day, those puppy dog eyes are not going to work. And when that day comes, you and I are going to have a tough time." She threatened once, after they bickered about something not so important now.
"I pray that day never comes."
But maybe today was that day. After years and years of marriage, Tami didn't give in so easily. She held her ground. She was different than most of the men's wives he knew. She stood out and people admired her. People admired him for having her for his own. He knew that.
He was in his office when he got a call from Matt. He was at the police station and needed to be picked up. This boy probably never asked for help a day in his life and he called him. Eric thought about Tami for second knowing he was skating on thin ice with her at the moment. But one of his boys needed him and she knew she would understand. She had to.
He dialed her cell phone.
"Hey, babe."
"Eric, I don't want to hear it. All you have to do is walk from your office up the stairs to the gymnasium."
"Saracen called and needs me to pick him up."
"Eric, I swear. You are pushing me to the limit this week."
"Tami, I can't just ignore…."
"Fine. Just go. You better not miss Julie on stage, Eric. I mean it."
"I love you." He said, meaning it more than she would ever know at that moment.
When he arrived at the hospital, Eric looked Matt over and felt immediate sorrow that, for even a split second, he thought about not being there for this kid.
"Thank you, sir." Matt said as Eric signed some release forms.
"I wouldn't get too excited. You and I are going to a dance recital." He thought about the timing on the way, but if he took Matt all the way home, he would never make it back to catch Julie on stage. Matt was just going to have to deal with it.
In the car, Eric started the conversation. He started with the obvious. "You want to tell me what happened?"
"Some of the Tigers' players wanted to know who trashed the QB's car."
"Why would they think you'd know about that?" He would have never guessed Saracen would have been involved. Riggins, yes. Smash, yes.
"Because I was there."
Eric had to ask, in fear this rivalry was going to never stop. "Did you name names?"
"No, sir. And with all due respect, still won't." He felt bad about a few things right now and not proud of himself. He imagined Coach was not proud of him either. "Look, I 'm sorry I put you on the spot the other night asking you about who you were going to start. It just seems the whole town wants you to make Tatum QB1. It even feels like my dad expects that." That statement pulled at Eric's heartstrings. How can his father not be proud of this kid? He works hard, he gets good grades, takes care of his grandmother and plays football. What more can this man expect from this kid?
"Listen, let me tell you something. Your dad is not able to see what I see. You're a different kid than you were two weeks ago."
"I am?"
"You are! You may have been happy sitting on the bench, letting Jason take the pressure…I don't know….I don't need to know. But I tell you what. I am a firm believer in you can do anything you put your mind to. And yourself? You? I believe you can do anything you put your mind to." Eric was looking at the road, but trying to catch Matt's eyes as well, making sure he was listening. Really listening.
"You really believe that sir?" Matt didn't know why Coach was saying these things to him, but it was nice to hear. For once, someone believed in him. It was nice to get the approval he felt like he has been searching for over the past few years.
"I do."
"Thanks for coming to get me."
"You're welcome."
As they drove the rest of the way back to the school, Eric now understood Matt's confidence issues. He never had that positive male influence in his life. He never had the support of a male role model. Matt was shy and unsure of himself all the time. He and Matt were so very different that way. Eric always had confidence. His father built him up in every way. His father always believed in him At times, it may have been a little too much, but Eric never had to question his father's love. Eric knew his father always believed in him. Matt had none of that. It made him want to help this kid even more.
When they arrived at the school, and he spotted Tami about 10 rows back from the stage, he started making his way down that aisle. The great part about being married for so long was that they could have an entire conversation with their eyes.
His started with an apologetic look for being late and dragging Matt with him.
Hers were questioning, wondering what took so long and why Matt was here. Then she saw Matt's face. "What happened?" Those words came out loud.
His eyes said not to ask any questions and that he would explain later.
Her eyes softened, feeling sorry for whatever did happen to Matt or her husband. She grabbed his hand, her anger relenting a bit.
After Julie's dance, they waited for a few more acts to go on before the show was over. Matt excused himself to the bathroom while Tami and Eric filed out of their row. "I want to talk to you. Let's go somewhere a little quiet." He held a serious tone, and it scared her a bit.
He led her backstage where all the dancers had cleared out. He led her to where the materials for sets to be built were stacked. He turned her around to face him, removed his hands from her shoulders and placed them on his hips. He stared into her eyes as he spoke. "I was wrong. Alright? I was wrong." He bowed his head, took a brief look at his shoes.
"Well, of course you were wrong." She said softly, not as mad as she was a few hours prior. She tightened her grip on the dance recital program as she continued. "I mean, you gave me no advance warning. And you just assume…"
He cut her off. "No! Not about that." "Listen…" He leaned closer, placing one hand on the fake wooden staircase she was leaning against. "…I'm just….What I'm saying is…" He looked down at his shoes once again trying to formulate the words. After taking a moment to gather himself, he spoke again. "I know how hard it is what you do. I know it's not easy talking to those kids. I know it's difficult. And I know my job has put you through a hell of a lot. I understand that. "She smiled slightly, but he felt the need to keep going. "I just want to make sure you knew that I'm thankful for everything that you do. And I know you do a hell of a lot."
"Thank you." She said, completely softening. How could she not? He finally understood her anger. He understood where she was coming from and that was all she wanted. She wanted some recognition.
"Friends?" He asked, wanting to be out of the dog house
She giggled at him, but gave no response.
He took her hand and shook it as he moved his body closer. "Friends?" He asked again.
Her smile widened as she nodded, welcoming the closeness between them. He barely got out the next "Friends?" He captured her lips, loving how familiar she felt. "Friends?" He said again, parting his lips and leaning in further. He covered her body with his as he moved his hands to cover the top of her head. He teased her for a second, pushing his groin into hers, letting her know he was definitely aroused.
She pulled back from him, stared deep into his eyes and said "Friends." She gave him a quick kiss to seal the peace treaty. "We better get back out there. I want to make sure Julie is not looking for us."
He held her hand and tugged at it slightly so she would stop walking for a second. "Can we please finish this later? I really would like to fool around with you later."
When they mixed themselves amongst a crowd of proud friends and family, he thought back to Matt. He wondered if his dad had ever even seen him play football. He was shook from his thoughts as he spotted Julie. To be clearer, he spotted Julie with Matt, making her laugh. His mind started to race. How can he want to build this kid up one minute and tear him to shreds the next? Why was he that close to Julie?
Tami noticed the tightening in his muscles as he rubbed a hand across his face. 'What?" she asked. He looked back to where Matt and Julie were, watching them for another second before moving his hand to cover his mouth. "What?" She said, her tone more concerned. The entire conversation he had with Matt played through his mind. The conversation he had about girls and what he told Matt to do with those girls. Why was he talking to his girl? "What? What?" Tami asked again.
"I think I told that kid to get our daughter in the backseat of a car."
"What? Why would you do that?"
Julie came bouncing over, and they both knew their conversation would have to wait. As Eric embraced his daughter, telling her how proud he was of her, his eyes didn't shift from Matt. It was starting to all fit together. He now understood why Matt was so uncomfortable in his office. He did not want this to happen. He did not want his daughter's name even whispered in his locker room.
Tami and Julie dropped Matt home, while Eric gathered his things from his office. They arrived home within minutes of each other. Julie was already in her room for the night, as Eric went in search for Tami. He found her in their bedroom, washing her face and getting ready for bed.
She saw his reflection in the mirror and spun to face him. She looked at him expectantly.
"Is there something going on with Julie and Matt?" He asked her.
"I have no idea, but since you're the one with all the answers, maybe you should start talking."
He thought about how to word his thought process without completely agitating her to the point of no return. He spoke slowly and deliberately. "If that kid touches her, I am going to kill him." That's really not what he wanted to start out with. Images of Julie in the back seat of some old dilapidated car, with Matt on top of her drove him crazy. He didn't want his daughter being taken advantage of by some kid, let alone one of his boys he actually liked.
"Right now, you need to tell me what kind of advice you have been dispensing to your players."
"Tami, try to think back when we were young." That was what Eric did when he spoke to Matt. He didn't take into account his daughter would be any art of his equation. "Matt has been so tense out on the field. He can't seem to zone in and focus."
"So, what?" Tami knew where he was going with this, but it all didn't fit together. She knew how protective Eric was of Julie. "You tell him to use our daughter like you used the countless amount of rally girls and cheerleaders before Friday night games?"
"No! Of course not!"
"Then what, Eric?"
"Well, I didn't even think of Julie when….."
"You didn't think at all."
"Listen, you don't know what goes on in that locker room. You talk to kids one way and I talk to them another. I relate to them differently."
'Why? Because you only threw the ball better if you had a blowjob the night before?"
Eric smirked. He couldn't help it, but he loved when Tami talked dirty like that. Plus, he knew the answer to her question was a resounding yes. Not that he wanted to think about it, but she had to remember her nights with Mo. She had to remember the nights with him during their college years.
Many years of marriage had given him the intelligence to not answer that with a 'yes.' "You know the true answer to that. "
She tried to hold back a smirk herself, but was a little unsuccessful.
He continued. "I wasn't telling Matt to be reckless and treat any young lady with disrespect. That kid has so much on his plate. I asked him if he had a girlfriend, told him to take her out. Yeah, the backseat of the car comment, I should have refrained from." His thoughts shifted. "But then he called me. He trusts me. He relied on me when he probably has never relied on anybody before a day I his life."
Tami got up from where sitting, walking over to where he was standing. "It feels good, doesn't it?"
"Yeah." He simply stated. "You remember how tough my father was on me during my high school and college years?"
"Everyone knew how tough he was on you." Tami could remember hearing his father screaming at those games. It was mixture of positive and negative swirling around because he almost wanted it more than Eric.
"Well, this kid doesn't have one ounce of that. He has no support whatsoever."
"I love that you care about him so much." She said, giving him a slow, sweet peck on the lips.
"I was so angry that he was talking to Julie tonight, but you know what? He trusts me so, I have to trust him." He leaned in this time to kiss her. It was soft and quick, not sure where this was heading.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and initiated the next kiss. This one was little more desperate. He placed a hand on the back of her head, urging her to deepen the kiss. He open his mouth, waiting for her tongue to mesh with his. When she didn't engage, he knew she might have been feeling a bit insecure about the girls that were brought up earlier.
"You know, when we were in high school, all those girls meant nothing …"
She cut him off. "I know that. We were kids."
"That release I craved, was for just the release. Not for who helped me with the release." He lovingly kissed her again. "When we were in college, I wanted to be with you all the time. I wanted to make love to you all the time. My mind was always on you. I needed to give myself to you all those times because otherwise I would have been always thinking of you while I was playing. I would have gotten killed out there." He smiled, cupping her face, kissing her again.
She raised her hands to hold his, while he still cupped her face. "Eric, those girls weren't with you just because you were a football player. You are very attractive and you never really knew that. And now, women look at you, stare at you, gawk at you and you are clueless. And that makes you even more attractive to me." She kissed him, opening her mouth this time, letting his tongue find hers. He started walked her back toward the bed. She stopped when she felt the mattress hit the back of her knees, not wanting to fall backwards and make this easy for him.
"I only need to look at what is right in front of me. My eyes are clear and my heart is full. I will always stay focused right here." He held his stare a little longer, making sure she understood the weight of those words. He melted her, and she fell onto the bed, pulling him down with her.
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