Coach Stanton saw I was getting a bit uneasy with all of the attention, so he leaned back into his microphone and took control of the meeting. I got up quietly and slipped off the stage as Coach continued to answer questions. I made my way out of the locker room area, out of the tunnel that led to the player's parking lot. Before I was even close to the exit, it was obvious the amount of fans that had gathered. As soon as I exited, I could hear my named being yelled over and over. I set my bag down and began to sign autograph's, one by one an assorted array of items being handed to me. I took each one, signed it quickly without looking up, handing it back, only to receive another. As I was signing a plastic drinking cup from the stadium, I heard a woman's voice right in front of me.
"I love you Brian, will you marry me ?", was the comment.
I looked up to see a very attractive young woman, maybe in her mid twenties holding a full size San Diego helmet in her hand, She extended the helmet to me, with a smile.
"Must be my day, I make a lucky catch, then a beautiful woman wants to marry me.", I laughed.
I signed the helmet handing it back to her, she thanked me, then snapped a picture with her phone. I signed a few more autograph's then finally made my way to the parking lot. I pulled out, on to the highway, then headed home. It was maybe about seven o'clock in the evening when I got home, I was beat. I climbed the stairs to the condo, pulled out my keys, beginning to unlock the door.
"Hey Brian, I saw the end of the game. What a catch."
I turned and looked over my shoulder, Alexis was standing in the doorway of her unit. Apparently she had heard me pass her door just seconds ago.
"Oh thanks Alexis, right place, right time.", I answered.
"Hey after you get settled, why don't you come over, have a glass of wine or something ?", she asked.
"Sure, why not. Be over in a bit.", I responded.
I went inside, unpacked my bag, and tossed the laundry into the hamper. I quickly checked email, I had one message from Coach Mike back home, congratulating me on the catch. I replied to him quickly, then made my way over to Alexis' place. I knocked softly on the door, she opened it quickly.
I stepped in, she closed the door behind me. As I looked around, it was immediately apparent, we had the same floor plan. But I could also tell right way, Alexis had worked very hard on her condo, it was beautifully decorated. She offered me a seat on the large, beige sectional sofa against one wall. She quickly asked if I wanted a glass of wine, she either several to choose from.
"I'm not much of a drinker, do you have any kind of juice maybe ?", I asked.
"How about orange juice ?", she replied.
"That would be great.", I answered.
She turned and walked over to the kitchen, pouring my juice, her a glass of wine. She was wearing a pair of very short cotton shorts, with a large tee shirt, at least two sizes too big covering them. I just couldn't help but noticed her legs, especially her thighs. They looked smooth and silky, but extremely firm and strong. I made sure to look away as she returned to the room.
We sat and talked for a while, she wanted a play by play recount of the game, even though she had apparently watched it. As we talked, she asked me about how my visit had went, the one I had called her about. I recalled to her my meeting with Bryan and his parents, my promise to him, and the fact that I was going to go back sometime this week. She reached over and grabbed my hand softly in hers, her face warm and glowing.
"You're a good man Brian, I know I haven't known you long, but it's not hard to see.", she told me softly.
I felt electricity shoot through my body, a result of this gorgeous woman's hand resting on mine. She must have sensed something from my reaction, she pulled back slowly and leaned back into the sofa.
"Thank's Alexis, that's nice of you to say.", I answered.
She asked me when I though I might go back and try to see my new little fan Bryan. I told her I was thinking of Tuesday evening, being it was my day off. She mentioned, if I didn't mind of course, she might like to accompany me there. I assured her I didn't mind, I promised to call her when I had more details.
We had our standard meetings Monday , followed by game film, medical treatment for the player's banged up, workouts for those who were not. I left the facility sometime around two, stopping on the way home to get groceries. On my way into the grocery store, I passed a newspaper machine, the front page was visible through the window. At the top of the page were the headlines "ROOKIE REAPS REWARDS", with a picture of me making the catch in yesterday's game. I had to smile thinking of what my Dad would say, if he could see that. I made a note, to buy a few on the way back out, send them back home. As was customary, I spent way too much time trying to find things in the store, but eventually I made my way to the check out lines. As I was standing behind the person checking out, I was placing my items on the conveyor. A older man in the aisle over leaned forward and spoke to me.
"That was quite a catch yesterday son, I can't tell you the last time I enjoyed a game as much as that one.", he said.
"Thank you sir.", I answered.
As I stepped up to the register, the young woman looked up at me a smile on her face.
"You're number eighty nine ? Brian….ummmm…..", she asked.
"Stevens, yes mam I am.", I laughed.
"Oh sorry…..", she giggled, "I saw the game, that was awesome."
"Thanks.", I said, still putting items on the conveyor.
I finished up, grabbed a few newspapers, then loaded my car with the items. I made my home, unloaded the groceries, then sat down and relaxed in front of the TV with a sandwich. Sometime around seven o'clock, I called Ashley, I knew she should already be home.
It took a few rings, but she finally answered.
"Hey Ashley, how are you ?", I asked.
"Hey hotshot, I'm ok I guess. I saw the game Sunday, you were fabulous.", she replied.
"Thanks, but it was more luck than anything.", I responded.
We talked for a while, catching up on each others lives. Toward the end of the conversation, she mentioned to me that she and David had quit seeing each other. I think she was waiting for me to make some kind of comment that I was glad, but I wasn't about to do that.
"I'm sorry to hear that Ash.", I told her.
"How about you, seeing anyone up there ?", she asked.
"No, it's been all business since I arrived, haven't had time for much else.", I answered.
We finished up our talk, Ashley did mention that she would like to possibly fly out to see me during her Christmas break from school. I told her that sounded like a great idea and to let me know so we could make arrangements. I spent the rest of the evening watching TV, I went to bed about nine o'clock that night.
I woke early in the morning, drove down to the practice facility and got in my work out. I went back to the locker room area, making my way to my cubicle. I began shuffling through the boxes at the bottom of my locker. I found a new pair of receiver's gloves, and a skull cap in the team's colors with the team logo on it. I put the two items in my bag, closed my locker and started to make my way out of the facility.
Although we were only issued four game jersey's, two home and two away, the same with pants, gloves, caps, socks, tee shirts and cleats were given to us in case lots of twelve. I had at least a dozen pairs of cleats and probably twice that many pair of gloves in my locker. As soon as they began to run low, the equipment manager replenished them.
I left the facility and made my way back to the condo, I arrived home a bit after ten o'clock. I called Bryan's father on the phone, making sure it was alright with him that I stop by and see his son. He informed me that both he and his wife had a meeting right after work at the bank, but that I was more than welcome to go there at five, he would make a call to the nurses at the station, telling them to admit me. I thanked him and hung up.