I drove back to our complex, and we arrived a little after eleven. Alexis asked me in for coffee, I followed her into her unit, sitting down on the sofa. She started a pot of coffee, then excused herself to change into something a little more comfortable. I told her that sounded good so I headed to my place to do the same. I grabbed a pair of nylon shorts, a tee shirt, threw them on and returned to Alexis' unit. She was already seated on the sofa drinking a cup of coffee, mine was on the table. She had on a jade colored silk robe that was maybe mid thigh long, I had no idea what else. I sat down beside her, picked up my cup of coffee and leaned back.
"Brian, thanks for a great evening, I really enjoyed it.", she stated, "in fact it's been a really wonderful day."
"Yes it has.", I replied.
We talked briefly about starting practice again next week, the bye being over, the next game was a week away. We were still unbeaten, therefore emotions in the city were running higher than normal. It's amazing how a winning team can make people push aside their personal problems for just a while, and make them feel good. I was having a much better year then I did as a rookie, I would be in my option year next year. Basically that meant that if the team so desired they could offer me a long term deal next year and I would never become a free agent. Finally Alexis managed to change the subject, I was thankful.
"Can I ask you a question Brian ?", she inquired in a low soft voice.
"Sure.", I replied, quickly.
"What's going through your mind right now about me ?", she asked.
"What do you mean ?", I replied, not quite sure what she meant.
"I don't really know how to say this without maybe sounding like a bitch, trust me that's not how I feel. But since you know my short history with men, I am still kind of concerned. How do I say this...",
she started, then paused.
"Just say it, be honest.", I urged.
"Well you were quite honest with me about your past, I know that wasn't easy for you to do. Things between us…..well they seem too good to be true so far…..but what I am worried about is….", she continued.
"Alexis, just tell me what's bothering you ?", I quickly answered.
"God I hope this doesn't come out wrong….. Here goes….. If Ashley called you tomorrow and told you she had changed her mind, she wanted to be with you right now for good, what would you do ?", she finally finished, looking down nervously.
"Wow, I never saw that coming.", I laughed.
"I'm dead serious Brian. I couldn't handle falling for you, then something happens and you go back to her.", she said, for the first time since I had met her, really appearing vulnerable.
"Then all I can do is be as honest with you as I can right now.", I answered, looking deep into those incredible light green eyes of hers, "Since I kissed you here on this sofa two nights ago, I haven't thought of Ashley once, until you just mentioned her name."
"That makes me feel a little better.", she said, smiling back.
I was hoping maybe Alexis was beginning to open up to me somewhat, but it was apparent she still had deep reservations about any type of serious relationship. I decided the best thing to do was once again try and be patient.
"It's getting late, it's been a long day. Let's call it a night, we can talk later. Gives us both more time to think about everything.", I offered.
"Noooooo.", she shot back, "Please, I don't want you to be upset with me."
She reached over and took my hand in hers, pulling it to her chest. I could tell she was sincere in what she had said.
"Alexis, I'm not upset with you, I have no reason to be. I had a wonderful day with an incredibly beautiful woman, why would I be upset ?", I answered.
"You always know just the right thing to say.", she replied, leaning over kissing the top of my hand.
I leaned over giving her a quick kiss on the lips, then stood up heading for the door.
"You sleep well, we will talk soon.", I told her,"Goodnight."
I ran errands, went grocery shopping on Sunday morning, I was in the checkout line when Alexis called me. She was going to the large mall across town and wanted to see if I would take a ride. I told her it would be at least two hours before I was finished and back. She thanked me, told me she would go alone and call me when she arrived back home. For some reason, either I missed the call, or it never came but the next thing I knew my alarm was going off, I was due at practice in ninety minutes.
We watched film early Monday morning, then had our unit meetings with our respective coordinators. I then worked out for two hours in the weight room, showered then went upstairs to meet Josh for more film. We were playing Baltimore this week, one of the best defenses in the league, we would be tested. To Coach Cullen's credit, he didn't change a thing about the game plan, we were going to attack them from the first offensive possession. We added a few new wrinkles as we did every week, but basically the game plan was business as usual. We flew out Friday afternoon arriving late Friday night, going directly to the hotel. We worked out once Saturday on their home field, then went back to the hotel. Some of the guys decided to go out for a few hours, I passed, deciding to just relax in my room.
We arrived at the stadium about nine o'clock in the morning, most of us going out on the field and stretching, starting to warm up. After a warm up period I played pitch and catch with Josh and the other receivers. The Baltimore team was beginning to fill up the other end of the field warming up as well. Sometime about ten thirty we all headed back to the locker room, the trainers began taping everyone up. I was suited and ready to go by quarter after eleven, sitting quietly in the corner.
The game started out slow, both teams blowing their opening possession with miscues. On our second possession we began to heat up moving the ball in large chunks of real estate, quickly finding ourselves on their thirty five yard line. Our substitution packages were beginning to disrupt the continuity of their defensive play calling.
"Dual left, trips motion left, power right, swing check on three.", Josh barked.
We lined up with two receivers on the left, one to the right. I was lined on the right side as well. Once Josh started cadence, the lone receiver went in motion toward the left overloading that side, leaving me as the only receiver on that side. I would run an out pattern based on the depth of the defender, I was the primary target. If I was covered, the rookie would swing out of the backfield on my side looking for a dump off pass. Usually we would see defenses shift to a Tampa Two when they saw this package, I would be covered up by a linebacker. Instead though they stayed in a standard two over formation, passing the running back coverage to the linebacker. Josh immediately saw this deadly error. No way any linebacker in the league could cover our rookie, Scott Douglas.
"Forty seven power, Forty seven power, Slam, Slam , Slam", Josh barked, dropping into the shotgun formation.
He had checked down to the fourth option, he would be looking for Scott on the swing route out of the backfield. I would feign my out route, then come back to the middle, looking for a crack back block on that linebacker. The ball was snapped, I drove up the field five yards then cut out to the sidelines, taking the cornerback with me. I was close to three yards from the stripes when Scott swung out of the backfield, he caught the linebacker flat footed. I immediately headed straight to where I knew the ball would be thrown. The linebacker was accelerating trying to catch Scott as Josh lofted him the ball. He pulled it in effortlessly and turned to head up the field. I had timed the crack back perfectly arriving just seconds ahead of Scott, the linebacker never saw me. I was able to get my head and shoulder in front of his torso before all two hundred sixty pounds of me slammed into him, taking both of us off our feet. It was the most violent hit I had ever been involved in. I felt a sharp pain in my right shoulder and neck area, then wrapped around my back.