Page 13 of Off Side
DREW
Iget to the lobby, and Sam hasn’t arrived yet. This was good. It gives me time to get my thoughts gathered and focus on the meeting. Becky’s information could take a back seat for now.
I hear the clicking of heels and see Sam approaching. I give her an honest to goodness beaming smile. I truly feel happy seeing her and she is such a breath of fresh air in this place. I am mildly surprised to see her smile back at me just as genuinely. It makes me all kinds of gooey to know that smile is aimed at me.
Get a grip, Drew, still just house mates and maybe friends because women are too much work, remember? Ah, but when someone like Sam walks into your life it’s easy to forget all the things you don’t like about relationships. It’s easy to remember the good things like sex. Sex that wasn’t a monogamous relationship with my right hand and lube because that was getting real old real fast. My dick twitched at the idea of sex with someone other than myself and my imagination. I had to switch to unsexy thoughts real fast before I had an epic hard on in front of her.
“How did the meeting with the coaches go?”
“As good as expected, I guess. Nixon is a sweetheart and Michael seems like a grumpy goat, but I think I can make it work.”
I laughed loud. “A grumpy goat! Don’t let him hear that or you may never get on his good side. The man can hold a grudge forever. He’s a good coach though, that’s why he’s still here.”
“I will take that into consideration. Ready to get to this meeting with Mr. Burns?”
“Absolutely ready. Let’s find out the rest of the pieces to Tom’s puzzle so we can get on with it.”
In a totally uncharacteristic move for me, I offer Sam my hand as we turn to leave the rink. I want to show her I’m here for support, that I am here for whatever she needs to get through all this.
My heart leapt when she actually took my hand. I stumbled at both the shock of her taking my hand and me offering it to begin with, but I recover and tighten my grip as we begin the journey over to the lawyer’s office to find out our fate.
SAM
When Drew offered me his hand while flashing his boyish grin, I knew I wouldn’t be able to resist him forever. He seems so perfect to me, it’s only a matter a time before I truly would let my guard down. Even though he was a bigger ass than my donkey when we first met, I feel like I haven’t seen all his sides yet and he’s already extremely protective of me. That thought alone makes my body heat up. I may be an assertive tiny woman, but a man willing to be my protector and stand up for me is the ultimate aphrodisiac. I clasped his hand tightly, but didn’t look at him as we walked to his truck.
He opens the passenger door for me and helps me up. Another gesture I wasn’t expecting. The lack of running boards make it difficult for me, but I can still manage okay. Chivalry was appreciated though; I wasn’t that big of a bitch that I would turn down the help of an attractive man, especially when his help was coming from his heart.
“The office isn’t far from here, right?” I ask once we are all buckled in and pulling out of the lot.
“No, it should only take us ten minutes or so to get there if the traffic stays like this.”
Ten more minutes and we would know what my grandpa had up his sleeve. Ten more minutes and I was either going to be elated or devastated. I really didn’t know how to feel or what to expect since all this was so very strange. My dad didn’t even know anything about this. Only the lawyer was aware.
My heart was beating so hard, it felt like I had an invisible alien inside me scrambling to get out. I bounced my knee faster and tried to inhale deep breaths to calm myself. I attempted to visualize the calm blue ocean to stop my mind from racing. I was on the verge of a panic attack I hoped would stay away until we got home and I could hide in my room. My breaths were coming faster instead of deeper and I was feeling myself unravel. I didn’t want Drew to see me like this.
I feel a large hand on my bouncing knee and jolt from the shock of it. At some point we had pulled into a parking lot and I hadn’t noticed. I had my eyes closed and was concentrating so hard on not breaking down I forgot where I was. I turn my head to see Drew looking at me with concerned eyes.
“Sam, are you okay? Are you having a panic or anxiety attack? Can I help at all?”
If only everyone I ever met could comfort me when this happened. I couldn’t croak out any words as I continued to hyperventilate. I simply nodded yes. His thumb stroked in soft circles on my knee and he spoke in a firm but soothing voice.
“Sam, just concentrate on the pattern I’m making on your knee. Take a big deep breath and close your eyes. Good, baby, keep doing that. Think of something fun and happy like your first time scoring a goal.”
“Jack.” I blurted out while continuing to breath deep. I visualized my ridiculous donkey doing his crazy things that make me laugh. I give a little chuckle out loud.
“Tell me what you see Jack doing that made you laugh, Sam.” Drew’s voice is soothing and his thumb is still tracing its pattern.
“Have you ever seen his dance? I call it the donkey dance. Sometimes when you give him a carrot or an apple before the horses, he runs around with it and it’s like he’s showing off to them. He does this half trot, half jump thing and it’s hilarious.” I smile at the memory and open my eyes.
I’m coming down from my panic cliff, my breathing is almost normal and Drew is still holding my knee and lightly caressing it. I turn to him meaning to smile and thank him, but what I see takes my breath away and I stop breathing all together.
Too many emotions are playing on his face. I can see concern and worry but there’s something else. Too soon for love, but maybe hope? I have never seen a look that said both, I want to eat you alive and I’m so glad I’m here for you, at the same time. It overwhelms me so much a sob escapes me. At the sound of my sob, he quickly leans over and unbuckles my seatbelt, taking me into his arms as much as he can in the awkward space of his truck’s front seat. He hugs me hard then leans back, tucking a stray piece of my hair behind my ear as he looks at me. I feel like I’m drowning in his brown eyes. I feel overwhelmed, safe, and terrified all at once. I take one of his hands and squeeze it.
“Thank you for that. I don’t know how you did it, but I don’t think I can ever tell you how much that means to me.”
“I’m no stranger to panic and anxiety, and even depression, Sam. Remember, it’s kind of what I do.”
He smiles and gently slides a hand along my cheek, brushing his thumb there.
