Linda hummed happily. "We're on, for sure. So… minicamp, huh?"
Brutus sighed. "Yeah, Coach Pugh's old school—two minicamps per year. This first one's just for veterans, seeing who's at what position, where we need help."
"But won't that just blow up whatever images he comes out of this minicamp with?" Linda asked him. "So what can he get from minicamp that he can't get from just, I don't know, looking at a chart on the wall?"
"Honestly?" Brutus asked.
On the other end of the line Linda hummed. She hummed a lot, and he'd come to learn what each of those hums meant.
"I think it's to allow him to get an eval of people's mindsets. Sure, there's a ton of time between now and the start of the preseason. And people's minds change, a motivated guy could lose his fire and vice versa. Contract issues could spoil a dude's motivation, or light a fire under his ass. But it lets him see the minds of the team. I know I've done the same. As the captain of the defense, I take the opportunity to talk with our coaches after minicamp, give them an insight into what I'm seeing from the guys as we get ready for training camp and next season."
"That's a tough call, only three days and then making calls that can affect someone's career."
Brutus chuckled, and stopped walking to shake out his ankle. "As Major Kirk would say, that's why I get paid the big bucks."
On the other end of the line Linda laughed.
He continued. "On the good side, I'll be able to stay in touch during minicamp. As a veteran and a team captain, I can drive in to the team facilities each day."
"You don't have to," Linda said. "Isn't there a place you can get better rest?"
"Well, I could sleep in the stadium like some players do, but I'd rather come home and be able to talk to you. Just a reminder, for main summer camp though, I'm going to be in lockdown in a hotel for the first three weeks."
It felt strange and wonderful to Brutus to be talking about summer training camp with Linda. To know that he was even considering their relationship lasting until late July told him just how fast he was starting to think of Linda as something very serious.
And hearing the happy sound she made in her throat when he told her that he wanted to come home to speak to her told him she thought very much the same way, and that she liked the idea. When she laughed, his heart lifted, and he knew that his workout that afternoon was going to be all the better because of it.
"So you'll be in boot camp then, huh?"
Brutus laughed along with her, looking up at the blue Virginia sky. "I think I can handle it. I've done it plenty of times before, and besides, now I've got some extra special experience in what a real tough camp's like."
"So does that mean I get to wear those short coaching shorts and blow on a whistle for you?" she purred.
Brutus gulped, inhaling deeply.
Linda heard. "Oh, like that idea?"
"Now? Yes. But let's wait until after camp," Brutus said. "I really, really don't want to have any incorrect thoughts about my coaches in the middle of camp."
"Hmmm… I think I can do that," Linda said. "As long as you're here right at oh nine hundred Saturday morning."
"A timeline, huh? Why's that?" Brutus asked. "Everyone knows where you're spending your weekends. Or do you have other plans for the day that I should know about?"
"I'm actually quite proud of spending my weekends with you. But I still like showing off my stud boyfriend in front of the National Guard bubbas who have to come in for the weekend," Linda said before clearing her throat. "But speaking of work, my watch just beeped, I need to get back. Call me after your afternoon workout?"
"I will," Brutus promised her. "Thanks for this call, babe."
"Uhm… can we make it a video call, too?" Linda asked shyly. "I miss seeing your face, even if it's only been a few days."
Brutus nodded, wondering if their video call might go other places as well. "Deal. Then let's make it after dinner, so that you can refuel after a hard day's work. Hopefully its better than spicy enchiladas. See you tonight, Linda. Be safe this afternoon."
"I will."
Linda hung up, and Brutus took a deep breath, his heart light. He had lunch, and some history homework to do before his afternoon training session, but as he started dragging the sled towards the garage, he was thinking mostly about how much he was looking forward to that night.
He remembered how her eyes had lit up during their last video call, the way she'd leaned closer to the camera when he'd told her about his day. The memory of her laughter sent a shiver of anticipation through him as he unloaded the weight from his sled.
Whatever she's got on her mind tonight, I'm going to be ready for it, he thought. Because while video's better than just her voice, the truth is he could barely wait until he had her in his arms again.
