Rival Dreams (Rival Love #3) (20 page)

Her speech isn’t stopping me. She didn’t read his words. I won’t let her read them, but that’s beside the point. She doesn’t know a thing. Yes, he dumped me. But he did it
for
me. He didn’t want us to go back to the same misery we suffered in high school. And for him to love me so much, to be willing to give me up, speaks volumes.

Once I’m all packed, I make for the door. Brie keeps glaring at me as I step out, and the door closes. I take a deep breath.

***

In the security line at the airport, I’m randomly pulled aside. “Ma’am, please step this way,” a guy who’s probably only a year older than me says.

I follow him and he starts patting me down, like I’m packing heat or something.

“Airport rules. Random Security checks for passengers who have purchased a ticket before a twenty-four-hour window.”

Oh. I make a mental note never to do this again. Once the guy stops searching me, I put my shoes back on, take my backpack and laptop, and go. I head down the hallway and find Gate D3 and take a seat. A couple sits beside me. Out of all the empty seats, they chose to get all cozy and lovey-dovey next to me. This, by the way, makes people very uncomfortable.

So while I sit there, trying to avoid their giggling, kissing noises, and even the occasional, “Oh, honey,” I think about what I’ll say to Caleb. Should I say, “Surprise!” and jump into his arms? No. That’s weird. Should I say, “So I was thinking …” and then lead into the note and what I thought? No. That’s not good enough. There needs to be a right amount of shock, and an understanding of why I’m there. At least this is what I’m thinking.

Someone bumps into my elbow and I look over at the couple next to me. The girl’s tan complexion turns cherry red, while her green eyes bore into mine. “I’m so sorry.”

“It’s fine.” Really it isn’t, but I’m not going to be a jerk to the girl. She said she was sorry, probably meant it.

“Are you in school?” she asks right when I drop my gaze to my lap.

“Yeah. You?”

“No. We graduated a couple years ago. Coming back from vacation.”

She shows off her pre-summer glow and I fake a smile. “Nice.”

“We were in the Bahamas.”

Man, why do I always get stuck next to these kinds of people? You know, the ones who yammer on about their entire lives and what they plan on doing and where they plan on going, and all you want for them to do is shut up. That’s how I feel right now.

While the girl next to me talks about her trip, I’m half tempted to shove an ear bud into my ear. How rude would that be? Very, I know. And then with what seems like the worse timing ever, a song forms in my head.

That’s it.

I grab a sheet of paper and start writing. The girl either stops talking or I tune her out as the song overtakes me. The lyrics fit so perfectly.

But it’ll only work with two voices. Crap. Who can I call on short notice who knows how to sing and play?

My phone blares to life and I look down to see Lidia’s face. And then my idea really takes off. I answer the phone with a smile. “Hi.”

“Hey. I have a class and then I’ll be free to pick you up. Need me there or were you going to Dad’s?”

“I’m going to Dad’s to drop off my things then over to Radio City Music Hall.”

“Okay.”

We hang up and I make another call. I just hope the number is still the same.

Chapter 34

Caleb

I pace around my hotel room so I’m surprised I don’t wear a hole in the floor. What if I’m called last? I’ll be happy to be in, but being called last isn’t something to brag about. It’s almost like, eh, you were the leftover so we’ll finally take you. Jones keeps telling me I’ll be a first-rounder, but he gets paid to say shit like that. How else can you keep the morale up?

“Caleb,” Jones says as he stalks right into my room. “You ready?”

My tie feels like a fucking noose. My palms are slick with sweat. I swear my heart is about to explode from my chest any second. “Yeah, I’m good.” It’s a lie.

He leads me out of my room, down the hallway, and into the elevator. There is another guy in there with broad-ass shoulders wearing a suit and tie. I want to ask him what he’s benching because I bet his guns are lifting well over four hundred. Another dude, short but lanky, stands beside him. They whisper to each other while I remain silent beside Jones. The elevator lowers slowly floor by floor. We reach ground level and the doors slide open.

“Come on, Caleb.” Jones guides me out of the elevator.

The guy who was standing next to me says, “Hey, you’re that sophomore, right? Out of Duke?” He’s got a deep southern drawl.

“Yeah, that’s me.”

“Awesome. I saw you at training. You’ve got one hell of an arm.” He extends his dark hand to me and I shake it.

“Thanks, man.”

“Darrell Simpson. Going out for linebacker.”

I almost say, ‘No shit, man, you’re built like a fucking house.’ I just nod. “That’s cool. Well, I’ll see you at the Center, then.”

“Yeah, see ya.”

***

We’re all assigned to tables behind a thick curtain. My agent is beside me. Another player and his agent sit beside us. Cameras are all over; I swear everywhere you turn, there is someone filming you.

God, I hope I don’t look stupid.

Wonder if Sky’s watching? Probably not. Why would she want to watch me on TV? She told me she’s trying to forget me. Maybe she’s out with her new boyfriend, so that’ll spare her from seeing my face on TV.

Jones smacks my arm. “There are five teams really interested in you. Want to know who they are?”

I shrug. “Sure.” Honestly, I’m not sure I want to know. What if they all claim interest but don’t pick me right away. Then for the rest of the night I’ll wonder what the hell they saw that I missed? I nailed the three-, five-, and seven-step drop passes. I excelled in the routes. I know I nailed the longest ball passes. They said they haven’t seen distance and velocity on the ball like that since Joe Flacco.

“Tampa, Denver, New York Jets, Minnesota, and St. Louis.”

Tampa is decent, and it’s warm. Denver would be awesome. To study under the great John Elway? Yeah, that’s my top choice. Minnesota is too cold and they don’t have jack squat for defense. New York Jets aren’t so bad. St. Louis has a pretty good team, but I think they’re looking for a backup QB.”

After the introductions and all the usual rituals, Mr. Davis, this year’s host, announces the first team to get a pick: The Oakland Raiders. I cross my fingers; I’d happily take the freezing cold over that. I might not be able to feel my balls every day, but that’s fine. They take a running back named Marcus Fields. Phew.

Next up, Washington Redskins. The clock is winding down like a play clock for the game, dwindling down until they select Aidan Walker from UCLA, a tough-ass tailback. The list keeps going on and name after name is called, none of them mine.

St. Louis and Minnesota pass on me this first round. Next up is Tampa. They pass on me too. What the hell? Is anyone going to pick me?

Holding in my frustration is difficult, especially with all these cameras in my face. Maybe this was a bad idea. They all probably think I’m greedy, cocky, or too young to do this. And maybe they’re right. I’m still a little green; I could definitely learn a lot more. But here’s the thing: I’ve committed to this path and if I don’t get picked, there is no going back. I can’t go back to playing college ball. Those are the rules.

“Caleb Morgan!” someone shouts.

I look around. “What?”

Jones is trying to lift me from my seat. “You’ve been picked.”

“What? Oh, shit.” There is a camera practically in my face. I smile, hoping it looks natural and not at all timid. Or that I don’t look as confused as I feel since I have no idea which team just chose me.

I follow the lit arrows leading me to the stage and wave to the crowd as they roar to life as soon as a spotlight beams down on my face. I walk up to the two tall men, both graying, one in a light gray suit the other in a crisp black. Both have bright-colored ties that could easily stop traffic.

They hold out a New York Jets jersey to me with my name stamped on the back. I smile, shake hands, and help hold up my new uniform and cap.

***

I am spirited away to a room where someone interviews me. They ask me some typical questions like, was I nervous? What do I think I will bring to the franchise? How well do I think I will adjust from college football to pro?

They are all very good questions. Once I answer them, I head out into the street. There are a shit ton of screaming people outside, including reporters. During the chaos, I think I hear Sky calling my name, but that’s just ridiculous. She’s not here.

Chapter 35

Skylar

It’s not easy to spot him through the crowd of people in front of me. I do, though, coming out of the double door with some tall man tailing him. Caleb, dressed all sexy like Men in Black. God, he makes suits look amazing.

“Caleb!” I scream

I see his head turn slightly, then he shakes it. I scream again, “Caleb!”

A woman beside me throws an elbow in my side, “Stop pushing me, honey! I’ve been here since noon!”

Caleb disappears into a dark SUV and I move out of the crowd and into the street. A cab honks at me, another person on a bicycle almost blasts me. That’s all I need, another accident. Once was enough this year.

I try calling Caleb’s phone but it’s been going to voicemail non-stop. “Come on, idiot, answer your phone.”

The line is busy. Since when is the line busy? I finally catch a cab and tell him my father’s address. He drives and I keep calling. After the twentieth try I give up.

I’ll find another way. As soon as I enter the house, I head to Lidia’s room. “Alright, we need to do some recon.”

“Okay. What’s up?”

“I couldn’t see Caleb. Not the way I wanted to. But we’re going to call all the hotels and see if they have a Caleb Morgan staying there.”

Lidia shakes her head. “Or we can simply text him and ask him to meet for lunch.”

“He’s not answering his … oh. Um, okay.”

She punches his number into her phone. I read over her shoulder as she texts him.

Lidia: Hey. This is Lidia. Congrats. Wanna have lunch somewhere tomorrow to say hi and to celebrate your victory?

Caleb: Hi Lidia. Sure. What time and where?”

Lidia: Pizzeria on Eighth. At noon.

Awesome. While Lidia’s setting this up, I work on my secret surprise.

***

Malcolm and I meet early in the morning the next day.

“What’s the big emergency, Babycakes?”

I take a bite of a very fat and delicious donut. “First, how serious are you about getting my sister back?”

“Very. But what’s that got to do with why I’m missing classes I should be at right now?”

“Everything. I wrote this song and … hey … where are you going?”

Malcolm looks at me. “She’s not going to listen to anything I want to say, Sky. Why would she listen to a song?”

He has a point, but I need him to help me. So I have to convince him that this will work. Because, honestly, it has to work. It’s all I have. “She’ll listen to you if she thinks it’s just me playing.”

He slowly makes his way back to the table. “So, we’re going to trick her.”

“Yes. Will you help me?”

He nods. “Alright.”

Everything is in place. Now, hopefully our people show up and we don’t make asses out of ourselves in front of them. I mean, how hard is it to figure out a melody to the lyrics? Surely we can get it done at the last minute. I hope we can.

Chapter 36

Caleb

Lidia hands me a note. It has an address and a time. “What’s this?”

“Go there. You’ll see.” She winks as she turns away.

I glance down at the note and look back up. She’s gone. Something tells me I should go. What’s the worst that can happen? My stomach growls loudly. Looks like I’m eating lunch by myself.

***

It’s six o’clock when I arrive at the address. I’m right on time. There is an open mic night sign outside the door. It looks like a little café. Probably the same place people perform those poetry slams. It’s filled with tables and chairs, all set randomly around a small stage. Some people fill the front rows. I stalk over to a table near the middle. As I take a seat, someone sits down next to me. I glance over, about to tell this person to find another spot, but stop as soon as I see it’s Lidia.

“You came.”

“I did. Why are we here?”

“I am here to see my sister. She told me to come. I invited you because she told me to.”

My eyes grow wide. “Skylar is here?”

She nods. “Yup. She came up here last night to see you.”

“Why?”

She shrugs. “Something about she had to see you.”

The lights dim and a short girl with lots of braids gets up on stage. A blast of light surrounds only her and she taps her finger against a microphone. “Welcome to Café Lu’s open mic night. The talent will begin in just a few minutes. Just a quick reminder, all coffee drinks will be half off for those who stay and enjoy the show.”

She smiles brightly and looks off to her left then back at the crowd. “Alright, our first performance is a duo. Please give it up for Sky and Malcolm.”

“What the fuck!” Both Lidia and I say at the same time. The rest of the room claps.

I glare at Lidia. “Are you kidding me? She wants me to see this?” I start to stand. Lidia does too.