Page 55 of Who's Loving You

Somehow I manage to pry my lips away from his and take a small step back.

“Hi mi Reina,” he whispers in a low rumble for only the two of us to hear.

I clear my throat and fix the look on my face to a pleasant one. “Hey. Good game. You were great.”

He smirks in that cocky way that says he knows I’m lying but he’ll just play along.

“Thank you. Ready to get out of here?”

“Yes. I’m ready to go home. I could use a night to relax and I’m sure you’d like to do the same.” I spin on my heels and feel his strong hand grab mine.

“A relaxing night after a tough afternoon game is just what I need. I’ll follow you home. Want me to pick up some food?”

I come to a screeching halt, almost tipping over on my high heels, and swivel my head around to look at him.

“Food? I’m sorry. I missed the part where I invited you over.” I tilt my head to one side and furrow my brow.

He begins walking again, pulling me behind him and not skipping a beat.

“You don’t have to invite me over. You’re my girlfriend and that’s what a couple does. They spend the evening cuddling on the couch and feeding each other Chinese food from their boxes.”

“Nic.” I’m exasperated with how far he’s taking this charade. “We aren’t a real couple, and there won’t be any paparazzi in my house to take pictures of us. So there’s really no need to act like we can’t wait to get home and pull off each other’s clothes. We both know that isn’t the case.”

He throws me a quick look over his shoulder and keeps marching me out of the building. “Speak for yourself. I’m anxious to get you out of those clothes. As soon as you give me the go ahead, I’m going to rip them apart with my bare hands.”

The door is pushed open for us as we exit the stadium and head towards the players lot where both ofour cars are parked. A crowd surrounds the gated area and fans spot us as they pass by.

“Nic! Nic!” A few shout while the women catcall him with me in plain view.

Obviously a girlfriend means nothing to these jersey chasers.

Nic spots a group of young boys standing with a few men and he heads straight towards them. They start bouncing up and down on their toes as he draws closer. Security guards spot where Nic is going, and begin walking to the same destination.

The chainlink fence is tall with a locked gate. I don’t think security has any plans of opening the gate for fear of a mob rushing them to get in. I assume he’ll take a few pictures with the kids and say goodbye.

Imagine my surprise when he takes a Sharpie from his back pocket and motions the boys to press against the fence. Nic manages to sign his name and talks with the boys for a few minutes. Their presence at the fence draws attention, and more people begin to line up.

He takes the time to sign as many jerseys, hats, and pieces of paper that are handed to him as he can. Phones snap pictures and take video of the young superstar. I’m impressed by his friendly demeanor and while he spends lots of time talking to kids, he gives a curt smile to the women that flirt with him and move on.

At one point, he reaches behind, wiggling his fingers at me until I take his hand. He tugs me to him and kisses my cheek when I’m close.

“This is my girlfriend,” he explains when a few of the younger boys make a gagging sound. “Isn’t she beautiful?”

Nic turns to look at me with one hundred percent honesty in his eyes and winks. Something I can’t definecircles in my belly and I give him a wobbly smile. The few women that remain standing at the gate glare as they eye me like they can’t figure out what I have that makes me so “special”.

Another five minutes pass before Nic says goodbye to the last fan and leads us away. Our steps fall in sync and I listen to my heels click against the pavement. I feel like I need to say something, I just don’t know what that something is.

“Sorry that took me so long.” Nic breaks the silence as he looks for my car.

“It’s over there,” I tell him and point to the far corner of the lot. “And it’s okay. I think that it was really great of you to talk with all of those people and sign autographs.”

He shrugs, almost looking embarrassed. “I may have the talent that it takes to play professional football, but it’s the fans who make us who we really are. They idolize us when, in reality, we’re just guys who can run a little faster and jump a little higher.”

I stop in my tracks and this time, Nic does too. I feel like I’m having an out of body experience right now. This guy, the arrogant playboy who plays football like a God and looks like one too, is writing himself off as just another guy and not like the spectacular specimen that he truly is.

“What’s wrong? Are you okay?” Nic begins examining me, trying to find something that may be causing my frozen state.

“I’m fine. It’s just…” I shake my head and take two steps closer to him. “You don’t even realize the power you hold. You think you’re justsome guywho runs a little faster, but you are a role model for young boys. And girls. They see you on the field and think ‘one day, I want tobe like him’. It’s the exact reason why I’m here, doing what I am to make sure that the real you shines. Because the man I just witnessed talking with kids, making them feel special and sending them home with a memory that will last a lifetime, is the one that everyone should know. Not the guy who flaunts women and despicable behavior across the internet.”