Page 92 of Brick Wall
I love everything about Annie, but I also love how I can just lie next to her and feel completely at peace. It’s an amazing feeling, something I didn’t think would be a possibility for me.
I’m also extra at peace tonight because we won our first round of playoffs.
That’s right, we won our divisional round against Pittsburgh, and we are moving onto the Conference Championship.
Many analysts picked the other team to win this round. They said the bye would hurt us and we’d be too well-rested and Pittsburgh had much more momentum going into this game.
They were wrong.
We won tonight by ten.
“Who do you think you’ll play next week?” Annie asks asshe’s spooning me in bed.
We played on Saturday night this week, and we have to wait until tomorrow’s game to see who we will face.
“Not sure, it’s a toss-up really,” I reply, realizing I’m coming across as more politically correct than anything. I know I can share anything with Annie now, and it’s a safe place.
“I think both teams would give us a hard time next week,” I expand on my thought process a little more. “But we lost to Houston in the regular season, so I’m more nervous about that match up,” I admit to Annie.
“Yeah, I can see that.” After a few minutes, Annie asks, “Will your family be at this game?”
My sister Scarlett was at the game today and will be at the next, since she’s local and it’s easy. Olivia flew in for this one, but she also had a three-day weekend and could make it work. She won’t be able to make the Conference Championship game next week.
“My mom and Scarlett will be there,” I tell her. “Are you going to bring your brothers?”
“Maybe,” she says with a shrug. All her brothers, and her parents too, were at the game tonight. According to Annie, they behaved themselves, moderately. “If you can get the tickets,” she tacks on.
“I’ll see what I can do. It’ll be a little harder to get tickets for this next round, but I can probably make it happen.” It’s fairly easy to get tickets as a player, but the further we go in the playoffs, the harder it is to get tickets, especially that last game of the year.
“Thank you.” She kisses me on the cheek. “I’ll tell them maybe, but that they’re on their own after that.”
We haven’t talked about “that game” yet—the big game thatcomes after the Conference Championship game. If we win the AFC next week, we will travel to my home state for the ultimate game. I’m thrilled about it, but at the same time…I’m not. Don’t get me wrong, I’m really excited about the game itself, but some of the logistics make me nervous.
“Definitely. Super Bowl tickets are a nightmare.” Fine, I said the word out loud. I know other guys are thinking and talking about it, too.
I’ve also been to the Super Bowl before, twice, and have experience getting and buying tickets. We have the opportunity to buy two tickets as a player, and in the past I didn’t need as many. However, I have a bigger cheering section now. I’ll have to see what I can do.
I know my mom will definitely want to go, and probably Olivia. I’m not sure if any of my extended family in the Bay Area will want to attend, probably. I know Scarlett will definitely not go, which is expected. If it was anywhere other than Cali, she would be there in a heartbeat.
“I bet. We can cross that bridge when we get there,” she says, probably not wanting to jinx anything as well. “I know your family must be excited that the game is in California.”
I let out a big breath. We are currently spooning, again. She’s the big spoon naturally, so she doesn’t see my face; knowing this makes it slightly easier to share my confession.
“Not Scarlett.” There, I said it.
She sits up slightly, and I roll in her direction to face her.
“Why’s that?” she asks quietly.
“She hasn’t been back to California…since…” I stumble. “Since she left.”
“Did she hate it there?” There’s no judgment in her voice,only sincerity.
A short laugh bubbles out. “That’s putting it mildly.”
I move my position to get more comfortable, and Annie does the same. We might be here for a minute.
I wasn’t sure if I was going to confide in Annie about this because it’s not her burden. However, for some reason, I want to. I want her to know everything about me, even if some things I’m about to say are hard.
