Page 64 of Hail Marry
I grab two subs from the table of food provided after a morning of grueling practice and weight training, and I put them on my towering plate. After lunch, it’ll be playbook study, then special teams drills, another practice session, film review, then dinner. Even after all that, I’m supposed to study the playbook, but I’m also trying to juggle schoolwork.
My professors have been accommodating given my situation, and I’m not too worried about my grades, but it’s a lot of plates to keep spinning, especially when my muscles are screaming from exhaustion. At least tomorrow we end after lunch.
After finishing camp the last two nights, I’ve checked out a couple of house rentals—we need to get that lease to Preston—but I haven’t decided on anything yet. It feels wrong to make a choice without Tori’s input when her name will be on the lease. A name she now officially shares with me.
I grab two waters and turn around to look at the array of tables. Loud laughter and knee-slapping come from the table in the far corner. It’s mostly a table of defensive backs. I only know one of them by name—Louie, a safety. Everyone knows him because he’s just that loud, and he’s the center of the good time they’re all having at his table, even though none of them knew each other two days ago.
I consider joining them, but my stomach clenches at the thought. I’ve never been great at meeting people, so I’ve just been keeping my head down and working. The social stuff will come when it comes. Louie’s the type of guy I stay away from anyway. Guys like him love the spotlight and talk a lot of crap, but when they get grief for their constant jabs, they act like everyone else is overly sensitive.
I take a chair at the only empty table and dive into my food. The jabbering of the rookies and undrafted free agents and tryouts all around me makes me miss Tori a little. If she were here, she’d probably have a crowd of people around her, and she’d be making them laugh. She’d be makingmelaugh too.
I pull out my phone and shoot her a text.
Luca
You still free to come check out a few places tomorrow after lunch?
Tori
You don’t need my approval to pick your own apartment, Luca.
Your name will be on the contract, and I wouldn’t mind your input, but I get it if you’re busy. I can just send something for you to sign digitally.
Don’t you dare rob me of my afternoon in San Diego! It’s the only thing keeping me sane at this slogfest. Pick you up at 1?
I smile. I can actually hear her voice in those texts. I’m glad she wants to come. I want her to too.
Maybe it’s knowingI have a break from the nonstop schedule of mini camp, but the sight of Tori leaning against her car when I walk out of the arena is the most welcome one I’ve seen in a while. She’s got on shorts, a T-shirt, and sunglasses. She tips her head to the side and smiles at the sight of me, though we’re still too far to talk.
Three guys are up ahead of me, and Louie elbows the guy next to him and leans in to say something. Louie’s one of the tryouts who didn’t get drafted, but he’s mighty cocky despite that fact.
“Well, hello there, beautiful,” he says smoothly, approaching Tori as he looks her up and down. “You offering rides?”
My muscles tense, and a wave of anger like I haven’t felt in a years flushes through my veins.
Tori lifts her sunglasses onto the top of her head as Louie stops right in front of her. Way too close. Maybe he thought the little head tip and smile was for him.
His friends hang back, like good wingmen giving their friend space to pick up a woman. My wife.
“Yeah,” Tori says, smiling. “Iamgiving rides.”
My gait—which picked up speed with Louie’s comments—slows along with my heartbeat. She’s actually giving him the time of day?
“What’s your name?” Tori asks, still smiling.
“Louie,” he says, somehow making it sound like a pickup line.
“Well,Louie,” she says, pushing herself off the car, “allow me to recommend an Uber. Or one of those over there.” She jerks her head in the direction of a few electric scooters.
Louie’s head comes back a bit, like he’s trying to decide if she’s being coy. “And what if I don’t want one of those rusty old things? I thoughtyouwere giving rides.”
“Just one.” She takes a couple steps around him.
My heart grinds to a halt as she walks right up to me, wraps her arms around my neck, looks in my eyes, and says, “Hey, sexy.” She goes up on her toes and pulls my mouth to hers.
I freeze with shock initially, but at the feel of her lips covering mine, my heart roars to life. I let the duffel bag slip off my shoulder and wrap my arms around her waist.
She smells divine, feels amazing, and the taste of her…
