Page 27 of Linebacker
Nasty fuck face.
CHAPTER23
The sun is starting to set by the time we arrive at the Four Seasons hotel, which is about two kilometres from Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Already, the city is starting to sparkle with lights, and the hotel is one impressive addition to the skyline. Hopefully, with its fitness centre, spa and pool facilities, it will be enough to keep the team entertained in a healthy way before the big game tomorrow.
Bodies and luggage fill the foyer, and the noise as the players talk shit between themselves, some of them goofing around, is ear busting. But once everyone has been allocated their accommodation, the area soon becomes less crowded as they make their way to the rooms.
In situations like this, the guys double up in rooms with two double beds, so it seems only fitting that Lucy and I share too. Neither of us is particularly self-conscious about sharing the space, even though our friendship is fairly new. We’ve already seen each other in a minimal state of dress when I’ve crashed at her apartment.
The room we have is clean, spacious, and more luxurious than we need for our short stay, and the mountain view from the window is utterly breathtaking. We choose our beds, unpack what we need to for now and quickly freshen up, so we’re decent enough to go down to the hotel bar for a drink.
We hit the bar just off from the lobby, and slip onto the white high stools in front of it and order a cocktail each. Lucy, a lover of bubbles, orders a Hugo Spritz - Prosecco, St. Germain, Soda water and mint. I order an Artful Dodger, which surprisingly in this joint is Hendricks, Orgeat, Absinthe, Dolin Blanc Vermouth and mmmm Lemon. Not the whisky or bourbon-based version that I’ve had before.
When the bartender slides our drinks in front of us, they look very sophisticated. Not an umbrella or glace cherry on a stick in sight. This is a classy joint and that makes me wonder why the hell they booked it for a bunch of jocks. Guess that’s the difference when you’re an NFL team.
“This is the first time I’ve come on one of the away games,” Lucy giggles excitedly. “Thank you for making this happen.”
“Don’t thank me yet,” I smile mischievously back at her while running my fingertip around the rim of the glass. “You have no idea what kind of shenanigans I might be getting you involved in. You might regret agreeing to coming at all.”
“Oh, my goodness, what exactly do you have planned?”
“Well as you know, I can’t tell you, because if I did, I’d have to kill you.” I deadpan.
She nearly sprays out the mouthful of cocktail that she’s just sucked up her straw, but manages to swallow it all before almost choking on a bit of the alcohol that must have slipped into her windpipe.
“Don’t worry,” I laugh at her stricken face. “I’m simply planning on watching the players on their down time. See how they interact with each other. Who gets on with who you know, see if there’s conflict between any of them?”
“Ahh, you want to get a feel for them?”
“In some ways yes, but not physically. That would be more than my jobs worth. Observing them can tell me a heap of stuff. Body language, most of the time, is clearer to me than the spoken word.” She nods her head as if she understands, but the way her brow is down tells me that she has no idea what I’m talking about.
“Yeah, but how? For example. How do you know if someone is lying?”
“Now that is an easy one,” I shrug, but realise that I sound condescending. “For me it is, anyway. I’ve even done a thesis on it. Avoiding eye contact or doing strange things with their eyes is one sign. Being vague or on the flip side giving too much information. Unable to provide specifics or their story constantly changes. Mumbled responses when challenged. Then you get the little telltale signs such as playing with their hair, lips or put up a barrier by using hands, elbows between you and them, the crossing of the arms in front of their body.”
“Oh my God,” Lucy’s eyes go wide. “You’re so right. I wish I’d known this when my Ex was telling me that he wasn’t cheating. I wouldn’t have stuck around only to find out a month later when I caught him and the bitch in our bed.”
“Ouch!” I grimace in sympathy. “You were living together too?”
“Yeah, in the apartment I’m in now.”
“Shit, that must be tough. I’m not sure that I could stay in the same place after something like that had happened.”
“Believe me. It is hard.” Lucy sighs. “Every time I step in my bedroom, I get a flash back of his hairy ass bouncing up and down while he’s rutting into her. At least I managed to trash the bed and get a new one. I’m trying to find somewhere else to live but it’s difficult to save for a rental deposit which are crazy high while still paying rent. I’m still a quite a few hundred short.”
“If you reckon you can get enough cash together in a couple of months if you’re not paying rent, then the answer simple.”
“I ain’t sofa surfing. Can’t anyway, other than a couple of female friends that would offer me a night on their couch, the only other people I know are the players. The kind of favour they’d want in return, however hot they are, I ain’t willing to pay.”
“Come stay with me.”
“Really? But…”
“If you’re confident that you can get somewhere else in the time I’m going to be here, then sure. The place is plenty big enough and to be honest, I would love the company.”
“I’m not sure the club would sanction that,” Lucy sighs, the usual upturn of her mouth dropping down. I see the hint of disappointment in her eyes, but then I quickly get distracted when I catch sight of someone with a distinctive, imposing stature. One that I instantly recognise, flashes speedily through the foyer and towards the exit of the hotel.
“Leave it with me,” I gush, jumping off the stool. Lucy has the cocktail glass to her mouth, as she’s about to take a sip I prize it out of her hand and drop it back onto the bar. “Come on, we’ve got to go.”
