by Elyse Riggs
“I won’t leave without saying goodbye. Without telling her I love her. If I miss the flight, I miss the flight. I can live without the league; I can’t live without Angie.”
Fi sniffs and puts the mace back in her purse. “Damn it, Jake, you’re going to make me cry. He’s serious, Kaylee, let him in.”
Kaylee looks surprised by the turn of events, but she opens the door for me. I run through it, my stomach tightening into knots. I’m through the door, but now I’m at the boss level. Angie.
As soon as I’m in, I see a crowd of people in the waiting room. I scan the faces and end up finding Mia at check-in, as usual, and Angie is standing over her, helping her with something on the screen.
Both of them look up at me at the same time. Angie searches my face. In hers, I see anger and confusion. Angie’s gaze pivots from me to Kaylee and Fi and then back again.
She’s smart, she figures it out quickly. “You two let him in?”
I cross the room to her and she leaves the check-in area to stand across from me, arms crossed, face a ball of adorable rage.
Every eye in the room is on the two of us. You could seriously hear a pin drop in here. A puppy whines and it fills the silence momentarily.
I clear my throat and suddenly I have a hard time swallowing, especially now that I see the pain that I caused her written across Angie’s face.
“I’m sorry, Angie. About everything. About hurting you. I didn’t mean to use you to further my career. That’s not what this was about at all, it just took me longer than usual to figure it out.”
“Because you’re not as smart as me.” She says.
I feel a flicker of hope rise up inside me. “Exactly, because I’m not as smart as you. And it’s true. But I do know this. I love you, Angie.”
I hear gasps in the waiting room. I can’t see behind me, but I swear one of the gasps came from Kaylee.
“I’ve loved you since the second grade. You’re more important to me than football, or money, or publicity, or anything. I can’t live without you. I know that now.”
I drop to one knee. “Angie, will you be my girlfriend?”
Angie makes a thin line with her lip, like she’s trying not to cry. I’m holding my breath. I may suck at all the feelings, but they’ve taken over me right now and it’s excruciating.
Angie takes a step forward and holds my head in her hands.
“You sure this is what you want?”
“I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.”
I see her think about it for a second.
“Fine, I guess I’ll be your girlfriend.”
Her face breaks out into a smile. And then I know that everything is going to be okay. Only then do I exhale.
Applause erupts in the waiting room. Sniffles fill the air. I jump up and press my lips to Angie’s. Only after our kiss do I start to breathe again. It’s like I have a new lease on life. I guess it’ll have to be a post NFL life, and I can live with that.
“Come on, Angie, we have to go.” Kaylee says.
Angie and I both look at her quizzically.
She breathes out, exasperated. “Okay, Romeo. Fill her in, quickly. You’re out of time.”
“What is she talking about?” Angie asks me.
“The Eagles audition. My last chance. The plane leaves at four.”
Angie looks down at her watch. “Oh my God, Jake. You only have fifteen minutes.”
“I’m not leaving without you. Not again. Not ever.” I kiss her again.
As soon as we break the kiss, I see the adorable worry line on her forehead. “What are we going to do, Jake?”
“There’s only one thing to do,” Fi says.
“What’s that?” I ask turning to her.
“Kaylee, grab your keys.”
“What’s happening?” I ask. “There’s no way we’re going to make it.”
Angie grabs my hand and bolts for the door. “You’ve never driven with Kaylee, have you?”
“Wow, she’s that bad?” I ask, and no matter what happens with the plane, I now have a huge grin on my face.
“Oh, her driving style can only be described as a cross between Nascar and Mad Max.” Fi answers.
“Stop it,” Kaylee interjects, “I’m blushing already. Now get your asses in the car, all of you.”
I don’t object. I dash with the others into Kaylee’s giant Escalade. “Oh, now I understand why I couldn’t find you guys. Nice new wheels, Kaylee.”
“Thanks,” she says as the engine roars to life, “now buckle up.”
Kaylee guns the engine and we’re off. I have to fight the car’s momentum in order to get my seat belt buckled and then find Angie’s is already done. I look at her questioningly.
“When you drive with Kaylee, you buckle up before she turns the engine on.”
“Got it. Okay.”
Kaylee screeches out of the intersection on a red light to a chorus of horns honking and breaks squealing and smoke.
Holy shit. Right up until now I was sure that the girls were exaggerating about Kaylee’s driving, but now I’m convinced.
The minute we’re on a straightaway she guns it. Like ninety miles an hour through traffic guns it. And now it’s like she’s playing Frogger on an Intercoastal highway.
I risk looking down at my watch. There’s only ten minutes left. Even if we were there right now, I still wouldn’t have enough time to make it through security and get my boarding pass.
Kaylee’s not letting up, though. We come upon a red light and she barely taps the brakes. In fact, all of us give a little scream as she flies through the intersection.
“It was clear, you bunch of babies,” Kaylee says, “I checked.”
I turn to Angie. “Is she always like this?”
“No, this is way worse” Kaylee answers, “she’s doing this for you.”
“Thank you, Kaylee,” I say, “but I think you can ease up now.”
“Why?” Kaylee asks. “What are you talking about? We’re not there yet.”
“It’s three minutes till four. The plane is probably closing up right now. We’re still five minutes away and there’s still security and check in and boarding. I appreciate it. I really do. But it’s over.”
To my surprise, Kaylee ignores me completely and continues on to the airport. “Did she hear me?” I ask Angie.
“I heard you,” Kaylee says, pulling the car into an airport parking spot a couple of minutes later while still going thirty miles an hour and coming to a stop touching the front wall.
Once the car stops, we all lurch forward into our seatbelts. I’m not going to lie; I feel a very serious relief at finally coming to a stop. Whew. Am I a little sad that I missed my flight? Absolutely. I’m also incredibly relieved that we’re all here and safe and in one piece.
There’s only one thing I don’t understand. “Why did you keep driving to the airport after I missed my flight?”
“Chase just flew in from Rome.”
“Huh,” I say to Angie.
“That means his private jet is available. You’ll be in Philadelphia in plenty of time. Now, let’s go. My fiancé is waiting!”
All of us follow Kaylee as she weaves her way around the airport like a pro until we’re in a private back area where access is restricted. Apparently, nothing is off limits to Kaylee.
And then she breaks into a run, almost tackling a tall, well-dressed man with brown hair who looks somewhat familiar to me. They kiss passionately.
I turn to Angie. “Is that who I think it is?”
“Chase Covington. Kaylee’s fiancé.”
“I’ll be damned.”
Kaylee gestures for us to join them. “Chase, this is Jake Mann, Jake Mann, this is Chase Covington.”
I spring forward to shake his hand. “Nice to meet you.”
Chase smiles broadly. “Hey, Jake Mann. You’re the football player, right?”
“Guilty,” I say.
Kaylee jumps in. “Hey, Chase, if he’s not in Philadelphia s
oon, he won’t be able to try out for the Eagles.”
Chase leads me and Angie down a hallway and knocks on a door. When it opens, I see a guy in a Captain’s uniform. Chase leans forward and whispers to him.
The Captain then pulls out a radio and talks to his ground crew.
Chase turns to us with a big grin. “You’re all good. The plane’s getting refueled, you’ll be in the air in no time.”
“I don’t know how to thank you, Chase.”
“You can go kick ass.”
“Will do.”
The Captain leads me down a hallway to an air bridge. I take two steps onto it before realizing that I’m alone. I turn back and Angie’s not with me. She’s still standing with Chase and Kaylee and Fi.
I walk back to them.
“What are you doing?” Angie asks. “You have to go.”
“Not without you,” I say, grabbing Angie’s hand. “You’re my good luck charm. My fire. I won’t go without you.”
Angie stands up on her tippy toes and kisses me. Then we cross the air bridge together, hand in hand.
When we’re on the plane, waiting to take off, I turn to her. “Chad said you called him.”
Angie’s face turns a cute shade of crimson. “Yes, I did.”
“Well, then, you probably heard his whole speech about my sucking the last few years. How something was missing.”
“Yeah, that sounds familiar. Why?”
I kiss her hand. “That something was you.”
Chapter 45
Angie
I can’t believe how nervous I am. The Eagles organization people are wonderful. They set me up in a sky box to watch the audition.
There have to be thirty players warming up on the field. I can tell by Jake’s body language that he’s nervous. Then the worst happens. He looks for me at the top of the stands and I’m not there. How could I forget? That’s totally our thing.
I run outside the sky box and find the the quickest way down to the stadium.
Then I get to the very top of the empty stands like I always do. The referee blows the whistle for the tryouts to begin.
Right after the whistle, I give my loudest cheer. “Go, Jake!”
I see Jake’s head turn until he locates me and gives me a wave. I swear I can see his smile from up all the way up here.
Nearby, I hear a stadium employee chuckle. I settle into my seat to watch the rest of the tryout.
Afterward, I stay glued to my seat, figuring he’ll come and find me.
An hour later, a sweaty Jake, still in his Eagles uniform comes to give me a sticky, sweaty hug. I make him pose with me for a selfie. This is a first, a new football tradition for the two of us. I hope it’s good luck.
Then he leads me into the administration offices and drops me off in a beautiful waiting area with plenty of snacks and a little coffee bar. I give him a quick kiss. “I’m totally good here, see you later.”
Then I watch my football player walk away. What do you know? He does have a tight end.
Two coffees and a raspberry croissant later, Jake reemerges, changed, and showered and smiling. My stomach tightens for him as I remember that this is his last chance. “Well? What did they say?”
“Good news and bad news. Which do you want first?”
“The good news.”
He breaks into a broad grin. “I got the contract.”
I punch him in the arm. “Then what’s the bad news?”
“I start immediately. I’ll have to stay here in Philly.”
“I can’t stay, I have my practice.”
“I know,” he says, taking both of my hands. “I’d never ask you to give up your practice. But I’m not going to give you up, either.”
“What do you mean?”
“There’s a new clause in my contract. I get to fly home for the end of the Pirate Festival. I only get one night, but luckily the season will be over soon. Then I’m all yours.”
Epilogue
Angie
A week later Jake and I walk into Ocean Wave coffee hand in hand.
The barista gives us a cheerful smile. “Welcome back, you two.”
I get my Tropical Disturbance and Jake gets a Vanilla Latte.
We stroll outside to a little café table to sit in the sunshine. Jake noisily drags a chair over to stretch his legs out on. People walking by see him and me and do a double-take.
“How’s football?”
Jake grins. “You know. Busy but missing you. Can’t wait for the offseason.”
“I’m with you there.”
“How’s your clinic?”
“Same old,” I answer.
“Hey, can I ask you something? And you have to say yes.”
I take a quick sip of my coffee and look at him suspiciously. “What are you up to, Jake?”
“Just hear me out. Would you, Angie Houtz, please do me the honor of moving in with me?”
“Move in with you? You’re not even going to be living here for a few more months.”
He leans forward for a kiss. “Yeah, but I want to be living with you. Even when I’m not here.”
He looks pretty sure of himself. And his place is a lot nicer than mine.
He gives me a mischievous grin. “Is that a yes?”
“Yes,” I say, making up my mind.
“Thank goodness,” he says, “or else who would help me take care of Harley?”
“Harley?”
He turns his attention down the street where a woman is approaching walking the cutest Golden Retriever puppy I’ve ever seen.
“Here, Harley,” Jake calls.
The puppy nearly knocks the dog walker over trying to get to him.
“Thanks,” Jake tells the girl walking Harley, “I’ve got it from here.”
Harley kisses him and then turns his attention to me. “Hi, Harley.” I look up a Jake.
“Happy two-week anniversary, Angie. I love you.”
Harley is the cutest. I scoop him up and snuggle him on my lap.
A little while later Jake and I stroll over to Salt Life and grab a table overlooking the ocean.
Bill appears and delivers an order of mozzarella sticks to our little table, a huge smile on his face. I have no idea why. I’ve never seen Bill that happy. I feel like I missed something.
Then Bill mutters something about the appetizer being on the house and disappears again.
I give Jake a look. “What just happened?”
“He likes you,” Jake winks at me. “Bill’s a very smart guy.”
Then we watch as the pirate armada ships filling the sea disappear one by one, marking the end of the Pirate Festival.
About the Author
Elyse Riggs is a sassy, coffee loving geek who believes in happily ever afters. She also believes that a few drinks and an order of chips and salsa can solve pretty much any problem.
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