by Mj Fields
���Landscaping,��� she looked outside. ���Look Lucas, you can almost see camp. I bet when the leaves fall you will be able to see it.���
He kissed her, ���Uh Huh.���
His hands gently moved down her back.
���Again Lucas?���
���All day Tessa,��� he groaned against her neck.
���Perfect,��� she said and knelt down.
He laughed, ���Damn, I love you.���
* * *
Lucas���s first week at training camp was harder than he expected. He would come home and eat and go to sleep. It was a remarkably hot July, and he was happy he had central air installed. Lucas was taking two classes online, and he spent most of his weekend doing school work. He hated it but knew if he didn���t stick with it he might go back.
She had been asked to do a two week performing art program at the school helping the kids with dance. It was a lot of fun. She wasn���t taking classes this summer, and after next semester, she would only have clinical���s and she would graduate from nursing school.
Tessa had done landscaping and painted when she wasn���t in Syracuse teaching her class or taking piano. She had stopped the voice lessons for now. Adam wasn���t pleased but usually her hour class lasted an hour and a half and they would work on voice.
When Lucas sat at the desk and did homework and looked frustrated, she would climb under the desk just to make him happy. They were busy, and seldom had time to enjoy each other. Tessa sometimes woke at night to his touch, and she never said no. Morning showers were a thing of the past.
The summer neared its end, and she prepared to go back to school. She managed to get all her course load in on Tuesday and Thursday, and she taught her class those evenings. She did a class on Monday and Wednesday in her hometown and although it was much smaller, it helped her pay the utilities ��� which she still insisted on doing. She made sure to clean, cook, and shop on Monday and Wednesday���s and get all her studying in so that on Friday she could spend the whole weekend with him.
The fall football schedule came out, and they sat with a calendar to figure out their schedules.
���I know you have some crazy need to work Tessa, but I���d prefer you be with me, please consider it.��� He said.
���Alright I will,��� she conceded.
���And piano Tessa I am not trying to be rude but is that more important than spending time with me?���
���Of course not.���
���Alright then.���
She was feeling a little bitter, and he could tell.
���Baby don���t be mad this could last a season or ten years you never know.���
���It���s alright, Lucas.���
* * *
She went to all their scrimmages and watched the other wives and girlfriends with their perfectly manicured hands and perfect hair, chat and she knew she didn���t fit in. Lucas however was fitting in with the guys perfectly. He looked happy, and she loved to see him that way. He was working on the offensive side, but sometimes practiced defense as well.
CHAPTER TWENTY THREE
There was a party at the end of the training season and Lucas and Tessa attended. It was at Hope Lake Lodge. They had gone shopping, and he had picked out her dress.
���How are you going to feel if my boobs fall out of this thing at dinner?��� she asked as they got out of the SUV.
���Probably hard,��� he laughed taking her hand she smiled up at him and laughed.
They walked in, and she immediately felt like a freshman walking into a new school on the first day of school.
���You look amazing,��� he wrapped his arm around her.
���And you look as hot as always,��� she sounding annoyed.
He laughed, ���Is that a bad thing?���
���Yeah, could you try to be ugly once in a while, then the Cougars wouldn���t be checking out my man,��� she grabbed his butt.
They sat and had dinner listening as the guys talked about the teams they would be up against in the next few weeks and there different strengths and weakness.
The women talked about being stuck in this God forsaken area, and Lucas rubbed her back when he saw her getting annoyed. She looked at him and gave him her best fake smile, and he laughed.
���You���re from here, right Links?��� one of them asked.
���Yes, about forty- five minutes away,��� he smiled.
���Do you come from a farm?��� one of the wives asked and the others laughed.
���No, I don���t,��� he politely smiled.
Tessa grabbed another glass of wine and drank it down.
���I do,��� Tessa smiled.
Lucas looked at her and then looked down.
���Oh,��� one of the blonde laughed.
���So do you have cows and pigs and chickens?��� She asked amused.
���No,��� Tessa said, ���Do you?���
The guys chuckled.
���No, I grew up in New York City,��� she said.
���I see,��� Tessa said shaking her head and looking down, ���So do you steal hubcaps, live in a box, and do crack?���
She looked at Tessa like she was crazy, and the guys all laughed.
The wives all excused themselves and walked away. The guys all laughed more.
���You gotta problem with the city, Lady Links?��� one of them asked.
���Do you have a problem with upstate and farms?���
���No,��� he said.
���Well then I have no problem with you.���
���Baby, shhh��� he whispered in her ear.
���You do know almost half our team comes from the middle of nowhere right?��� One of them snickered.
���Got a little sidetracked on your way to the top, I see,��� she threw it back at him and they roared in laughter.
���She has a problem controlling her mouth when she drinks,��� Lucas smiled at her as his eyebrow crept up.
���You usually have no problem with my uncontrollable mouth,��� she said looking at him.
���You want to take a walk?��� he asked softly.
���Sure if I can ditch these shoes.���
���Walk with me,��� the only wife that didn���t leave said and smiled at Tessa.
���Okay,��� Tessa stood and Lucas looked away, she grabbed another glass of wine and kissed him before she walked away.
He sat back and took a deep breath, they all laughed.
Tessa and Jessie walked outside, and Jessie laughed.
���You���re pretty funny.���
���I wasn���t trying to be. I just get sick of fake boobied, opportunistic snobs,��� she said, ���But I think it annoyed Lucas.���
���No honey, he didn���t look annoyed he looked amused,��� she laughed.
���How long have you two been married?��� Tessa asked.
���Oh, we aren���t married, but we���ve been together for ten years,��� she laughed.
���Why aren���t you married?���
���I keep telling him no,��� she shrugged, and Tessa smiled, ���he wants me more because of it,��� she whispered. ���You���re right about those women just don���t push them, some of them are actually alright, but in a pack they can be bitches. I grew up in the city, by the way. I never stole hubcaps or any of those other things, and I take no offense to what you said. We are going to be friends Tessa. My name is Jessie.���
They w
alked in smiling, and Jessie grabbed two glasses of wine and handed one to Tessa, the DJ was set up and playing,
���You dance Tessa?���
���A little,��� Tessa laughed.
She saw Lucas talking with some of his teammates, and he didn���t notice her. Jessie and Tessa went to the dance floor. They were joined by the wives. They all danced together, and Tessa and Jessie laughed and drank.
Lucas saw her playing nice with the girls and sighed. She was dancing and having a great time. A slow song came on, and he walked up to her.
���Dance with me?���
���Hmm,��� she smiled as she reached under his jacket and wrapped her arms around him.
���You���re having fun?���
���I am now,��� she pulled him closer and kissed him.
���Can we behave here for a little longer?���
���Probably not,��� she laughed.
���Please?��� he asked sticking his bottom lip out.
���Fine,��� she stomped her foot.
A song she knew came on, and he laughed, it was one she had taught him before he made her do a Zumba class for his old teammates.
���I miss Jose.���
He smiled, ���What made you think about him?���
���He danced to this song with us remember?��� she laughed. ���You know this song, Lucas.���
���No, I don���t,��� he started walking away she grabbed him.
���Please.���
���Not here, do you want them to think I���m insane?��� he laughed. ���You go ahead, I���ll watch.���
Jessie knew the song and the moves, she was already doing them. Tessa joined her, and the others tried to keep up. All the guys watched Jessie���s boyfriend and Lucas both stood smiling at them.
���Yours does Zumba, huh?��� Miguel asked.
���Yeah, she���s an instructor,��� Lucas said.
���Weird how they all bust out when one of the songs comes on,��� Miguel said.
���Does it happen a lot?��� Lucas asked.
���All the time, it���s kind of cool to watch, huh?��� Miguel said. ���I think the rest of them like it too.���
The song changed.
���Oh shit,��� Lucas gasped.
It was Tessa���s last song from the Zumba SU fiasco.
���You know this one?��� he asked Miguel.
���No.���
Jessie didn���t either, but she learned it quickly. The other���s tried to keep up. The teammates looked at Miguel and Lucas and smiled. When the song ended, Tessa grinned at Lucas as she walked towards them.
���Are you ready?���
���No, she���s not,��� Jessie said, ���She is going to hang out longer.���
Tessa stuck her tongue out at Lucas and smiled.
���You should have a drink hot stuff,��� Tessa said.
���You shouldn���t,��� Lucas scowled.
Jessie and Tessa went to the bar and grabbed a glass of wine. They were surrounded by the team and laughing.
Lucas looked at Miguel and asked, ���Does that bother you.���
���No, she can handle herself, I���m sure your girl can too,��� Miguel laughed.
���I don���t know about that,��� Lucas watched her do a shot.
���Hey baby,��� he said taking her glass from her.
���Hi Lucas,��� she said and hugged him and whispered in his ear, ���Can we leave now I really would like to…���
Lucas covered her mouth with his hand.
���Tessa, you aren���t whispering baby,��� Lucas laughed.
���Oh,��� she looked around and shrugged.
���Well, can we go, please?��� She jumped up and down in place.
���Yeah, we absolutely can,��� he grabbed her hand and waved goodnight. ���And we���re getting a room.���
Tessa woke up in the morning and her head hurt. He stood against the wall with a glass of water smiling at her.
���How are you feeling?���
���Like crap,��� she groaned.
���Well, you were a hit last night,��� he handed her water and ibuprofen.
���Lucas I���m sorry.���
He laughed, ���Do you remember?���
���No nothing after the dancing with Jessie,��� she said holding her head in her hands.
���The shots?���
���No, but that certainly explains the headache.���
���And how does that hot ass feel,��� he smiled.
���What?���
���You begged for it Tessa, in front of everyone, and when we got up here, you wouldn���t take no for an answer. I tried, but you weren���t having it,��� he started brushing his teeth.
���We did that?��� she asked, and her eyes got red. ���You did that to me?���
���You wouldn’t leave it alone Baby, and you loved it,��� he walked back out of the bathroom.
He saw tears in her eyes and laughed, ���I���m just joking, don���t cry.���
���Don���t laugh at me,��� she said. ���Tell me the truth.���
���We came up here after you did a few shots, you undressed me we kissed a lot I laid you down and started to enjoy you down below and you fell asleep or passed out.���
���While you were������ she asked.
���Yes a little bit of a hit to the ego but yes Tessa, you fell asleep,��� he laughed.
���I���m sorry,��� she hugged him.
���I am going to take a shower before we go meet everyone for breakfast,��� he said.
She joined him, ���I feel like crap Lucas, but I want you.���
She knelt in front of him, and he smiled.
After she had finished, she jumped out of the shower and threw up.
He held her hair back and laughed, ���Wow first she falls asleep on me and then she throws up after she has me. ���
���Lucas, I���m sorry��� she sat back. ���What a mess I made of this. ���
He ran a bath, and she soaked in it. When she got out, she dressed and did her hair she even put on some makeup.
���Wow, you look much better.���
���I feel better,��� she hugged him.
���You hungry?���
���I think I could eat a little.���
* * *
They went to the restaurant, and everyone was sitting in the dining room. She looked at him, and he smiled and wrapped his arm around her shoulder.
���Good morning,��� he said, and they sat down.
Tessa looked and Jessie and they both giggled. Before they left the lodge, they exchanged numbers.
���We���re going to be great friends,��� Jessie said, and Tessa smiled.
CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR
The season was going well Jessie and Tessa had become good friends. Lucas was playing a little more each game. She went to all the games and when a touchdown was made he still looked at her, and she still smiled.
���You���re a Jet���s fan now, you know?��� Lucas reminded her as he watched her getting ready to go to the game.
���I know, but it���s the Cowboy���s Lucas!���
He smiled. Tessa had loved the Cowboys since she was a kid. Danny White was her favorite,
and she loved Irving, Smith, Aikman, Sanders.
���You riding with Jessie?���
���I can, or I can take you down now and hangout,��� she tried not to smile.
���Alright, but just remember who your favorite quarterback is.���
Tessa and Lucas got there early. She was almost jumping out of her skin, and he was very entertained.
���You know you could,��� he looked down.
���This is sacred ground Lucas Links,��� she laughed as she looked around taking in her surroundings.
���So is this,��� he took her hand and placed it on him.
They found a quiet corner, and she did what he had asked.
���Thank you, Baby,��� Lucas fixed his pants.
���I can���t believe I just did that here,��� she danced around and he laughed.
Lucas had a few pretty perfect passes. One resulted in a touchdown that tied the game. They lost by seven���to the Cowboys.
* * *
The next game was against the Giants, Tessa���s least favorite team. The game was tied in the second quarter. The starting quarterback was injured, Lucas was put in. He looked for her, and she stood up and whistled. He smiled when he saw her, took a deep breath and ran out onto the field.
The Giants knew his strength was in the passing game. He was well- covered. There were only four minutes left of the game and it was 21- 21. Lucas looked everywhere from an open receiver, without ant other options he was forced to run the ball down the field. Lucas dove into the end zone. Lucas was in midair when he was hit hard in the end zone, and Tessa watched as he lay on the ground motionless.
Get up she thought, please get up. He didn���t. Tessa stood up and started to move down the bleacher, and Jessie grabbed her hand.
���You can���t go down there Tessa.���
���I have to!��� Tessa pulled away panicking.
Miguel looked up and saw them. Jessie looked at him, and he shook his head no and ran out to the field.
���Look Tessa, Miguel is with him. We���ll go down to the locker room. Come on Tessa, keep it together,��� Jessie led her through the crowd.
