by Kara Hart
I grabbed my purse and threw a change of clothes inside. “Come on, baby. We’re going on a little trip to Massachusetts. It's time to get your dad back.” Filming would have to wait.
* * *
Outside, it was raining and chaotic. The winds were picking up high speeds and the stop lights were shaking against the force of the earth’s systems. A taxi cab stopped at the corner and its radio was blaring loudly out the man’s window. “We have a major storm hitting the city, as well as upstate New York. It is advised you stay indoors as winds are gaining speed at a rapid rate.”
“Taxi!” I yelled. The cabbie got out of the car, holding his hat on against the wind.
He opened the door for us, yelling above the sounds of thunder and rain, “Inside! Inside!” He ran back to his seat and slammed the door.
“Thanks for taking us. Can you do long-distance trips?” I asked, hoping he would say yes. It was worth a try. All of the trains had been shut down because of the storms and the thought of taking a huge bus in this storm with my baby was frightening to say the least.
“No long distance.” The man said. “Only city.”
“I'll pay you double. It's important.” I pleaded with the man, showing him I had the cash to pay. “I need to get to the greater Boston area. Please.”
“Not in this storm!” The cabbie exclaimed, throwing his hands into the air.
“I'll pay you triple.” I said. “Trust me, I'm good for it.”
The man leaned back against the seat, turning his head to face me. “What do you want to go to Boston for? It's rainin’ cats and dogs out here and you got a baby in your arms. Is it really that important to you?”
“It is.” I said. “It's more important than you know.”
“You know, my wife and kids are out of town for the weekend. I don't really have nothin’ to do and there ain't anybody waiting for a cab in the city today. Guess it's your lucky day, huh?” He put the cab in drive and sped against the wind.
“You're going to take us? Oh, thank you!” I exclaimed with glee. “You hear that Alex? We’re going to see daddy!”
Liam
I walked down from the podium knowing full well it wasn't a good press conference. I had said too much. Too honest, they would tell me. At this point I was used to the whole shtick. I'd go to my agent’s office, apologize, and then play a slew of games that'll make them forget the incident ever happened.
My coach cut me off on the way to my car. “The suits want to talk to you, Liam.”
“Shit. They pissed about the press meeting? To be honest, I thought it went as well as it could. You know, considering the circumstances.”
“Son, those men operate on a different wavelength from me. I have no idea what they want from you. All I know is they want to speak with you.”
I grabbed my phone and called my agent. “You want to speak with me?”
His tone was light and excited, the exact opposite of what I was expecting. “Liam, sweetheart! How are you?”
I glanced at the dark clouds forming above the city and frowned slightly. “I've seen better days, but overall I'm good. I heard you needed to speak with me. What's up?”
“I just wanted to let you in on some of the calls I've been getting today…”
“Look, I just want to apologize about the press meeting. I know I got a problem with running my mouth, but I can't always be honest. I should have consulted you guys before announcing to the world I am in love and have a kid out of wedlock.”
Though I thought I was going to get talked down to, the guy actually laughed when he heard me say that. “Are you kidding? Everybody loved that. First of all, everyone's had a kid out of wedlock. It's not a big deal and the fact that you actually care seems to boost your appeal quite a bit. People are losing their shit over this, Liam. And they're doing it in the best way possible.” He said.
“Really? I guess honesty has its charm.” I muttered back, sort of dumbfounded people even gave a shit about that sort of thing.
“Everyone is dying to know who this mystery woman is.” He said.
“Yeah, well, it doesn't matter much. She's done with me now. It's time for me to move on.” I solemnly admitted.
“No!” He shouted. “Liam, if there's one thing I know, it's that nothing is over until it is over. Find her. Reconcile your relationship dammit. Think about your career.”
“She isn't some object. She's a woman and she has nothing to do with my career. You got to get that through your head. I don't give a fuck about your ratings or popularity charts. I throw my best and make good decisions out on that field. I lead my team to victory. That should be good enough for you.”
I hung up the phone and smiled big. I was finally back to the point where I could be myself again. I ran further outside to my car and jumped in quickly. It was now pouring over the city of Boston and I was half-soaked. I was just about to pull out and head home when I heard someone yelling my name.
“Liam! Hey Conway!” The voice said. I turned and tried to look out the rain-soaked window. It was Jenkins!
“There’s the man of the hour!” He said with a grin on his face.
“I saw you were playing a game in New York in a few days. I had no idea you’d be out here though! Why didn’t you text me? Oh, by the way, congrats on winning those playoff games. That’s huge. Can’t believe we’re both going to the Super Bowl. Hope you’re prepared.”
I unlocked the car and watched as he dove inside. “Man, it’s deadly out there right now. I had a layover here, but they’ve cancelled all the remaining flights for the day. Anyway, I thought I’d come out and see you. Figured I’d just wait until this whole circus died down. You played good out there today by the way.”
“Thanks man. Yeah, I never thought it would happen. Two blood-brothers, facing each other in the Championships. You remember back in college when we made that pact?” I laughed.
He suddenly looked very nostalgic. “Yeah, man. I remember. We said we’d always back each other up. We will, right?” He asked me.
“Always.” I said with pride. “You have to admit, it’s plenty weird how the deck gets shuffled sometimes.”
He nodded, licking his lips. “Man, I feel that. You know I love a good challenge.” He wiped some of water off his Under Armor and got comfortable. “So what’s this about marriage? You really serious about all that?” He asked me.
“The woman drives me crazy.” I admitted. “Yeah, I'm serious.”
“What about your old lifestyle? How do you plan to kick all those habits?” He laughed. “Imagine. Liam Conway without a multitude of pussy on him at all times! Man, that just seems wrong. It's like a dog without an owner.”
I chuckled. “I'm not sure I get the analogy.” I said. “I'm getting old Jenks. I’ll be 33 next December. You know what that means, right?”
“Shit, don't even worry about nothing. You think they're going to force you out of the game?” He asked, sensing the reality of the situation. Jenkins was 28. He hadn’t felt the entire weight of life yet. I suppose I hadn't either. “Wait, you're serious?”
“The average age of retirement in the NFL is 30, man. Who am I kidding? They've been tryin’ to force me out for years. I've just been good at proving I'm still a great return of investment.” I bit my lip and thought about it all for a second. It was a bullshit situation, but it was one I had chosen to live with. “So yeah, I love her. And someday soon, when I'm forced out, I'll run away with her and we’ll never look back.”
“Sounds like a perfect plan, but right now you have to keep focusing on the game. Look man, I came to talk to you about some actual serious shit.” His smile turned into a dark frown. His muscles tensed up as the rain began pouring harder.
“Bad storm.” I acknowledged, nodding my head at the rolling thunderclouds and lightning in the distance. “Alright, Jenkins. Give me the serious stuff.”
“They don't want you to win that Super Bowl. In fact, they don’t want you near it.” He simply stated.
“Who doesn't?” I asked with a straight face. I ran my fingers across my stubble. I could have gone for a drink right then and there had Jenkins wanted to soften the blow of the news. Instead, I sat there like an ill patient waiting to hear his death sentence.
“The networks. The investors. All the top mother fuckers. I overheard my agent and coaches talking the other day. They want our team to win it, not you guys.”
I shook my head in complete disbelief. “That's not how it works, brother. It’s not up to the networks or CEO’s. It's up to the God damn players who win the games.” My hand was wrapped tightly around the steering wheel, even though I was completely secure and stationary in park.
“You know as well as I do that's not how this shit works. They're paying the coaches extra to get there. They’re telling them to put in certain players at certain times. You know, telling players to get injured and shit. It’s all fucked up. They're coming up with ways to stop you from winning. They’ve got a lot riding on this game, you know.” His face looked angry. His eyes had creased downward, while his lips were cracking from the stress.
“Yeah? So what? Let them try. The people will have their say. They want me in and I’ll win it for them. My agent just said my popularity rating has shot up.” I argued. I just didn't see how they would even be able to succeed at this, especially when nothing of the sort had been mentioned to me.
“Don't you understand? They're trying to get you barred from the rest of the last few games!” His expressions had grown volatile. He had expected me to overreact, perhaps punch a window or two, or maybe down a bottle of vodka or whisky. Instead, I sat calmly looking out at the incoming storm. It was oddly comforting to me right now.
“I guess I just don't believe it. I know they hate me and all. Everyone loves to hate me. That doesn't mean they're really going to get me barred. It doesn’t mean that my team has to lose because of money. Shit, they tried to suspend me for a full game and failed at that!” I exclaimed with utter justification. It wasn't that I didn't believe him. I actually did. Jenkins was the most trustworthy guy in the game. The trouble was, I didn't want to believe him.
This time it was him who punched my dashboard. “That? That was just the beginning of the big setup. I'm telling you, they'll do whatever it takes to get you out of that game. If you are going to make a good case for yourself and get the public to adore you, you better start now.” He said.
“Alright, I get it. I think I see what you're asking me to do.” I nodded, still staring off into the horizon. My hands were ready to ring the necks of the network supervisors. Now that I knew what their plan was, I was going to do everything in my power to stop them. I was going to win game after game until we brought that Super Bowl trophy home to Massachusetts. Fuck them, I thought to myself.
“That's why I asked if you were serious about this marriage thing. ‘Cause if you are, it's time reinvent how the public sees Liam Conway.” His smile had come back on his face.
“You got it. I'm can't believe I'm about to say this, but… I'm calling Cindy.”
Laura
“Daddy? Is that where I'm taking you to? The kid’s dad? I, eh, don't mean to pry or nothin’. Just passing the time.” The cab driver said. We were a couple hours into the drive and nearing Boston with each passing mile.
“It's okay, I don't mind.” I smiled from the backseat. Alex was sound asleep, hanging over my lap like a lump of heavy bricks. “Me and the kid’s father have sort of a complicated relationship.” I loosely admitted.
“Yeah? I get it. Me and my first wife had something like that.” He said.
I could tell he could really use the conversation so I took the bait. “What happened?” I asked him.
“Ah, she passed some time ago. Fucking lymphoma. Time catches up on all of us, right?” Upon hearing this, my stomach sank. The man continued to look at the road. “We’re gonna hit this storm. Prepare for some wind and heavy rain, everybody.” He said, straining his eyes to see. He adjusted his lights and pushed forward.
“I am so sorry for your loss.” I whispered, unable to say really anything else. I couldn't imagine losing someone so close to me like that. It tore at my heart just thinking about it.
“It's alright. It's more tough on the kids, you know? They loved their mother.” He shook his head and sighed quietly. The road was getting bumpier and Alex shook in his sleep.
I leaned forward, entranced by his story. “Yeah, but she was the person you fell in love with. You went through all those experiences with her and then she was gone. I can't imagine.” I said. And then after some seconds of awkward silence I added, “I'm sorry. It's not my place to say anything more.”
He laughed a big burly New Yorker type of laugh. “Hell, you can't offend me. I grew up on the streets of that big city. I've heard and seen much worse. But you're right. It was hard for me, but I also don't live in a storybook land. I know that people come and go. I know nothin’ lasts forever. My kids though. Shit, they don't know that yet.”
“Yeah. Children are innocent.” I said, feeling light headed.
“You said you and your husband are going through some things?” He asked me.
“Boyfriend, not husband. Well, it's complicated, like I said. He didn't know I had his kid. He, uh, is a big sports player. We lost contact. It was a whole cluster-fuck of an ordeal. Well, still is actually.” I gave a small awkward laugh and picked at the seams of my shirt.
“Sports? I'm a huge baseball fan. Does he bat?” He turned his head halfway around with a newly vested interest.
“No he throws.” I said. And when he didn't understand what I was talking about, I reiterated. “Football. He's a quarterback. Liam Conway.” I found myself saying his name aloud. Conway. The name rolled off my tongue like butter.
I missed him, despite all of our issues. I remembered his body, the heavy touch from his fingers and his strong grasp. He would envelop me with his arms, consume with his body and massive cock. After fucking him, I would lay in bed suffocating from a lack of air and energy. I wanted to feel that way again. I wanted to feel his obsession wash over me.
I felt my legs tingle with anticipation. Just the thought of his gaze set me off. The cabbie, however, interrupted my train of thought. “Liam Conway? You’re kidding! You're going to get that son of a bitch back? Never mind, honey! I take it all back. Let's turn around now!”
“Not a big Patriots fan, I take it?” I laughed slightly.
“Hell no!” He yelled, nearly waking Alex up. “Listen up, I'm from Brooklyn. Born and raised. Fuck the Patriots!” He cackled out the window, speeding through branches and other debris from the storm.
I laughed and said, “Yeah, well, I think all sports are kind of goofy. A bunch of greasy men touching each other? It's kind of weird. And I hate the violence of the sport, you know?” I thought about what I had just said and decided to correct myself. “Okay, the men touching each other. That can stay. The rest I couldn't care less about.”
“So you were the one he was talkin’ about at the press conference, weren't you? Shit!” He swerved to the side of the road to avoid a massive tree right in the middle of the freeway. “Sorry about that folks, it's getting scary out there. Better put on your seat belts.”
He zipped around the rubble and made his way onto the road once more. Almost there, I thought. Just a half hour left. With all the shaking from the drive, Alex had woke up frightened.
“Daddy?” He said, looking around the cab.
“I ain't your daddy.” The cab driver laughed.
“That was me he was talking about. He's crazy.” I said.
“Ha! I’ll bet you a million bucks it's also the reason why you love him.”
I couldn't help but nod in agreement. It was true. I loved him because of who he was. He was talented, strong, deep, and he was also a reckless asshole.
“Say no more. I'll get you to him in no time!” He slammed his foot into the pedal, laughing as the big lug of metal pushed through the storm.
> * * *
Finally, we reached the freeway entrance to the city. Most players lived outside of Boston, but of course Liam had to do things his way. Liam liked living in the city, amongst all those big buildings, despite him being very vocal about hating it. We pulled up to a long series of luxury condos and stopped. The engine was idling and the sound of rain tapping against the aluminum ricocheted around us.
“We’re here.” Our driver said. He turned to look at me and said, “No being sad or angry, or any of those other negative emotions. You’re a strong woman, you hear me? You’ll be a great family someday. Just listen to him. Hear him out. You’ll figure it out together. I know you will.”
“I’ll try.” I said, fondling a wad of cash in my purse.
He waved my hand away. “No need. Just give me an even $60 and we’ll call it a day.”
“You serious?” I asked him, grabbing three 20’s from my wallet.
“I just want to see you two flourish. I’ll be watching the TV for updates!” He laughed and honked the horn. “Alright, out of my cab. Both of you!”
I jumped out, holding Alex and running to the nearest outside ceiling. I was soaked from head to toe and so was Alex, though he was remarkably calm. I called Liam and he answered almost immediately. “Hey, is everything alright?” He asked me. I could hear the same thunder in the background of his phone.
“Are you home?” I said, wiping the rain from my eyes.
“Yeah. Wait, why? What’s going on?”
“What floor?” I asked him, ignoring the question.
“Third floor. Room 32. Can you tell me what the hell is going on?” He asked me.
“Nothing. Everything is fine.” I said, hanging up the phone. I ran up his staircase and found door number 32. I knocked carefully and waited for my man.
Liam
