Nine
THE GAME WENT QUICKLY, AND THOUGH BOTH TEAMS PLAYED evenly, Clear Creek managed to pull out the win in the end. Connor was amazing, throwing for more than two hundred yards, and sending touchdown passes into the waiting hands of Shawn and Justin at different times. BJ played linebacker and sacked the quarterback from Bloomington three times before the clock ran out.
“All in all, a very good game for Clear Creek,” her dad proclaimed on the ride home. “And a great game for the Flanigan boys!”
Bailey was anxious as they headed home, and several times she asked herself why. She wasn’t interested in Matt. Like she’d told her mother, he couldn’t possibly have asked about her. But somewhere along the afternoon of thinking about him and wondering about this night, she’d begun to care. Even just a little. She helped her mom make an enchilada casserole for dinner, a recipe Ashley Baxter had given them a few years ago.
The house smelled like melted cheese and spices when the doorbell rang at six sharp. Of course he’s on time, Bailey thought to herself. She wiped down the counter one last time and hurried up to her room. A little powder wouldn’t hurt. Besides, her brothers had been peeking out the window, waiting for the chance to greet him for the past half hour.
Laughter and happy voices filled the house as Matt came in. Bailey couldn’t make out who was saying what, but she could sense the excitement from upstairs in her bathroom. She ran her makeup brush over her cheeks and forehead. Not that she wanted to impress him, but she didn’t need a shiny face — no matter who was coming for dinner.
She started to leave, and stopped herself. Without giving her actions much thought, she grabbed her favorite bottle of perfume and spritzed some behind each ear and on her wrists. One last look at herself and again she hesitated. She wore dark jeans and a long-sleeved red scoop-neck T-shirt. Her chestnut-colored hair fell in long waves, and the combination made her eyes stand out. Yes, this look would do.
Downstairs, she joined in the mix without a lot of fanfare. The guys were in the TV room looking at film from the scrimmage that afternoon. Bailey would’ve had to go out of her way to find them, so instead she went straight at the bottom of the stairs and found her mother’s water pitchers in the pantry. Again, Ricky was the loudest in the room. “See that! Connor’s got an arm, don’t you think so, Matt?”
He laughed, and the sound was instantly recognizable from his TV interviews. A fluttering sensation filled her heart, and she felt more nervous than she had in a long time. Get a grip, Bailey … this is ridiculous.
“Bailey!” Her dad’s voice rose above the others just as she had almost filled the second pitcher.
“Just a minute.” Be calm … come on, this is any other Saturday night. Any other dinner with a football player. She set the pitchers on the counter next to the cooling casserole and dried her hands on her jeans as she walked into the family room, the place where the boys were gathered in front of the TV. “Sorry, just helping out.”
Her dad gave her a bewildered look, like she maybe should’ve been a little more excited about meeting their guest. “Honey, I’d like you to meet one of our players, Matt Keagan.” He turned to Matt, seated beside him on the sofa. “Matt, this is our daughter, Bailey.”
She turned her eyes to him, and at almost the exact instant she knew two things for sure. First, Matt’s presence, his personality, and gentle spirit were more magnified in person than on any TV spot or football game Bailey might’ve seen him in. And second, he knew who she was. No question about it. His eyes fixed on hers as he stood and shook her hand. “Bailey,” he nodded. “Nice to meet you.” He paused. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“Thanks,” she released his hand, but the feel of his fingers against hers lingered. “I’ve … heard a lot about you, too.”
Matt never took his eyes from hers. “You’re a junior at Indiana, is that right?”
“Matt … we still have a few more plays.” Ricky was quick to try to get the conversation back on track.
“Actually, it’s time to eat.” Bailey’s mom entered the room. She had already met Matt when he first arrived, because Bailey had heard her voice among the mix. Now she seemed as comfortable as if they’d all known Matt forever.
As the dinner got underway, Bailey couldn’t deny that she felt the same. Matt was maybe the same height as Connor, but a lot more filled out. Probably in the shape of his life, based on the way her dad and his coaching staff ran practices with the Colts. On top of that he had hazel eyes and a light tan face. No wonder Nike was using him as one of its spokespersons this year.
But his looks weren’t what drew Bailey to him again and again throughout the night. It was the easy way he had about him, the kindness and gentleness. She remembered a verse from Galatians that her parents had woven into their family life while they were growing up: The fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, thoughtfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Watching Matt, Bailey couldn’t get over it. He was like a walking billboard for every single fruit. He couldn’t be perfect, of course, but right now it was hard to see a chink in his armor.
When they were done eating, they had blueberries and whipped cream for dessert, and after that they played a round of Catch Phrase. Bailey did okay in the game, mostly because she wasn’t seated right next to Matt. She wasn’t sure how she would look into those eyes and try to say or act out anything. Throughout the night she kept wishing he’d make eye contact with her across the room. But he never did.
By the end of the night, Bailey wasn’t sure what she felt. He had come for dinner, but that didn’t mean he was interested in her. After their introductions he barely seemed to notice her. She needed time alone to process all that had happened in the last few hours, and to remind herself that he probably didn’t mean anything personal by his avoidance. Matt was not only a celebrity, he was insanely busy. On top of his football schedule, he did volunteer work for ministries throughout Indianapolis, and he had weekly meetings with the companies he was endorsing products for. He might as well work three full-time jobs.
Somehow as he was leaving, she wound up walking him to the door. Bailey was pretty sure it was no coincidence their dad had given every boy a chore just as it was time for Matt to go. Whatever had happened, suddenly it was just the two of them headed down the hallway to the foyer. When they reached the front door, Bailey felt suddenly self-conscious. They hadn’t had a single conversation apart from the group all night. What could she possibly say now, considering she didn’t know him?
He turned and slipped his hands in his jeans pockets. “I had fun tonight.” His grin warmed her heart. “Your family’s amazing.”
“Thanks.” She allowed a light laugh. “Ricky was going to ask you to move in. So you’d have a family in Indiana.”
“He asked.” Matt raised one eyebrow. “I might have to think about it.”
This time they both laughed and Matt opened the door. “Well, thanks for coming … it was nice meeting you.”
“Hey,” Matt angled his head, his eyes more serious. “I’m sort of seeing a girl in Indianapolis. She’s a law student at IU.”
Bailey felt her heart sink, and she could almost see the blood rushing to her cheeks. Of course he was seeing someone. Why had she thought even for a moment that this was about her? She smiled, working hard to save face. “That’s great. It’s a good law school.”
“Yeah,” he hesitated, the silence between them slightly awkward. “Anyway, if things don’t work out … I’d love to get to know you better.”
Bailey nodded, and crossed her arms in front of her. “Sure … I’ll be here.” She smiled and waved once as Matt headed for the door. “See you later.”
He said something about how nice it had been meeting her, but Bailey wasn’t really listening. She wondered how different her thoughts and actions through the night might’ve been if she’d known he had a girlfriend.
“Ughh,” she muttered out loud as she headed back down the hallway to the kitchen. “Nightmare.”
Her family was waiting for her, but she smoothly evaded any questions and feigned a sudden need to check her clothes in the dryer upstairs. One thing was sure: Matt Keagan wasn’t the guy God had for her. She flopped on her bed. Maybe there was no guy for her. Either way, as she heard Matt Keagan drive off she was haunted by a single thought.
Maybe she should’ve spent the day in Indianapolis.