"We're playing Ottawa, which is a good thing, since it gives us a first look at who we're playing in week three of the regular season. So keep your eyes open tomorrow. There's bound to be some new things they'll be trying out on defense, even if they keep it pretty basic like we will."
The lights dim, and Coach walks us through the one hour of video. I've watched this same video at least a dozen times over the past week, either in meetings or in my apartment, and I can actually predict the next play that's being shown before Coach announces it.
I tune out him as he shifts to special teams, which is a bigger part of Canadian football than the American game, and my mind drifts to April. She's on my mind constantly now, but instead of it being a distraction, I've found it a good thing the past few days. Seeing her around the stadium, or when she and I have "work meetings," I've started to find a sort of inner peace that I haven't felt in a long time.
Being with her is kind of like being with a long lost friend. We've had lunch together every day since the first night, and while she hasn't stayed at my apartment since that first time, I can see it in her eyes, she wants to.
I didn't get a lot of playing time our first preseason game last week, Coach wants to keep me under wraps and have me be fully comfortable before he unleashes me on the other teams. Still, in three series with the first string offense, I threw for a touchdown and had nearly a hundred yards of passing . . . not too bad a start. This time though, I'm expecting to play most of the first half and maybe even into the third quarter, and to be honest, I'm excited.
The video session wraps up, and I leave the meeting room along with the rest of the offense. I see April in the hallway and wave, and she smiles, something that she's doing more and more often now. She's grown so much in only ten days, and I'm constantly taken off guard at how just how attracted to her I am.
"Hey," I greet her, stopping while the other guys go by. DeAndre gives me a little smirk, he's seen me and April around the area, I'm sure a lot of the guys have, but he's cool with it. He's a pro, and he sees that its not interfering with me on the field so far. "How was your morning?"
"I dropped off your laundry," April says with a little smile. I haven't found time to do my own laundry yet, so I asked April if she could recommend me a drop-off laundry service. Instead she just took my first big bag of clothes to the cleaner herself this morning. "The cleaner says he'll have them tonight, I can pick them up on the way home, bring it all to you in time for the game."
I laugh and lean in, whispering in her ear. "You know, you could always bring them by my place tonight."
April blushes and shakes her head. "I can't."
"Why?" I ask, leaning in closer. "It's been days."
"Yeah, but still . . . people are talking," she whispers back. "I don't want to get in trouble. Besides, someone told me that women weaken legs."
I laugh. "Okay. But Sunday afternoon, let's have a date, I don't care who talks about what. I had an idea, something I saw the other day on the way to the stadium."
"What?"
"Say yes, and I'll tell you."
April looks up into my eyes, and there's a light in there, an emotion that flares that I've seen a few other times before. "Yes. You know I can't say no to you."
"Yes you can," I reply softly, making sure it's just the two of us who can hear it. "You always can say no."
"Well . . . maybe I just don't want to say no," she says back, her eyes gleaming as she looks up at me. "With you I feel . . . better."
“Well a deal’s a deal. Sunday I wanted to go kayaking."
"Sounds like fun. What time?"
"Eleven? I like sleeping in the night after a game. Or maybe . . . brunch at ten, then kayaking?"
April smiles and nods. "Ten. I'll meet you at your place."
We turn and go down the hallway, toward the entrance to the field where we'll eat our lunches together. April packs her own lunch, and I've started to do the same, even if it is just peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
"You know, some day, I'd like to see your place," I say as we sit down in the stands. "It feels weird. I have no idea where you live."
"It's nothing to brag about," April replies with a shrug. "I rent a cheap studio flat in a older building in Cabbagetown. It's near the University, but not too close. I used to have a flat mate, but she moved to Hamilton on a new job. Thankfully, the rent's not too bad, and my other costs are low. If you really want, we can go by sometime. There's a movie theater nearby, a few bars, and some other stuff."
"I'd like that — when you're ready,” I say, chewing on the first of my two sandwiches. "Are you getting any flack that you and I are seeing each other?"
April shakes her head and spears her salad with her fork. "No, but I think Francine Walker's a bit jealous. She's the head cheerleader."
"I met her at a photo shoot the team had me do. Something for charity. She's cute, but not my type."
"What is your type, Tyler?"
I smirk and look at her. "I've always had a thing for brunettes."
"So if I should show up for our date with my hair dyed platinum blond?" April asks, and I laugh.
"Then platinum blonde’s my favorite."
“And if I go hot pink?”
“Don't push it.”