Page 83 of Tangled with the Tight End

Chapter 13

Declan

Storms make trees take deeper roots.

~ Dolly Parton

After ninety minutes of upper body and core, I feel almost human again. I lift myself into a shower chair and manage not to soak my cast. In the locker room, I dress while balanced on one foot.

My teammates move in and out of the room. All of us are on our own schedules for treatment and workouts until meetings at the end of the day.

I pull on my athletic shorts and tug my T-shirt over my head.

“O’Connell, looking strong!” Treyvon Harris, our slot receiver, says. “I saw you lifting. Good to have you back.”

“Thanks,” I say.

“Wish you could be out there for the game against the Bears this weekend. We could use you.”

“Hendricks has got this,” I say.

Treyvon huffs out a short breath. “He's not you.”

“Thanks, man.” I nod at Harris. “I'll be back on the field as soon as I'm able.”

He claps me on the shoulder. “I know you will.”

I glance down at my cast. My jaw tics and I blow out a breath.

Then I send Winona a text.

The sound of lockers opening and slamming shut, men’s voices and laughter, and the water of the showers fills the room. I rest my elbows on my thighs, settling into the feel of the bench under me.

Declan: I’m grabbing lunch at the cafeteria. Want to join me?

Winona: Are you asking me on a date, football player?

Does she want me to? Does the winking emoji mean she’s joking or flirting?

Declan: This place isn’t exactly ideal for a first date. Way too much testosterone and sweat.

Winona: Yeah. Better to save the sweat for a third or fourth date. Where’s this cafeteria?

I chuckle out loud and a few heads turn my direction.

Declan: I’ll come get you.

Winona: Sounds good.

I stand and grab my crutches, propelling out of the locker room, past my teammates and into the concrete hallway.

I’m still riding the adrenaline of my workout. It feels good to finally be pushing my body again.

When I get to the office, I knock.

“Come in,” Winona says.

I push the door open and she’s still on the floor, raising her arms overhead and stretching.