CHAPTER 113

We kicked off and went on defense to start the second half, they scored on a long drive to cut our advantage to one touchdown. From that point on the entire third quarter was a defensive struggle, neither team being able to get much going. We blew a couple of chances with dropped balls, one costing us a touchdown. Early in the fourth quarter, Scott Douglas busted a big gain off left tackle for sixty yards setting us up at their seventeen yard line.

"Flip right, double - X, Jet, 36 Counter, Waggle, Power Left Cross.", Josh called in the huddle, "HD1, check with Sam, then to me.

Josh's new name for me had become HD1, for HyperDunk One. It was rapidly spreading among the players, in fact some of the reporters were beginning to use it. What Josh meant by HD1, check with Sam was to see if in this package I might be matched up against their strong side linebacker. If so, I was to run a crossing route in front of the safety, about ten yards down the field. We lined up in formation. I was on the left in the slot. Waggle meant Scott Douglas would go in motion out of the back field to my side. This gave us three potential receivers on one side. This forced the linebacker to have to match one of us man to man. With Scott's speed, I saw the lineback signal to his free safety to pick up the rookie, meaning the linebacker had me man to man. Josh recognized it as well immediately

"Fifty Eight Blue, Fifty Eight Blue", Josh screamed.

The ball was snapped. I came straight up the field, the linebacker was playing my inside shoulder cutting me off from the post. I knew I wasn't going to be able to come across the middle. I saw a vacant hole around the three so I started in that direction. Josh read the same thing I did, but he saw what I didn't, the strong safety behind me. I saw the pocket collapsing, Josh began to roll out to my side. Since I was doubled, I knew to run away from him, I turned and ran into the back of the end zone, then started sliding along the back line looking for a window for him to throw in. With most of the coverage rolling with me, I stopped quickly and slid back a few steps. The safety stopped, but Josh threw the ball up high on my back shoulder away from the defender, I went up and pulled it down with both hands, landing in bounds.

We scored twice more in the fourth quarter to run away with the game 42-14, a big win for us.

By the time our bye week rolled around we were unbeaten at 7-0, but we still had critics. Some were calling us the best offense in the league, others were still insisting we were a fluke. Josh had already thrown for over twenty three hundred yards and twenty touchdowns. At this rate he had a legitimate chance to break the all time passing record that was set decades ago. I had already caught eight touchdowns for the year, I would shatter last year's stats, if I stayed healthy. Although I was nursing sore ribs, a sore ankle, and a strained calf muscle. The bye week was just in time for me, I could use the time off.

I stayed home this year having to meet with the trainers every morning for therapy, spa treatments and wraps. I would arrive at the practice facility about eight o'clock in the morning, spend several hours with the trainers, then head back home. By Thursday, I was starting to feel a bit better, the time off was working. On my way out to the grocery store Thursday evening, I ran into Alexis in the parking lot.

"Where are you off to ?", she asked, climbing out of her car.

"The grocery store, do you need anything ?", I replied.

"No, I am going to stop on the way home tomorrow, I am out of everything.", she replied.

"Ok, no problem.", I responded.

"Hey, are you doing anything tomorrow night ?", she asked.

"Nope, not really, why ?", I answered.

"I have this party I have to go to for a girlfriend of mine. I would go alone, but I just don't feel like being hit on all night long. Wanna be my date ?", she inquired.

"Sure why not, I don't have to dress up ,do I ?", I replied.

"No, it's casual," she said.

"Ok, call me later tonight, let me know the details.", I said, climbing in my car.

I went to the store, shopped and was back in about two hours. I had no sooner put away the groceries when my cell phone rang. Alexis explained the party was a birthday party for a girlfriend, I should be ready about eight. I told her I would be ready on time and hung up.

The following day I went shopping at a store in town that specialized in clothes for big and tall men. It was a very upscale shop, as were the prices. I found a really nice pair of black pants that actually fit really well which was odd, and a short sleeve white knit top that was quite tight, but had the extra length I needed. I bought both along with a pair of slip on black leather shoes. I went home, took a shower and dressed waiting for Alexis to call. She phoned me at seven asking me to come down to her unit, she was just about dressed. I locked up, walked down, the door was open so I went in.

"I'll be out in a minute", she called out from the back.

True to form, several minutes later she came out, I was blown away. She was wearing a very tight pair of tan dress pants that made her ass and legs look amazing. She had on a cream colored top that was sleeveless, but clung to her well. She had on a pair of dark brown high heels. At that moment I was very grateful I had gone shopping, I would have felt foolish in jeans. I stood up and turned to face her, I figured she was ready to go.

"God damn Brian, you look like a fine baby. Every girl at the party is gonna be drooling over you.", she said, running her hands up my chest and shoulders.

"Thanks, I am glad I went shopping after seeing you like this.", I answered.

We left her unit, got in her car and drove across town to a very high class neighborhood. By the time we arrived, the street was full of cars, so we had to park several blocks away. As we walked down the sidewalk towards the house, Alexis was very quiet.

"What's wrong ?", I asked.

"I hate these things, it's always the same, either the women try to fix me up, or the guys won't leave me alone. I realize they don't know about what happened years ago, but I still get so tired of it.", she sighed.

I thought for a moment, then reached down and grabbed her small soft hand in mine.

"Tell them I'm your boyfriend, we have been dating for a few months, how will they know ? Tell them it's still casual but at least it gets you off the hook for tonight.", I replied.

"You would do that for me ?", she asked, looking up with wide eyes.

"Absolutely.", I answered.

We walked up to the door, rang the bell and were let in immediately. The house was packed with people from the front door to the rear. I followed Alexis through the maze of people until she found her girlfriend, the birthday girl. She was standing there with a guy, and two other couples. As soon as she saw Alexis, she threw open her arms and they hugged tightly swaying back and forth. As they broke their embrace Alexis looked at her friend, then turned toward me.

"Sandy, this is Brian , we have been dating for a few weeks now. Brian, this is my friend Sandy.", she said.

"Dating ?"Sandy said, raising her eyebrows, "Where did you find this one, and can you get me one just like him ?"

She walked over to me hugging me a little too long for comfort, finally letting go. She was short, so I had to bend over quite a bit to perform the task. Once separated she looked me up and down twice, a smile on her face.

"Do you spend your life in the gym, Jesus Christ you are some built.", she giggled.

"I have logged a few hours , it comes with the job.", I answered.

Sandy introduced Alexis and I to the rest of her party, then brought us around to just about everyone else one by one and made introductions. We were finally able to get out to the back patio where the drinks and food had been set up. Alexis got a glass of wine, I had the bartender pour me an orange juice, he dropped a short red straw in it and winked.

"That way they think it's a screwdriver," he said softly.

We moved around one end of the pool to where it was a bit less crowded and were standing there talking to each other when a dark haired, very attractive young woman walked up to us.

"So Alexis, where have you been keeping him child ?", she asked, fluttering her eyes at me.

"Oh I have my secrets."Alexis giggled.

"You have every woman at this party dying, they want all the scoop.", she stated.

"There's no scoop, we have been dating for a few weeks, no big deal.", Alexis replied.

"Um sweetie, this is big, and it's a deal.", she laughed, pointing at me.

They talked for several minutes then finally the lady left, moving back across the crowd. Alexis looked up at me apologetically, I knew she felt bad.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have brought you here.", she sighed, "It's only gonna get worse once they get drunk."

"I'm fine Alexis, I can handle myself.", I replied.