CHAPTER 124

I spent the rest of the day relaxing, went to bed early, and the TV was terrible. I woke up sometime around nine o'clock. I ate breakfast, drove over to Children's Hospital making a quick visit to the children making sure everything was going well. I was back at my place around two o'clock in the afternoon, since we were back at practice the next day, I decided to relax, then go to bed early. I ordered a pizza around six o'clock that evening, around twenty minutes later there was a knock on the door. I grabbed my wallet and made my way to the door, opening it. I was shocked to see Paige standing there, although the wine glass in her hand was not a surprise.

"What are you doing ?', she asked.

"Nothing, I thought you were the pizza guy.", I responded.

"You ordered a pizza ? Good I'm hungry.", she said, slipping past me.

I closed the door behind me, following her into the main room. She sat down on the sofa, looked over at the TV.

"Is football all you watch ?", she asked.

"No, but we're in the playoffs this year, it's important.", I replied.

Thankfully, there was another knock at the door, this time it was the pizza. I paid the delivery boy, then walked back into the main room setting the box on the coffee table. I realized that if I was going to be close to Alexis, I was going to try and somehow have to learn to accept Paige, they had been friends a long time.

"Help yourself.", I told her, going to the kitchen for a bottle of water.

By the time I arrived back, she had done just that. I sat down, grabbed a piece and went back to watching the program. I felt Paige's eyes on me, but I made sure not to look her way. I knew the silence was too good to be true.

"You don't like me much, do you Brian ?", she asked.

"Paige, I barely know you, but I think you're ok.", I answered.

"Just ok ?", she asked, a grin on her face.

"You know what I mean.", I replied.

"Look, I know you got a bit upset with me last night, I'm sorry. It's just I'm hurting right now, I feel so alone.", she stated, sadly.

"Things will get better Paige. I have been there myself.", I answered.

"Then you know what I'm feeling right now," she asked.

"Yes, I do.", I responded.

She took another long sip on the wine, like maybe she was trying to summon up the courage for something. I was hoping she was about ready to go back down the hall. Unfortunately, I was wrong, dead wrong.

"Brian, could I ask you something personal ?", she asked.

"I…uh…I don't know Paige, I mean…", I started.

"Look I promise it will never leave this room.", she interrupted.

"I guess so.", I answered.

"Would you go to bed with me tonight? I need to feel wanted….I need to be loved, even if it's only for one night. I promise, I would never say a word to Alexis.", she offered.

I sat there stunned, I had no words to reply. This was Alexis' best friend, was she really being serious ? I sat up in my seat, leaning forward a bit, trying to collect my thoughts.

"Paige, first of all, I really care for Alexis, more than I think you know. I would never do anything in the world that I thought would hurt her. I think Alexis is the most beautiful and caring woman in the world, obviously your friendship with her is not that important.", I replied.

"She will never know Brian. It will be our secret.", Paige answered, starting to unbutton her shirt.

"Paige, I will know. Please get out, now.", I demanded, pointing at the front door.

"Oh please, where the fuck do you get off ?", she hissed, angrily.

"Right about here.", I said, opening the door.

She stormed out of the door, back to Alexis' unit, I heard her door slam. I quickly cleaned up the mess, undressed and got into bed. I started to think of how to break this to Alexis, I mean this was her best friend. Then I wondered if I should even say a word. It wasn't likely Paige would bring it up, maybe it was best to not say anything. Although it would be very hard to be around Paige from now on. The more I thought about it, the more confused I became, I guess I finally fell asleep.

Monday's practice was intense, you could see both the urgency and the finality in the preparation. We would be playing Houston, who won their first round game quite easily. By far this was the longest first two days of the week that I have ever been through. We were spending close to eight hours a day at the practice facility. I was looking forward to seeing Alexis tonight, I just hoped it would be alone. I certainly didn't want to see Paige again, not after the other night. When I arrived back at the condo, I saw Alexis' car in her spot, unfortunately so was Paige's as well. I went upstairs, took a shower and changed, then made my way down to the pool area. I had been laying out there for maybe thirty minutes when the phone rang. I looked at the screen, it was Alexis.

"Where are you ?', she asked.

"I'm down by the pool. I just got back from practice about an hour ago.", I replied.

"Oh, well I will talk to you later then.", she responded.

"I have missed you Alexis, more than I think you know.", I told her.

She didn't respond, didn't say a word. I found that very strange, not like her at all. I thought maybe she was just tired from her trip.

"Can I see you later tonight, just for a while ?", I asked.

"I'll call you later.", she said, hanging up the phone.

I laid out by the pool for about another hour, then went back to my condo and made some dinner. I was on the sofa watching TV when I heard a knock on the door. I jumped up and made my way to the door quickly, it was Alexis. She walked past me into the main room with no greeting at all, I closed the door behind her. She sat down on the sofa, her hand folded in her lap.

"Brian, we need to talk.", she said, with no emotion in her voice.

"Sure Alexis, what's wrong ?", I asked.

She took a deep breath, then looked up at me for the first time. I saw tears forming in her eyes, I knew something wasn't right.

"I told you when we first.... I mean you know how hard it is for me to trust men.", she started.

"Yes, I know.", I replied.

"Well I trusted you, for the first time in a long time, I trusted a man.

Then this happens.", she finished, tears rolling down her cheeks.

"What happened ?", I asked.

"Oh come on, Paige is my best friend, you really think she wouldn't tell me ?", she said, loudly.

"She told you ?", I asked, very surprised.

"Of course she told me, she is my best friend. Apparently my only friend now.", she snapped.

"I'm sorry Alexis, but I'm lost here. Your best friend comes over here, asks me to sleep with her, starts unbuttoning her shirt, I throw her out, then I'm the bad guy ?", I asked, astonished.

"That's exactly what she said you would say.", Alexis replied.

"To the Superbowl, for real ?", he screamed.

"For real. I already talked to Mommy and Daddy, they say it's up to you.", I hinted, waiting for a response.

'When are we leaving ?', was his only response.

I laughed at the youngster, his enthusiasm was contagious. It was fun being around the younger children, they never failed to amaze me. I promised to see him there, I heard him drop the phone and take off yelling. I finished the arrangements with his mother, then hung up.

We ended the week's practice on Friday about three in the afternoon, we were given Saturday off to prepare for the trip. We were due at the practice facility by two o'clock Sunday afternoon, the bus to the airport would leave close to three o'clock. By the time I got back to my place on Friday afternoon, I was exhausted. I had spent the entire week practicing, making sure everyone's tickets were mailed to them, sending out money orders and trying to get myself packed.

I made myself a light dinner, then bagged up what little food was left in the fridge, going out back tossing it in the dumpster. I would be gone for close to nine days, nothing would be much good when I returned. I grabbed the mail out of my box on the way back up, it was stuffed, I was bad at getting mail. I was sitting on the sofa watching TV when my cell phone rang, it was Alexis.

"Hey Brian, how have you been ?", she asked, nervously.

"I'm ok Alexis, it's just been crazy this week, getting ready for the trip to New Orleans.", I replied.

"Yes, I bet it is. Are you looking forward to it ?", she asked.

"Not as much as I thought I would. Somehow, it's not what I pictured it would be so far.", I answered.

"Brian, would it be possible for me to talk with you ?", she asked, her voice anxious.

"Alexis, you can always talk to me. It's not a problem.", I answered.

"Could I come down now, or would you rather wait until you get back.", she inquired.

"You can come down now, I'm not busy.", I offered.

"Ok, thanks. See you in about an hour.", she responded, hanging up.