On a Wednesday by Whitney G.
Kyle: Now
Present Day
The chorus of adoring praise from the media was almost as annoying as the symphony of hate.
Every “I hate Kyle Stanton” was now an “I’ve always known that he was misunderstood.”
The crescendoing chorus of “He’s never let us down,” and “He’s killing it in the playoffs” meant nothing after all the harsh and bitter rants I’d heard.
Still, I couldn’t deny that the effect of Courtney’s piece was far more than I ever imagined. Her words were sharper than ever, and she made me look better than I expected.
I reread the entire piece for the umpteenth time and checked my calendar. She still had time before I showed up and demanded that she gave me an answer about us.
Preferably before the Super Bowl.
Impatient, I picked up my phone and started typing a text.
Before I could hit send, there was a knock on the door.
“I’ll get it,” Taylor said, wagging her finger at me. “Stay put.”
I stalled on the words, “Take me back,” and heard Taylor clearing her throat from behind.
“It’s for you,” she said, making me turn around. “And before you ask me, no. We have to leave tonight.”
Confused, I looked behind her and saw Courtney standing in the doorway.
Immediately getting up, I walked over to her.
“I hope you won’t mind me showing up without calling first.”
“I would never.” I smiled. “I did tell the manager that no one is supposed to know I’m here, though.”
“Well, I uh—” She blushed. “I called the general manager of the team.”
“Oh?” I leaned against the door frame. “Why would you do something like that?”
“For one, to tell him that the only reason he still has a job is because of you and he should be grateful that you haven’t left,” she said. “He really should’ve been fired a year ago.”
“Two years ago.”
“I was being generous…” She paused, her voice cracking. “But I also wanted to see if you’d ever added a ‘Courtney Johnson’ clause if I came looking for you.”
“Did it turn out to be true?”
She blushed, nodding. “I just wanted to drop by and let you know that I quit my job and started a new firm.”
“Good.” I couldn’t help staring at her lips. “That’s a good first step. For your second, I want you to consider taking me back.”
“I’d love to be friends again.”
“That’s not what I mean and you know it.” I cupped her face in my hands. “I want what we should’ve been after college.”
“Kyle…” She swallowed, shaking her head. “It would have never worked.”
“We’ll never know.” I brought her face closer, pressing a kiss against her lips. “It can work now, though, and it can be even better.”
“Are you going to give me some time to think about it?”
“We’re currently in the fourth and final quarter.”
“Then I’ll hope for some overtime.”
I overheard Taylor coughing and muttering behind me, “We need to go. Now.”
Kissing Courtney’s lips again, I whispered, “Do you have time to come with me to the airport?”