Matti Williams
"Annabelle! You throw with your right–not your left!" I blew the whistle at her as she got sacked by one of Blake's boys. I jogged over to her across the field as Blake leaned over the top of her.
Blake and I had just returned from our freshman year at Penn State, we were helping our local elementary school's football team practice. These dads weren't cutting it for the coaching staff.
Blake leaned over her, while I crouched down, pulling her helmet off her head.
"Are you crazy!" I exclaim as she chuckles.
"Yes. I don't want to throw up." I narrowed my eyes. "Well just because you don't want to throw doesn't mean you can go on a suicide mission and have these big boys tackle you!" I try to reason with her.
Blake looked down at us before nodding, "Let's huddle!" He yelled at the team as he gave her a fist bump still laying on the turf.
I sat down, next to her as she laid, helmet to the side.
"I can't let you kick," I state as she narrows her eyes at me.
"Why?" She asks as I sigh. "Annabelle! I already have a kicker!" I tried to explain, but she sat up shaking her head.
"No. Colton can't even kick a yard! I can kick from the fifty! This is an uneven playing field!" She argued with me as I raised my eyebrows at her.
"Annabelle. No." I deny her as she groans.
"But Coach Matti–I just want to kick! What if your kid wanted to play a sport and you wouldn't let them!" She stated as I shrugged. "Easy, I'm not having kids at the moment and if I had a rebellious daughter like you she wouldn't even leave the house!" She laughed at me as I gave her a pat on the back.
"You're not kicking," I state as her smile drops.
"Yes. I. Am." She glares at me as I shake my head.
I was never having kids.
Ever.
"You're going to throw a right fake, okay? You pass the ball to Johnny, so he can run it in the endzone. We will kick the ball–" She cuts me off.
"I will kick the ball." I roll my eyes.
"Bench," I state.
And that's when she grabbed her helmet and stormed over to the bench, slamming her body down onto it.
Good. She needed to realize that a coach will never like her if all she does is argue. It's impossible to get work done if your quarterback isn't listening.
Blake froze in the middle of his huddle, watching the tiny blonde cuss me out while walking over to the bench. He called for the rest of the boys to get water as he walked over to me.
"The hell was that about?" He asks as I chuckle.
"She wants to kick but we already have a kicker!" I explained as he frowned.
", but she is a better kicker." He admitted as I sighed. "I know she is, but she needs discipline. Just because you don't like what the coach says doesn't mean you have to throw a fit." I tried to explain my reasoning as he shook his head–walking away from me.
I stood in the field and pondered.
I was doing the right thing in this situation.
I walked over to the water shack and got two cups. Heading over to the fire-fueled blonde, sitting next to her. I held the water out to her as she glared at me.
I chuckled.
"You going to drink the water, boss?" I ask as she smiles, and takes it.
"Mmm. Thank you." She says in a polite voice- before dumping it out, in front of her.
My mouth drops open.
I was never having kids.
"Matti! You're killing it, buddy—absolutely killing it!" Coaches and scouts slapped me on the back as I was walking out of the facility. I nodded at them, thanking them as they continued to praise me.
New York City wind–slapping me all around my face as I exited the camps and practices that would lead up to a few final decisions.
Up until this moment–this was all I had ever wanted.
Nothing was getting in the way of this—I was so close to the NFL that I could fucking taste a Super Bowl championship in my morning smoothie.
I smiled and waved at fans and photographers as I got into my awaiting SUV, courtesy of my father's car service.
I just wanted to go take a fucking nap—I wanted to sleep. I craved sleep–all I wanted to do was sleep.
This football all day everyday thing was tough. I couldn't just back out that this was a real deal, million-dollar shit.
"Mr. Williams—back to your penthouse?" The driver, Tom, asked. I nodded, "Yes, do you know if they restocked on the ice cream? I have a hot date tonight that will be very upsetting if I don't have the goods." He gave a smile through the mirror.
"Yes sir–they did." I smiled back at him and then relaxed into the Range Rover's seats.
Still down for facetime? I text Naomi.
Naomi Black had been a daily recurring thought to my mind.
I hated the fact that we were apart because I did truly miss her, but I can't help but feel like maybe this was for the better. Our friendship was so healthy at the moment, we were doing good as we were.
We needed this.
"Sir, your father told me to remind you that the matching outfits for the 14th are ready for pickup, would you like me to stop and get them?" Tom asked as I snorted, tapping away at my screen.
"No thank you." I smile as he nods.
My dad had tricks up his sleeve that I didn't appreciate.
Especially like pulling a trick like getting me and my date matching outfits to the draft next week. First of all, I wasn't going to have a date. Second of all, I wanted to wear my signature all-black outfit.
I wouldn't even let Naomi go with me to the draft. I didn't want people there. I was terrified of failing around them.
"Okay, sir- we're here," Tom announced as Valet opened my car door for me. I smiled at them and hopped out, not before thanking them.
I walked into the hotel and went straight to the elevator–wanting nothing more than to take this damn hoodie off and get shirtless.
It wasn't a penthouse.
I have many and I know exactly what they like. This was just a fancy hotel room.
Dad got it for me in hopes that I'd feel more comfortable during one of the most stressful weeks of my life.
Emotionally–I was exhausted because my support system consisted of Facetime calls and group texts.
Mentally–I was tired. I didn't want to compete against Griffin, he was my best friend. I wanted to compete with him, not against him. That's why we're both here in the first place.
Physically—I was looking buff as fuck.
The elevator dinged and when the doors opened, I was in my room.
"Sir-" I jumped. I turned to see a tiny woman, with a duster walking towards me. "Sorry to frighten you, sir, everything is prepared for you tonight. Ice cream is also restocked as you asked." I smiled at her.
"Thank you." Her eyebrows raised as if she hadn't heard the word in a long time.
And she probably wouldn't have heard that word come out of my mouth if it weren't for the tiny brunette that I was waiting for a response from.
My phone started ringing.
"What's up Blake," I spoke into the receiver as he chuckled.
"Oh just about anything you could ever imagine. How's NYC? Enjoying the stay at my dad's hotel?" I raised my eyebrows at his sarcasm.
"Yeah, treat me nicely. What's wrong?" I ask as he again chuckles.
"There seems to be a situation-'' But as soon as he tried to explain, my phone started to beep. Another call was coming in. It was a facetime from Naomi.
"Hey bro–hold on. Got another call on the line." I state as he gives me a quick goodbye.
I hit the end and then accept the button, waiting for her face to pop up on the screen.
And when I saw her it was like all of the stress went away.
"NJ!" I cheered as I walked into my bedroom. She smiled at the camera, her gray hoodie- glasses, and hair in a bun. "Hey, you—how was your day?" I asked her as she gave me a nod.
"Non-eventful." She gave me a bland answer as I frowned. "How was your superstar?" She asked as I shrugged. "Same old same old. Interviews, interviews, and more interviews." She giggled as I took off my hoodie, leaving me only in black shorts and my chain.
"Wow–look at you and look at me. Are you sure you still want me?" She mocks as I shake my head. "Yes- I'm positive. I will always want you." I reassure her as she gasps.
"Oh-em-gee! Thee Matti Williams- the former quarterback from the Penn State University, still wants me!" I let out a loud hoot as she giggled.
She went off-camera for a second and then came back with her ice cream. I smiled, "Wait, let me get mine." I state as she nods.
I walk over to the mini-fridge in my room and grab a small quart of Ben and Jerry's.
"What flavor are you eating today, Miss Black?" I ask in a posh voice as she holds her ice cream to the screen. My eyes widened.
"Another Mint Chocolate Chip?" I ask in shock as she gives a small shrug.
"Oh–you know, my period cravings." I nod.
"So you got it?" I ask as she gives me a confused look.
"Got what?" She asked as I chuckled- grabbing a spoon and opening the lid.
"Got your period." I restate her answer as she pauses. She gives me a small smile then nods.
"Yeah, this morning." I chuckle at her lack of enthusiasm as she smiles at me.
But I could tell something was wrong with her.
"Naomi–before you eat that. What's wrong?" I ask as she immediately shakes her head as if to tell me what I'm thinking is nonvalid. "Nah, tell me. You aren't acting the same." I tried to dig it out of her but still, I got no answer.
She just dug her spoon into her ice cream and gave me a small smile.
"Hey! We ate our first bite together!" I whined as she stuck her tongue out at me.
"So do you still think that you'll go second?" She asks as I dig into my ice cream. I shrug, "I would rather go to either team." I answer as she looks back down at her ice cream, swirling her spoon around in it.
"So like—how far away will you be?" She asks as I sigh.
"Is that what is bothering you? The fact that I'll be 8 hours and 700 miles away if I don't go first?" I ask her as she frowns, not looking back up at the camera.
That's when I set my ice cream to the side.
"NJ—talk to me." I plead as she stays quiet.
I never really took into account how far away we'd be from each other if I didn't go to Pittsburgh- but by the looks of it, I don't think I will be going to Pittsburgh. They don't need a quarterback as much as they need someone with Griffin's position.
Detroit needs a quarterback.
But even then—we could still facetime, we could still do all of the things we were doing now, we could do it.
We weren't dating though so I didn't have a reason to stay.
"Yeah," She spoke and then cleared her throat. I frowned, "I think—I need to go to bed. I'm not feeling too hot. It's been a long day. I just need to sleep, and you should get some too. I just won't be getting loads of sleep in the future, you know because my shifts will be changing." I looked at her confused and bummed, I wanted to talk to her.
What?
"Okay. I love you–feel better." She smiled at my words. "I love you too," She ended the facetime call.
I sat in my bed, more confused than anything. That was the shortest call we've had, in a while. I was sad- she was the only person that I wanted to talk to.
That I craved talking to.
I missed her.
And even though we weren't together–I felt like this was the beginning of her trying to push me away.
I wouldn't let her do that though.
Naomi Black
I sat, ass on the cold tile floor—watching my future that I plan to have, flash past my eyes.
In my hands, I held one of the seven two-lined sticks.
When Sloane brought them all out to the table, I couldn't even look at them–I couldn't bear looking at them.
I was confused, sad–angry at myself.
But I was also happy.
I didn't even know how he was going to react to this kind of news. "Naomi, he gave you a ring. A little baby isn't going to change anything!" Finn exclaimed, pacing in the bathroom with me.
I just continued to stare down at the stick.
All of the signs–all of the dumb stupid signs.
Mimi.
Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream.
Throwing up.
The dizziness.
My mood swings.
Being tired.
Swollen Feet.
"A little baby will change everything Finn! Everything!" I shot back at her as she sat down on the counter, across from me. "He's going to be miles away–miles! He's not going to want to stick around and watch as all of the other bachelors get to live their best life while he has to change diapers!" All of my fears spilling out of my mouth.
She frowns.
"You don't know that." She states as I nod.
"Yes–I do! God, we aren't even dating!" I continued to let out my anguish and then I remembered. "I literally drank—so much." I gripped my hair, already knowing the possible outcomes of my actions.
Sloane appears in the bathroom doorway, phone in hand.
She sits down, nodding—she heard all of my concerns. "Let's all take a deep breath–you too MILF." Finn busts out laughing as I glare at her.
"Okay, now that we've taken a breath. Let's weigh the pros and cons." She tried to reason.
"Con's: Matti might kill you, Matti might leave and never come back, Matti might pull a Ben, Naomi you might not be a nurse for a while." Sloane listed a few off the top of her head as Finn shook her head.
"Damn–harsh Sloane." I nod agreeing with Finn.
"Okay but the Pro's—it doesn't matter if deadbeat daddy is here or not, you have us. I think that there's more pros than cons therefore; please keep the baby." She gushed with excitement as I looked at her as if she had two heads.
But in a good way.
"Please keep it! Think of all the cute outfits!" Finn squealed as Sloane agreed to give her a high five.
I shook my head.
"No–I need to talk to him first. I need to figure out where he will be in this." I state as they both frowned. "But you're keeping her?" My eyebrows shot up.
"Her?" I asked in confusion as Finn pointed. "You're carrying high–my money, it's a girl." Sloane chuckled, observing my stomach.
"First of all I don't have a bump, second of all I'm like seven, eightish weeks!" I exclaim.
I frown.
There weren't many things I knew at this moment- but I did know I was keeping this baby. Whether he wanted to be a part of the journey or not. It would break my heart to know that the baby would already have one thing that I couldn't give them.
But I knew I would be okay.
I had a trust fund.
I had a house.
I had a job.
My college was paid for.
I could do this.
I could have a baby.
"Give me your phone," I state to Sloane as she raises her eyebrows. "Why–yours is on the counter?" She asks as I hold my hand out to her, she sighs, placing the iPhone in my palm as I pull up the name I was looking for.
I click on the name and press the facetime button.
I wait for the call to be accepted.
And then it was.
"Hey! Oh My God! All three of you guys!" Natalie exclaims as I chuckle.
"Actually all four!" I return the same energy as she looks confused.
I place the test on the ground and flip the camera, so she gets a clear look at the results.
Her smile dropped, her mouth dropped open.
"Nat. You have to come home, please." I flipped the camera back around, so she saw the tears that were finally pooling at the bottom of my eyes.
She frowned before nodding.
She promised she wouldn't say anything to Griff before hanging up saying she was booking a flight now. All of the tears I had been holding in the entire day were coming out.
Finn and Sloane wrapped their arms around me–hugging me as I was overcome with emotions. "I really fucked up. He's going to be so mad at me." I spoke through tears as the girls stayed quiet.
I knew deep down that they agreed with me.
My phone dinged from on top of the counter. I wiped my tears, huffing out a breath before reaching for it next to the sink. I gripped it in my hands before pulling it down, letting out a chuckle as soon as I saw the message.
Still down for facetime? From Matti.
Hey, besties! How are we doing?
I love you guys so much! I'm forever thankful for you guys and I'm sorry that I keep leaving you guys on cliffhangers! Haha xoxo, talk soon!
Also- pray for Mimi. This poor cat has been through everyone dying and now she has to watch a pregnant woman lmao!
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