Fourth Down and Inches
It was a warm September morning in Houston, the city I was born and raised in. It had been two years since I last woke up in my hometown. As I drank my coffee sitting on the front veranda at my parent's house, all I could think about was that I wanted to see Jessica.
My name is Steve Maxwell, I'm a twenty-five-year-old Assets Manager for a large transport company that has its head office in Houston. I spent my last two years managing at their Chicago office, and now I was happy to be home, more than happy. I missed my family and friends, I missed going to all the places I knew so well, but most of all I missed Jessica Stephenson. I thought back to the last time I saw her, her golden blonde hair, her beautiful blueish-grey eyes, that smile that could power a lighthouse, that body that could lure a thousand sailors. Jessica and I had grown to become a 'hot' couple as our friends would refer to us. We were both attractive and fit, both of us outgoing and confident.
Jessica and I had first met when we were both starting high school, with her family living just a block from mine. We quickly became friends and were inseparable for the next five years. We went to the same high school, and we shared the same friends. When we were seniors we were already 'going' together and Jessica was of course going to be my Prom date, that was never in question. However, her family moved halfway through our senior year, her father taking a promotion in Phoenix. I was heartbroken and missed Jess madly, it took me almost six months before I even asked another girl out on a date.
I went to the University of Houston to get my CPA, with Jessica attending Arizona State to become a Physiotherapist. Initially we kept in touch, but that communication eventually became less and less until it stopped all together.
During the first couple of years at college, I had a few girlfriends, losing my virginity and learning all about sex in the process. I later found out that Jessica had done likewise.
With a year to go doing my CPA, I got a call from Ray, my best friend. He asked me to get my ass down to our favorite diner as he had a surprise for me. When I walked in, the first person I saw was Jessica sitting there with all of our friends. By the time we left the diner, Jessica and I were back together, almost like we had never been apart. Later that night we had sex together for the very first time, it's a moment I'll remember for the rest of my life.
Jessica had completed her studies at Arizona State and had decided to return to Houston, landing a job with a medical center that specialized in physical and sporting injuries, all the while I was doing my final year of my CPA. That year I moved out from my parent's place to share an apartment with Ray, Jessica had already moved into an apartment with her best friend Diane. I'm not sure which place we spent more time at, but most of it was spent in the bedroom.
When I completed my CPA, I got a job at the transport company I'm still with now, starting out as a junior Assets Manager. A year later, they offered me a huge promotion to be the Assets Manager for their Chicago branch which was a huge step up for me, both financially and career wise. Jessica was loving her job and I couldn't ask her to quit just to follow me, I also had no idea how long the move to Chicago would be for. It could be just six months, so I decided we should part and see what happened.
Well, the job in Chicago ended up lasting two years, two long years. In the back of my mind, I always knew that I wanted to get back together with and marry Jessica. Our connection had always been so much deeper than with any of the girlfriends I had during college or during my time in Chicago. There's something about caring for someone so deeply that you would put their happiness before your own, that when you go to sleep at night, they are the last person you think about.
So, I'm sitting here drinking my coffee wondering what to do. I had not spoken to Jessica for the last eighteen months. I thought it was unfair to expect or keep Jess waiting for me when after the first six months at my new job, I already knew I would be in Chicago for a good deal longer. I also knew that like the last time we were separated, both of us would eventually move on and meet other people and I didn't want to drag out the inevitable.
I decided to call Ray to catch up, like Jessica I had not spoken to him for quite a while as well. I was disappointed to find out that he now lived in Dallas, moving for his work. I thought about calling Jessica, but I was worried about just dropping back into her life again. I had no idea if she was now with someone, she could be engaged or possibly even married now for all I know.
I started my new role this week back in the head office and was glad to meet some new faces, and to see some old. One of the guys I worked with before I left to Chicago was now working for me, his name is Darius. He's a former college linebacker who never made it further after injuries, so ended up working with me instead. When Friday afternoon rolled around Darius come into the office to talk with me.
"Hey boss, how's your first week been?"
"Good, and come on Darius, don't call me boss. That just sounds fucking weird."
"Yeah, I'm just yanking your chain. So, you up for a few drinks tonight? I know a good bar not far from here."
"Yeah, I could do with a few beers."
After five I headed to the bar with Darius and another guy from work named Jack. We got ourselves a round of beers and sat down to discuss work, football and girls, all the important stuff. By about 9pm Darius asked if we were interested in going to a club in midtown, called The Sphere. Jack laughed and said he wasn't interested.
"What's up, you don't like dancing?" Darius asked him.
"Look at me, I'm a red-haired Irishman with freckles, why would I want to go to a hip hop club to watch guys like you get all the girls."
"Ah come on Jack, you'll be fine. I'm sure there's some red-haired Irish girl there that might like you."
"If a girl like that is there, she's not looking for someone like me, more like someone like you, big and black."
"Nah, there's plenty of white folk there, you're just making excuses now."
"Yeah, maybe. But I have to go anyway, I got my kids in the morning and the Ex will get pissed if I'm late or hung-over, so I got to go. I'll see y'all at work on Monday."
"Okay, that leaves you and me boss, don't you start giving me excuses. The night's still early."
"Yeah, I'm up for it. Can we go dressed like this though? I'm dressed for the office."
"You're fine, half the guys go there in suits to look good, you'll fit right in."
We finished our beers and then got a cab to the club in midtown. When we walked in, I thought to myself that Jack was probably right. Whole there were a lot of white folk here, nearly all of them were women. We got a beer at the bar and looked for a table, finding one that was halfway between the bar and the dance floor. Within a minute or so, an attractive older blonde woman named Jacqui who I'm guessing was about twenty-nine or thirty come over and started to chat with us. It was clear she was interested in Darius, he cut an imposing figure.
"Can you mind my beer boss? I'm going to take this fine lady for a dance."
"Yeah sure, have fun you two."
No sooner had Darius and Jacqui walked away then another woman came over to the table to say hello. She was a brunette about the same age as myself. She seemed nice enough, reasonably attractive with a nice body. She was tall too, probably about the same as my own height at 5'10, although her heels no doubt gave her one or two inches.
"Are you new in town? I haven't seen you here before."
"Yes and no. I was born and raised here, been away for a few years though. Just got back a week ago."
"You weren't in prison were you?"
"No, Chicago. Although in winter it felt like I was in prison."
"So what brings you back home? Miss your family?"
"Work, but I missed my family too. How about you, what do you do?"
Just as I asked her that a rather large black guy interrupted her with a hug, they clearly knew each other. A moment later she said her goodbyes and headed out to the dance floor with him.
I sipped on my beer and looked around, it was a nice club. Good music, plenty of people mingling and chatting, and a lot up dancing too.
I looked over at the dance floor to where Darius was dancing with Jacqui, they were getting all up close and personal. I looked over to the side of the dance floor at some of the women that were sitting at tables when I noticed her.
Sitting at a table on her own, it was Jessica.
Before I could even gather my thoughts, a tall athletic black guy joined her at the table for a moment then took her by the hand and led her to the dance floor. Jess is about 5'4 and had on heels, the guy she was with must have been about 6'4 and very muscular and athletic looking. I thought how in the hell with my first night out back in Houston could I end up at the same club as Jessica, what are the odds of that?
My thoughts were quickly interrupted as I saw Jess put her arms around his neck as they slowly danced, then they both leaned in for a passionate kiss. This was not the re-union with Jess I was hoping for. It was clear that they already knew each other, this was not just some random guy walking up and asking her to dance.
Straight away I felt a pang of jealousy, but I had to remind myself that we hadn't been together for two years, and that I was the one that had left. I knew for sure though that I didn't want to hang around to meet Jessica and her boyfriend, I wasn't ready for that yet. I would wait for Darius to return then make my excuses and leave.
About two songs later Darius and Jacqui returned to the table with Darius having an excited look on his face.
"Do you see who's here? TJ from the Texans, maybe some of the other players will be here too."
"You get that excited about a backup corner-back? I'd hate to see how you get if the QB showed up." I stated and chuckled at Darius.
