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Chapter 54: Rowen
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Groupie Chapter 55: Tiffany
I keep my head down and hide behind a magazine in the airport terminal. I'm not seeing any of the words, though. Rationally, I know everyone is not looking at me. But it feels like they are. The security agent that checked my ID did. When he looked at my driver's license and snickered, I thought Rowen was going to come unglued. So far, he's the only stranger that has recognized me.Rowen has his hand resting on my knee. He hasn't stopped touching me since we took a bath together. He thinks he's reassuring me, and he is. But I don't think he realizes he's also reassuring himself. I know this has been hard on him. He is a natural protector and it goes against everything in him to not be able to protect me from all of this."Tell me about them." I look up."What?""That couple. Standing by the bathrooms over there." He nods his head their direction. "What's their story?""Are you trying to distract me from my thoughts?" I ask quietly.He smiles like he just got caught. "Just tell me their
Groupie Chapter 56: Rowen, Part 1
She fidgets the entire cab ride to the house. I want to tell her to stop being nervous, to convince her that my parents are great. But right now, she doesn't trust anyone except me. And trusting me is miraculous enough at this point. Seeing her like this has been the worst thing I've ever experienced in my life. I've never seen her go out in public without getting dressed up until now. To the average person, hair in one of those messy bun things, no make up and wearing one of my oversized college hoodies with leggings would be normal. For Tiffany, it's not. She looks amazingly beautiful to me no matter what. But she looks tired and defeated and right now, nervous.I pull her hand to my lips and kiss her palm. "Relax, baby. It's gonna be fine."She shrugs. "I really wanted to make a good impression the first time I met them, ya know? I don't want them to worry about who their son is dating or to think I'm just trying to get my claws into you." She sighs. "They may be great, but they wo
Groupie Chapter 57: Rowen, Part 2
Da lets out a deep belly laugh. "Yer mam is right. Yer getting' married."I throw a napkin at him as my mom laughs."What did I miss?" Tiffany asks as she walks back into the room."Nothing. My dad just thinks he's a funny guy." I push back my chair and stand up. "Come on. It's only five thirty our time. Let's go take a nap."We trudge up the stairs and I take her to the guest room because my old room still has a single bed in it and this one has a queen."Your parents are okay with us sharing a room?" she asks."This time, yes." She furrows her brows at me in question. "Normally my mam would object because she wants to make sure we don't 'have any temptations we can't control'." I use my fingers to make the quotations marks and Tiffany begins to giggle. "But they're making an exception under the circumstances. Come here."She steps over to me as I sit on the bed. I put her hands on my shoulders to steady herself while I undo her shoes and take them off. Her socks and pants go next. Fi
Groupie Chapter 58: Tiffany, Part 1
I stretch my arms over my head and realize I've been asleep. Really asleep. No nightmares, no interruptions. I feel a lot better.I reach my arm to the other side of the bed and find it empty. I wonder how long I've been out.I rifle around in my bag until I find a light jacket and pull my pants back on. Padding down the stairs and to the kitchen, I find Rowen's mother cooking again."Good morning," Denise says brightly as she drains some potatoes in the sink. "Did you sleep well?""Yeah, I really did. How long was I out?""Uh, I'd say about four hours.""Really? I haven't slept that well in a few days.""That means you feel safe here. That's good."She sets the pot on the stove and begins mashing the potatoes. There's a sauce simmering and I can smell some sort of meat cooking as well. "Can I help you with anything? It looks like you've got your hands full.""Oh I'm doing just fine, but thank you. Why don't you have a seat? Do you want something to drink?""I really could use some wa
Groupie Chapter 59: Tiffany, Part 2
"Absolutely not. And neither did Ryan. We would never violate Rowen's trust like that. Or yours. Actually," she says as she throws some butter into the potatoes, "I never look at those pictures when they are leaked. If I'm going to subscribe to the belief that it's a violation of someone's privacy, I need to give anyone in this situation the same kind of respect."I clasp my hands together in my lap and look up at her, tears in my eyes. "Thank you," I say quietly. She smiles.Suddenly the back door opens and the guys walk in, faces flushed from the cold."Hey! Close that door! You're getting my food cold," Denise scolds.Ryan slams the door behind him, stalks over to her and wraps his arms around her. "Bangers and mash," he says as he kisses her on the neck, making her squeal from the chill. "I knew there was a reason I kept you around, Mo grá."She smacks him on the arm. "I didn't do it for you, I did it for your son.""Then he needs to come home more often.""How was your work out?"
Groupie Chapter 60: Rowen
We spent four more days in Detroit. Tiffany rested and relaxed. I, on the other hand, got my ass kicked by my Da on a regular basis. I was grateful, though. I had royally fucked up and let down my team. I wanted to be in tip-top shape when I got back on that field to make up for it.I discreetly monitored the sports news while we were there. I didn't want Tiffany to see anything that would throw her back into a tailspin but I needed to know the worst was over. Things got very quiet, very quick. It actually surprised me who fast it was over. The biggest news after Daniel's interview was Shivel's suspension and subsequent demotion to the practice team.I wanted to laugh at the mess he's created for himself. His skills were already declining. If he'd wanted to stay on top, he needed to spend less time worrying about sabotaging others and more time working on his game. But he didn't. And it caught up with him.We finally made it home about a week ago. A rode out my last days on suspension
Groupie Chapter 61: Tiffany
"I promise, Mom, I'm doing great," I say into the phone as I grab my last minute script changes off the printer to take downstairs. "It was rough at first and I still have my moments. But I feel stronger every day."She sighs. "I just wish you had come home instead of gone to Detroit. I would have taken care of you.""I wouldn't have even gone to Detroit if Rowen hadn't practically man-handled me into the car." Grabbing my head seat, I make my way to the stairs and the newsroom. "Besides, I didn't want you to see me like that. I was too ashamed.""Honey, you should never be ashamed around me.""That's easier said than done and you know it. I never wanted you to find out those things, Mom. I know you and I have a good relationship. But some things your mother never needs to know.""I know, I know. Just promise me you'll come home soon to visit. It's been too long.""I promise. But hey, I have to go. I've got about five minutes until my show starts.""Okay dear. I love you.""Love you, t
Groupie Chapter 62: Rowen, Part 1
8 months later…The warm breeze blows through the open balcony doors, making the sheer white curtains billow out. It looks like a picture you would see in a magazine. But I barely notice. My focus is on the beautiful, naked creature in my bed.Tiffany is sound asleep on her stomach facing me. Her beautiful brown hair fanned across the pillow her head is on. I can't stop staring at her, listening to the puffs of breath coming from her as she sleeps peacefully. This is what we needed. To get away from everyone and everything. The season had been stressful. Not just on me, but on Tiffany as well. After the picture scandal broke, she couldn't sit in the stands anymore. Anytime she did, people would surround her, taking pictures and making comments. It'll eventually die down, we hope. But soccer fans never forget anything. It'll take some time before she will feel comfortable in Section 100 again.In the meantime, she sits in the box with Quincy and the other WAGS. She says it was a little
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