I have to win her back. I have to prove to her that I’m the man she needs. I have to show her how much I love her. Which is why I’m here, hiding backstage, in an elementary school auditorium, to make a grand gesture to the woman I love.
Today is Career Day at Alex’s school. The team’s publicist had been working with Alex to arrange the details, but once I found out why Kitten was avoiding me, I reached out to Alex directly. I explained the entire story, and he agreed to help me.
Kitten is on the stage right now. She’s talking about her job, and she looks like a goddamn dream. It’s taking every ounce of self-control I have to stay put, rather than racing to her and adhering my body to hers. She’s so close, standing tall, and looking like a librarian pinup model. The red dress she’s wearing is snug on top, flares out around her hips, and is covered with yellow polka dots. She has a fitted black blazer over the dress, black tights, (stockings, nylons, whatever the hell they’re called…) and shiny red heels. She’s the prettiest woman I’ve ever seen. And I’m not leaving here until she’s mine.
There’s a round of applause, and my focus is brought back to the mission at hand.
Kitten gives a little curtsy, then steps offstage. Since this is a group of elementary students, there are no chairs. The kids are all sitting cross-legged on the floor in front of the little stage, with the adults – teachers and presenters alike – standing against the walls. Alex is hosting, so after taking the microphone from Kitten, he steps up to center stage.
This is it.
“Thank you, sister!” This gets some laughs from the kids. “I want to thank all of the family and friends who came out to join us for Career Day. It’s always fun to get a look inside the daily lives of those who work around us. Hopefully some of you have been inspired to think about your futures, and where you might go. Before we wrap up, I have one more guest. He’s a new friend of mine, and I think you’ll enjoy meeting him. His career is a little different than the ones we’ve seen so far today. Please give a round of applause for my friend, and Minnesota Sleet right winger, Jackson Wilder.”
I step out onto the stage.
The kids start screaming.
Kitten’s mouth drops open.
Alex and I give each other a quick bro hug, before he hands me the mic mouthing good luck.
“Hello!” I smile and wave, causing another round of screams. Once the kids settle down, I start. “Thank you for that warm welcome, it’s an honor to be here. Like Alex, sorry – Mr. Brown – said, being a professional athlete isn’t a very common career. But it’s also not impossible. If you really want something, the first thing you need to do is set your mind to it. Mindset and drive play a huge role in the outcome of effort. Now there are a lot of really great athletes, and not every one of them will end up playing on the professional level, but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t try. It doesn’t mean they should give up. If you love doing something, you should always keep it as a part of your life. Even if it’s not your career, it can still be your hobby. And sometimes, you’ll find that you’re really good at something, but you don’t enjoy doing it. If that’s the case, let it go. Life is too precious to waste time on things that don’t bring you happiness.” I hold a hand up – “That does not include homework.” As expected, the kids laugh. “If there’s one piece of advice that I can give anyone, it’s find your passion. Find what you love, find what makes you happy, and cling to it. Keep it close. Surround yourself with positive people who believe in you, and you’ll be able to achieve things you never even dreamed of.’
“The unfortunate part of life is that there will always be people trying to bring you down. Some people only want what other people have. You can’t let them get in your way. You can’t let them ruin what you’ve worked for. You can’t let them keep you from what you love.” My eyes lock on Kitten’s. “But sometimes, even if you try to prepare yourself, one of those bad people will find a way to break-in and break down what you have. They’ll look for the tiniest crack in your armor, and they’ll push, and push, until they think that they’ve won. But we’re stronger than that. We can withstand that. You just need to trust in yourself. Trust those you care about.”
I step off the stage, striding toward Kitten’s spot on the back wall.
The kids slide out of my way, creating a path, holding their phones up, recording every second.
My steps get slower as I near Kitten.
Lowering the mic, I talk directly to her. “You, Kitten. You are my happiness. The one who makes me a better person. The one I want to see in the stands cheering me on. You are the woman I want at my side. You are my passion.”
Dropping the mic into the lap of some kid in the back row, I don’t stop until I’m inches away from Kitten. Placing my hands on either side of her face, I watch as a tear escapes down her cheek. With a soft brush of my thumb, I wipe it away.
“Kitten.” It’s almost too much to be this close to her again. “I’m sorry. I promise I’ll explain everything to you. I just need you to know one thing. I need you to believe one thing. I love you. I don’t know how it’s possible to love someone so much, so quickly, but it’s true. I love you.”
More tears fall from her eyes, and in a move that causes my heart to burst, she smiles.
For as long as I live, I’ll never forget that smile.
I drop my forehead to rest against hers as a wave of relief sweeps through me. I need a second to ensure I don’t collapse right here on the floor, that small movement of her lips nearly bringing me to my knees. And the irony of my shaking limbs is that for the first time in days I finally feel steady.
I’m sure I’ve never been happier than this moment.
But then her hands come up, clinging to my wrists, and she whispers, “I love you too, Jackson Wilder.”
Immediately, my hands leave her face and I crush her into a hug. This is now my happiest moment.
I think I feel her laughing against my chest, but I’m holding her so hard against me, I can’t tell. Then the kid with the mic shouts, “She said she loves him!” and the whole auditorium breaks out into cheers and whistles.
I release my hold on Kitten just enough so she can tip her head back and look at me.
My grin is wide. “Hi.”
“Hi.” She grins back.
Then I’m kissing her.
I want to press her against the wall and kiss her until her clothes melt away, but I’m reminded of our surroundings when we’re suddenly in the center of a child mosh pit.
Laughing, we pull apart. And once I spot Alex in the crowd, I give him the signal.
Alex somehow calms the crowd enough to speak over them. “Jackson has agreed to come back another time this school year so he can give autographs and take pictures with you all. But right now, he has to leave.” There’s a combination of complaints and hoots from the kids. “Thank you again to everyone who attended today. Let’s hear it for our presenters!”
To the sound of children screaming and clapping, I grab Kitten’s hand and pull her out the door.
