Michelle Monkou - Here and Now

In a quick moment, he looked up, caught her eye and then looked away. Good, she hadn’t blinked or averted her gaze. Although his eyes didn’t rest on her for any lengthy period, it was enough that their eyes connected. She kept up her scrutiny. Seconds later, she was rewarded when she noticed him tugging at his collar. The dashing smile had faded. Maybe the act had come to an end.

“Laura and Chase, stop in my office for a few minutes,” Freeman invited.

“After you.” Chase stepped over to the side, exaggerating the distance provided to her.

Laura walked past, careful to maintain the distance between them.

“Have a seat.” Freeman indicated the chairs in front of his desk.

Laura sat and glanced over at the chair next to her to see if Chase intended to step away from the door to join them. She looked up at Freeman to see if he’d tolerate Chase not exactly following directions.

“I’ll stand, thank you,” Chase offered, folding his arms and leaning against the door frame.

“Suit yourself.” Freeman turned his attention to Laura. “When you’d interviewed a month ago, Coach Nichols was still employed.”

Laura nodded and leaned forward. Chase had not been mentioned when she underwent the extensive interview process.

“Coach Nichols suffered a family crisis that required his immediate attention even though the school year had begun. We got wind that Chase was being heavily recruited after he retired. How lucky were we? Still can’t believe that he’s here.” Freeman’s open admiration matched its owner’s effusive nature.

If Laura didn’t have an ounce of admiration for Chase, Freeman could brainwash her in minutes with his enthusiasm.

“Let’s not overwhelm Miss Masterson. I’ll be chatting with her after your meeting. Hopefully, she’ll want to work with me, the poor substitute to the renowned Coach Nichols,” Chase remarked in a droll voice.

Freeman chuckled, his wide girth vibrating with his amusement. He pushed back his chair and stood. Laura looked into his eyes which reminded her of Newman’s intense blue ones. She really enjoyed being in Freeman’s company. His easygoing attitude set her at ease. She wished that he had more to say or that she could create a reason to delay heading off with the man standing behind her.

“Let me get going to my next meeting,” Freeman said. “I’ve got a busy morning ahead of me. Laura, again, we are so pleased that you’re on board. Chase, take care of this young lady, she’s valuable to our department and your team.” Laura headed for the door where Chase still leaned, looking like he didn’t have a care.

He grinned at her.

She didn’t return the gesture.

He had the audacity to wink at her. They walked down the hall with him leading the way. Freeman walked with her, also heading to his next appointment. They approached a cross section of hallways. To her dismay, Freeman waved and headed down another hall. She stopped, debating whether to follow Freeman, in which case, she’d have to think of a reasonable excuse to be tagging behind him.

“Laura, aren’t you coming? My office is this way.”

Again he grinned. With a long sigh at Freeman’s retreating figure, she reminded herself that she was a big girl. She could handle her ex-boyfriend popping unexpectedly into her life. Offering a tight smile, she followed him. But he slowed his steps, until they were shoulder to shoulder.

“How’s the family? Is everyone still in Hampton Mews?” Chase asked.

“Fine. For now, everyone is in Maryland.” Good gracious, now he wanted to have small talk.

“Your brother? Pierce?”

“Married.” Now where did that smugness in her tone come from? They’d only discussed marriage once. It had been in the final words before they went their separate ways. Four years later, she had done a good job pushing her feelings six feet under and sealing them with a thick layer of indifference. The effort took hard work, discipline and focus. The three reasons he’d used for calling it quits.

Chase pushed open a set of double doors with a bright EXIT sign overhead. She stepped through, then stopped short. Laura looked up at him for an explanation.

“Figured we could delay the trip to my office for a few minutes,” Chase explained.

She nodded, still not sure why they were outside the building. Outdoors, she could regroup. Laura raised her face, enjoying the sting of the brisk coolness even in Georgia. Autumn with its crisp temperatures, golden leaves and themes of harvest appealed to her sense of family. Her mother had said that it was a time for gathering those close to you. As the long winter came, you use the longer time indoors to bond. But with four children and no father, maybe that story was to keep them from fighting and arguing.

“Never could understand why you loved the cold weather so much.” Chase looked at her, bearing a wide smile. Without lingering, he continued leading the way from the building across the road to the enclosed stadium.

Traffic on campus during the midmorning hours didn’t differ too much from morning rush hour. Mostly compact cars zipped past, screeching to a halt at the four-way stop signs that dotted the campus roads, then racing off with tires squealing. Students on bikes made up the other major group, while clusters of young men and women hurried along the sidewalks and footpaths.

Campus life energized Laura with its similarity to a small city. There was lots to do and see. As a student, she’d thought of pursuing a teaching career, maybe even becoming a professor. These dreams she’d shared with Chase. Out in the real world, she hadn’t had time to think about what she really wanted to do. Maybe seeing her big brother, Pierce, settle down with his family made her realize that she was letting time slip away.

Chase recited facts about the University of Atlanta, dates of key political figures who had been students and the institution’s rankings in various athletic divisions.

In other words, her feet rested on hallowed grounds. In her small way, she hoped to participate in making an athlete’s dream come through. She’d tried to do the same with Chase in much different circumstances and with negative results.

Many evenings, after Chase had practiced, they’d talked about their future while sitting in the bleachers. Those were the days when they were giddy with their love for each other, turning up their noses to life’s realities. Back then, nothing seemed to be an obstacle. At least where Chase was concerned. She’d listened to his aspirations, bursting with confidence to be the world’s best sprinter. Then she hadn’t been in his life for his only Olympic experience. She could only imagine how his dreams and expectations skyrocketed.

From the sidelines, she witnessed his popularity soar. Even though they had gone their separate ways, she couldn’t eliminate him completely. Endorsements paved the rapid path to his superstardom. He popped up in various advertisements featuring sports drinks, underwear, designer suits and even a mobile phone where he was calling his sweetheart to propose on camera. That ad she could do without seeing.

“What brings you here?” Chase asked.

“I might ask the same of you,” Laura replied.

“Last I knew, you’d thought about following in your brother’s footsteps to be a doctor.”

Laura shrugged. It was one of many career options that fizzled. Sounded good until she took a look at the curriculum.

“Not to say that I’m not glad for the career switch. Gives us a chance to visit some unfinished business.”

Laura shrugged again. His tentative offer taunted her, trying to lead her down a path that she didn’t want to go. Guess he wasn’t going to act as if they didn’t have a past. Good for him. Didn’t change much with her, though.