Dear Ethan: A Second Chance Romance

Chapter 22: Hall of Fame

*Ethan*

I pulled into the lot before smoothing out my suit. The induction ceremony didn't start for another hour but I wanted to get there early to prepare for my speech. 

The drive from the airport was easy enough. I knew my way around since we had been to Ohio a few times over the years for games. I pressed down the glove compartment and pulled out the cue cards, the sunlight hitting me right in the eyes before I walked over to the stadium.

Coach Jones had asked me to say a few words before he got inducted and I spent the entire week trying to piece together the words about how much he had meant to me and the rest of the team.

It was a struggle though. There was something about putting pen to paper and talking about someone that eluded me. Essays were fine but once I had to recount someone's life work, I froze.

"Peacemaker Majors!" I turned and grinned when I caught sight of a familiar face.

Nate pulled me into a tight hug before we looked at each other laughing. We were both decked out in suits, unlike the varsity gear we found ourselves in during college. He played for the Tritons now but was injured the past year. 

My heart warmed seeing him. He looked healthy.

"I'm good as new now though," He said, flashing me a grin when I looked down at his leg. In football, you never knew when you would suffer a minor injury or a career-ending blow. I was glad that he was looking much better. A hairline fracture had sidelined me for a few weeks last year and not only was it tough physically but mentally too.

He looked the same as he was five years ago but now he has gotten engaged and was in the middle of wedding planning. He showed me pictures of his fiancee and by the look on his face it was clear that he was a one woman guy now. 

We went down memory lane for a bit before he drifted away to say hi to another familiar face down the hall.

More people piled into the main room. Reporters, former athletes, agents. I went over to grab a glass of water before I caught sight of Coach Jones on the other side of the room. He glanced over at me and gave me a wry smile. We shook hands.

"How was the trip down here?" I had caught an early flight to Ohio for the ceremony.

I said hello to a few other people in the room before reconvening by the dessert table. I didn't plan on eating anything until after I did my speech but the rows and rows of cupcakes looked too good for most people to pass up. 

I turned around when I heard my name. A brunette wearing a headset came up to me with a smile and steered me backstage where all the other speakers stood.

The joke I made in my speech garnered a few chuckles but I blacked out for most of it until Coach Jones walked on stage and we shook hands, pausing a bit for a photo op before I could finally walk offstage breathing a sigh of relief.

Speeches were not my strong suit but I couldn't say no when it came down to celebrating his long career.

I looked down at my watch. My flight didn't leave for another few hours but I was already itching to grab some food, deeply immersed in finding a local spot in my phone before a flash of blonde hair caught my eye.

My heart quickened as I watched a blonde in a pink sweater and jeans arrange a giant sheet cake onto the table with the help of the producer wearing a headset.

Jodie?

My smile widened when she turned around and I caught a glimpse of her side profile as she bent down, a curly tendril escaping her ponytail as she adjusted a few of the decorations on the cake.

As if she could sense me staring, she looked over scowling until our eyes connected. She looked just as surprised as I was.

Running into Jodie when I was at home was one thing but in an entirely different state was different. I felt like my heart was going into overdrive as I walked up to her.

"I should have known those were your cupcakes."

She raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms. "I didn't know you were going to be here. Have they already decided to induct Ethan Majors into the Hall of Fame?" I grinned at her jab, shoving my hands into my pockets.

"Maybe in a few years but I was asked to give a speech today," I told her a bit about Coach Jones and she nodded, the tension easing in her jawline as I helped her lay out the final items for the dessert table despite her telling me not to. She worked quickly, rearranging and making space for more trays of cupcakes and two tall towers of macaroons.

"Did you imagine everyone in their underwear?" She said casually. I looked at her taken aback, swallowing hard.

Where did that come from? I felt my face flush as I imagined what she was wearing under her pink sweater, swallowing hard. Not the time to be having inappropriate thoughts.

"You mentioned before that you didn't like public speaking," she added quickly. A warm sensation filled my chest.

She had remembered that?

"I try to picture people with their clothes on," I said chuckling even though that comment had me thinking about Jodie in a way that made the collar of my shirt feel too tight.

We were lost in conversation before I felt a hand on my back. I turned and saw Nate giving me a look that meant aren't you going to introduce me to your friend?

I introduced Jodie to Nate. "We used to play in college together," I explained as I watched Nathan smile down at her. "Jodie and I went to high school together." They made small talk for a bit and when Jodie brought up she used to go to Vassar they talked a bit about some people they knew in common.

"I should probably go now," Jodie said, glancing at me as more people came over to grab some cake. We said our byes before watching her disappear through the kitchen door.

Nate whistled behind me.

"Is that her?" His gaze was a mixture of awe and amusement.

My ears burned. I pretended not to hear him. 

************************************

If you are liking the story so far please vote!

Since this chapter was Ethan's POV, the next one will be Jodie's :)