TreVeyon Henderson leaned against the wall of the Woody Hayes Athletic Center, catching his breath after another grueling practice. The season was in full swing, and the Buckeyes were gunning for a national championship. Every day was a test of his endurance, his strength, and his focus. But today, something else had him distracted.It started a few weeks ago when he first met Audrey Day, the daughter of Ohio State's head coach, Ryan Day. She had been a familiar face around the program for years, but they had never really talked—until she returned from her first year of college. She was back home for the summer, taking some time off before heading back to her studies.It was at one of the team's charity events that they finally crossed paths. TreVeyon had been there to support the cause, and Audrey was helping her mom with the organization. They'd been assigned to the same station, and what started as a few casual comments quickly turned into a lively conversation about music, movies, and life at Ohio State.Audrey was nothing like TreVeyon had imagined. She was funny, down-to-earth, and had a passion for football that rivaled his own. But what really stood out was how she treated him—like just another guy, not the star running back that everyone else saw. It was refreshing, and soon, TreVeyon found himself looking forward to the days when their paths would cross.Now, as he walked out of the facility, he spotted her waiting by her dad's office. She was scrolling through her phone, looking up when she saw him."Hey, TreVeyon," she greeted him with a smile. "Another tough practice?""You know it," he replied, grinning. "Coach Day isn't going easy on us this year."Audrey laughed. "He never does."They fell into step together, walking through the quiet hallways of the center. TreVeyon liked these moments—when it was just the two of them, away from the noise and the pressure of football."So," Audrey said, breaking the comfortable silence, "are you ready for Saturday?""Ready as I'll ever be," TreVeyon replied, though his mind wasn't on the game. Instead, he was thinking about how much he wanted to ask her out, but the fact that her dad was his coach complicated things.But as they stepped outside into the warm evening air, Audrey turned to him, her expression curious. "You know, TreVeyon, I've been thinking...""About what?" he asked, heart racing slightly."About how we never really get to hang out outside of all this," she said, gesturing back toward the facility. "Maybe we should change that."TreVeyon blinked, surprised. "You mean...like, go out?"Audrey shrugged, a playful smile on her lips. "If you're up for it."He couldn't help but smile back, the tension he'd been feeling melting away. "I'd like that," he admitted. "A lot.""Great," she said, clearly pleased. "There's a new place downtown I've been wanting to try. How about tomorrow night?""Tomorrow night sounds perfect," TreVeyon agreed, feeling a rush of excitement.As they said their goodbyes, TreVeyon watched her walk away, realizing that this might just be the start of something special. He had always been focused on his goals—winning games, making it to the NFL—but now, for the first time, he found himself thinking about something—or someone—else.And as he walked back to his dorm, a smile on his face, TreVeyon knew that no matter what happened on the field, he was ready to take a chance off of it.
