It was a crisp fall afternoon in Cincinnati, and the Bengals had just wrapped up another grueling practice. Tee Higgins was sore, exhausted, but in a strangely good mood. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that Aurora, the team's new athletic trainer, had been working closely with him lately. Aurora was unlike anyone Tee had ever met. She was focused, confident, and had a spark that made her stand out. Her knowledge of the game, combined with her warmth and kindness, had caught his attention almost immediately.As Tee packed up his gear, he saw Aurora walking toward him with a clipboard in hand. She smiled, her dark hair pulled back in a simple ponytail, and Tee's heart skipped a beat."Hey, Tee," she greeted him. "How's the shoulder feeling after today?""Better, thanks to you," Tee replied, smiling back. "I might have to keep you around a little longer."Aurora chuckled, shaking her head. "You know, I'm starting to think you're just using these extra sessions to spend more time with me."Tee raised an eyebrow, a playful grin spreading across his face. "And if I was? Would that be such a bad thing?"Aurora's cheeks flushed slightly, but she quickly recovered. "I guess it depends on how good of a patient you are," she teased.They walked together toward the locker room, the easy banter flowing between them. Tee had been drawn to Aurora since she joined the team staff, but lately, his feelings had grown into something more. There was something about the way she carried herself, the way she could be both professional and lighthearted, that made him want to get to know her better.After a quiet moment, Tee stopped walking and turned to her. "Aurora, can I ask you something?"She looked up at him, curiosity in her eyes. "Sure.""I know I'm supposed to keep things professional, but I've been thinking... I want to get to know you outside of all this," Tee admitted, gesturing around at the field. "I like spending time with you. And I think there could be something here—if you feel the same."Aurora blinked in surprise, her eyes searching his face. For a moment, Tee worried he had misread everything. But then, a smile slowly crept across her lips."You know, I've been thinking the same thing," she said softly. "But I didn't want to cross any lines."Tee smiled, relieved. "Then maybe we can both cross that line together. How about dinner sometime?"Aurora bit her lip, trying to contain her grin. "I'd like that."They stood there for a moment, the cool breeze wrapping around them, both aware that this was the start of something more. Something that went beyond the field, beyond the training sessions. It was the beginning of something real.As they parted ways for the evening, Tee couldn't stop smiling. He had faced plenty of challenges on the field, but this—taking a chance on Aurora—felt like the most exciting play of his life.
