Golden Love ~Tom Daley~

Lunch With An Idol.

I gawked as we had pulled up to my next surprise. It was the stadium where The Vancouver Whitecaps played. They'd become one of my favorite soccer teams over the last couple years and I had always wanted to see a game in person.  

I looked to Tom and he laughed at my expression. "Thank you. Thank you. Thank you." I bounced in my seat as the car stopped. We thanked the driver and hopped out of the town car. Tom took my hand and we entangled our fingers as he lead me through the front gates. We walked up to a counter and Tom gave his name.  

"Oh yes Mr. Daley! One moment please let me page James for you!" The woman in a Whitecaps polo smiled. She picked up the phone and told the person on the other end that we'd arrived. "It should only be a couple minutes!" 

"Lovely! Thank you!" He flashed his winning smile.  

We waited for the man James to come which didn't take long. Once he'd found us he introduced himself and instructed us to follow him.  

"So I hear you're a big Jay DeMerit fan?" James asked.  

"I am! I saw his movie and I'd known of him in the World Cup a few years ago and since then he's been one of my favorites." I gladly told him.  

"Well good! He's excited to meet you." James said leading us down a flight of stairs that I can only imagine lead to where the players are.  

"Are you serious?" I asked.  

"As a heart attack." 

We followed him down to where the locker rooms were. James knocked on the door and stuck his head in. A second later he opened the door wider and motioned for me to enter. I walked him and was greeting my a team full of men most of them fully dressed some walking with their shirts off. Jay walked up to me and gave me a hug. "Thanks so much for coming! When I heard you were a fan I knew I needed to get you out here for a game!"  

"Wow thank you. That means a lot! I'm such a big fan of yours, your movie is one of my favorites I can't count how many times I've seen it." 

Tom chimed in "she's not kidding. I could probably quote it word for word." 

Jay chuckled "well I'm glad you liked it. I see a lot of similarities between you and I. Although I didn't have a bad accident like you."  

"I suppose so! Would you want to meet for lunch and talk more about that? I could use your opinion on something." I asked.  

"Yeah I have tomorrow off so if you're free that would be perfect." He smiled "In the mean time would you like to go see the field?"  

"I'd love to!" I smiled. I grabbed Toms had and we followed jay to the field.  

"Tom do you play?" Jay asked grabbing a ball from one of the ball boys.  

"My brothers do but I'm horrible at it." He chuckled.  

"I never would have guessed you seeming so athletic and whatnot."  

"Yeah many people are surprised when I tell them."  

Jay laughed and threw the ball on the field. We started a one on one match and then the keeper came out and we took shots. It was honestly one of the best things ever. We started to head in through the players tunnel when Jay stopped my one of the tables. "I got you two a few gifts." He lifted up a long sleeve white jersey for me. It had his number on the back with his signature on the front. Tom had gotten and identical one but his was short sleeves we also both got their warm up compression pants. I slipped the jersey on over the black V neck I was wearing. Tom did the same. I have Jay another hug and he told me we had seats waiting in a private box. I thanked him once more for the experience and we followed James up to the box.  

When we walked in it was like all other boxes I'd been in large windows over looking the field tables of assorted food. Comfortable chairs and carpeted floors. I smiled and walked towards the window and sat on the balcony connected. A few moments latter a woman came in and introduced herself as Ashleigh Jays fiancé. I have her a hug and myself tom and her got to talking.  

She was an Olympic skier so we chatted about our Olympic experiences and our medal winning performances.  

--Lunch the next day-- 

Tom had gone out skiing with Ashleigh while Jay and I went to grab some lunch. I wanted to get Jays opinion on what my next move should be. Sure I could ask Tom or my dad but they're both incredibly bias.  

We'd taken our seats and ordered or food making small talk the while time. "So what did you want to talk about?" Jay asked.  

"Well you know all about my accident and all that right?" He nodded "well part of my rehab was swimming and I mean I had always been good at it but when I got back in the pool that was all I did. I guess I was a lot better than I thought I was and since I'm good friends with Michael he told his coach about me and now they want me to come and swim for them." 

"That's amazing. But I'm confused...why are you telling me about this?" He asked.  

"I guess I just want to know what you think I should do or what you would do." I asked hesitantly.  

"Well I think you should follow your heart. If this is something you really want to do then you should go for it 150%. People with the amount of talent you have shouldn't go wasting it in fear of what happened in the past. This is a new journey and think it could really help you to rediscover your love for competing." 

I thought about what he was saying. It all made sense an I knew he was right.  

"I have a question for you though." He stated.  

"Yes?"  

"Why are you asking me? I mean you have Tom who I've never even seen someone love someone as much as he loves you. I mean I adore Ashleigh and love to the end of earth but I don't think I radiate love for her like he radiates love for you." 

I thought about what he said. Not so much why I was asking him for his advice. I knew why I was doing that. But more so what he said about Tom radiating love for me. I'd never noticed he did so. I knew he loved me and I lived him back and I think this only made my decision harder to make.  

"I'm asking you because I know what Tom's going to tell me. He's going to tell me that I should do it and to not worry about him. But I want to worry about him. I've spent the last year basically needing to be babied because I couldn't do anything and Tom was there for me to do everything for me. Now I want him to be happy and do what's best for him."  

"I see. Give it to him straight up. Tell him what you want an that there's no other option." He smiles.  

I like that idea...........