"So... Is Brady as big of a douche bag as he comes across?" James looked across the table at Rob and I nearly choked on the swig of beer I had yet to swallow.
"James!" My eyes widened as I looked at my brother in complete disbelief that he would have asked such a question. Things had been going pretty smoothly and I had high hopes for this evening.
"What?" He looked at me defensively before looking at Rob, "I'm almost positive that I'm not the first person that's asked him that question."
"I get that question all the time... It's okay." Rob laughed as he took a swig of his beer and looked at me reassuringly, "But I mean, we play football together, we're boys. We're on the same team and he's a good dude. He really knows the game. I'm not sure that's the answer you're looking for."
"That's definitely not the answer he's looking for." I answered for my brother knowing that was not what he was wanting to hear but I don't know what he was expecting Rob to say.
"So how did you guys meet?" James looked from me to Rob and it was safe to say I was nervous discussing the topic of Rob and I with him.
Rob looked at me with a smile on his face, I loved how naive he was to the protective ways of my brother and I smiled back at him. He placed a kiss on my cheek and I loved the sensitive side of him that I had come to know over the last couple months.
"Rob's daughter is one of my students." I smiled looking from Rob to James, "She's a sweetheart."
"Your daughter?" James looked at him in disbelief, and I knew how he felt because I had the same reaction.
"Yeah." Rob's smile still hadn't left his face, "Mia... She's my little princess."
"Wow." My brother shook his head, "I guess I didn't know Gronk had a daughter."
"I just try to protect her from the media as much as I can." Rob shrugged, "It's not fair to expose her to all that."
"So what's going on with you two?" James gestured to Rob and me, in a way my heart was racing. This was a conversation we had never really had ourselves.
Rob and I looked at each other, I wasn't sure how to answer that question. I'm not sure Rob knew how to answer right judging by the silence that fell over the table.
"Right." My brother nodded, a dry laugh escaping him as he shook his head, "Just a causal thing, I take it. I figured Rob Gronkowski wasn't one for commitment."
"Whoa, I don't know what gives you that idea..." Rob squinted his eyes as he looked across the table at James and I knew he was offended.
"Oh come on!" James looked at him in disbelief, "You give me that idea. I'm a guy, I read about sports, I watch sports networks... You're notorious for this party boy lifestyle. Every interview I've seen you in you brag of this frat boy lifestyle, you talk about women like they're disposable. We all know about the porn stars you've hooked up with and the parties you've thrown..."
"James!" I looked at my brother in shock, I couldn't believe he was going there. I couldn't believe he was saying these things. He had no right.
"It's okay." Rob looked at me, placing his hand over mine as if to reassure me that he could handle it.
"Ava isn't these girls that you're used to running around with and I know with the season ending in the next couple months that you're sure as hell not going to let her put a stop to this lifestyle you're notorious for." James was trying to protect me, I understood it to an extent but he was going overboard, "And if she ends up heartbroken, things aren't going to go over well with me."
Rob nodded his head slowly, not saying a word to the things my brother was saying. Instead he rose to his feet and walked away making his way out of the establishment he had brought us to just a couple hours ago. I was blindsided, I thought things were going well until this happened.
"How could you? He has been nothing but kind to you!" I shot my brother a death glare before taking off after Rob. I felt horrible for the way James had treated him and again, I knew he was trying to look out for me but to attack Rob before really knowing anything about him was not cool.
I pushed opened the door and the cool Boston air came rushing over me. I looked to my right to see Rob standing against the brick wall of the old building, his hands on his head.
"Hey..." I slowly approached him, wrapping my arms around his torso wanting to comfort him. I knew he was going to hide his anger from me and I knew he was going to hide his hurt from me, that's what most guys do. They don't want to lay their emotions out there, "I'm sorry for that, he's being very closed minded. My last break up was horrible and he's just trying to look out for me in his weird protective ways."
"He's got a point, you know?" Rob's voice was soft and the tone held sadness, that wasn't typical for him.
"What do you mean?" I looked up at him, my heart racing at those words.
"I'm a bad guy Ava and you're... you're..." He shook his head and took a deep breath before looking into my eyes, "you're perfect. You're smart, independent, grounded, supportive, beautiful, sexy... I don't want to hurt you. You deserve a guy without so much bullshit. Without so much baggage."
"Don't say that." I scolded, my eyes beginning to water as I fought back my emotions.
"I'm a party boy, that's what I do." Rob shrugged his shoulders, "It's what I've always done."
My breathing increased as I tried to hold back my tears, my grip on Rob loosening. The tears fell from my eyes as much as I didn't want them to. I couldn't believe this was happening.
"Do you want to be with me?" I blurted the words out, my eyes finding his and I was scared to hear the response.
There was a brief pause and while it may have only been a matter of seconds, it felt like hours.
"I do..." His words were barely audible as he gave me a nod, "I just don't know that I can be what you need."
"You are exactly what I need. I know who you are Rob Gronkowski and you are not a bad guy." I quickly brushed the tears away from under my eyes, "I'm not asking you to be perfect, I'm just asking for you to let me in. To always be honest about how you feel and to be faithful to me because no matter what I will always remain faithful to you."
Rob took a step towards me closing the gap between us, his large hand resting on my cheek. The warmth of his hand against my cold skin sent a wave of electricity through my body and he captured my lips with his. The kiss was heated and filled with passion and desire, his tongue grazing my lips seeking permission to dance with mine. I didn't care what anyone had to say about Rob, I knew a side of him that they didn't and I knew he could be good to me. I trust him and all I can do is hope that he always remains worthy of that trust.
