The alarm went off as my eyes were still closed and my hand moved around trying to find my phone that was somewhere in my bed.  Finally I found it and opened up my eyes as I squinted, still trying to adjust to the light.  When I unlocked my phone, I double-clicked the home button and went to my clock app as I turned off the alarm.  Letting out a sigh of relief, I rubbed my eyes and pulled the duvet covers off me as I swung my legs over the edge of my bed and walked to my bathroom to get ready.  

After going to the bathroom and washing my hands, I did my minimalistic morning skincare routine and put on some makeup for the day.  Since I had to go into the studio today, I decided to go business casual for my outfit.  I chose a royal blue blouse and high rise slim pull on pants that were grey and got my flats out as well.  I asked Alexa to play music as I got ready and straightened my brown hair.  

It was getting long as it was just a little past my breasts which let me know I needed to get a cut soon.  I never liked my hair being super long.  The longest its ever been was to my waist and then I got it cut to my shoulders as I gave my hair to a charity that helped children with cancer.  

After I was dressed and ready for work, I went out and greeted Milo and gave him a kiss in-between his eyebrows.  He's grown so much since we got him.  He's now four months old and his puppy training has been going really well.  At first he kept on wanting to chew the leash and play with the other puppies but then he got the hang of it and he was going to be graduating puppy training the end of this month.  

"Hey," Natalia greets me when she comes out. 

"Hey," I give her a small smile.  Neither of us were morning people which I was thankful for.  "Can you believe we've been here for almost a month?"

"No," she shakes her head and I get out my morning oats I had made the night before and add more almond milk to it before I start eating them.  "You?"

"No," I answer as Milo comes skidding over and scratches at my legs as I bend down and pick him up so he sits in my lap and licks my neck with kisses which makes me laugh.  "Thank you," I tell him as I kiss his head and go back to eating.

*

We were in the studio today and I was in the production area where we were watching my interviews and they were going to put them all together for the next segment.  We were watching my interview with De'Anthony Thomas and it got me excited for the upcoming season.  

After we were done viewing the interviews for them to be on ESPN when the start of the season began, I headed into my office.  One of the perks of getting this job.  

"Hey, good work with interviewing the Chief's players," my boss, Ben, tells me and I smile at him as I thank him.  "Think you would be okay with the fact that Coach Reid wants to hire you?"

"Really?" I asked excited.  "Yes!  I'd love that!  Thank you."

"Don't thank me, thank Coach Reid.  He's the one who fought for you.  He wants you over at the stadium tomorrow to discuss a contract to sign you."

"Wait, if he wants to sign me would I still be here at ESPN?" I ask him confused about how these different contracts go.

"Yes," he nods his head as he leans against the counter.  "It gets a little tricky when you're new to the business like you are, so if you need time to look over at their contract or have any questions you can always ask me too."

"Thanks," I tell him sincerely and he nods his head as he then leaves my office.  

I still couldn't believe I had an office.  Mine was pretty plain but off to the side on my desk on a bulletin board, I had pictures of me with my family, Natalia and I, me with Kobe Bryant and another with Tom Brady.  The newest one is of us with Milo and it was a polaroid.  It's funny how quickly dogs become part of your family.  

*

It was nighttime now and I had stopped by Panda to get dinner for Natalia and I.  Whenever one of us did this we always got food for the other.  I had been texting and FaceTiming Patrick for the last month since we exchanged numbers and I always got excited whenever I saw his name flash on my screen.  

"Hey," he greets me. 

"Hey," I greet him quietly as I answer his FaceTime request.  

He looked so gorgeous.  He was in a Chief's shirt and what looked to be grey sweats.  He was lounging on his couch as he gave me a lazy smile.  

"Your up pretty late still," he points out and I look at my phone which reads almost one in the morning.

"You are too," I sass back which makes him smirk.  "You don't need to go in early tomorrow?" I ask as my eyebrows furrowed.

"Nah," he shakes his head as he takes a sip of his water and swallows it.  "Tomorrow is a work out day so I'm meeting the guys at eleven."

"Nice.  Well, I'm gonna be at the stadium tomorrow also."

"Really?  Why?" He asks as he sits up and it looks like he's petting his dog.  

"Andy Reid wants to sign with me to work with y'all," I tell him and he grins.

"Wait, seriously?  Are you serious or are you joking?  You better not be playing with me..."

"I'm dead serious," I tell him laughing.  "My boss just told me today."

"That's what's up.  Congrats."

"Thanks.  I mean nothing it's not a done deal yet but I feel like I will accept his deal."

"You'll have to let me know what you decide.  Promise?"

"Promise," I tell him with a smile.  "Which dog are you petting?"

"Steel," he grins and he moves his phone to show him and I gush over him.

He was laying his head on Patrick's leg and he looked like he was about to fall asleep any minute now.  

"He looks so tired," I tell him and Steel's head perks up at the sound of my voice and he moves toward the phone as I continue to talk to him.  

"You woke the old man," he teased.

"Your not an old man," I tell Steel as his nose nudges Patrick's phone which makes us laugh.

"I think he might like you more than me," Patrick says with a pout and turns his phone back to him.

"Nah," I shake my head.  

"Where's Milo?"

"He's sleeping with Talia tonight," I tell him.

"How's puppy training going?"

"He graduates next class!  He's grown up so much since you last saw him you know..."

"That's my boy," he cheers.  "So wait is puppy training graduation a real thing?"

"Oh yeah," I nod my head as I get excited talking about it.  "They have a little graduation where we bring the dogs up to the stage and they take a picture of the class and then they have dog treats for them and a Photo Booth.

"Damn.  Seems like they go all out for everything these days."

"Right?  But it'll be fun and I'll take lots of pictures and post them on my Instagram."

"This is off topic but what do you think of Game of Thrones?" He asked going more serious.

"That's the one where they say winter is here, right?" I ask him and he nods his head.  "I've never seen it."

"What?" He says shocked and shakes his head in disbelief.  "How have you never seen it before?"

"I don't know... I just - okay, it's like this.  Watching war movies I can handle.  But watching war movies with all of that gore is a little too much for me to handle.  They get pretty graphic, right?"

"Yeah, I mean they do, but that's war.  What if I watched it with you sometime?  Would you watch it then?"

"I might," I say as I bite my bottom lip and smile slightly.  "So, what's your favorite color?"

"Red.  What's yours?"

"Blue," I tell him.

"Really?  I was expecting you to say pink or yellow."

"Do I seem like that type of girl?" I raised a brow which made him let out a noise and he waved a hand.

"Nah," he shook his head as he let out a laugh and I took a sip of my drink after I laughed as well. "What are you drinking?"

"Just water.  I've been on a no soda kick lately.  Except I can't cut out Starbucks.  I just can't," I tell him which makes him laugh.

"I feel you.  Especially those early mornings."

"Yes, ugh, those are the worst!"

"I better go to bed if I want to wake up at a decent hour tomorrow," he jokes.

"I should too.  Night Patrick."

"Night Kat," he grins and we end the call.

*

It was the next morning and I had arrived at the stadium.  To be honest, I was a little nervous.  I wasn't really sure what to expect since I had never done this before but I guess like my boss said, I can always tell Coach Reid that I would think about it and go over it with him.  I just want to make sure I'm getting a good deal and not being taken advantage of.  It wasn't called being arrogant - it was knowing my worth.

"Hi, I'm here to meet Coach Reid," I tell a guy who I think is his son, since the back of his shirt said the same last name.

"And you are?" He asks with a clipboard in his hand.

"Katherine Johnson."

"Ah, yes.  You're the sports reporter that my dad has a meeting with.  I didn't get a chance to meet you the last time you were here.  My name is Britt," he says as he puts his hand forward for me to shake and I do.  

"Nice to meet you," I tell him as I bring my hand to the side.

"Follow me."

I adjust my cross body purse and follow him to the room where Andy Reid is which was his office.  

"Hi Katherine," Andy Reid gets up to greet me with a smile and shakes my hand.  "Please have a seat," he gestures to the other chair in his office and I do just that as his son leaves.  

"We would like for you to be a Chief's analyst."

"What does that mean exactly?" I ask unsure.

"It means that you would be mainly working for us but still have your job at ESPN.  You would be at all of our games - home and away.  We would pay for your flight, put you up in a hotel.  Everything."

"Wow," I say in disbelief.

"Here is your contract if you choose to accept.  I know it's a lot to think about," he says as he hands it to me and I look it over.  "It would be for the same amount of time that you have with ESPN here for four years.  Except we would double your pay that you have with ESPN.  You would be making forty-seven thousand and six hundred twenty dollars per year."

There was so much more to the contract than I was able to understand.  

"I do have to tell you though - if you choose to accept with working for us and you end up backing out of the deal we can legally take you to court."

"I know," I swallow thickly.  "I would never do that.  Once I'm committed to something that's it.  No backing out for me."

"That's what I like to hear," he grins as he leans back in his chair.

"I do have one other question."

"Shoot," he tells me.

"What does this mean with my job for ESPN?"

"I'm glad you asked that.  You would still be employed and working for ESPN.  But it could mean that you get a conflicting schedule and if you do, you would have to turn that part down if it meant not going on the road with us.  Your job with us would come above ESPN's."

"Would you mind if I take this home and think about it?"

"Of course," he nods as he strokes his mustache.  "You can take the whole week if you need to but we would like an answer by Friday.  It's a big commitment that we are asking of you.  Think about it.  Talk it over with your folks or boss.  Whoever you go to talk work related things," he says with a smile.  

"Understood," I nod my head.  "Thank you so much again, Coach Reid, for the opportunity," I tell him as I get up and shake my head.  

"Of course.  It would mean a lot to have you working for us.  We think you would bring a lot of value to our guys."

"That means a lot," I tell him as we both leave his office.

We hear a group of guys laughing as we get closer to the gym area and I see that its Patrick, Travis and Tyreek.  

"Hey shorty, what are you doing here?" Tyreek yells making the guys turn in my direction and I let out a laugh.

"Just going over some things with Coach Reid," I tell him.  I didn't want to tell all of them about me possibly working with them, just in case I changed my mind.

"Be nice to her," Coach Reid warns the guys and Tyreek raises his hands up jokingly as the coach leaves.  

"How'd it go?" Patrick asked when Travis and Tyreek went back into the gym.

"We basically went over the contract and what all me working with you guys would entail."

"Did you say yes?" He asks eagerly.

"I said I would think about it.  My boss at ESPN said he would go over the contract with me if I had questions so that's what I'm gonna do.  Andy said he didn't need an answer until Friday anyway."

"Cool," he smiles at me and looks down at his apple watch.  "You want to grab something to eat?"

"You don't need to work out still?"

"I've been here for three hours so I'm good," he lets out a laugh.

"Yeah, sure," I smile and he does as well.

"Alright cool.  Do you mind waiting here really quick while I take a quick shower and say bye to them?"

"That's no problem."

"Okay, I'll be back."

I went over to a bench and sat down, as I had put the contract down next to me and opened my phone to write my boss an email asking if we could go over the contract tomorrow or the next day.  

"Hey, you ready?" Patrick asks which startled me slightly.

"Yeah.  You clean up nicely," I tell him which he thanks me.

He was wearing white shorts and a blue shirt as he wore a white necklace around his neck and he wore some Adidas shoes while his Oakley sunglasses sat on top of his head.  

"You look good too," he tells me and I thank him.  "Do you want to take both our cars or take one?"

"We can take both our cars," I tell him and he nods his head.  "Where do you want to go for lunch?"

"Do you like Chipotle?"

"I love Chipotle!  You want to eat there?"

"Yeah," he nods his head with a smile.

"Let's go."

*

"Hi, what can I get you both?" The cashier asks Patrick and I.  

"I'll take a burrito bowl with chicken, cilantro lime rice, no beans, queso blanco and roasted chili-corn salsa?  And I can chips and guac too please as well as a tortilla on the side?" I ask him and he nods his head.

"Flour or corn?"

"Flour please," I tell him and he punches it in.

"And for you?" He asks Patrick.

"Yeah, I'll take the burrito bowl too but I'll have mine with steak, brown rice, pinto beans, fajita veggies and actually instead of her chips and guac can we get a large chips and large guac?  I'll also take a tortilla on the side and mine will be corn.  Thanks man."

"Yeah," he nods his head.  "Has anyone told you before that you sound like Patrick Mahomes?" The cashier asked Patrick and it took everything in me to hold in my laughter.

Patrick was wearing his sunglasses so no one could tell who he was.  I knew he did it when he didn't want to be seen and just wanted to get his things and leave.  

"I get that a lot," he jokes which makes me and the cashier laugh.  

"Alright, is this for here or to go?"

"What do you want to do?" I ask Patrick.

"We'll take it to go," Patrick tells him.  

"We'll have your order out for you shortly," he says and we thank him.  Patrick had already paid for our meals after we were told the bill.  

"Do you want to meet me at my house?" Patrick asks and I get excited since I haven't been.

"Yeah."

"I'll text you the address."

"Sounds good with me.  If you want you can go and I'll wait for the food."

"You sure?" He asks concerned and I could tell he was torn on if he should leave or not.

"Yes," I let out a small laugh and push him playfully to the door as he laughs too.  "Go."

"Okay," he smiled and ran his fingers through his hair.  "I'll see you soon.  It's literally like only fifteen minutes from here."

"Okay, I'll see you there."

*

I parked my car in Patrick's driveway as I stared in amazement at the modern home.  The whole area of homes in the neighborhood were nice and I could tell that it was mainly rich people who lived in this area.  I wasn't going to try and guess their professions because I would be horrible at that.  It didn't take much longer after Patrick left that I got our orders.  Chipotle was usually faster with take home orders than they were with orders for people who chose to ate there.  

I knocked on his door and he answered it a few minutes later with a smile on his face and let me come in.

"Thanks for getting the food," he tells me as he grabs the two packages from me.

"No problem," I tell him as I hear dogs feeds pitter patter against his hardwood floor.  "Are Steel and Silver here?"

"Yeah," he says with a laugh as he leads me to the kitchen and I see the two pups as they come trotting over to me and I kneel down and pet them.

"Hey guys.  I missed you both.  You both are so precious," I tell them I scratch them both and kiss their heads.

"Food's ready," Patrick told me as he had it all set up and I get up and go into the kitchen.

"Your place is beautiful," I tell him as I take a seat at the bar.

"Thanks.  Do you want a tour after we eat?"

"Yeah," I nod my head as I bite my bottom lip slightly as I look at Patrick who was getting ketchup out of his fridge.  "What are you doing with that?"

"Putting it in my tortilla."

"Wait, wait, wait.  You can't do that."

"Why not?" He smirks as he opens his tortilla and puts his food items in as well as some ketchup."

"This is Mexican food."

"And?"

"It's social suicide," I quote Mean Girls.  "Mexican food and ketchup just don't go together."

"Nice.  Quoting Mean Girls."

"No changing the subject," I tease him.  

"I'm not changing the subject," he laughs as he massages his goatee.  "I just love ketchup.  A lot," he says which makes me laugh.  "Is there something you do that other people don't do?" He asks and I think about it.

"I put ranch on french fries," I mutter.

"I'm sorry.  What was that?" He leans in closer and smiles down at me.

"I put ranch on french fries," I say a little louder.

"See, everyone does something a little weird."

"I hate you," I tell him, pouting slightly.

"No, you don't.  You love me."

"Psh.  Whatever," I tease back.

After we finished our dinner I threw away our trash and cleaned his kitchen counter even though he didn't ask me.  

"Want to take a look around?" He asks me and I nod as I hop off the bar stool and follow him as he holds his hand out and I take it in mine, leaving all kinds of tingling feels in me.  

"How many fireplaces do you have?  I swear I just saw two."

So far from what I saw his home was beautiful.  His kitchen and living room area was an open floor plan and his living room was art-deco inspired from what he told me.  I liked how his living room didn't have a tv in it.  

"I have four," he tells me and I let out a noise.  "The living room, my bedroom, and two other living rooms."

"You have a lot of living rooms," I point out as we continue walking.

"This is considered the family room," he tells me as my mouth opens wide in shock.  "I have a wet bar over there for when I have friends and family over and they want something."

"Damn," I mutter.  

"If you're surprised by this then you haven't seen anything yet," he teases.

"What more could you possibly have?" I exclaim which makes him laugh.  

"This is my steam shower," he shows me and turns it on.

"You have a waterfall shower?  I've always thought these were so nice."

"Thanks," he says as he takes my compliment.  

He then went on to show me his wine cellar, gym, outside pool and then he brought me to his bedroom.  

"I had to save the best for last for you," he teases which makes me laugh a little.

"What's that?"

"My closet."

He puts in a code and the door opens.

"Gotta have a security system," he shrugs his shoulders when he turns to me and sees my raised eyebrow.  "You'll see."

We walk into the walk-in closet and at first I think it's just a closest until I see a shoe collection.

"Oh my God," I exclaim.

"See," he points out.

"How many shoes do you have?"

"180."

"Wow.  This is insane.  You have more shoes than I have," I say and he laughs at my comment.  

"Check these out.  These are my favorite shoes.  Adidas just came out with this collection and sent me the entire collection but these are my favorite by far," he tells me as he gets out a pair that's grey and the stripes are black.

"Whose house is that?" I ask him.

"These are House Stark.  I wish they had one for Jon Snow but they didn't.  Another favorite is these," he says getting out a pair that is an icy white and blue combination.

"Those are nice," I tell him as I marvel at them.  "Are they the White Walkers?"

"Yeah, how'd you know?" He asks as he puts the shoes back.

"I've seen the trailers before," I tell him.

*

"Thanks for today," I tell him.  "I had fun."

"Your welcome," he says as he gives me a small smile.  "I did too.  Hey, before you go, I'm having a party at my house in a few days.  You should come and bring your roommate too."

"Okay," I agree and I get excited as he tells me he'll text me the details.  "See you then."

-- 

here comes the drama... whose ready?