Calypso

Chapter 24

The post-game interviews were different that day. No one asked about Cal being a girl. No one asked much about plays, players, scores, or anything NFL related. They asked a few questions of the Colts' coach about Jaylen Aster's injury, but other than that they were only interested in discussing one thing. Geese.

"Coach Jackson, were you prepared for the Canadian Geese landing in the end zone or were you caught off guard?" a reporter asked.

Cal felt odd that she suddenly thought it would be nice to encounter Alli Chambers. Funny how life worked. A couple weeks ago, Alli would have been last on the list of people she wanted to talk to.

"I don't know that anyone can actually prepare for a flock of geese in the end zone, but maybe we just found our spirit animal," Cal joked. "We did win this time after a nature visit."

"Have you received word about how the geese are doing?" the reporter asked. "Did any of them die because you had them captured?"

Cal smiled. "The geese are fine. We didn't call a bunch of hunters. We called professionals from a zoo. They successfully care for wild animals all the time."

"But…" the reporter began.

"I realize that geese break up the boredom of reporting on yet another football game, but would anyone like to know our thoughts on the game?" Cal asked the press corps.

Her comments finally broke the cycle on returning to the geese as a subject. They finally moved on to questions about football. Cal quickly handed over the mike to Jules and let him talk for a while about everything he believed was significant about the game. He was followed by a good session with Bryan Mackie, and at last, they could all leave for the day.

It was snowing significantly as Cal exited the stadium, happy that all the talk of geese with the press was over. She was happy they'd won the game. She was happy Jaylen Aster wasn't seriously injured. She was glad the geese were taken away without any injuries she was aware of. All's well that ends well was her motto for the day. She was one win closer to a potential run as the real head coach of the Green Bay Packers, and that truly made her happy.

Cal zipped up her coat and affixed a sherpa hat to her head that said "Edmonton Elks" on it and smiled to herself. There was something she felt since being in Green Bay. It was a feeling she'd never had anywhere else; even growing up. It felt like home. She'd liked Adelaide and Edmonton just fine, but there was something special about Green Bay. She wasn't sure if it was simply because she was in the United States again, where she'd grown up and learned about life in general. Or, was it because the town was so football centric and everywhere she went she felt supported and as though what she was doing was as important to the citizens as it was to her? For whatever reason, it felt like it was where she belonged and she wanted to stay. It was more than the opportunity to coach in the NFL. It was a sense of belonging that she'd never felt.

Cal stepped out the door, into the empty parking lot and she saw Barney waiting by her car. His Escalade was parked next to her Bronco, and he held a bouquet of roses. She knew the minute she saw him that he was her driving force. He made her want to stay. She wanted to cry tears of joy when she saw him, but she also wanted to cry tears of frustration for becoming the stereotype she'd tried to avoid being her entire life.

"What's this about?" she asked as she reached where he stood.

"These are for you," Barney replied, handing her the bouquet.

She smiled and took the flowers. "I don't know what to say."

"Let me do the talking," he suggested. "First, congratulations! You beat the curse, and you had a whole lot of geese jinxing that game. I know superstition is dumb, but those guys worry about all kinds of ridiculous shit. It was an impressive win."

"Thank you," Cal said.

"I've been thinking about a couple of things," Barney started to explain. "I don't want to start something and have it end after the season. I know you don't want that either. I also know you feel something for me."

"I never said that," she protested.

"Neither did I, but I feel something for you too. After my marriage went belly up, I swore I'd never date more than casually again. I've been good about it too. I've had some casual dates once in a while, but nothing that became a relationship and I was good with it."

Cal couldn't help but smile. "I see."

"That's right. I make you fish and chips almost every day, and we chat and we hang out, and it's great. I don't know what you think, but that's what I think."

"I agree," she said. "I like hanging out with you, and it's really easy to talk to you about anything."

"That's what I'm talking about," he said. "Remember the other night? We were talking about 'The Bachelor.' You're the only one who knows I watch that crap."

"Are you saying we have a special relationship?" Cal teased him.

"I've seen you most days for weeks now, so don't push my buttons. I know you, and I know we have something special. I just don't know what the hell to do with it. I was thinking I'd play it cool and if something happened it happened. But I don't know if I'll ever meet someone again that I click with like you. I don't wanna miss my chance. I didn't even think I wanted another chance, but now I think I do."

"And?" Cal asked.

Barney blew out a deep breath and shook his head. "What do you mean 'And?' I can't sit here and let you do your thing and potentially leave without trying. I really like you, and I'm no good at this dating stuff. I haven't been really interested in a woman in years. I mean a lot of years. I'd like to date you and see if my gut is right."

And there it was; the thing that Cal had been too frightened to approach. She'd been convinced the best thing she could do was hang out with Barney and wait to see where her coaching gigs took her. She didn't want to start something and not be able to follow through. She'd known Barney was interested in her as she was in him. She didn't want to complicate things in her life. She didn't want to have to make any decisions based on anyone or anything but her and her career.

Now, it was all out there in the open, and she wasn't sure what to do. If she turned him down, she'd never get another chance. He wasn't that type of man. If she dated him and then had to go back to Edmonton, because Green Bay thought that getting Native Americans to do a fake ritual to overcome a superstition wasn't enough; what would happen then? She'd never felt the way she did standing there in the parking lot with a bouquet of roses. She had to make her decision on the Barney situation and quickly.

Cal didn't realize how long she'd been thinking.

"Are you ever gonna reply?" Barney asked.

Cal shook her head to bring herself out of her head and back to the conversation. "I'm sorry. You caught me a bit off guard. I guess my mind wandered into a little bit of uncharted territory."

"What does that mean?" he asked.

"I don't date much. Mostly because I don't find guys worth dating much; well ever. I've gone out casually off and on, but I've never even had a real relationship. And I've never felt like I was missing out. I know that sounds bizarre, but there it is. I'm always busy."

"What do you think about us?" he asked directly.

Cal looked at her flowers. "I think you're right."

"About what?" Barney queried.

"I'd feel stupid if I didn't see how this goes. I really like you, and that's new to me. Don't think I'm innocent or anything, I just mean I like you; a lot. So, now what?"

Barney smiled and gave her a kiss. She felt like she might melt, even though the snow was falling harder every minute and she was sure the temperature was well below zero.

"How about dinner?" Barney suggested. "You know, maybe somewhere besides my place so I can enjoy a meal with you without taking orders while we eat?"

He was so charming. Cal had met a lot of men. It was unavoidable in her line of work. She'd had men attempt to charm her in all sorts of ways from all sorts of angles. She'd been hit on by players, owners, coaches, fans, teachers, pilots and every other type of man who'd be interested in a woman. She'd met rich ones, poor ones, smart ones, and dumb ones. But she'd never met anyone like Barney. He was genuine. He had no player in him. His game wasn't game, it was honesty. That was it. Barney felt like home.

"I could eat," Cal finally replied.

"Should we find fish and chips?" Barney smiled.

"We should probably find something different," Cal offered. "No fish and chips will live up to yours."

"Okay, what else do you like?" Barney asked. "There's all kinds of food in town. Italian, Indian, Thai, Japanese, whatever you want."

Cal loved that he wanted to give her a night out that she'd enjoy. She loved that he was willing to eat whatever she wanted. She didn't know what he liked to eat, since they always had dinner at his pub. The truth of the matter was she liked good old American food and was really enjoying it since she'd been back in America. Canadian food was fine, but American burgers and fries and fish and chips were some of her favorite things in life. Not to mention, she truly liked beer and was always happy to have food which paired well with it.

"I don't know," Cal replied. "Would you be upset if I said we could just go to the sports bar around the corner and get burgers?"

Barney smiled. "That's my favorite thing about you so far."

"What?" she asked, surprised.

"You're real. You don't try to impress anyone with stupid stuff. Most women I meet are more worried about their hair and how much I spend on them than they are about anything else. Most of them don't eat anything but salad, like I don't know they go home and have Doritos and ice cream after. I don't have to work to figure you out. It's fantastic."

Cal couldn't resist messing with him a little. She knew he meant nice things by what he said, but it came across odd and she couldn't help herself.

"So, am I simple? Or am I boyish and ugly with no style?"

"I know you're messing with me," he smiled. "You know I think you are about the finest creature I've ever seen in my life, and if I wanted someone simple, I would not be standing here having this conversation with you. Now, why don't you jump your fine ass in your Bronco and I will follow you around the corner for burgers and onion rings. That way I can warm up while I hang on every word you say as if they were the only words I ever want to hear for the rest of my life. How does that sound?"

Cal knew she was in trouble. "Smooth talker. I'm halfway there already."

She jumped in her rented Bronco and he climbed in his white Escalade and they went around the corner to one of the oldest sports bars in Green Bay to have something to eat.

Cal wasn't shy about being hungry. Barney would never have to worry about her eating a salad to impress him. She'd be more likely to eat a tub of flaming hot wings to impress him. She wasn't a delicate flower. She was a woman and she had all the female emotions, but she'd spent so much time around jocks and on her own that she really didn't know how to act like a delicate flower. Barney had no idea how relieved she'd been to hear that he didn't want a delicate flower. She felt the weight of the world lift again when he said that.

Cal had gone to Barney's every time she'd gone out to eat since she'd been in Green Bay. She went there after every practice and after every home game. When she and Barney walked into Kroll's, she hadn't expected to see almost every player on her team inside having food and beer.

Cal had never asked the guys where they went after games. She hadn't really thought about it. She did her own thing and no one ever asked her if she wanted to join them. As much as it should have made sense that they all went around the corner to celebrate after a win, she was shocked. There she was with her new man; a man they all knew who he was. She had no idea what her players would say or do.

Jules walked up to them. "It's about time you joined us after a game," he said to Cal. He turned to Barney. "Thanks for making her finally stop by and celebrate with us." He turned to the players hanging at the bar. "I give you Coach Cal! Barney was nice enough to convince her to come by. She always turns me down. Thank you, Barney!"

The players at the bar cheered and ordered Cal and Barney a beer of their choosing. Cal realized Jules was making it easier for her. She'd worried about coaching a bunch of guys her whole life. Green Bay was something truly different.

"Right this way, coach," Jules said, guiding them to the bar.

"Thank you," Cal said, shyly.

"Always," Jules replied. "Whatever gets you to think about sticking around."