Unexpected

Rory’s POV– Rory stood near the stadium exit where most of the team was flooding out after the game. The Eagles had played the Chiefs today – a grueling, hard-hitting season opener that had the entire stadium on their feet on both sides. It was a close one, but the Eagles had won it.

Now here she was in her trademark white jeans, Eagles jersey emblazoned with “Kelce” and the number 62, a handmade Eagles bow in her hair, holding a basket filled with handmade bracelets in the Eagles colors. Each time she had a chance, she handed a bracelet to a passing player or cheerleader, earning her a few hugs and lots of smiles.

But it was the small, white gift bag clutched in her hand that she was most aware of. Inside was a bracelet in Eagles colors and two in Chiefs colors. Those were for Travis and Taylor, should she actually get to meet Jason. Also inside was a hand painted picture frame in Eagles colors.

She’d painted his name on it along with his jersey number and added an Eagles sticker. But it was the photo inside she was most proud of. She had purchased a high-end camera specifically for his last game. And even though the Eagles hadn’t won that day, Rory had caught an amazing mid-play shot of Jason that she had placed in the frame. When Jason had announced his retirement two months later, Rory had cried. She didn’t even know him and yet she was so proud of him.

As she was remembering that game, that press conference, and all the emotions that followed both, she spotted him. He was in jeans and a soft Eagles t-shirt, ball cap pulled down just over his eyes. But it was unmistakably Jason. This was her moment. You can do this, Rory. He’s just a man. Act normal.

Inching closer, she clutched the bag a little together than necessary, intent to get just close enough to get his attention. She took a few deep breaths, gathering her courage and moved to step forward. She didn’t get a chance. Before she could move, before she could even take a single step, she felt herself being shoved.

Caught off guard, she stumbled, trying to stay upright. She didn’t succeed. She couldn’t catch her balance before another shove sent her toward the unforgiving concrete. Her knees buckled, hands flying out instinctively to break her fall.

She registered the crunch of glass breaking before anything else. No...

“Hey, asshole – I don’t care how quickly you’re trying to get out of here or how excited you might be to meet me. You’re going to help the lady you just knocked over.”

Rory froze halfway through trying to open the gift bag to examine the frame. She glanced up to find Jason Kelce himself kneeling beside her. The air left her lungs in a startled huff, somewhere between disbelief and awe.

“Are you okay?” he asked, concern etched in his face.

“I...”

“Hey, man – I’m really sorry,” said one of the men. “I had a little too much, got a little excited. You know how it is.”

“Yeah, well, control your alcohol or stay home and watch ESPN next time,” Jason grumbled.

The other guy, the one who had caused her to fall, knelt down to Rory. “I’m so sorry,” he said earnestly. “I’m not even going to make excuses. I truly didn’t mean to hurt you.”

Rory examined her legs and hands. A tiny scrape on her left hand seemed to be the only visible damage. “I’ll be alright,” she reassured him.

“Are you sure? If anything is wrong, I’ll take care of your doctor bill or something,” the man said, earning him an odd look from his friend.

“No, really. I’ll be okay. I’ve had worse. Just promise me you two are taking an Uber home.”

“My sister is picking us up,” the man assured her as he stood.

Another quick mumbled apology and they were gone, leaving Rory alone with Jason.

“This is not how I imagined meeting you...” Rory muttered.

“Come on, I’ll get your hand cleaned up,” he said, hooking his arms around her.

“Wait,” she protested. “Just... I have to be sure...”

Her throat tightened and she couldn’t say anymore. Slowly, she opened the gift back and extracted the frame gingerly. Sure enough, two cracks in the glass glared at her.

“No...” she whispered. Tears, hot and thick, rolled down her cheeks.

She had spent hours blending the paints to get the perfect Eagles green and painting the frame. Painstakingly painting the lettering of his name, his number. Placing the sticker just right so it added a pop of character. Now the glass was ruined.

“No...” she whispered again.

“Hey, this is really beautiful,” Jason said softly as examined the frame. “Did you make this?”

“Yes,” she whispered, swiping angrily at her cheeks. “And now it’s broken.”

“Hey,” he said gently, a hand resting on her shoulder. “Glass is replaceable. The rest of it is intact, the picture is safe. Now come on. Grab your things so we can get your hand cleaned up.”

Rory allowed him to pull her to her feet, gripping the bag and the basket of bracelets like a lifeline. She let him guide her toward the locker room, numbness seeping into her bones with every step. It wasn’t the cracked glass that hurt so much, not really. He was right, that was replaceable. No, her pain was much deeper than that.

Her very best friend was gone. He had been her football buddy. Her little brother life had blessed her with. The Chiefs pin she wore at her collar was for him. And now he was gone. Life had been cut short for the one person who understood her and really cared.

“Sit down here, honey,” Jason interrupted her thoughts as he guided her to a chair.

She glanced around. The locker room was mostly empty, the stale stench of sweat mingling with the scent of various soaps from the showers. It was warm from the steam. Comforting somehow. Grounding.

As she waited, Jordan Mailata, an offensive tackle for the Eagles, plopped down in the folding chair beside hers.

“You don’t look much like one of us,” he teased lightly, Australian accent thick with humor.

She chuckled, showing him the scrape on her hand. “I had a fight with the concrete. The concrete won. Jason insisted on cleaning my hand.”

Jordan’s laugh was deep and rich, warming her in a way she hadn’t expected. “He does tend to take care of people.”

Before Rory could respond, Jason returned, arms loaded with peroxide, gauze, and bandages. “I think this should be enough.” He dumped everything on the floor at her feet and reached for her hand.

“Jason, I have a scrape on my hand. It didn’t even bleed much. I don’t think I need bandages.”

He shook his head. “Your knee is cut, too,” he pointed out. “Worse than your hand.”

“Oh.”

He gently pulled the leg of her jeans up and began to clean her knee first instead, his touch surprisingly gentle. Once that was done, he bandaged her knee and cleaned up her hand. She was vaguely aware of Jordan’s watchful eye.

“All done,” Jason said, rising to his feet. He seemed about to say something more when his gaze landed on her collar and he gaped. “Is...that a Chiefs pin?”

She felt her cheeks pinken. “Yes...”

Jordan snorted. “Girl... you can’t pick a side today?”

She knew he was teasing. Knew it was all in good humor. But she couldn’t stop the tears that slipped down her cheeks again. She looked down at her hands, twisting the Eagles bracelet she wore. “I...” She swallowed. “I’m an Eagles girl through and through. Always have been, since I could say the words, “fly Eagles fly.” But my brother... well, he was like my brother... He was a Chiefs guy. And he’s well... he uh...” She paused. A deep breath. “He’s not with us anymore,” she finally managed.

Jordan and Jason both sobered, all teasing gone.

“I’m sorry,” Jordan murmured, a friendly hand on her good knee. “Please, I meant no offense.”

“None taken, not at all,” she promised. “You didn’t know.” She reached into the basket, pulling out two of the bracelets. “Here. For you and your wife.”

He thanked her with a hug and headed out. For a while, it was quiet, the hum of the air conditioning the only sound.

Jason broke the silence first. “We should get out of here before we get locked in Lincoln Financial Field and I have to explain to my brother why I missed post-game dinner.”

“Right,” she muttered, gathering her things. She extended the gift bag to him. “There’s gifts in there for Travis and Taylor, too,” she told him.

He rummaged in the bag to see what was inside. “You... you made gifts for my family, too?”

“Well, yeah. I love making things for people.”

He studied her for a moment. Then he smiled, warm and genuine. “You should come. To dinner I mean. With... well with me, Travis, and Taylor.”

Rory stared, a squeaking sound coming from her lips before she could stop it. “You... I... You want me to have dinner with Taylor freaking Swift?!”

Jason snorted. “I mean... technically, the three of us. But yes. You can give them your gifts in person.”

“I...”

“Come on. You’ve had a rough afternoon. You deserve a little fun.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “And, if I’m being honest, I’d like to get to know you a little better.”

She looked in his eyes, instinct from past experiences telling her men only wanted one thing. Yet she saw nothing but warmth in his eyes. Kindness. Maybe a hint of flirtation, but nothing too forward.

“Okay,” she finally breathed. “Lead the way.”