AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Prologue
Wide receiver Jahleel Walker wiggled his fingers as he took his place on the line of scrimmage, waiting for the ball snap. The crowd roared for the San Antonio Desperados despite the fact that they were the away team. No way he wanted to lose to the Atlanta Falcons on Thanksgiving Day. Not if he could help it. He’d eat that turkey leg and make sure the holiday season was an epic one for the team.
Quarterback Colton Montgomery had called a pass route in the huddle, so Jahleel mentally ran the play while waiting for it to start. Since he’d started his career in the NFL eight years ago, the team had yet to earn the coveted Vince Lombardi trophy. If the Desperados could pull a win for the Super Bowl, maybe his father would finally approve of his career choice.
Get your head back in the game.
The ball snapped, and Jahleel took off. He juked a defensive player, arms pumping as he got to his spot and in the clear. His heart raced as he spun to catch the ball, watching as it spiraled through the air.Come on, baby, come on.When itneared, he pushed off on his toes, leaping into the air, arms splayed out to grab the ball. His hands gripped the pigskin, and he grinned, bringing it to his chest in one fluid motion as his body descended.
Someone slammed into his leg.
“Ahhhh!”
Excruciating pain exploded in his right knee as he collapsed onto the field, ball still clutched in his hands. He reached for his leg, gritting his teeth against the throbbing that radiated from his knee. The sound of a whistle barely penetrated the haze of agony. The white-hot heat caused his stomach to roll. He hissed, trying to keep his stomach contents inside.
A hand touched his shoulder. Someone removed his helmet. Another took the ball.
“Talk to me, Walker,” Coach Brennan said.
“Right knee,” Jahleel managed to grit out.
Hands stilled him as an athletic trainer examined his leg. A bout of pressure brought tears to his eyes, and a groan tore from his lips.
“What’s wrong with it?” Coach asked.
Jahleel listened for the response, but silence greeted his ears. The trainer had either ignored Coach or simply shrugged in reply. Jahleel tried to lift his head to take a look, but a hand stayed him.
“You’re going to feel more pressure.”
Was that the team doc?
He inhaled, preparing himself, but it was no use. The agony shot up as the doc squeezed Jahleel’s knee, shredding that ridiculous emoji scale for pain. Stars danced behind his eyelids, and he willingly succumbed to the darkness.
Chapter
ONE
God love her daughter, but going to early morning flag football games utterly exhausted Bebe. The two cups of coffee she’d drunk this morning hadn’t adequately prepared her for ear-piercing whistles and yells from overzealous parents. A couple of times she’d been tempted to snap at the cheering adults or offer them a sip of her coffee in hopes the liquid gold would calm them down. She wanted to enjoy watching her daughter play. Instead, the steady pounding in the back of her head had picked up its pace with every shout of approval.
As much as Bebe loved football—and she did with all her Falcons-lovin’ heart—she valued sleep above all. Well, except the Lord.
She watched as Hope played defense, grabbing a flag to stop the other team from scoring. Bebe clapped her hands, happy to see her seven-year-old enjoying herself. As much as she complained about the cold and early hours, Bebe would be here next week just to see that same big smile on her daughter’s face.
Finally the game ended, and Bebe got her sweaty but precious child into the car so they could go home and relax for the rest of the day. Soon she pulled her car into their driveway. With a turn of the key, the car shut off, bringing a moment of blissful silence.
“I can’t believe we won, Mama,” Hope said, unbuckling herself from her booster seat. She was skinny for a seven-year-old and didn’t yet weigh enough to go without the safety precaution.
“You did good, baby.” Bebe turned around, giving her daughter a quick kiss on the cheek. “Now, let’s go in and get you cleaned up.”
“Who’s that, Mama?”
Bebe turned left, following the direction of her daughter’s pointed finger. Thank goodness she had a good tint on her car windows. She wouldn’t have to worry about someone seeing Hope point. Why did kids have to be so obvious in their curiosity?
The thought evaporated as soon as she saw the object of Hope’s question.
Jahleel Walker.What on earth is he doing here?
Bebe’s mind immediately transported her back in time to an era when she and Jay had laughed and joked, sitting on the front stoop while eating whoopie pies as children. Then her thoughts fast-forwarded to senior year, when their relationship took a dreamy turn. One filled with moonlight kisses under the oak trees.
