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Exactly. It’s a colossalwhat-if, and I can’t do it. I can’t see her before a game.
But my gut tells me she’s here.
I’m not surewhy, but this strange feeling falls over me.
I can’t look for her. It’ll only steal my focus the way she stole a piece of me, and I can’t afford that when I’m about to start the second home game of the season.
We head into the locker room, and my brother says a few words to motivate us. Travis Woods, one of our team captains this year, steps up and says some motivating shit, too, and then it’s game time.
The starters are introduced, and we each run through the tunnel formed by our teammates as pyrotechnics explode on the field. I don’t even hear the hype music over the roar of the crowd.
I take my place on the sidelines next to Travis, who’s one of the starting wide receivers. He motions to somebody up in the suite, presumably his wife and kid, and I watch as Lincoln does something similar to his wife and kids.
I’m surrounded by these men who think of their women before they take the field for this game we’re all so focused on, this game we all love so damn much…this game that has always come first.
I don’t have that, and I never wanted it. But something feels like it’s changing.
It’s as I head off the field at the two-minute warning when I glance up at the scoreboard. We’re up thirty-one to seventeen. We’ve got this in the bag. I don’t even need to get back out on that field for the final snap, though I will.
My eyes edge from the scoreboard to the fans in front of me. They’re all up on their feet now, yelling and screaming as we wrap up this win, and as my eyes move up the rows from beneath my helmet, that’s when I see it.
Long, red hair swirling around shoulders.
She’s yelling like all the fans are as they create a deafening cacophony of noise.
My eyes move to her face. Her green eyes are on me, and they sparkle brightly in that unique shade even from here.
My breath catches in my throat as I realizeit’s her.
She’s here.
She can’t know I’m looking at her from under my helmet, yet her mouth closes, and she freezes.
My eyes edge down a little lower, and it’s all wrong. Totally wrong.
She’s wearing a red Aces jersey with the numberfiveon it.
It’s missing the fucking eight.
She’s here, and she’s wearing the wrong man’s number, and rage fills me at the realization.
But one thing is clear.
I need to find her after the game. It’s time for the explanation she never gave me so I can finally put her out of my fucking head once and for all.
Chapter 19: Desiree Dixon
You Know the Rule
I freeze. Did he just spot me?
His head was turned in my direction, and Iswearour eyes connected, but it was hard to tell with that helmet on.
It was like I could feel that shade of navy blue as it branded me in place. Holy hell, the chemistry isheatedbetween us.
And I guess the next question is…what’s he going to do about it?
What amIgoing to do about it?
