Page 73 of Tangled with the Tight End

“And you play for work. I do like that part.”

He studies me. “It’s hard work.”

“I can tell. I’d never be able to do your job. I can hardly get a Kleenex to land in a trash can from a short distance. And all that tackling? No. That would not be one of my jobs.”

“No Winona for Hire in the NFL?”

“Yeah. No. Definitely not.”

“I can assure you the Thunder isn't looking to hire you to stand in for a day,” he says with a smile.

I laugh. "Yeah. I'm very certain of that."

“Would you want to learn to throw a Kleenex into the trash can?” he asks me.

“I mean … yes? Who wants Kleenex landing on the floor?”

“I’ll teach you,” he says. “Let me get my football.”

Declan reaches over and grabs the remote, turning off the TV.

Before I know what’s happening, he’s grabbing his crutches and propelling himself across the room. “It’s in my bedroom. I’ll be right back.”

“Okay!” I shout after him.

The sound of the elevator clunking into place and the doors opening echoes down the hallway. I sit on the edge of the chair where I sat watching the game. A few minutes later, Declan’s back, a football awkwardly tucked under his arm while he maneuvers with the crutches.

I jump up, grabbing the ball. “Remember the sling I made you?”

“How could I forget?” he chuckles, looking down into my eyes. “You nearly took Patrick out.”

I laugh. “Yeah. Thankfully he’s got lightning reflexes.”

“Let’s go out back,” Declan says.

“To … ?”

“Learn to throw.”

“You’re going to teach me to throw?”

“Yeah.”

He doesn’t wait for my answer. He just propels through the house, out the side door at the back of the laundry room and down the steps of his back deck.

Declan’s yard is as massive as his house and as well-kept.

He stops at a spot, waiting for me to catch up.

“Okay, show me what you’ve got,” he says.

“Just throw the ball?”

“That’s how I’ll see your skill. Aim for that net over there.”

I glance across the long yard to where Declan’s pointing. A taut net is strung across a metal frame.

“I got that so my nieces could practice throwing when they’re over. I mess around with it sometimes too.”