“ Glad you could make it, Lloyd. Some introductions are in order, I think. “ Jeremy said, waving his hand to the group of girls. Alexandra waved a hand in acknowledgment, “ Alexandra, nice to meet ya. “ Next to her, Heather stepped up, offering a handshake. “ Heather, it’s nice to meet you. “ Alicia had been quiet up till now, smirking over her wine glass. “ I’m Alicia; Gotta say I don’t see many cowboys this far from Greeley. “ “ Ladies, this is Lloyd Wright, my business partner, friend, and the owner of the Billings Wolves, who are playing the Cannibals tomorrow night. “ Jeremy says as the ladies have questioning looks on their faces. Alicia steps up and asks, “ Business partner? We thought you owned the Cannibals outright. “Lloyd chuckles as he replies, “ He owns the Cannibals outright, and I own the Wolves outright, with the exception of a tiny percentage that I’ve given away to retired NAFL players that live in the area. We’re business partners, as in we are both league Co-
He tried to hold the kiss for as long as he could, but Alexandra pulled away pretty quickly with a huge smile, saying, “ I needed that. I wish I could have more right now, but I haven’t told the girls yet, and I want to tell them before we are open about it. I plan on telling them on the way home tonight, so there will be no issues at the game tomorrow. “He sighs, then says, “ Ok, I understand; I told Lloyd when we were waiting for you guys. I hope that’s ok, and I’ll try to be respectful tonight. We better hurry outside before we raise suspicions. “She grins and nods in agreement. Once they get to the door, they see Lloyd jumping into the pool and the other two heading over to the hot tub. Lloyd pops out of the water, grinning ear to ear, then speaks to Jeremy and Alexandra, “ Come on, you two, the water is refreshing. “ Before Alexandra can reply, Jeremy tosses his Crocs and sleeveless compression shirt to the grill and jumps in doing a cannonball. Alexandra shakes her head as he
They make brief eye contact, and even in the hazy morning light, Jeremy can see the red blush on her cheeks and tinting her ears, wearing a Billings Wolves t-shirt that’s a couple of sizes too big and her leggings. “ Please don’t tell Alexandra about this. “ Alicia softly requests. He sighs t” think for a second before whispering, “ Okay, I won’t tell her, but you need to tell her yourself before the game tonight. I promise I won’t tell her till at least then, but I will talk to my friend, Lloyd, though.” She rolls her eyes and sighs, then heads to her room. Jeremy starts to work out while trying to figure out what happened last night between Lloyd and Alicia, to result in what he saw just outside of his room. He loses track of time as he suddenly feels a hand on his shoulder.He looks over to see Alexandra; smiling, he goes in for a kiss. As they finish the kiss, he says, “ You’re a sight for sore eyes. I missed you. I couldn’t wait to work out with you. Are you ready? “She rolls
Heather rolls her eyes in the passenger seat of the car as Alexandra is waiting for an answer, then says, “ How long have you known me? I’ve seen you in relationships before, and I see how he looks at you. As well as, you didn’t sleep in your room last night, but you slept in his room. You can’t deny it because I went to your room this morning while you were apparently working out, and you weren’t there. The bed was completely made, just how it was like when I checked both rooms and tried out the beds. “ Alicia, in the back seat turning white as she fears that Heather knew her secret, speaks up a little sheepishly, “ I I didn’t know that; I thought you were in your room. I’m happy for you, regardless. “Alexandra looking in the rearview mirror seeing Alicia looking white as a ghost, says to her, “ Are you alright? You look like you don’t feel good? “Alicia struggles to reply as she replies, “ Umm ya-yeah, I’m fine. I just may have had a few too many last night. I might have a hangov
Jeremy heads to the Cannibals bench and then to the VIP room to change as the coin toss was going down. He puts the top hat on the table and starts to undress. He hangs up the outfit after putting it in the suit bag, then decides to take a quick shower door as he worked up a sweat in the Ringleader outfit, and he wants to be clean and smelling fresh for Alexandra. After the shower and getting dressed, he took the suit bag to his office, then locked the office before heading to the owner’s box. With a big grin on his face walking into the owner’s box, Jeremy says, “ What did I miss? “ Alexandra chuckles as she says, “ Just a clown parading around in a Ringleader outfit on the field. “ Lloyd starts to laugh before saying, “ I really like this young lady. You need to keep this one; she’s good for you, keeping you honest. By the way, you need to do something about that coach of yours. He’s not going to be good for the league or for the image of your team. “ Jeremy sighs as he replies,
Alexandra entered the visiting owner’s box, and she was welcomed by jubilant conversation and lively banter. However, she was in no mood. “ You. “her voice bombed over the sound of laughter as the whole team paused to see whom she was addressing. The tall redhead's finger was leveled on Alicia, “ I said you, with me, now. We need to talk. “ Next, her gaze fell to Heather, “ You too, ‘cause I need a witness.”An echo of whispers filled the room as various other players commented, “ Man, I’m glad I’m not her. “ and “ Well, it was nice knowing her. “ “ What is wrong with you? “Alicia hissed, her ears bright red from being called out. Alex had eyes of fire as she yanked her friend into a nearby Conference room. “ Don’t you start with me! What’s wrong with me? What’s wrong with you! Jumping some old man’s bones! “ “ Whoa, pump the brakes! Alicia did what now? “ Heather interjected. Now all eyes fell on Alicia, who stood pale with clenched fists. “ What I do is not your business, and i
Jeremy had to find Alexandra and try to mend things with her as he realized his mistake. He goes to his suite box, but she wasn’t there; then he looks over at the visiting team’s box, and there’s no one in the suite. He could and would search through the whole stadium to find her, but he wanted to talk to her before halftime was over, and there wasn’t much time left till the second half started with about eight minutes left and counting down. He gets his phone from his hip clip and begins to text her:[ I know you’re upset and understandably so. I know I messed up and I would like to talk to you before halftime to reconcile my mistake. Please tell me where you are and I will meet you there to talk. ]There was a brief pause, and the phone beeped back with the return message. Jeremy checked quickly, his hopes slightly dashed.[Yeah, I am, but I’m cooling down, so I don’t think talking right now is a good idea. We can discuss it after the game. I’ll meet you in the conference room after
Alexandra closes her eyes for a quick second, taking a deep breath to collect her thoughts and what she wants to do. She had to remind herself that this wasn’t the same situation that had happened almost twenty years ago and that she should give him a chance because she hadn’t told him why she has issues with alcohol, but she wasn’t going to deal with him tonight. She had to think of a plan to make sure she would be able to sneak out without seeing him due to the autograph obligation; she knew that she had texted him that she’d meet him in the conference room, but she doesn’t deal with people who are intoxicated as a rule; she’d deal with him tomorrow when he’s sober. In the meantime, she was going to enjoy the rest of the game with her friends and team on Jeremy’s dime. Lloyd seems to have finally got Jeremy to be leveled and centered. They watch the end of the game and watch Terrell make himself look foolish because of his interactions with the fans, the team partners, the referees
After an intense training session, Alexandra sank onto the cold metal bench in the locker room, wiping sweat from her brow. Her muscles ached pleasantly—a reminder of the hard work she’d put in. She reached for her phone, noticing a text from an unknown number. Curiosity piqued, she opened it."Hi Alexandra, this is Jenifer Walter. Hope you don't mind, Jeremy gave me your number after our meeting. I'm in Denver for the next couple of days and would love to meet in person before heading back to Atlanta. Looking forward to hearing from you!"Alexandra blinked in surprise. Jenifer Walter. The name brought a flood of memories and admiration. Jenifer had been the first woman to play in the Wild West Indoor Football League, a formidable linebacker and occasional running back for the Texas Oilers. But why was she reaching out now? And what exactly was Jeremy up to?Taking a deep breath, Alexandra wondered, *Is Jeremy having Jenifer do his dirty work now?* Her relationship with Jeremy was a t
Jeremy's office was bathed in the soft, golden glow of the afternoon sun, casting long shadows on the polished wooden floor. His desk was cluttered with papers, reports, and a laptop where the faces of the WWIF team owners, the league commissioner Larry Helton, and the compliance officer were displayed via a conference call. The tension was palpable as the meeting began, with Jeremy's phone on speaker mode."Larry, are we all set for the meeting?" Jeremy asked, his voice steady but laced with the weight of the upcoming confrontation."Yes, Jeremy," Larry Helton replied, his authoritative tone clear through the speaker. "Everyone from the league will remain silent and on the line during your meeting with Terrell Hillis and Coach Lombardi. We'll intervene only if necessary.""Understood," Jeremy said, a sense of relief washing over him. "Thank you for your cooperation."Just as he finished speaking, the door to his office opened, and Terrell Hillis and Coach Bill Lombardi walked in. Jer
The Las Vegas sun was beginning its descent, casting a golden glow over the tarmac as Alexandra boarded her flight back to Denver. Her teammates were still basking in the afterglow of their championship victory, their celebration extending through the vibrant nightlife of Vegas. But Alexandra had always been different. She savored the moment but understood the importance of humility and focus. The championship was the pinnacle of her career, yet she knew that resting on her laurels could lead to complacency. As the plane lifted off, Alexandra gazed out the window, the sprawling city of lights shrinking below her. She felt a strange mix of exhilaration and calm. Winning had been a dream come true, but she couldn't shake the feeling that bigger challenges lay ahead. By the time the plane touched down in Denver, it was already 7 PM. She collected her bags and headed home, eager to unwind.The streets of Denver were quieter compared to the buzz of Vegas. As she entered her apartment, she
A few weeks had gone by since the Denver Outlaws began their dominating run through the playoffs. The team was on fire, and their momentum seemed unstoppable. For Jeremy, the owner of the Outlaws, the stakes were high, but his confidence in the team was unwavering. During the same period, his other team, the Colorado Cannibals, tore through their opponents to secure a spot in the OK Corral Bowl against the Omaha Cattlemen. With both teams heading into championship games, Jeremy faced a logistical challenge. The Outlaws' game was set for Saturday in Las Vegas, while the Cannibals' game was scheduled for Sunday in Denver. As both team owner and head coach, Jeremy needed to be at both events.Late one night in his office, Jeremy stared at his calendar, scribbling and crossing out potential schedules. His assistant, Melissa, knocked gently on the door. "Jeremy, you look like you could use a break."Jeremy glanced up, a tired smile on his face. "I wish I could, Melissa. I'm trying to figur
The familiar buzz of Alexandra's phone pulled her out of her afternoon reverie. It was 4 PM, and she saw Jeremy's name flash on the screen. She quickly opened the message."Hey Alex, I was able to pull some strings and get an additional five minutes during halftime to give the Outlaws recognition for their undefeated regular season. We want to encourage the fans to come support the Outlaws during their playoff and championship push. Also, all the alcohol and food will be ready for you and your teammates in my owner's box. Hope you all have fun and enjoy yourselves at the game. - Jeremy."Alexandra's lips curled into a smile. Jeremy had always been a bit elusive when it came to showing support for the Outlaws, given his primary focus on the Colorado Cannibals. But today seemed different. She quickly texted back."Thanks, Jeremy! This means a lot to us. We'll be there. Looking forward to the game."After sending the message, she texted her teammates that were going to the game with her.
Alexandra stepped into the cozy yet bustling Japanese Sushi restaurant that had become a favorite lunch spot for her and Alicia. The rich aroma of soy and ginger mixed with the sizzling sounds of the grill created an inviting atmosphere. It was precisely 1 PM, and she spotted Alicia at their usual corner table, waving enthusiastically. Alexandra smiled, but her smile widened when she noticed a third person at the table."Heather!" Alexandra exclaimed, surprised. "I didn't know you were joining us today!"Heather stood up, a sly grin on her face. "Alicia thought it would be a good idea to surprise you," she said, giving Alexandra a warm hug."Surprise!" Alicia chimed in, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "We haven’t all been together in a while, and I thought it would be fun."Alexandra hugged Alicia and then took her seat. "This is a wonderful surprise. I've missed our trio."The three women settled into their seats and picked up the menus. Alexandra scanned the options, her eyes flit
The morning sun bathed Brewster’s Café in a warm, inviting glow as Alexandra stepped inside at precisely 10 AM. The café was bustling with the usual morning rush, the scent of freshly brewed coffee mingling with the aroma of baked pastries. Alexandra’s heart beat faster in anticipation of the meeting. She spotted Jeremy already seated at a corner table, nervously stirring his coffee. His eyes lit up when he saw her, a flicker of hope crossing his face.“Alexandra,” he greeted, standing up awkwardly before sitting back down. She nodded in acknowledgment and ordered her coffee—a caramel macchiato, her favorite—before joining him at the table.The silence between them was heavy, filled with unspoken words and lingering emotions. Alexandra took a moment to gather her thoughts. She had rehearsed this meeting in her mind countless times, but now that it was happening, everything felt surreal.Jeremy took a deep breath, breaking the silence. “I’d like to go first if you don’t mind,” he said,
A few weeks had passed since the high-stakes Cattlemen vs. Cannibals game, yet the intensity of that night still reverberated through Jeremy's mind. The Cannibals were gearing up for their final push towards the playoffs, but the path was anything but smooth. Terrell Hillis, with his relentless ambition, continued to meddle with the Cannibals' roster, causing weekly turnover and attempting to disrupt the team's chemistry. His goal was clear: to undermine Jeremy's success as head coach and reclaim the position for himself.Despite the turmoil, Jeremy remained resolute. His focus was split between managing the Cannibals and his new venture with the Denver Outlaws. The women's football league had recently approved the sale of the Outlaws to Jeremy, a move that marked a significant milestone in his career. With this new responsibility, Jeremy had to make strategic decisions quickly and effectively. One of his first was to hire Chris Wixson, affectionately known as "The Wiz," as the Outlaw
Alexandra took a deep breath as she walked down the silent, dimly lit hallway of the visiting team's facilities. Her cleats echoed with each step, a rhythmic reminder of the intense game she had just played. She approached a door labeled "Coach's Office" and hesitated for a moment, her hand hovering over the doorknob. Gathering her thoughts and summoning her courage, she pushed the door open and stepped inside.Mike Jones glanced up from his desk, his eyes widening in surprise. The room was modest, with shelves lined with binders and playbooks, a couple of framed jerseys on the walls, and the faint smell of liniment in the air. Alexandra's eyes locked with his, and she saw the familiar spark of intensity that had always defined him, both as a player and now as a coach."Alexandra, take a seat," Mike said, motioning to the chair across from him. As she sat down, he leaned back and studied her, his brow furrowing. "I saw a lot of intensity from you tonight. It reminded me of myself when