MY SHOULDER IS badly bruised but no lasting damage. My entire body feels like it was mushed beneath three-hundred-pound football players because it was. I enter the locker room after the physical therapist clears me. I have a large icepack wrapped around my shoulder when the team trudges in from the field.Several players ask how I'm doing and I actually think they might care. Then I hear Kelson open his mouth to a few other players. "She had the ball between her tits; it's the only way she could hold on," he says and laughs.Asshole.Two players standing in front of me hear the exchange. Their damn eyes go straight to my breasts and it pisses me off. They turn away and listen as Kelson continues flapping his lips. Eyes shift away from me when I look to other players and that pisses me off even more. What the fuck do I need to do to prove myself?I lift the ice off my shoulder and lay it on the closest bench."Now that we've been laughed out of the NFL by a pair of tits, we need t
THE ONLY THING that saves my sanity in the shower is the thought of kicking Kelson's ass. He's smarter than he acts because I don't see him after I walk back into the main part of the locker room. Jordan's still in her private dressing room, so I head to Coach Mitchel's office. The trainer is discussing Jordan's injured shoulder when I arrive.She wasn't quite truthful with me and I should be angry. But I'm not because I've given her flippant replies and said I'm okay many times when I'm not. That's what football players do. Jordan has a badly bruised shoulder and she'll be in physical therapy for a couple of weeks. It won't stop her from playing the first regular season game, though.The trainer leaves and I fill Coach in on what happened and how Jordan ultimately was hurt.He nods and then comes out of left field with, "You sleeping with her?"Well, hell. "I think about it," I say to deflect the question. There is no way I'm telling him about my sex life with Jordan. There's no r
OKAY. SO, I admit, I'm not a good patient. I'm tired and cranky by the time we get to Aiden's place. The hamburger and fries make me feel a little better, but if I'm honest, my entire body feels like it's been run over by a truck. Which it basically has. I do my best not to whine but when Aiden places a five pound ice pack on my shoulder I cringe."Big baby," he accuses with a playful smile."Huge baby," I agree. I'm sitting on the couch with my head back against the cushion. Aiden kneels and lifts one of my feet to his lap and begins massaging it. "Is it too soon to admit I love you?" I ask teasingly and sigh as he digs into more sore muscles.He stops massaging my feet and it worries me that I've crossed a line even jokingly. Then his lips quirk. "Those are run and hide words for sure. Could you maybe change it to like?"I exhale. I'm glad he isn't reading the truth in what I just said. "Lust is another good 'L' word." His talented fingers move up my calf to my thigh and my eyes
THE STORY OF Jordan's childhood pops into my head at odd times. I think of my sisters and my mom, wondering if they've faced inequality. What if Candice wanted to play baseball and not softball? Steph chose a career that wasn't as accepting of women. She never complained. Hell, Jordan never complains. She takes shit from the media, the players, and hell, other women.Mike Goodwyn came back at Jordan on his next show with a lineup of women, including a psychologist, who all agreed that Jordan shouldn't be playing pro football. One of them even quoted the Bible. Something about women remaining silent. My eye roll was so exaggerated my eyes should have stuck to the back of my skull when that aired.Kelson Miller's trade to another team was announced Tuesday. His locker was cleared by the time we came in from practice. I heard grumbling from some players but for the most part, Kelson won't be missed. Fergus moved into the second-string quarterback position. He looked good in preseason an
MY DAD, REG, and Laura walk from the terminal together. I hug my dad first, then Laura, and last Reg while holding back tears. Dwaine, the Pronghorns' driver, brought me to the airport in a stretch limo. He's waiting outside for me to call him after we collect the luggage. I know my dad and Reg will travel lightly but Laura brings everything but her bathroom sink. She's a girly girl from beginning to end.I send a text to Dwaine after we have her luggage lined up. We head outside as he rounds the outside corner and pulls to a stop. My trip to the airport was uneventful other than signing a few autographs. I'm mostly accustomed to it now and even carry my own permanent marker at Aiden's suggestion.We're going out to dinner and Aiden is meeting us. I've spoken very little to Reg and Laura about my romantic life. They think I'm too busy. This thing with Aiden is moving along like a whirlwind. At least to my dad and friends we can come out of the closet. Hiding something as monumental a
MEETING JORDAN'S FATHER went better than expected. We began talking football when Jordan left for the ladies' room and he came around quickly. Reg is another story. His mouth stayed in a firm line through most of dinner. The only person who had any luck lightening his demeanor was Laura. Now there's a scary woman. She had no trouble batting her eyelashes in my direction and making me uncomfortable.I drove everyone to the hotel after dinner. The short kiss with Jordan wasn't nearly enough but her father was watching. "Big game tomorrow, don't stay up too late," I whispered in her ear before shaking her dad's hand. Reg and Laura are staying a few rooms down and will come over to Jordan's room after they're settled. I'm heading to my place for beauty sleep before the game. I'm affected by first game jitters as much as I was three years ago and I hope the feeling never leaves.I'm in my apartment ten minutes after leaving the hotel. I shoot off a text to Jordan as soon as I'm leaning ba
WHERE'S A THROW-UP bucket when you need one?I swallow and then try breathing through my mouth to ease the nausea. It shouldn't be this bad and I somehow need to control it. I barely slept last night, had trouble eating all day because of the balloon in my stomach, and now my head is pounding. It doesn't matter that this is what I signed up for, I'm terrified."Buck up, kiddo, we're on in a few minutes," Lane says as the team fills the tunnel and we wait to run out onto the field. Lane is too damned calm and I hate him for it.How does the team do this each week? "What if I trip?" I whisper harshly in Lane's ear.He only grins. "You pick your ass up and take the ribbing on the nightly news. But worse, you take it from all the guys until the end of time.""Thanks. That helped."He laughs. "Anytime.""Go, go, go," says a coach at the head of the tunnel.I close my eyes and then open them. I place my helmet on and Lane gently knocks his against mine. "Showtime," he yells. Whoops f
I'M BEAT UP but adrenaline is keeping me hyped. I give a single clap and we break huddle. We've done this next play a million times and it's usually good for a few yards. I fake a handoff, drop back, and lift my arm. A Scorpion hits me from behind and the ball flies away. Luckily, a Pronghorn picks it up and scrambles for those few yards we needed so desperately. I pick myself up from the field and feel a twinge in my hip.No time to think about it.We make steady gain and I glance at the clock. Six minutes, forty-four seconds. We need a touchdown here or we don't have a shot at winning this game. My teeth clench against my mouthpiece as we line up on the line of scrimmage. I need Randy Byer to catch this pass. He runs full tilt to the end zone and this time when my arm goes back, my offensive line does its job, and no one gets near me.Randy has two defensive players in the mix. His hands go up as do four others. One player tips the ball and Randy reaches back farther than should b
I hid in Italy for three weeks. Greg came with me and kicked my ass on the court. He actually made a great practice partner. I was back to clean eating and drinking only water. It surprised me when Greg brought a bottle of wine to my room one night."What's this for?" I asked when he gave me one of his golly-gee smiles. Greg was cute. And, married to a lovely woman who worshipped him."I've been your coach for three months now and I have no idea what makes you tick. It's time for a come to daddy talk. Or in your case, come to coach. I figured the alcohol might make it easier.""You'll need more than one bottle," I told him. He came back to my room ten minutes later with two more bottles in his hands. "Does your wife know you're getting drunk with a slutty tennis star tonight?" I smiled to take the sting out of calling myself a slut."She suggested it. We've had many long conversations about you.""How romantic."He poured our first glasses and tilted the edge of his glass against
I never returned to the hospital, which was entirely unfair of me. My anger at my father carried over to Brack. I was horrible. The man I loved hadn't fully recovered and I left him at the hospital alone. Okay, he had his parents and his team. But, bottom lineI was horrible and a coward. I ignored the calls from Brack and my father. Again- coward.I needed complete control of my life. It took me two weeks to come up with a plan. During those two weeks, I hired a new coach and trained until I could barely walk. I trained with a purpose. I'd had my own money. Not just from tennis but from my mother. I'd never used it. That was the way I punished her and myself. Now, for the first time, I paid for my own coach.I liked him. I could actually smile over the fact that my father paid for Jerry all those years while the two of them hated each other. Greg, my new coach, kicked my ass. I had no idea if I had a chance this season. But, winning the Grand Slam was in my peripheral vision and not
Two days later, the doctors discontinued the medication that kept Brack in a coma. My father showed up the morning after surgery and made me go home, shower, and change clothes. Brack's parents were staying in shifts. His mom promised she wouldn't leave his side until I returned. I hadn't really spoken to them. We stayed relatively quiet in Brack's room. I whispered encouragement and told him I was there. They gave us privacy, too. That's when I told him I loved him. Again and again, I whispered the words.My father and Senator Jacobs were cordial. Brack's mother treated my dad like a family friend. Apparently she'd been friends with my mom. I tried not to think about the ramifications of our two families tied together through me and Brack. It was too much to take right now.Brack still had the ventilator. The doctor reviewed best and worst case scenarios with us. I refused to listen to brain damage, paralysis, learning to walk and talk again, and so on. My focus was full recovery. I
Four hours later, I was passed out against Mack's shoulder when his cell rang. My brain registered the noise and I was pulled quickly from sleep."Yeah," he answered quietly. He listened for several minutes before responding. "I have her here with me. We'll be there in a minute." He slid his phone back in his pocket and looked at me. "He's in recovery. It was touch and go, but he pulled through. They have him in a sedated coma. He has a stent in his skull to relieve swelling. The doctor told his parents he came to before surgery and demanded to see you. His mom wants you up there if you think you can handle it."I was up and walking out of the emergency room before he finished, my heart pounding a hundred miles an hour. "What floor? I'm not waiting for you to waddle behind me."Snickers came from several of the guys. "I've got her," Molly said."Second floor."The elevator took so long I almost turned to the stairs. I'd do anything to get to him. Brack asked for me and I had to se
I ran toward Brack, who had fallen to the floor. There was so much blood and I tried wiping it off his face. My hands turned dark red."You did it, baby," he whispered before his body went completely limp.Sander and a woman who must be Molly ran into the enclosure with guns drawn. I could barely hear them. Echoed gunshots continued ringing in my ears."Call an ambulance and please someone check on my father. He's in the van," I said as I held Brack's head in my lap. Blood soaked my panties and covered my legs. Head wounds bleed, I kept saying to myself. Sander practically jumped over us and went straight to Ty's body. He turned back when he had assured himself Ty was no longer a threat."Where were you?" I asked softly. I didn't want Brack to hear me yelling at his team.Sander sat down next to me and took Brack's arm checking his pulse. "The bastard used some kind of scrambler. It took us a while to figure out the van didn't leave the premises. We recovered the phones. Brack had
Kids laughed. A mother scolded a young child for attempting to go under the bar and get closer to one of the cages. Brack and I stood in the center of the primate exhibit. My phone chirped. It didn't startle me this time; I was too numb. "Yes.""Walk over to the primate exhibit sign and you'll find another cell phone behind it. Exchange it for the one you're using. Have Mr. Jacobs leave his phone behind, too."Brack followed me to the sign and I did exactly as told. The phone was there. I picked it up and lay mine down. "He said to leave yours, too." Brack took his from his jeans pocket and placed it beside mine. Thankfully, no one paid attention to us. I had no idea what we needed to do next. The phone in my hand vibrated. This time I clicked the call button without saying a word."Go to your left and keep walking on the path. Did you bring my present?" I carried a bag with the dress inside so both of Brack's arms would be free. He carried a gun in a hidden leg holster."Yes, it's
The inside of my father's home was a crime scene. We sat on the couch in the front room away from the forensic team that arrived a few minutes before. The media camped at the gates added to the growing chaos.Even knowing Ty would eventually call, I jumped when my cell phone chirped. The display read "Unknown." My fingers trembled as I picked it up and answered, "Hello, Ty, or should I call you Leo?"His husky laugh sent goose bumps across my arms. "I told you not to call the police. You wouldn't listen and you'll pay for disobedience."My voice remained steady. "It wasn't me. You killed your mother, so what exactly did you expect? She worked for my dad for over thirty years. One plus one equals two, Leo." Fuller and Brack told me not to push him too hard. I had to make him believe I hadn't gone to the police, though."My mother had cancer and it was eating away at her. I did her a favor. She didn't walk in God's light. By making her repent and then killing her God may show mercy."
My heart stopped. Dread and terror filled me. Colors danced before my eyes making it hard to see. The whoosh of blood traveling into my head made it hard to hear. I had to get control of myself. I gulped in air. "You goddamn son of a bitch. If you hurt my father I'll kill you.""He that blasphemeth the name of the LORD shall be put to death and stoned. Remember that when you feel the pain of my hand, Olivia."Brack startled me by gathering me close and placing his head against mine so we both listened. "Where's my father?" I demanded."That's better. I have instructions for you, Olivia. You will follow them to the letter. Please bring that man with you. The one you've been with lately." His voice took on an eerie quality. "If a man commits adultery with another man's wife, both the man and the woman must be put to death." He breathed heavily and then gave a sadistic laugh. "You may choose your father or lover to pay for your sins. One shall die and the other walks away.""But-"He
I don't know what I expected love to be like. Violins playing, little cupids flying around with bow and arrows, hell maybe just cuddles in bed for hours. That wasn't what happened the following morning. Brack paced across the carpet of my living room with his cell to his ear listening to one of his men on the other end. He cast a glance or two my way. I could tell before the call ended that he would try his non-communication shit with me again.I was right."What's the news?" I asked the second he lowered the phone.He came over and sat beside me. "Nothing to worry about."I gave him my I'm-about-to-slam-you-with-a-tennis-racquet look. "Bullshit." I was beginning to notice his tells. The fingers traveling through his hair was a sign that he didn't want to enlighten me. I waited.He breathed out a slow and steady breath of air. "Mack didn't see his attacker, but he heard him before he lost consciousness."My heartbeat accelerated. "Okay. Spill it.""Mack told Herman that most of