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
"Not a good idea," he whispers.No, it isn't. "Tomorrow night my dad and friends will be gone. I'll do a sleep over at your place." I say this while running my fingers through his shower dampened, clean hair.He stands up straight and leans in so I can hear his softly spoken words. "Congratulations on the win today. Some night we need to sneak down here so I can fuck you on the thirty-six yard line, where you made that kick from."My belly tightens and my inner thighs actually quiver. I smooth my fingers across the waistband of his shorts and slip my fingers beneath the material. His hand takes mine and stops my roaming."You're not helping."I run my cheek across his stubbled one and whisper back, "You know how good my fingers will feel around you and my" I bite his earlobe. "My lips."I'm sure his growl can be heard past the door. "Check and see if I can leave without being seen," he orders sharply."You're no fun," I pout but slide away from him and peek out the door. "You're
THE WEEKS ROLL by and the wear and tear on my body makes me down ibuprofen in order to function. Two losses followed our win against the Scorpions. I had two interceptions in the last game, was sacked twice, and Jordan missed a field goal. I've been here before and it's a shitty feeling. Our team should be better than this.Jordan practically lives at my place and I'm getting tired of sneaking her in and out. I'm sick of the whole thing as far as hiding our relationship. The only time we see each other is late at night when we're both tired. Rick Dove has Jordan making special appearances and signing autographs around the city. He's riding high representing football's first female kicker even if we've lost two straight.Tomorrow is Saturday and we fly out in the morning for a game in Pittsburgh on Sunday. I'm resting on the couch with ice on my wrist, which was tweaked during one of the two sacks I suffered last week. Jordan walks in. She finally picked out a car to buy and had it de
IN THE FIRST quarter, we don't look like the team who beat the Super Bowl champions three weeks ago. Aiden can't get a break and his offensive line is practically falling down on the job. Aiden is sacked on his second possession of the game. I'm angry and fed up with the line's BS. Aiden can't carry the team alone.All I'm able to do is glare from the sideline and watch Pittsburgh put points on the board. Terrible towels twirl through the air and cheers go up when they score again, making it seventeen zero. Aiden jogs out slowly after the kickoff and I know something is injured, maybe his knee. The second quarter begins and we finally have the ball in enemy territory.Aiden goes back to pass and a Pittsburgh player manages to grab the back of Aiden's jersey. Aiden spins and breaks the hold but he has no one open to pass the ball. He breaks right, spins left, and takes off for the end zone. He's taken down by two players on the one yard line. He stays down after the tackle and I'm abo
THE ONLY REASON I'm standing upright is adrenaline. Everything will hurt when it drops, but right now I'm riding the winning high that hasn't stopped since the final game whistle blew. The mood on our midnight flight out of Pittsburgh is much different than our arrival.Winning cures all evil.We're on a private chartered plane. I've decided if the entire team knows Jordan and I are a couple there's no reason to hide it any longer. I grab her hand and pull her to the back with me."What are you doing?" she hisses."Having you sit by me. Come on." I sit down and move over, tugging her down beside me. I don't stop there and once she's seated, I pull her into my arms and kiss her sweet pouty lips."Aiden," she whispers into my mouth."They don't care," he says and deepens the kiss."Hey, lovebirds," Lane hollers so everyone hears. "Apparently your romantic spin on the sideline is a trending topic on social media. Twitter and Facebook are going crazy."Aiden laughs. "Next thing you