All Chapters of The Pop Star and the Playboy Quarterback: Chapter 51 - Chapter 60

*Ophelia*The Ozarks give their extra point kick, the game clock counting down with the knowledge there isn’t enough time for the Bulldogs to catch up. The final score is 24-28, with the Ozarks defeating one of their most formidable opponents yet.But all I’m doing is squealing with Asher’s family, hugging one another as we dance around in celebration. It’s an entirely different world being at the game versus sitting on the couch to watch football. And the adrenaline is substantially higher. I worry I may pass out from the energy I’m exerting. It’s something breathtaking.“And Asher Slater leads his Ozarks to victory once again!” Gale’s voice booms through the family box. “Incredible, absolutely astounding!”“And it looks like we’re not the only ones bursting with excitement,” Brent replies. I turn towards the screen as I watch a replay of Asher’s parents and I screaming, cheering, and bursting into celebration at Asher’s rapid thinking and fast play. I see the pride in my smile,

*Ophelia*I can hear Asher before I see him. Courtney’s standing before him all done up, but her face is scrunched up in rage, red blotches on her cheeks and down her neck. “How dare you talk to me this way! Who the hell do you think you are?”“I don’t care who you think I am. I’m in love with Ophelia, and nothing you can say will change how I feel!”I stop in my tracks, Asher’s parents both running into me. I can’t help it. Did he just say that? Did I hear him right?“You…” I stammer out, my hand shooting up to my mouth in disbelief. Asher Slater, the quarterback, is in love? With me?My heart picks up speed, the thumping going through every inch of my body as I process the words. Asher and Courtney both jump at my single word, the two making eye contact with the three of us mere feet away. The reactions each have are vastly different. While Courtney continues to blow steam from her ears, Asher’s face relaxes, and his brown eyes tell me the truth.He loves me. In Love. With me.

*Ophelia*“Please, tell me what happened, and don’t leave anything out.”Maria connected us with a friend who specializes in contract law. She just so happens to have a location in Los Angeles, so a few days after his game, we fly out to meet with her. Asher and I sit in her office now, staring across her desk as she asks me to recount everything that’s happened with Alvin Peters since the moment I met him at the restaurant in Nashville.Emily Faith, the lawyer, has her hair wrapped in a bun on top of her head. She could be mistaken for my mother; the color is identical. She wears a grey pantsuit with a pink-collar shirt and has a steaming cup of hot coffee on her desk. She’d offered some to the two of us, but I’ve been too jittery this morning to accept anything. Instead, we were brought two cups of water. I hold mine tight in my grasp as I force myself to breathe. Emily’s hands are folded on the table, and she looks from Asher to me. I do as she asks.“I felt…funny after taki

*Asher*November comes and goes, and we’re staring down the barrel of Christmas and the New Year. Celebrating Thanksgiving with Ophelia in attendance was some of the most fun I’ve had in years. Per tradition, the Slater family plays football out in the yard while the turkey cooks. It’s nothing more than a friendly, silly time where no score is kept, and no one plays by the official rules.Ophelia initially wasn’t interested. “I like to watch sports, not play them,” she’d teased. But then, Payton and Renee asked to join in, and her entire attitude changed. “Alright, fine! If your nieces are gonna play, then count me in.” It had been a few months since she met the girls, and neither remembered my girlfriend. But it soon didn’t matter because they were busy trying to run the ball down the yard.AJ even came in to pick up Renee, carrying her past everyone so that she could score. Adorably, she tried to spike the ball with both hands, but the ball just flopped to the ground.The entire

*Asher*“Oh, that’s nothing.” Ophelia declares this so nonchalantly that I hesitate a moment. My phone is blowing up with notifications that have tagged us both. But these aren’t standard messages people are sending. There are threats, violent thoughts, and desires. I don’t normally interact with my social media accounts. This, though, is much different.“No,” I slowly start. “Nothing is someone just saying they don’t like you. These messages aren’t nothing, Ophelia.”“It’s been happening for months, Asher. I’ve just turned off all my social media notifications.”I rear back like I’ve been stabbed. “MONTHS?!”She nods, shrugging like she’s just misremembered something that isn’t important. “Yeah, I just figure people hate me because I’m dragging your image down or something? I didn’t tell anyone, though. You have enough stress on your plate; I didn’t want to add this, too.”I can’t help but laugh at her wanting to protect me. Hasn’t she realized I’d do anything for her? “My love,