Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
DEREK
T o say the last few months have been nothing short of busy is an understatement. Ever since meeting Sutton, life has been a whirlwind.
While we try to spend every spare moment we can together, some weeks our schedules don’t line up. But with my team playing in the state championship this weekend, Sutton was able to get a few days off. Add in the fact that she didn’t have to work on the day of our fundraiser for Team Rainbow, and I’m fucking ecstatic.
Part fundraiser and part pep rally for the team, hordes of supporters have made their way to our field for a fun day of games and prizes with our guys helping out in the different booths.
Balloon arches stand at both ends of the field to welcome guests inside the event area. The smells of popcorn and nachos linger in the air. Bells are ringing out as people win various prizes all over the field.
This event is always one of my favorites during the year. The team loves it and so do all of our fans. I’m really proud of what we’ve put together.
“You really organized this whole thing?” Sutton asks, eyes looking around in awe. One of my older Tigers sweatshirts hangs on her small frame. The early November night has a cold bite to it.
Perfect for one last football game.
“I mean, I had a lot of help.”
“This is incredible. Especially since you have the championship this weekend.”
I shrug a shoulder and lead Sutton over to a cotton candy stand and order one for us to share. Getting praise for something I’m doing still doesn’t come easy for me. Considering what a douchebag I was on the field, it’s the least I can do.
“I hope it makes a difference for someone. It might not be the biggest contribution for their organization, but I hope it can help.”
Sutton wraps both of her arms around me, resting her chin on my chest. “You’re a great leader, Derek. These guys are so lucky to have you as their coach. I’ve seen the way they look up to you. If you were Lydia’s soccer coach, I’d be thrilled. I’m so proud of you.”
A furious blush creeps up my neck at her words. It’s hard to put into words what this woman makes me feel. Instead, I press a kiss to her forehead. Because it’s about the only thing I can do.
Sensing my need to change the subject, Sutton pulls a string of cotton candy off the cardboard cone and casts her eyes around the field.
“Have you seen where our kids have darted off to?”
Finding the two tallest guys on the team, I spot the kids on their shoulders. They’re by the balloon stand Jameson and Gunnar are manning. “They’re with the receivers. Everyone on the team loves Troy, so they all keep an eye on him at events like this. He loves running around with them. Makes him feel like he’s part of the team.”
“I still can’t believe you managed to get Jameson to volunteer. ”
I laugh, grabbing my own bite of the sticky, sweet candy. “He was all about it when I mentioned it to him. I can’t believe he got Gunnar to donate to it too.”
“If you do this again, I know he’ll volunteer. He loves stuff like this.”
The fact that Sutton is already thinking that far into the future has my heart threatening to burst open. I’ve never felt like this before. Back in my playing days, I took any woman home with me. Didn’t matter who; I wasn’t picky.
I don’t know if I was doing it to fill some sort of void that was missing in my life, but it was good at the time. Now I know that it doesn’t hold a candle to what I’m feeling for Sutton. For the part of my life I’m carving out for her.
For the role I want her to play in my life.
“Daddy! Look what Jameson made me!” Troy’s voice breaks me out of my wandering thoughts.
“That’s quite the balloon…animal?”
“Is it an animal?” Sutton asks, examining the matching one that Lydia is wearing.
A green balloon is wrapped around his head with a yellow goalpost, also made of balloons, sitting at the back of his head. A white balloon holds a football that bobs through the uprights.
“Jameson really made this?” I ask, dropping down onto my knees in front of Troy. He ignores my question, grabbing a bite of cotton candy. Based on the blue ring around his mouth, it’s clear he finagled someone into giving him some already.
Lydia nods, the football bouncing around on her head. “He said it would be good luck if we wore it to the game. Can we wear them, Mommy? Please?”
“You bet.” Sutton is grinning from ear to ear. “But maybe we need to get some vegetables in you kids before then.”
“Yuck.” Troy screws up his face in disgust. “I want more of that. ”
“Me too!”
Both of them make a grab for the cotton candy, but I hold it above my head, out of their reach. “If you want more cotton candy, then we need to eat dinner. How does that sound? I’m sure there is something we can feed you around here.”
Smiling, Sutton grabs two small baggies out of her purse. “Carrots will make do until we can get them something better.”
“You always think of everything.”
She hands a bag to each of them as they walk and chomp.
“I don’t want to deal with hangry kids or ones hopped up on sugar.”
“As long as we don’t have any meltdowns, I’m good.” I laugh.
Sutton links her hand with mine. It’s like the two of us can’t be together without touching. Without needing to have a connection to one another.
“Now,”—Sutton pulls us to a stop—“think you can win one of us a prize?”
“Yes, Daddy! I want something too!”
“I want something!” Lydia chimes in.
A devious smile lines Sutton’s face at the football toss game she stopped us in front of. “Think you’re so clever, do ya?” I ask with a grin.
“Show me your skills, Coach.” Sutton winks.
“Yeah, c’mon, Coach. Think you can beat the game?” My player who is manning the booth eggs me on.
“Really, Simmons?”
“Or are you too old?”
“Ouch.” Pulling out my wallet, I drop a twenty on the counter.
“You need seventy-five points in order to get a prize.” He sets five small footballs in front of me as I eye the backdrop with different targets lined with Velcro. “That twenty will get you four rounds total.”
“I got this.”
I wind up my shoulder. It’s not like I need to impress Sutton, but I want to. And even though I wasn’t a quarterback, I know how to throw a football.
Except the very first throw at the twenty-five circle bounces off and falls right to the ground.
“Shit,” I mutter to myself, so none of the kids can hear me.
“Easy, huh?” Sutton jokes next to me.
“Hey, I didn’t say it was easy.”
“Go, Daddy!” Troy shouts from next to me. “You can do it!”
Trying again, this time I manage to stick a five circle. Another failed attempt at the twenty-five before I hit another measly five-pointer.
I do my best using all the balls I’ve been given, but I don’t make it anywhere close to being able to win a stuffed animal for any of the three people with me.
This shit has to be rigged.
Pulling my wallet out, I lean over the counter toward Simmons. “I will donate one hundred dollars right now for three stuffed animals.”
Guess I’m not above bribery.
“You got it, Coach.” Simmons leans over the counter to the kids. “You won! What do you want?”
Lydia and Troy spend the next however many minutes carefully looking at each toy hanging from the side of the booth before making their selection.
A unicorn for each of them.
“Can Mommy get a matching one too?”
“What do you say, Sutton?”
“I’ll take it.” She’s beaming as we head off into the carnival. “You know you didn’t have to buy them one. ”
I wrap an arm around her shoulder. Troy and Lydia are having the best time. Balloon hats. Stuffed animals. Cotton candy.
I’d do anything to keep this light, happy feeling inside my chest. So if it means bribing the kid to give us a few stuffed animals, so be it.
“It’s a good day. I just want to keep it going.”
“Well.” Sutton presses onto her toes to give my cheek a quick peck. “It’s been the perfect day—all thanks to you.”
“It really has.”
A day I want to put on repeat.
Because this day with Sutton?
I want every single day for the rest of my life to be just like it.
Sutton, Troy, and Lydia.
I went from only wanting football in my life to needing these people, and I’ll do whatever it takes to protect what we’re building.
Anything.