Chapter 9
Chapter Nine
Ridge
The morning of the big game was here.
We had flown to the stadium where we were playing, and Kresslee, Creed, my dad, and grandparents had tickets in the front row. My grandma had surprised Kresslee with a bedazzled jersey with my name on it.
I loved seeing my last name across her back.
I had taken her last night, with her wearing only my jersey and my ring.
She had knelt in front of me, sucking my cock deep in her mouth before I lifted her from the floor, and threw her on the bed, telling her to get on her hands and knees, which she did.
I stood next to the bed as I shoved my cock deep inside her, taking her hard and fast as she cried out my name.
Hearing that fall from her lips settled something inside me that I didn’t know needed to be settled.
Now I was in the locker room, getting my pads on, my cleats tied, and ready to go.
I took a few deep breaths. This was the big game for which I had worked my entire life.
Denver sat next to me, and I took a deep breath, ready to play the game of my life.
My phone buzzed, making me jump a little as I reached into my locker to retrieve it, and I saw that Kresslee had texted me a picture of her, holding her phone out, showing Creed next to her, my father on her other side, and my grandparents squeezing in as tightly as they could.
It made me smile as the text came through.
Kresslee: Good luck. We all love you.
Ridge: I love you too. Thank you for your support.
Kresslee: Your very own cheerleader is cheering you on.
Ridge: I can’t wait to see it.
I put my phone away and picked up my helmet.
Our coach walked over, “I’m proud of all of you. We worked hard to get here, and we are champions no matter what. Go out there and kick ass.”
We all cheered, and as our song came on, we ran out of the tunnel to the field.
It was time.
I looked out into the stands, seeing my girl front and center. My dad to the right of her, Creed to the left, and my grandparents sitting next to my dad.
They all had my jersey number, except for Creed, but he was here, his knee healing up. They hadn’t gone back to their home yet, and I loved that I had gotten to know Creed so well since everything happened.
He was a good man. Solid in everything he did, and I could tell he was thrilled for us.
He did his best to eat dinner with us, speaking with my grandparents when they came over and getting tips from my dad on different throwing techniques.
Creed was shocked when his spiral went further than he had ever thrown before.
I grinned when he kept practicing.
He threw back and forth with my dad for hours, until I finally made him stop.
I could see Creed dripping sweat down his temples, and his leg shook.
Kresslee had been in the kitchen with my grandma, learning to make pies with her.
Her grandma had come over a few times, and she hit it off with my grandma quickly. And Creed had spoken with his grandma about his feelings.
It was healing for them all, and I told Kresslee about my work with the shelter. The shock on her face was something I wasn’t ready for.
Then she demanded we go to see the kids immediately, so we did. Creed tagged along, bringing some of his merch with us, and the kids loved him and Kresslee.
She played with the girls on the floor, showing some of them how to do a perfect cartwheel. The girls couldn’t stop hanging on to every word she said.
Creed played with some of the boys, and Denver, Rhodes, and Ryker also showed up to play.
By the time we left, the kids were worn out, my best friends were now best friends with Creed, and I fell in love with Kresslee even more.
One girl wouldn’t let Kresslee out of her sight, and she cried when Kresslee left.
I knew that the girl was practically alone in the world, her mother choosing substances over anything else.
Kresslee fought not to cry after we left, and I knew our time at the shelter would double after our visit.
I didn’t mind. I loved those kids, and I would do all I could to help them.
I focused back on the field, watching as Kresslee blew me a kiss.
I pretended to catch it and winked at her. I mouthed to her that I loved her, then refocused on the field.
Beau walked out into the field, shaking hands with the other team’s captain.
They did the coin toss, and our team started on offense.
I settled in as Denver snapped the ball to Beau and kept my eye on the ball.
Beau threw it to Cade, who ran it down the field twenty yards before he was tackled.
He held tight to the ball, and the other man helped him up after the tackle.
They got reset, and the play started again. This time, Cade caught the ball and raced it toward the end zone.
He flew over the line, getting our first goal.
We all celebrated, and then it was my turn on that field.
I was playing not just for my team, but for my girl.
I got into position, watching as the other team threw the ball, and I ran quickly toward the wide receiver.
It was my job. And I wouldn’t let my team down.
The man caught the ball, and I chased him down for a good ten yards before I tackled him to the ground.
The whistle blew, signaling that the play was good, and I helped the man up, then returned to my position.
The quarterback threw to the other receiver, and I pushed my body hard to tackle the man.
The other safety on my team, Hudson James, got to him first and tackled him to the ground.
We bumped fists as we got back into position for the third down.
We played as if our lives depended on it, barely letting the other team have any yards. I wouldn’t allow it.
When it was halftime, we walked back to the locker room. Our coach was thrilled with our performance, as we were twenty points ahead of the other team.
He told us not to lose our drive, that now was the time to keep our game faces on, and that the other team could always come back from this.
We didn’t want to let them. We ran back out onto the field, getting back into play, and by the end of the game, I had made seven more tackles, and our team scored another twenty points.
The other team only scored one more touchdown, and after the final buzzer sounded, we came out victorious, and our team started going crazy.
It was heady. I looked at the stands to see Kresslee screaming, jumping up and down, the joy on her face something else.
We had won and I couldn’t believe it. We had worked our asses off, and now I could enjoy my victory with my girl at my side.
I would make her my wife, and I couldn’t wait for that day.
Our team gathered in the middle of the field, and Beau, Cade, and our Coach held up the huge trophy we won.
We were all yelling and screaming, and I looked over at my girl one more time. She grinned over at me, holding her left hand to her heart, showing me the sparkle from her ring.
She turned around, letting me see my name also sparkled across her back.
I blew her a kiss, and as soon as I could, I rushed over to where she stood, having her lean down to kiss me.
She grinned against my lips, and I lifted her over the barrier.
She laughed as I did so, and I swung her around, making her laugh harder.
She kissed me hard, her hands delving into my sweaty hair, and I kissed her back.
She pulled back, “I love you. You won!”
I chuckled, “We fucking won!”
She grinned as Denver ran up to us, “I can’t believe we did it!”
I turned, hugging him as I kept Kresslee in my arms, and she laughed as she was squashed between us.
Creed whistled, and I looked over at him, “Nice game Benson.”
“Thanks Creed.”
I walked with Kresslee over to the tunnel, then made sure she was safe with one of the security guards while I rushed to change.
We won. Our victory was something I had yearned for, but having Kresslee as mine was what truly mattered to me.
I got dressed quickly after I showered. Then I rushed out to where Kresslee stood, Creed now at her side.
She saw me, her smile huge as she ran to me, jumping into my arms.
I kissed her quickly, then Creed slowly made his way to me. “That was a good game.”
I held out my hand, shaking Creed’s before pulling him in for a half-hug, making him laugh.
These last two weeks had been healing for Creed and seeing how much lighter he was in his whole being made me happy, too.
I could also see how good it was for Kresslee.
She was quick to laugh with Creed and me. She got close with my family, and I loved it. It was something I wanted when I was younger, and having it now? It was as if my dreams never got close to how good my life was now.
I looked down at Kresslee, who smiled up at me, her eyes twinkling at me.
“You were amazing today. Those tackles were some of your best yet.”
I chuckled, “It’s because I had my very own cheerleader in the stands.”
She laughed, “Darn right. One with your name on my back. I had to show all those girls who think they have a chance with you that you are taken.”
“What girls?”
“That is definitely the right answer.”
Creed snorted, “Smooth.”
I winked at him, making him shake his head, “Put that shit away. It’s already bad enough to see you kiss all the time.”
He said it with a smile on his face, and Kresslee slapped at him, “Be nice. We could always be worse.”
Creed let out a groan as I lifted a brow, looking down at Kresslee.
She grinned up at me, pulling me down to her so she could kiss me.
I kissed her back, lifting her against me, making Creed groan.
“Fuck, okay. I get it.”
Kresslee lifted her head, after one last tiny kiss, “Don’t tempt me to be worse, Creed.”
Creed nodded, “Deal.”
I laughed, putting Kresslee back on her feet, then went out to find my family waiting for us.
I hugged my dad, thanking him for everything he did for me.
My dad hugged me back, “You are welcome. Thank you for being my favorite gift I have ever gotten.”
I hugged him once more, knowing I was the lucky one to have a dad like him and to have the grandparents I had.
I hugged them as well, then we left the stadium to go back to the hotel.