17. Waiting for the Benefits
17
Roxy
Iknow I’ve said I don’t understand or even like football, but damn, the energy in this stadium is electric and addicting. The Bandits are winning by one touchdown, and it’s almost halftime.
“Your man is killing it out there,” Skye shouts, her voice loud enough to be heard over the roar of the crowd.
My head snaps in her direction, but she’s looking at Tessa, who’s standing on my other side. The tension in my chest her words caused eases a bit, and I take a couple of deep breaths.
I don’t know why I reacted that way. The girls know we had sex. They know all about our friends-with-benefits situation, and Skye, at least, fully approves. Tessa is keeping her opinions to herself, and Hadley? Well, she thinks it’s a mistake, but after saying so once, she vowed to have my back, no matter what happens.
As I examine my body’s response to the statement a little more closely, I realize the feeling isn’t negative in nature. The tension feels a lot like pride and hope. Like if Skye was talking about Miles, calling him my man and complimenting his prowess on the field, I’d be filled with delight to claim him as mine.
Fuck. What is wrong with me?
The deal between Miles and me was his idea, but I agreed with it without much debate. It’s easy. Simple. I don’t want to call him mine. We’re friends. With benefits. That’s all.
The crowd goes nuts as Riggs throws a long pass to Porter Crawford, who immediately turns and runs into the end zone. He jumps into the air and bumps shoulders with Foster, then does the same with Riggs before they all run back to the sideline. The kicking team sets up for the extra point, and I hold my breath until the ball sails through the uprights, and the referees call the kick good.
And just like that, the first half of the championship game is over, and the Bandits are winning by fourteen points. I clap and cheer with the rest of the crowd until Tessa spins and wraps me up in her arms. We jump up and down together for several seconds, then open our arms to pull Hadley and Skye into the group hug.
“We’re going to win!” Tessa shouts, her smile wide and sparkling.
“Excuse me, Miss White?”
We turn as one to see a security guard in the aisle next to our seats, four lanyards with placards that say “Sideline Pass” dangling from his fingers. Tessa lets out a loud whoop as the man explains we’ve been welcomed down to the field for the second half. She thanks him and takes the lanyards, giving one to each of us before we file out into the aisle and follow the guard down to the security gate that leads to the field.
We’re all practically giddy, despite none of us besides Tessa having a real interest in the sport. It’s the most important game of the year, and we get to stand on the sideline. People would kill to be in our shoes right now.
We chatter about how exciting it all is for a few minutes, then turn as one toward the tunnel that leads to the home team locker room as the crowd erupts. Fireworks explode above us as the Bandits rush from the mouth of the tunnel. Riggs is in the front, and he runs straight for us. Tessa leaps into his arms as he approaches, and he kisses the hell out of her while the whole world watches. One glance at the jumbotron shows a close-up of them making out, and the crowd noise explodes once more. I shake my head and laugh, my smile hurting my cheeks as Miles approaches me.
“Hey. Great game so far,” I say, making his own smile widen.
“Thanks,” he says. “Their offense is tough, but we’re tougher.”
“And don’t forget, you’re the king of the bump and run,” I tease.
Miles chuckles. “You remember. Good girl,” he says.
Something flutters in my chest, and of course, Miles seems to know it. His smile turns into a satisfied smirk, and he shoots me a wink before jogging over to where a coach is talking to the defense. The Hammers get the ball first in the second half, which means Miles is about to go out there and do his thing.
I watch him squeeze into the huddle of players down the sideline––damn, his ass looks good in those tight pants––then snap out of the trance as Tessa links arms with me. I blink a few times, noticing that Riggs is seated on a nearby bench, going over something with his offensive coordinator on a tablet. Hadley and Skye stand close to Tessa, and the three of them are watching the kickoff team run down the field and tackle the Hammers’ player who caught the ball.
The crowd goes wild yet again, and the kicking team rushes off the field as the defense takes over. My eyes lock onto Miles. He standing behind a line of huge men crouched in front of the Hammers. He looks poised and ready, and when the ball is hiked he leaps into action. Rushing forward, he lifts his hands and bumps into an opponent, knocking him off-balance. The player quickly recovers, manages to slip past Miles and run down the field.
I look up to see the ball already sailing through the air, and I hold my breath. It becomes quickly evident to even me that the receiver isn’t going to make it on time. Sure enough the ball sails right over his fingertips to land on the turf. A whistle blows, and the crowd noise makes my ears ache.
My eyes find Miles, and he’s staring at me. Grinning widely behind the face mask on his helmet, he lifts a hand to point at me. I mouth “bump and run,” and he pumps a fist into the air, before rushing over to where the defense is lining up for the next play.
The atmosphere is electric as we watch the rest of the game from our spot on the sideline. The Hammers score again, bringing the Bandits’ lead down to seven. There are a few drives of back and forth movement with no points scored, then the Hammers manage to pull off a trick play to even the score.
My heart is pounding, as words of encouragement for the team roll soundlessly off my lips. Like if I chant enough, the good juju will roll over the team and help them pull off a win.
By the end of the last quarter, I’m all twisted up inside, and Tessa’s grip on my arm is choking the life out of it. Riggs and the offense are on the field, where they’ve been marching toward the end zone with short, effective plays for the last four minutes of play time.
Tessa breathlessly explains that they’re trying to wind down the timeclock, leaving themselves the bare minimum to get a touchdown or a field goal and win the game so the Hammers won’t have a chance to even up the score again.
I look up at the clock, seeing there’s only six seconds left. This is it. If we don’t score, the game will go into overtime, giving both teams the chance to end the game with a single touchdown. The offense lines up, and Riggs shouts a series of seemingly nonsensical words loud enough for my ears to hear over the crowd. The players suddenly burst into motion. Riggs gets the ball and backpedals. A defender breaks free and rushes toward him, but he skirts around the attempted tackle and takes off, shooting through a narrow hole and right into the end zone as the game clock hits zero and a loud buzzer announces the end of the game.
“We won!” Tessa shouts, hopping on the balls of her feet before releasing my arm and bouncing in circles.
I get swept up in the celebration, and end up in some chaotic game of ring around the rosie with the three girls. Tessa breaks free just before Riggs sweeps her up against his chest, and she squeals as he nuzzles her neck. I watch with a happy grin until strong fingers curl around my wrist, and I’m yanked into a bear hug. I laugh as Miles lifts me off my feet, spinning in a circle before setting me back down.
Before I can react, his mouth presses against mine. It’s a quick peck, yet still somehow packed with emotion. He takes a step back, running his palms down my arms before taking my hands in his.
“Wait for me? I want to celebrate later,” he asks, hope and desire warring for supremacy in his expression.
The win has him vibrating with sexual tension I can practically taste, and I find myself nodding without giving his request a second thought. Miles grins, squeezes my hands, then takes off for the center of the field as confetti rains down on everyone in the stadium. A stage has been quickly rolled out, and some guy in a suit is talking about the Bandits organization and their stellar inaugural year while presenting the coach with a big silver trophy.
Riggs gets on the microphone, thanking everyone for their support, complimenting his entire team, and dedicating his win to his beautiful fiancée. I look over at Tessa, who’s beaming with pride with giant hearts in her eyes as tears roll down her cheeks. The team passes around the trophy, and when Miles gets his hands on it, he turns toward the sideline and shakes it in the air while grinning at me. I raise my fists and shout, and his smile widens before he passes the trophy to the next guy.
Once the celebration winds down, Tessa and I say goodbye to Skye and Hadley. We all came together in Skye’s car, but Tessa and I are headed to the players’ parking lot to wait for Riggs and Miles. Tessa is, obviously, going home with her man, and me? Well, apparently, I’m headed for a more private celebration with my good friend, Miles.
I’m chatting with Tessa about the game next to Miles’ Jeep when a big body cuts in between us. Tessa squeals as Riggs lifts her up and throws her over his shoulder without a word. She pushes up to give me a wave as he strides toward his truck a few spaces away, her laughter trailing behind them. Riggs swats her ass before setting her down, then kisses her against the tailgate until even my toes are curling.
They’re so happy together, and their joy is infectious.
All thoughts of Tessa and her fiancé fly from my mind as Miles suddenly appears before me. His duffle bag hits the asphalt as his arms curl around my ribcage. His big body, smelling fresh with a hint of citrusy cologne, nudges me back against the side of his Jeep before his chest pins me there.
“Congratulations on the win,” I breathe as his nose brushes the sensitive skin beneath my jaw. “It was exhilarating.”
“Not as exhilarating as seeing you wear this,” he says, brushing a hand down my side.
I’m wearing his jersey, the one he left on my doorstep this morning with a note that read, “In case you don’t have anything to wear today.”
“It’s too big,” I say, gasping when his lips skim over the column of my throat.
“It looks perfect,” he replies, lifting his head to meet my eyes. “I’m going to kiss you now, Roxanne.”
He gives me two seconds to protest, but I’m too busy gasping for air as lust sears through me. Taking my silence for consent, he closes the gap, pressing his mouth to mine and driving his tongue between my parted lips. My knees buckle, and he lifts me up. My legs wrap around his waist as his mouth devours mine, and I can feel the evidence of his arousal pressing against my throbbing lady bits.
“Too…far…to…drive…home,” he says, continuing our kiss between each word.
“Hotel?” I gasp back, and he growls.
Growls.
Pulling me away from the side of the Jeep, he shuffles sideways and opens the passenger door, depositing me inside. I pull on my seatbelt as he opens the back to toss his duffle bag inside, then jogs around to climb in behind the wheel. Grabbing the back of my neck, he pulls me over for another kiss before settling back in his seat and buckling his own seatbelt. Starting the engine, he checks his mirrors before backing out of the spot.
After shifting the vehicle into drive, he pulls out onto the road before reaching over to take my hand in his, linking our fingers together and bringing the back of my hand up to his lips for a sweet kiss.
I’m burning up with need, and one glance at his lap proves he feels the same way. I don’t know if it’s me, the big win, or a little of both, and I don’t care. I also refuse to analyze how badly I want to feel him inside me right now when we’re supposed to be friends.
We are friends.
But I feel like I might die while waiting for the benefits.