Chapter 14
Knox was mobbed by his teammates after the touchdown.
It was going to be hard for the other team to win now.
His eyes drifted up to the lounge, but he didn’t see Quinn.
However, when he began to jog back to the bench they caught on something.
He looked back into the stands to see what had triggered his brain, only to find Quinn standing up just a couple of rows behind the bench.
Karson, the asshole ex Juniper had pointed out, had his hand on Quinn’s arm, preventing her from leaving.
The other two men had moved so that they were blocking the aisle.
Knox saw red. He tossed the ball to the ref and shoved past his father and the rest of his teammates on the bench who were trying to congratulate him.
It was a bit of a jump, but for an athlete like him it was doable.
Knox sprinted forward and leapt up into the air, his hands grabbing the railing as he pulled himself up and into the stands.
People were mobbing him and he heard Coach Kate yelling at him over the receiver in this helmet, but he never took his eyes off Quinn.
“Excuse me,” Knox yelled over the cheers.
His fans took the hint and moved out of his way as Knox climbed over stadium chairs to where Quinn and the asshole were staring at him in surprise.
Knox ripped off his helmet and glared at her ex.
“Get your hands off my girlfriend. Now,” he growled.
Knox didn’t see that he was now on the giant screen or that the whole stadium had their phones out recording them.
He did see security personnel rushing to him though.
“I guess I need to repeat myself? Get your fucking hands off my girlfriend. Now.”
Karson was shocked out of silence by that. He dropped his hand but rolled his eyes. “As if you’d date her.”
“Hold this please, Q.” Knox handed her his helmet.
It took several tugs and the assist of a fan, but he got his game jersey off.
He reached up, took his helmet back, and handed it to the fan who had helped him.
That way he could reach up and pull the jersey over Quinn’s head.
“There. Having my name on you is the only way you could ever be more beautiful, Q.” Then Knox kissed her.
Quinn responded instantly. She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him back.
If Knox had thought the stadium was loud when he scored on the field, apparently scoring off the field got the fans riled up even more.
Their cheers were deafening. “Will you meet me after the game?” Knox asked.
Quinn nodded and Knox looked at the security guards hovering nearby.
“Will you escort my girlfriend to the family area?”
Knox didn’t move until she was safely away from Karson and heading up the stairs. “I don’t give a shit about being sued or losing my job. I’ve got plenty of money and excellent lawyers. You touch her again and I’ll make sure you wake up in the hospital.”
Knox thanked the fan for his help and hurried back down to the field. The guys clearly wanted to ask him about what had happened, but the way his father stormed toward him told Knox why everyone was keeping their distance.
“What the hell was that?”
“That was Quinn’s ex who had his hands on her and wasn’t letting her leave.”
“You call security then. You don’t jump up into the stands,” his father said, seething.
“As if you wouldn’t do the same if that were Mom?” Knox challenged.
His father didn’t back down though. “Are you saying Quinn is to you as your mother is to me?” His father’s face was right in his, and Knox was so hyped up he didn’t see the trap.
“That’s exactly what I’m saying,” Knox said, not backing down.
His father stood back then, pulling out his phone. “You’ll be fined by the owners for your antics.”
Knox glanced down and the anger was back as he saw his father’s phone. “You’re placing a bet on me? In the middle of the game?”
“End of the game,” his father replied calmly as he pointed to the clock. There were only ten seconds left on the clock and the defense was kicking ass. “And your mother says we expect Quinn at the family dinner next week.”
“Yes, sir.”
Quinn was still in shock as she was shown to the waiting area for the players. It didn’t take long for Taylor and what must be the entire owner’s suite to race into the waiting area.
“Oh sweetie! That was so romantic!” Taylor didn’t seem upset that her son left the game to race into the stands.
“Who was that man?” Mila asked as her husband, Zain, nodded as if he too wanted to know the answer.
“Yes, who was that man who put his hands on you?” Taylor was no longer happy.
“That was my ex-boyfriend. I’m sorry for embarrassing you all and the team.”
“Nonsense,” Kenna Ashton, the wife of team owner Will Ashton said with a grin that seemed to communicate something to Dani Ali Rahman, the wife of Prince Mo, the other owner. “It was very heroic.”
“Totally swoon worthy,” Sloane added.
“Name?” Zain asked. “Gabe and I can take care of him for you. Diplomatic immunity and all.”
Taylor spun and patted each prince on the arm. “You boys are so sweet.”
Quinn was prevented from answering by the sound of the men filling the locker room and a second later, still in his uniform pants and an athletic shirt, Knox was pushing through the doors.
“Are you okay?” Knox asked even as he heard his father yelling at him to get to the media room.
“I’m fine. But are you okay?”
“Nothing I can’t handle.” Knox winked at her and she smiled up at him. He gave her a quick kiss and then looked at the crowd. “Can one of you hang with Q while I do media and get ready?”
“Of course,” a redhead answered. “I’m Reagan Ashton. I can’t wait to get to know you. Come on, us girls can sit over here.”
Quinn looked over her shoulder and saw not only Knox, but Will and Mo, also heading back into the locker room. She hoped Knox wasn’t in too much trouble because of her.
“That was freaking hot,” Reagan whispered as the younger women surrounded Quinn and pulled her aside. “Tell us everything.”
Knox entered the locker room with both owners of the team hot on his heels. Great. He was in for it but didn’t regret a thing. He’d seen the flash of fear in Quinn’s expression along with anger when Karson had grabbed her. Enough was enough.
“Bro,” Austin said slowly as Knox stormed to his locker.
Austin’s was right next to his and he was not in the mood for Austin’s douchiness today.
“Total respect for what you did.” Knox turned and saw that not only was Austin talking to him, but everyone was listening and nodding.
“If I saw a man put his hand on my wife, I would have punched him out. You got mad restraint. Respect.”
Deon thumped him on the back like a proud older brother. “You would be bailing me out of jail.”
“Yeah, I was ready to release the demons to help you defend her,” Jaylen said, holding up his fists.
“We got your back, Knox. And that means we got your girl’s back too. Who was that asshat?” Zack asked.
He thought the team would be mad. Knox had created a spectacle.
To his father and the owner, spectacles were not at all welcome.
They ran a tight ship. There was no tolerance on the team for DUIs or other illegal activity.
There was no badmouthing of other players or teams. They were expected to act professionally at all times.
“Knox, a word before media,” his father said seriously enough that all the players suddenly became very interested in their lockers. “Stop looking at your lockers, you all need to hear this.”
Oh man, this wasn’t even going to be a private discussion. His father was going to make an example out of him. Knox turned and got ready to accept his punishment.
Will stepped forward. As a former QB in the league, his reputation and his ability to intimidate were still strong.
“The league has said they’ll be reviewing the rule book to determine if you are to receive a fine.
The closest thing they have in the rulebook is celebrating a touchdown in the stands is allowed as long as it’s only the player who scored, which technically you did.
So, there’s an argument that this was an exaggerated Lambeau Leap, which is what we’re going to go with and what you’re going to play up to the media.
However, we’ve decided that on top of whatever the league decides, you’re to pay a fifteen thousand dollar fine to the team’s charity. ”
“Yes, sir. I’ll bring in the payment tomorrow.”
“Since you all are in such a supportive mood for what Knox did, I think it’s a good time for a team volunteer event.
This coming weekend is Keeneston’s Founder’s Day.
I expect everyone in Keeneston after practice on Friday to help set up for Saturday’s event,” Will told them.
“Then, you and all your friends and family are invited to join us on Saturday.”
There were some grumbles, but Zack raised his hand. “Yes, Zack?” Will asked.
“Will Mrs. Davies be making her apple pie?” The room fell quiet as everyone waited to hear the answer. Marcy Davies, the matriarch of the large Davies family, made an apple pie that was heaven on earth.
“She’ll have her apple pies for sale on Saturday,” Will responded as the guys high-fived each other. “Now, good game. Good win. Go celebrate with your families. Deon and Knox are to report to the media.”
Knox showered quickly before he and Deon headed to the media room to answer questions. Of course, they all centered around Knox’s now viral moment of running up the stands to Quinn.
“Why Lambeau Leap into strangers when your girl is right there?” Deon answered. “If my fam was that close, I’d do the same thing to celebrate a touchdown like that.”
“Who was the man with your girlfriend?” a reporter asked, and this time Deon couldn’t cover for him.
“A co-worker,” Knox answered briefly before trying to turn the attention back to the game. “The two touchdowns by Deon tonight were huge. His hands are aging like a fine wine—they just keep getting better.”
It worked for a short while, but it was long enough to reach the required time Knox and Deon had to spend with the media to avoid a fine.
All he wanted to do was to get to Quinn and make sure she was okay after all that attention.
Attention he’d unfortunately brought on her after storming the stands when her ex wouldn’t let her go.
Knox hurried from the media room and headed straight to the family area. His mom saw him first, and she hugged him as he saw Quinn sitting with all his friends. “Hope your father wasn’t too hard on you.”
“Wouldn’t change anything I did even if he was.”
“Hmm,” his mother muttered thoughtfully as she pulled out her phone. “Let me just move this date up.”
Knox rolled his eyes as he headed for Quinn.
Her back was to him, but he smiled as he saw her hands moving as she told some kind of story while his friends all laughed.
She didn’t think she’d fit, but here she was fitting in just like he knew she would.
Most of them were actual royalty but like Knox, they were raised as normal children who played in fields, lit cow patties on fire, rode horses, and did anything and everything the Rose sisters told them to.
Nothing humbled you faster than a wooden spoon to the knuckles.
Just ask Austin. His personality had already improved this week.
“Here’s the man of the hour,” Carter Ashton, Will’s son, said with a smile. “Great touchdown.”
“And glare,” his wife, Reagan added. “My dad has already texted how proud he is of you for that glare. He said he taught it to you, but then Ahmed said it was him, and then my Uncle Miles said it was clearly his.” Reagan shrugged her shoulders as if that were a normal conversation. Well, it was for Keeneston.
“It was a little of all three,” Knox admitted with a smile as he rested his hand on Quinn’s shoulder. “Are you ready to go?”
Quinn stood up and Reagan, Mila, Sloane, and Ari all hugged her as Carter, Zain, Gabe, and Jameson shook Knox’s hand and congratulated him on the game. Finally, Knox was going to get Quinn to himself.