Chapter 28
Day of the Conference Championship . . .
Quinn woke up when her phone rang early in the morning.
The bed felt empty without Knox in it, but he was locked in a hotel near the Thoroughbreds stadium getting ready for the conference championship game later that day.
It was being held at the Thoroughbreds stadium since they were the higher-ranking team.
A picture of her and Knox filled the screen of her phone as she reached for it. “Good morning,” she said with a smile on her face, even though she was still sleepy. She and the girls were up late last night.
“How’s the smartest woman I know doing this morning?
I missed sleeping with you in my arms,” Knox said, his voice made her melt into their bed.
They hadn’t moved in together right away.
They might have spent almost every night together except for away games, but they hadn’t officially moved in until after Christmas.
One of the gifts under the tree had been a key to his house.
Quinn had immediately accepted and the day after Christmas a moving company had all her things loaded and moved to Keeneston.
“Tired. The girls got together last night. I think half of them are sleeping at the house still, including Maeve.”
Knox chuckled and she could see him shaking his head. “I still can’t believe you’ve gotten Maeve to join your girls’ night.”
“Well, it’s not as big as the Davies’ girls’ night and only happens once a month,” she reminded Knox.
It had started after Karson and Neil had been arrested as a way to thank the men and women who had helped her and the friends she’d made along the way, including Maeve.
The woman did so much for Knox, yet the two women hadn’t met until after Karson’s arrest.
Quinn could tell Maeve was nervous about meeting her.
Deon’s wife, Chantel, had told Quinn horror stories about personal assistants trying to move in on the players.
However, she knew Knox wouldn’t hire someone like that.
It hadn’t crossed her mind that Maeve was that kind of person.
However, it was clear Maeve had also heard those stories.
She’d held out her hand, shaken Quinn’s, and bluntly asked her if she needed to look for another job.
Quinn had assured her there was no reason to.
It wasn’t like she was going to take on that role.
And why fire someone who was brilliant at her job?
Quinn was now busier than ever at work with more stadiums looking to partner with SACC1.
Nico was thrilled. Sebastian had been pissed.
Not at SACC1’s expansion, but because he’d lost an entire team who already knew the programming for the betting program.
They had been arrested for attempted theft and several other federal and state crimes.
He was going to have to train a whole new team in the event that Nico needed tech support.
Karson and Neil were in jail, and when presented with the evidence they took a plea deal.
Through the interrogation, Karson had flipped on Neil, and told them it was Neil who had broken into Quinn’s house.
Archie was fired, but was found to have had no idea what was going on with the hack and attempted theft.
The whole situation had been a black eye for SA Tech.
Quinn felt terrible for it since she liked Sebastian so much but he took it all in stride.
Especially when a week later it was announced that the first woman vice president at SA Tech had been named.
She was the first, but would not be the last. Sebastian was true to his word and held a complete internal audit.
Promotions and raises were given so that there was no pay gap between the sexes.
That news made everyone quickly forget the rogue employees now sitting in jail.
“Are you taking the Keeneston bus, or do you want me to hire a car to take you to the game? I don’t want you to have to drive in this traffic,” Knox asked, knowing she’d planned on driving. Well, that was until last night.
“Maeve got us a smaller bus. She crunched numbers and knew the Keeneston bus wouldn’t fit everyone. She also refused to drive with Pam, who is driving the Keeneston High School athletics bus for the overflow.”
Knox chuckled. “Please tell me she’s attaching the ramming fist.”
Now it was Quinn’s turn to laugh. “I’m sure she tried to make that happen. Were you able to sleep last night?” Quinn asked, knowing that Knox was both nervous and excited for this game. Whoever won it was going to the National Championship in Cincinnati.
“A little. Would have slept better if you were with me. I have to go to breakfast with the team then we’re locking our phones for the day. I wanted to tell you I love you and can’t wait to see you.”
“I can’t wait to see you win the conference. Tell Jaylen I’m bringing a special guest for him. A very special guest who will help you win.”
“You got Elisha to come?” Knox asked with hope.
Quinn snickered. Men. “It wasn’t hard to do. She likes him a lot. He just has to prove himself since he was a little playboy before.”
Elisha had given Jaylen a chance after he’d rushed for a hundred twenty-three yards in the game where Karson was arrested.
However, she laid down the rules that night.
For two months they would date, but the dates would only be in public.
There would be no overnights—no sex. He’d share his STD test results with her.
He’d only be allowed to kiss her goodnight at her door.
And if she got one whiff of another woman, she’d taser him in the balls.
Unfortunately, her work and a string of away games had kept her away from seeing Jaylen play in person again.
However, Elisha had been part of girls’ night for the past two months and the girl had it bad for Jaylen.
There had been bumps in the road when two women claimed to be pregnant with Jaylen’s baby.
But he’d disproven all of them publicly while declaring his love for his girlfriend.
There was a viral video of Jaylen recoiling when a jersey chaser tried to kiss him.
It was pure internet gold. It was also the tipping point for Elisha to begin to trust him.
The two-month trial period was up today.
“I wouldn’t say I did much to get her to come. Maeve did her magic and got her into the suite with all of us next to Will and Mo’s suite. We can see them when we’re in the stadium seats. I’ll make sure to have Elisha front and center as soon as you run out onto the field.”
“We’re going to win,” Knox said, sounding as if he were barely containing his excitement.
“Well, there’s more. Chantel is pregnant and will also be telling Deon via sign.”
“We are totally winning. The other team shouldn’t even show up,” Knox joked. “The guys are going to be thrilled.”
“Yeah, well, I learned something else and you’ll never believe it.”
“You’re killing me, Q. What happens on your girls’ nights?”
“We talk, share our feelings, and drink a lot of wine. Isn’t that what happens on team nights?” Quinn asked.
“Not exactly,” Knox said, sounding as if he were trying not to laugh.
“Well, this one I need your help with.” Quinn was smiling as she lowered her voice in case she could be overheard. “Maeve, in her direct way, was talking about the team and there’s someone she likes on it. But she’d never, ever ask you to introduce her.”
“What? She’s never said anything!” Quinn could picture Knox shooting up in bed.
“Of course she didn’t. She sees it as unprofessional.”
“Who?” Knox asked impatiently.
“Zack Sanders.”
“He’s huge and she’s so tiny,” Knox said, the smile evident in his voice. “They’re both super smart, mature, and passionate about what they do. Bring her to the team dinner after the game. And if we win, your cute ass better be down on the field.”
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world. Good luck, QB. I love you,” Quinn told him.
“I don’t need luck. I have you. I love you too, Q.”
Quinn hung up and stretched. It was game day.
Quinn wore the jersey Knox had given her mid-game for good luck.
Chantel had her sign that she was pregnant and Elisha was hiding Jaylen’s jersey under her coat.
Maeve was even in Thoroughbreds gear as they made their way to the suites.
Half the women in Keeneston were pregnant and due dates ranged from mid-February and mid-March.
The buses were organized to ensure a doctor would be on each one, just in case.
Dr. Emma Miller was with their little group.
Her daughter, Dr. Ava Miller Tanner, was on the Keeneston bus and Dr. Jace Davies was on Pam’s bus.
The atmosphere in the stadium was electric as they went in via the back entrance with the rest of Keeneston. Some people were in suites and the rest were in the stands directly in front of the suites so they could all be together.
It had been two months since Karson and Neil’s arrest, but Knox insisted she watch from a suite for safety.
So she spent most games with his mother in the owner’s suite.
However, this time all the girls who hung out together wanted a suite of their own.
Nico had paid for it to thank her for all her hard work.
He’d been in Kentucky from time to time but was quieter than usual.
Something was definitely haunting him. Quinn had grown adventurous and had asked him if everything was okay.
But he’d just grunted and gone back to work.
When she told them the stadium in South Carolina was looking to include their lounge, he told her to handle all of it.
Even the negotiation, which had her flying to South Carolina to seal the deal.