Chapter 27
The end zone isn’t the only thing I’m chasing.
Gage
I rip open the packaging for a new pair of socks. Not the socks my asshole teammates sent me. Those were not my brand. I’m very specific about my socks.
“Whoa. What’s with the new socks?” Nolan asks.
“In case you missed it, I need socks to wear in my cleats. Blisters are a bitch.”
Tanner plops down on the bench next to me. “But you don’t wear new socks until the season begins.”
“Season hasn’t started yet,” Brock grumbles.
I roll my eyes. “Duh. I think I’d know if the season began.”
“And yet you’re wearing new socks,” Corbin says.
“Why is everyone interested in my socks? Worry about your own lives.”
Tanner shrugs. “I don’t have anything to worry about.”
Nolan sighs. “Doing a PR stunt doesn’t mean your worries are over.”
Tanner growls. “Alaia is not a PR stunt.”
“What is she?” I ask .
He wags a finger at me. “Nuh uh. We aren’t finished discussing why you’re nervous.”
“Nervous? I’m not nervous.”
Except my foot is bouncing up and down. I stop it but not before the rest of my teammates notice.
“I have the information you asked for,” Corbin says. “I sent it to your phone.”
“Thanks.”
Tanner glances from Corbin to me. “What are we talking about?”
“Addy needs a lawyer to help her negotiate the deal with Juliet Ash.”
I’m so fucking proud of her. One of the biggest names in music wants to record her song. If I were her, I’d probably climb onto a rooftop and tell everyone in Smuggler’s Hideaway who would listen about my big deal.
Not my Addy. She’s told her friends but no one else. She hasn’t even posted on social media. She seriously needs to use my PR agent. This is the perfect opportunity to sell herself and get her songwriting business going.
Nolan sighs. “Whoever thought our little Gage would have a pop star girlfriend?”
I glare at him. “I’m not little.”
Brock snorts. “Dude.”
“Not being humongous the way you are doesn’t mean I’m little.”
“I could carry you around in my pocket.”
A whistle blows. “Listen up,” Coach Knox shouts .
“This isn’t over,” Tanner whispers to me. I give him the finger since – unlike him – I know better than to talk when Coach is speaking.
“Listen up! We’ve got fans in the stands today.
That means no missed assignments, no lazy routes, and absolutely no arguing with me in front of the children.
Smile if you want. But if you blow a coverage because you’re trying to look cool?
I’ll personally make you run until next Tuesday.
And if you see your mama in the crowd? Good.
She deserves to know she raised someone who can block. ”
There are grunts and a smattering of applause.
“Let’s give them a show!”
The team claps before standing and moving toward the door but Coach holds up his hand to stop them. He locks eyes with me. “And Edwards – keep your head where your feet are.”
I jump to my feet. “Yes, Coach!”
Tanner bursts into laughter before clapping me on the back. “Someone’s not Coach Cha Cha’s favorite anymore.”
I shove him and he falls to the floor. “At least I’ve been his favorite. Unlike you, who lives in the doghouse.”
“Woof! Woof!”
I roll my eyes at Tanner’s imitation of a dog. He’s a total goofball. If he weren’t such a good wide receiver, he’d be in more trouble than he already is. Which seems impossible considering how much trouble he’s currently in.
Nolan claps his hand. “Come on. Game faces on.”
Brock grunts before helping Tanner to his feet .
Corbin glares at us. “Don’t screw this up for me.” He marches off before we can respond.
“For you?” Tanner shouts after him. “Why is today special? Is your sexy landlady watching?”
Corbin whirls around. Nolan pulls Tanner behind him. “Ignore him. Everyone else does.”
“Ha! No one ignores me.”
Nolan slaps a hand over Tanner’s mouth. “Yes, we do.”
“Enough. Playtime is over,” Brock grumbles.
I follow him out of the locker room into the stadium. It isn’t as big as our usual stadium since it’s a college stadium but it’s not small either.
The fans roar as we enter but I don’t pay any attention to them. I’m too busy searching for my people. Besides coaches, I’ve never had people I care about come to watch one of my games before.
I spot Addy and her family in the third row. Mila jumps up and down and shouts while the rest of them wave. Even Nora’s here. Addy’s mom usually isn’t around much.
I stop to wave but Brock urges me forward. “Game time.”
As if I’d forget it’s game time when I’m wearing all of my gear except my helmet. I wave as I walk to the team area.
Today is a joint practice against the Tigers. The Tigers have been here all week doing drills and scrimmages with us, but today is a practice game. Which is why the bleachers are full.
I reach the team area and Coach Knox slaps me on the back. “Head in the game, Edwards. ”
“My head’s in the game.” As much as it can be, considering Addy and her family – the people I want to be my family – are in the crowd. I want to impress them. Show them how good I am at my chosen field.
Coach studies me for a moment before nodding. “Bring it in! Helmets off. Eyes up.”
He scans the circle. “Today we’ve got a scrimmage. Not a war. Not a revenge tour. Not an audition for the UFC.”
A few players snort.
“Let me remind you of something the league likes to call modern rules .” He uses air quotes for modern rules.
“That means no full-speed, live-contact tackling. That means you wrap up and release. That means you do not try to separate a man from his soul.”
He points toward the other side of the field.
“They’re not the enemy. They’re coworkers in different laundry.” He pauses. “And I swear, if I see anyone launching like a missile because you ‘felt the moment,’ you will be running until your grandchildren feel it.”
“This is not your opportunity to prove you can break six tackles and go viral. I know you’re strong. I drafted you. I don’t need a demonstration.” He narrows his eyes. “We’re here to evaluate. Execution. Communication. Footwork. Assignments.”
He claps once.
“Anyone who forgets that and starts playing backyard football will enjoy watching the rest of practice from the sideline.” Another pause.
“And if you so much as injure our starting quarterback because you couldn’t throttle down?
” He blows out a breath. “I will personally make you wish tackling was the worst thing that happened to you today.”
He steps back.
“Remember. We get paid to play in September. Not to be heroes in August.”
“Go Seals!” Nolan shouts.
The kickoff team charges onto the field and I take the opportunity to wave to Addy. She raises a Seal flag into the air. Where did she get a flag?
“Edwards!” Coach Knox shouts. “On the field!”
I startle. I missed the kickoff. Head in the game, Edwards. Head in the game.
We line up and Nolan yells a cadence. “White 80!”
The ball snaps. Nolan pivots and presses the ball into my stomach at the mesh point. I clamp down on it and explode toward the line.
The defense crashes inside. A linebacker shoots the gap. Wrong choice.
I hesitate for half a heartbeat — just enough to let my right guard seal the edge — then I plant my foot and cut outside.
Daylight.
A cornerback angles toward me. I drop my shoulder and stiff-arm him into next week.
The crowd roars.
I don’t look at the sideline. I don’t look back. But I know she’s watching.
Twenty yards .
Ten.
Five.
I cross the goal line untouched. Touchdown.
I flip the ball to the ref like it’s routine. But it’s not routine. Because this one? This one’s for Addy.
I search the crowd until I lock eyes with her. She’s jumping up and down in the stands and screaming my name.
What I wouldn’t do for her to attend every single one of my games. Cheering me on. Smiling at me like I’m the only player on the field.
I couldn’t love her anymore if I tried. Addy Price is mine.