Chapter 33
THIRTY-THREE
IAN
January
It’s the final game of the regular season, and we are all pumped to deliver. The energy is different, though. We have a score to settle with the other team, and I will forever blame these assholes for injuring my best friend.
I don’t care if I lose every other game, but never with them. That incident should never have happened. The league gave them a slap on the wrist and said it’s a brutal sport. Yes, but I thought fairness and teamwork counted for something. Fuck them.
The game progresses smoothly, and we almost have the win locked when someone knocks into me from the side. A pain rips through my arm, but I grit my teeth, refusing to give him the satisfaction of injuring me.
I shove at his chest, and the fucking asshole smirks at me.
He bumps his chest into mine, baring his teeth. “Did I hurt you, princess?”
My team has to drag me off him, managing to separate us.
“Are you okay?” Coach asks.
I nod through a set jaw. Don’t be stubborn, my mind reminds me. It’s my throwing arm, but I won’t give them the pleasure of having taken me out as well. I have a best friend to avenge.
The adrenaline pumps me up as I continue to play, pushing myself beyond my limits.
Suddenly, I feel something strain and snap in my bicep. Sweat breaks on my neck and forehead, but I don’t stop. I can’t stop.
You can do this, I urge myself, throwing the last and winning pass.
I push past the interviewers. If I don’t get something for the pain, I will fucking black out. The pain is atrocious.
“Man, what the fuck?” Roman asks, and his eyes bulge out as he sees me holding my arm. “You played with an injured arm. Coach is going to kill you.”
“Not fucking helping,” I grit out.
Thankfully, the team doctor takes me to his office.
He touches my arm, and I grunt.
He pulls it up, and I wince.
He sighs and I know it’s not good. “Your triceps is strained.”
I gulp, terrified to ask the question. “How bad is it?”
“You’re going to need three to six weeks to heal,” he says in a neutral voice.
“What?” I shout.
“What?” My coach screams from the door, fury burning in his eyes.
He stabs a finger in the air at me as he shuts the door behind him. “What was in your damn head?”
I grit my teeth. “You know what that was…”
He crosses his arms over his chest. “I knew I shouldn’t have allowed you to play against them.”
“They did that on fucking purpose,” I snap, losing my composure.
He doesn’t seem impressed with my outburst. “They already won because now you busted your arm trying to prove a point.”
“You need to rest your arm. Physical therapy. We’ll see how it will go,” the doctor says, wrapping a cast around my arm and shoulder and handing me some medicine for the pain.
After he leaves, Coach paces around. “I’m getting too old for this bullshit.”
A smile teases my lips, but his eyes fix on me, and I purse my lips.
“We’re in the playoffs.”
He rubs a hand down his face. “Not a word.”
“I’m going to make it,” I say, voice thick with determination.
“Sure,” he mumbles.
I close my eyes for a moment. “I’m sorry, Coach, I just…”
He sighs. “You will constantly meet those types of competitors on the field. Don’t let them override your common sense.”
I nod.
“Is my daughter waiting for you?”
The knowledge draws a huge smile on my face. “Yes.”
He shakes his head at me. “Good. Maybe Lilly will knock some sense into you.”
“She always does.”
“It’s getting serious,” he says pensively.
I know it’s not the right moment, not when he’s mad at what I pulled on the field, but I can’t stop myself. “It has been serious from the beginning.”
He raises then drops his arms. “I can’t even stay mad at you when I see that puppy love you have for her.”
I grin from ear to ear as I walk to my car.
Lilly sees me and runs to me, looking worried.
“I knew something was wrong after that asshole tackled you. What happened?” she asks, patting my injury.
“It’s sprained. I can’t play for the next couple of weeks.”
She hugs me tightly. “We’ll push through this together, okay?”
I love the sound of that word that instantly soothes me. “Together.”
When she opens the door for me, I chuckle at the role reversal. As she drives us home, I am less angry that I won’t be able to play for a while.
I took the advice to heart. I rested, doing all that was asked of me.
Four weeks later for the championship game, I am back on the field, determined like never before.
Nothing can go wrong. I will win this game. And then focus on the big finale because afterward, I am taking my girl back to Bali. It was our first vacation, where the love dug roots so deep nothing could rip them out.
I am dressing in our bedroom while she’s still on the bed, watching me. A big grin splits my face, fucking loving how attracted she is to me.
I jerk my chin to her. “Enjoying the view over there?”
She takes a pillow and fluffs it on her lap. “My daily muscle display. It’s how I start my day.”
I chuckle and snatch a T-shirt. Going to her, I take her mouth in a long kiss that only leaves me starved for more.
She brushes her palm along my shoulder, looking at me with pure adoration, causing my heart to melt in my chest.
“How’s the arm?”
“Good. I’ll play. I have to.”
She nods, placing a gentle kiss on my lips. “Go get your win. I’m going to cheer for you.”
“And afterward?”
She tilts her head, raising a playful brow. “Hmm, afterward? Are we getting greedy?”
I grin. “Always when it comes to you.”
She pulls my face in for another kiss, and I forget about everything else. No wonder she has to push me away. “See you tonight.”
“One more game,” I say, our eyes locking.
One more game, and then I will officially present her as my girlfriend. But not for long. Maximum a few days before she’s my fiancée.
That thought accompanies me to my car, where I catch my smile in the rearview mirror.
The entire drive to the stadium, my phone rings, from my parents to Levi, all wishing me good luck and telling me we’ll see each other afterward.
My family is here for me, and that thought strengthens my resolve even more.
When I am in the locker room, the energy suffuses the air.
Sitting next to Roman, I go through my usual ritual. I wouldn’t call myself superstitious, but the routine eases me, anchoring me.
Coach steps inside. “You have this. You want this. So go out there and claim that win as yours.”
We all nod, determined to rule the field.
“How’s the arm?” he asks me.
“Good.”
He pins me with a glare. “If you experience the slightest discomfort, inform me.”
“I will.” I dip my head in acknowledgement. But it’s hard to know exactly when adrenaline runs thick through your bloodstream, making you feel invincible.
The championship might not be the Super Bowl, but it’s still a show. But we’re the main act.
On the field, I spot her in the window of the suite.
She’s there, waving at me, surrounded by my parents, my sister, and Levi.
Seeing them all there for me overwhelms me with emotions.
Tears well up in my eyes, but I fight them off.
Pulling myself together, I do a few breathing exercises to ground myself.
The whistle blows, and it’s a fight for every yard, each pass to find its target, but we claim our win.
I rip my helmet off, and Roman and I jump, bumping our chests. This pic will be all over the sports news tonight.
“We did it,” he says, foreheads pressed together.
A team group hug follows, and we chant with the fans.
The interviews happen in a blur of celebratory madness.
In the locker room, pandemonium ensues. Some players are on the benches, dancing in just their underwear, while others FaceTime with their loved ones, and the rest take pictures and videos.
Coach comes in, his emotions clear on his face. “I’m so damn proud of you. You’ve been the best team I have had the honor to coach.”
I stand up first, and the rest follow me as we heave him up and throw him up and down.
“Put me down, you hotheads,” he says, laughing.
After I shower, I find Lilly waiting outside the locker room.
“Hi, handsome.” A flirty look stretches on her face.
She wants to play. I am all for it.
“Hi, beautiful.”
She tilts her head, batting her lashes at me subtly. “Saw you play…”
I cock my head, dragging my bottom lip through my teeth just like I want to peel off her clothes—slow. “Was I any good?”
“Maybe.”
A smile teases my lips. “Maybe? Hmm, and here I played in the hopes of catching the attention of a gorgeous woman like you.”
“What if you did?” she asks, licking her lips.
It’s so hard to stay in character when I just want to kiss her already. “I’m the type of man who knows what he wants.”
“And what do you want?” she breathes out.
“You and me. Forever.”
The flirty expression erases from her face. “You had to say that, and now I’m out of character.” She tries for a chastising tone but fails.
I chuckle, cutting the few inches between us, not giving a fuck if someone sees us. To be honest, at this point, I don’t even care.
“We can continue to play when we’re back home. I’m playing for keeps, baby. But let me tell you what I won’t play with. Your heart, our future.”
She lifts on her toes, wrapping her arms around my neck. “Have you any idea how perfect you are and how much I love you?”
The grin threatens to split my face. “I think I do because you’re with me.”
I dip my head, and she says before our lips touch, “What if someone sees us?”
“Let them look.”
I kiss her, losing myself in her sweet taste, fired up by her little pleasure sounds.
I peck her on the lips one more time, unable to restrain myself.
Opening the passenger door for her, we climb into the car, driving straight to the restaurant. It takes longer with fans on the streets, drinking and partying.
I park in front of the cozy, familiar place.
My sister and Lilly found this one, and it’s kind of our place whenever they’re in town.
My mom hugs me. “Congratulations. I’m so proud of you,” she says in a shaky voice.