Chapter 33 #2
From the corner of my eye, I see my woman and my sister embracing.
My dad steps in next for a celebratory hug, and after I do the rounds, we take a seat at the six-person table.
Levi orders a bottle of champagne. We toast, and all eyes are on me.
“For the champion.” Levi looks at me with so much pride and affection.
I drag him to my side. “You’re always there, you know. Every win is for you too.”
“I know, man. I’ll always have your back.”
The atmosphere thickens with potent emotions, and I notice the women dabbing at their eyes.
When dinner is served, I eat with my hand on Lilly’s thigh, enjoying the time with my family.
Afterward, my parents excuse themselves.
We leave, getting in the car. Lilly rests her cheek on my shoulder, and I hold her hand, promising never to let go.
When we reach the apartment building, the second the elevator doors close behind us, I am on her, backing her against the wall.
Every bit of control decimates. Interlacing our fingers above her head, I take her lips in a long kiss that continues even after the elevator’s doors open.
Lips locked, we stumble out and I try to open the damn door already. It gives, and after shutting it closed with the back of my foot, we rip each other’s clothes off.
I am down to my boxers and she’s just in a flimsy thong.
Our chests heave, the desire crackling between us—it’s electrifying.
Jumping into my arms, her arms and legs loop around my neck and back. I cup her ass, holding her as I carry her to bed. We tumble onto it, and my teeth close around her thong. Pulling it down, I discard it on the floor, just like my patience.
From the foot of the bed, I watch the wonder of my life. This sexy as fuck woman who I love more than I thought possible—more than football, more than anyone else.
I shove my boxers down and climb into bed, settling myself between her open legs.
Inhaling deeply, to compose myself, I inch inside of her, wanting to prolong the inevitable. But I lose the battle, fucking myself so deep inside of her, I shape that pussy to my cock and no one else’s.
And all night long, I drive in and out of her, chasing one goal—to become one.
Only when the sun peeks through the curtains do we fall asleep.
The big night rolls in. This is it. I can almost feel the weight of my fourth ring on my finger. In my hotel room, I wear the other three to motivate me.
I have to leave shortly for the stadium but I take the time to FaceTime with Lilly. It’s been so hard being away from her in the week leading up to the Super Bowl. I can’t wait to hold her in my arms tonight after the game—regardless of the outcome.
“You’re going to have a hand full of rings,” she says through the screen.
Strangely, all I stare at is my bare ring finger. No ring will measure up to my wedding band.
“Yes, and then I plan to retire.”
“And do what?” she asks, with a note of surprise in her voice.
I shrug. “I don’t know. Don’t care either. Be with you, taking care of our family.”
A radiant smile stretches on her face. “That sounds like a lovely plan.”
A beat of silence follows, and I see my entire future playing in her eyes.
“You still haven’t said where we’re going on vacation,” she says, fishing for information.
“It’s a surprise.”
I watch as she closes her eyes for a moment, and when she opens them, they glisten with pure emotion. “Never stop.”
“I never will, baby,” I vow, looking through the screen at her intently so she can see how serious I am.
I love this woman with every fiber of my being. It’s an irrefutable, unaltering fact, just like the knowledge that I couldn’t survive once my heart stopped. My end goal is to love her until I am nothing more than dust.
“Wish I could be there to give you a big kiss in person. Good luck. I love you.”
“Even if I lose?” I ask playfully, but she sees through my brave act.
“I admire you as a player, but I love the man you are. Through every win and every loss, I will be there for you. Stand by you. You’ll always be my winner. The champion of my heart. I love you with all of me.”
Her words ignite a surge of potent emotions. My throat clamps up. “Never stop.”
“Never will, baby,” she replies.
I blow her a kiss one more time and hang up the call.
My phone rings again and it’s Levi.
There’s a moment of reverent silence, and I say, “Thank you for being my best friend.”
“Always, man. Thank you for coming into my life so I could meet the love of mine.”
I chuckle. “Asshole.”
A pause follows, and he inhales deeply. “Nerves are good, Ian. Let them consume you so you can give your best.”
He knows me so well. “This game is important.”
“Man, I have three. You will have many more. I trust in you. And Ian, play for yourself.”
I swallow hard. “I…”
“It was not your fault,” he sighs. “What happened to me was not your fault. When I watch you play, I don’t think anymore about how it would be to be there. I love my life, and I love you, man. So, play for yourself. Playing at this level is hard enough.”
“Thank you, man. It means…” I can’t even form words. It’s like the weight of remorse has been lifted.
He stares at me with a harsh look. “You’re one stubborn asshole. Why didn’t you say something before?”
I scratch my neck. “It’s… you had your own shit to deal with.”
“We’re more than best friends, we’re family.”
That we are. Our bond is titanium—indestructible.
After we hang up, I am sitting on the bus heading toward the stadium when my phone pings. It’s a text from Lilly, so my fingers fly over the screen to read it.
She is wearing my jersey, cupping her breasts. Between them, my number is visible. My mouth instantly dries, thirsty to taste every inch of her. I might wear number 1. I might even be number 1, but if I had to choose, I’d prefer to be and remain her number 1.
Good luck. You can take this off afterward, reckless boy.
I so will, flower girl.
I am about to exit the bus and get my prize already when rationality breaks through my desire, reminding me I have a game to win first.
The music blares with hip-hop songs that set me up to seize my win.
At the stadium, I lean my head against the headrest, taking a few moments for myself.
It’s mind blowing that this might be my fourth consecutive win. I wanted to become the best quarterback in history. That has been my sole motivation, pushing me through the highs and lows. To play is in my nature, but to become a legend is what I aspire to.
In the locker room, everyone is wired tight. That’s the difference when it comes to the season’s finale. You don’t want to lose the biggest game of the year.
I gather my teammates around me, remembering when I was just getting started. How far we’ve come as a team.
The reminder of Levi’s words pushes me to say, “I want you to play tonight for yourselves. For the game we all love. It has been a year filled with ups and downs. But look at us now. We’ve come this far. So, I’m asking you, will we let them take what’s rightfully ours?”
“No,” they erupt in unison.
“Exactly. We deserve to win this.”
“We will.” Another round explodes.
When Coach comes inside with the team staff, we are ready to play.
After he delivers his speech, we stride out, our feet thumping on the floor, echoing like a march in the long hallway. The energy is a vivid thread wiring us.
The stadium erupts when we run out toward the field, chanting our names. It’s both humbling and reviving. You don’t want to disappoint your fans.
I see my family there for me in one row in the suite, waving and cheering for me. My eyes move to Lilly wearing my jersey, my number written on her cheeks. I pat my heart in the form of an “L” and she answers by doing the same, only with an “I.”
“Damn, you’re whipped. Someone surely took a pic of that,” Roman says.
“Let them. After tonight, everyone will know my heart is taken and that she’s my woman.”
Sliding our mouthguards in, we bump our helmets. I wriggle my body to shake off everything else until resolution is the only thing remaining.
The whistle blows, snatching my attention back to the field.
I take my position, eyeing the other team as if they are nothing more than what keeps me from my fourth ring.
Nothing else is on my mind but playing my best game, going home with the big prize—her—my Hail Mary pass caught in the end zone.