Chapter 4 #2
Bronson leaned in front of me and looked at Madalyn, “Long as y’all are still mine, right?”
She snorted, “Duh.”
“Y’all leave anything for the rest of us?” Garrick teased as he eyed our load of food.
I snorted, “Have you met me?”
“We’ve all met Harlee. Got any Snickers?” Talia snorted.
I looked at the girls, and then we busted out laughing.
But it was Everly who blushed and pulled one out of her bag and handed it to Harlee.
We laughed even harder.
And then... at the sound of the announcer, everyone quieted down.
“Welcome one and all to the biggest game of the year. Your very own Whispering Falls Devil Dogs, your state champions three years running, are prepared to defend their title. Let’s hear it for your Devil Dogs!”
We all stood up and cheered loudly.
My eyes were trained on the players as they entered the field.
And when I found the number seventy-nine, I cheered even louder.
Even though his helmet was already on, we all knew he had found our group.
He raced over to the railing that kept the crowd at bay and pointed at us.
And then... he got to work.
He didn’t let the player he was assigned to gain a single yard.
My voice was going to be hoarse before the night was through, but I didn’t care.
And when our team scored, we cheered even louder.
We were in the second half when I watched it play in slow motion.
My boy had been targeted.
Little effing bastard.
I stood up and yelled, “Target my boy, and I’ll shove my size six foot so far up your ass you’ll feel my toes tickle your throat!”
Every pair of eyes came to me, but I paid them no mind.
I narrowed my gaze on the little shit.
And when he pointed at my boy, I yelled, “Don’t even think about it!”
I didn’t know how, but I felt Cole’s gaze on me through the throng of people.
And then I watched with bated breath.
My body tensed to race after the little shit if he hurt my boy.
And then it happened.
The ball was snapped; the other player lowered his body and charged at my boy.
I lunged to go after him until I felt a pair of vice-like grips around my waist, “Calm, baby. He’s got this.”
My eyes didn’t leave the field.
Not when the little shit took two steps, and not when Cole braced, and then took the little fucker head on, and then, with one move, he laid the little shit out on the field.
Cole stood there over the other player, pointed at him, and then pointed at me.
I would have given anything to know what was said.
Instead, when Cole turned his head and looked up at us, I held up a thumb in question.
His helmet bobbled, and then I sat back down.
“Remind me to never get on your bad side.” Wolf snickered.
Madalyn leaned over and said with pride infused in every word, “Don’t ever try to hurt one of us.”
Then I felt a pair of lips brush against my ear, “Means more to me than you’ll ever know that you're there for my boy.”
I twisted my neck to look at him, “He’s a good kid.”
He winked, “Yeah. He is.”
And then I watched as those whiskey-colored eyes moved to my lips.
I licked the bottom one.
His gaze heated.
And then we all heard it, “Watch your mouth. There are kids here.”
We both looked at the woman who had said that.
She had her hair poofed out to there and wore a shirt with the opposing team’s number on it with her hands on her hips.
My eyes narrowed.
That number.
Again, that little shit.
I stood up and placed my own hands on my hips, “You tell your snot-nosed brat that targeting is illegal. He does it again and manages to hurt my boy, lady, I won’t go after him; I’ll go after you. Then I’ll sic every man at my side on your boy to teach him some fucking manners.”
When I heard the whistles, I looked over the woman’s head and locked gazes with Cole and a few of his teammates.
“Wish my mom was like that,” one of them said to Cole.
“Wish my mom cared.” Another one of them said to Cole.
“Sad thing is, she’s not my mom. But I wish she were.”
“Talk to my daughter like that again, lady, and she won’t have to worry about coming after you. Cause I’ll be more than happy to do it,” my mother said at my back.
The lady stormed off.
Good fucking riddance.
I turned to my mom and high-fived her.
Bax just shook his head.
Misty beamed down at me, “Couldn’t have been prouder of you, sweetheart, had I birthed you.”
I smiled, then my mom and Misty bumped their shoulders.
I knew that my mom would have help from Misty.
If I ever let them.
I sat back down and got ready for the rest of the game.
And when another little turd targeted one of his teammates, another woman stood up and yelled, “I’m with her. Hurt my boy and see what happens.”
Everyone burst out laughing.
The game was a shutout.
In our favor, of course.
We all stood and cheered as the boys dive bombed each other out on the field.
Just then, a very attractive mixed-looking man walked up to us.
Then he nodded at me, then looked at Bronson and held out his hand.
“I’m Marcus DuPointe. Your boy has skill.”
Bronson nodded, “That he does. But who are you?”
Marcus smirked, then handed Bronson a card.
“Talk to him. Then give me a call.”
The woman at his side smiled.
I looked at the card in Bronson’s hand.
Marcus DuPointe, General Manager for the Nashville Trojans.
“Holy. Shit.” Madalyn said.
“Holy. Air. Ball.” I said.
And then I watched as Bronson ‘Beast’ Adams didn’t move to wipe away a tear that trailed down his cheek.
***
We were all waiting in the hallway outside the locker room for the team to come out.
And when we saw Cole, our entire group cheered.
“What did you say to him?” Garrick asked.
Cole smirked, then looked at me, “If he ever upset her again, he would find out real quick that I got The Beast’s DNA running through my veins.”
A special kind of warmth flooded through my system.
“Your toes would tickle his throat?” Cole teased.
I shrugged, “If he had hurt you... Oh yeah.”
Then he moved to me and wrapped me in his arms.
I squeezed him back.
What neither of us knew was that plans were being made as the biggest man I’ve ever met looked at his daughter, then at the two of us.
And he hoped like fuck she was attracted to him like he was to her.
But... something was going to hold him back.
And it would end up breaking both of their hearts.