Chapter 43
FORTY-THREE
I’m on my feet, jumping up and down beside Genesis.
I’m sure she doesn’t realize what she’s doing, but she’s squeezing the heck out of my arm while Jaxon—ball tucked tight under his arm, perfectly guarding it—runs like a cheetah.
It’s impressive. Ray was right. Ray Robson, number forty-seven, has been sticking to Jaxon like glue, but Jaxon manages to evade him. He’s running so fast.
I’m screaming so loud my brain feels like it’s going to explode.
Then, Ray Robson gets his hands on him, hoists himself on top, and slams Jaxon to the ground.
I press my hand over my thundering heart until—thank God—Jaxon leaps to his feet and tosses the ball to the referee. He’s up, and now I can jump up and down with Genesis without fear.
Especially when the Jumbotron reveals that Jaxon just ran twenty-seven yards, setting the team up for a fresh round of four more downs.
Genesis nudges me with her elbow, her eyes still glued to the field. “He’s going to score,” she says.
“And I’m awake this time,” I say.
She actually laughs at my joke. Thank God.
“You’re into it. What changed?” she asks.
“Jaxon taught me the game.”
She involuntarily looks at me, missing the snapping of the ball. I want to match her eyes, but I keep mine locked on the field. I want to see this happen.
And it does.
Micah Jameson, the quarterback, throws the ball so fast, with such intensity, that I lose sight of it—until Jaxon reaches for it and dives into the end zone.
I’m up again, screaming my head off, hugging Genesis.
And when I look up at the Jumbotron to see how Jaxon is celebrating, he’s looking up too—smiling.
Of course they capture a shot of me. The sleeping girlfriend isn’t napping tonight.
But I want to do something extra special. Not for show.
For Jaxon.
So I raise my thumb—high and happy.
And he sees it.
He raises his thumb back.
A funny thing happens: Tati, wife of a right tackle named Josh Banks, includes me in the round of tequila shots she buys for all the girls.
That’s what they call each other—the girls—and I think, as of tonight, they consider me part of the crew.
Jaxon scores two more times, and each time, we do the thumbs-up thing.
I hope he doesn’t think I’m pretending. I can’t wait to tell him that I meant it.
He’s the reason I’m really enjoying the game tonight.
So, yeah—not only is he playing like a demigod, but he’s made it possible for me to enjoy him.
And for that alone, he deserves a thumbs up.
There’s less than a minute left. San Diego has the ball and is up by only three, even though Jaxon scored three times. I’m chewing on my nails, but Genesis, Onetra, Tati, and everybody else isn’t.
“Don’t stress, honey,” Genesis says, patting my arm. “They’re going to run out the clock. We won.”
“Oh,” I say, exhaling the tension from my body.
Then she leans in and says, “Come with us tonight. We’re throwing a little after-game party.”
My mouth drops. I mean, I knew I was making inroads with the girls, but a party?
“Are you serious?” I finally ask, totally shocked.
“Yes, honey. It’ll be fun.”
My stomach does little dances, and my heart skips a beat.
Is this what it feels like to be one of the girls? Like, for real?
Because on the show—I faked it. I fake-bonded with the girls. I can admit that now. No wonder they all dumped me in the end. I didn’t know how to be real with them.
But I can feel it now.
Genesis and the girls... they could end up being my friends.
For real.