Chapter 19
Chapter Nineteen
T essa
The crowd is electric as we walk into the Cougars’ stadium. It’s as if the entire building is lit up with the excitement of the fans.
“Damn, I’m glad I left JJ with his aunt Alice. This place is crazy.” Autumn links her arms through mine as we filter our way through the crowd. “Maybe we should start taking them up on sitting in the box,” she says once we find our seats.
“What? And miss all the action. Pfft.” I wave her off. “This is where it lives.” I give her a cheesy grin.
“Yeah, it meaning the madness.”
“Exactly. It’s exciting and electric. Besides, I like to cheer and scream, and I don’t think that would be allowed in the box. Then again, I wouldn’t really know, as I’ve never been in there.”
“We should try it at least once,” she counters.
“Fine, we can try it once.” I hold up my index finger for emphasis, making her laugh.
“Excuse me, are you Tessa Deaton?” a woman asks from next to me.
“Uh.” I look over my shoulder at Autumn, then turn back to the woman. “Yes, do I know you?”
“No, but I’m a huge fan of Landon Barker. You’re his girlfriend, right?”
I nod. I didn’t expect this. “That’s what I thought. He can do so much better than you,” she sasses, then turns and marches up the steps. Turning to face forward, I try to wrap my head around what just happened.
“Did she say what I think she said?” Autumn asks.
“She did. Those box seats are looking better and better,” I admit.
“Oh, hell no.” Autumn stands, but my hand on her arm stops her.
“Don’t. She’s entitled to her opinion. I’m different from any woman in his past.”
“Yeah, since you have a title that none of the others had.”
“That, too. Let’s just watch the game.” Luckily, kickoff is a few minutes later and I’m able to push the woman to the back of my mind. Mostly. I mean, who isn’t going to be affected by a comment like that? The first half of the game flies by, and before I know it, it’s halftime.
“You want anything?” Autumn asks.
“No, thanks.”
“You want to come with?”
I could use the restroom, but I don’t want to run into any other disgruntled so-called fans, so I opt to stay here. “I’m good. Thank you.”
She leaves, and I pull my phone out of my pocket to not seem like the loner girl sitting alone.
I’m scrolling through my social media when I feel a tap on my shoulder.
Turning, I see a guy who’s about my age, mid to late twenties.
He has a scruffy beard, mustard on his shirt from, I’m assuming, the half-eaten hot dog in his hand, and he has a beer in the other.
His eyes are glassy, and it’s obvious that he’s beyond wasted.
“Yes?” I ask, keeping my voice polite, trying not to let my earlier irritation or my dislike for this guy show.
“I’d do you.” He grins, taking another messy bite of his dripping mustard hot dog. His buddies cheer and laugh.
I don’t know what to do. What do you say to that?
So instead, I don’t say anything. I turn back to the field and find Landon’s eyes on me.
I smile, not wanting him to see I’m irritated, and raise my hand in a wave.
Our seats are prime, bottom row on the fifty-yard line, so he’s close enough to see that something’s wrong.
His blue gaze is penetrating as he takes me in.
Then, without warning, he spits out his mouthguard, rips off his helmet, jogs to the concrete wall, and propels himself over it.
How did he jump that high? My man’s got skills.
The crowd goes wild, and his coach is glaring at the back of his head. “What are you doing?” I hiss when he’s over the wall.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. You’re going to get in trouble,” I say, eyeing his coach.
“What happened?”
“You’re really his girlfriend?” the drunk guy behind me asks.
“She’s mine.” Landon’s voice is firm and loud. So loud, in fact, everyone in our section heard him. Hell, I’m not sure the entire stadium didn’t hear him.
“Barker!” his coach yells.
“This guy bothering you?”
“No, but that bitch from earlier probably still is,” Autumn says, standing at the end of our aisle.
“Explain.” His blue eyes bore into mine.
“Nothing. I’m fine, and you’re overreacting. You’re going to get fined or, worse, benched. Now go.” I push at his chest, but he doesn’t budge. With all that gear on, he looks even bigger. Larger than life.
“We’re not done talking about this,” he says as Coach Neil yells out for him.
Before I can shy away, he wraps one of his big, calloused hands behind my neck and pulls me into a kiss.
“Let them talk, Tessa. We know what this is. I love you.” He quickly kisses the corner of my mouth, and then he’s gone—back over the wall and jogging toward the locker room with Coach Neil beside him.
“Look!” Autumn points to the Jumbotron screen, and they’re replaying the kiss with pink and red hearts.
Well, if people didn’t know about us after yesterday, they do now.
“I can’t believe him,” I say, sitting back down in my seat.
Autumn elbows me, letting me know the camera is on me.
I smile and wave, not letting on that I’m embarrassed and still reeling from my not-so-nice fan interactions.
I mean, I guess the guy was okay. At least he said he’d do me.
All throughout the game, the cameras keep panning to me.
It’s usually when I’m on my feet, cheering for Landon and the rest of the Cougars.
I can’t wait to see what the media has to say about this.
I can see the headlines now. Cougars’ Quarterback Slumming it with Local Girl.
First Look as She Acts a Fool, Cheering for Her Man.
“Another win, baby,” the drunk guys behind us say. “Tell your man, good game,” they tell me before filtering up the steps.
Autumn grins. “They’re fun.”
“Oh, yeah, they’re fun, but I could have done without the ‘I’d do you’ comment.”
She throws her head back and laughs. “I don’t want to be around when you tell Landon about that. I can’t believe he climbed the wall to check on you.”
“He’s crazy. Certifiable.”
“Nah, he’s in looove,” she says dramatically.
We’re still sitting in our seats, letting the crowd thin out. We’re supposed to meet Jeremy and Landon outside the locker room. The passes hanging from our necks guarantee us access. “I think I should just text him and tell him I’ll meet him at Henry’s.”
“Nope. You’re not going to run from this. That’s part of dating him. It’s not always sunshine and roses, Tess, but he’s in this with you. He made that clear at halftime.”
“I know. You’re right. It’s just going to take some getting used to.”
“Well, I’d say after his little stunt, there are going to be images of the two of you kissing everywhere, so you need to get used to it. It’s out there, and it’s happening.”
“I can do this.” I stand and stretch.
“Damn right, you can. Come on. Let’s go find Cocky and Lucky and get one of those juicy burgers from Henry’s. It’s calling my name.”
Thankfully, most of the crowd has thinned as we make our way to the locker rooms. We flash our badges, and sure enough, the big bouncer guy lets us in, no questions asked.
There’s a long hallway where wives, kids, and, I assume, other family members wait for their players. In our case, player and coach.
“JJ would have loved this,” Autumn states.
“You should have Jeremy bring him when there’s not a crowd.”
“Yeah, we didn’t get to explore the locker rooms when we brought him for training camp.”
The doors open, and players begin to filter out. None that I know, so we stand and people watch. I’m not much for conversation about me and Landon where everyone can hear us. I've been heard enough today. Or seen, rather. Either way, I’ve had my fill for the day.
Most of the crowd is gone by the time Jeremy, Case, Trent, Thomas, Jack, and Kaden exit the locker room. Everyone on the team I’ve met, except for the man I want to see most. “Where’s Landon?” I ask Jeremy.
“He’s getting his ass chewed by Coach Neil,” Case offers.
“Oh, no.” I cover my mouth with my hand, my wide eyes staring at Jeremy, waiting for his confirmation.
“I wouldn’t say chewed.” Jeremy tries to downplay it. “He is in his office.”
“He knows better,” I say, irritated that he would put his position on the team on the line. Hell, it wasn’t even worth a fine I’m sure he’s getting right now.
Trent nods. “Yeah, but when it’s your girl, the heart always wins. We know we’re going to pay for it, but it’s worth it.”
“This guy”—Kaden points to Trent—“did something similar. Only he stole a mic from a reporter and asked Luna to marry him.” Trent’s all smiles as his buddy tells the tale.
Before I can comment, the locker door opens, and we all turn to look. Landon grins and holds his hands out at his sides. “I’m feeling the love,” he says, his long legs carrying him to me. He wraps me in a hug, lifting me off my feet.
“I’m going up to the box to get my wife,” Trent tells us. “She prefers the stands, but since she’s pregnant, I like her to be in the box, without crazy fans being able to get to her.” With a wave, he’s ambling down the hall.
“Yo, meet us at Henry’s!” Jack calls out for him. Trent throws his arm in the air, giving him a thumbs-up, but doesn’t stop.
“Spill,” he says, placing me back on my feet but not letting me out of his hold.
“Nothing to spill. Great game,” I say, deflecting.
“Tessa.”
“Landon.”
“Autumn,” he says with a sly grin, his eyes watching for a response from me.
“I’ll fill you in at Henry’s,” she offers, and he smirks.
“Are your parents coming with us?” I ask him.
“No, they’re going to head back home. They have an hour drive ahead of them. They said to tell you goodbye. They called me a few minutes ago.”
I feel bad that I forgot to look for them. I was too flustered with everything that happened at the game. “Mom said we looked good up on the Jumbotron.”
“Ugh,” I groan, resting my forehead against his chest. My head bounces from where his chest vibrates with his laughter.