Chapter Thirty-Five
Pepper
The warm Vegas air crackles with intensity at the Charity Bowl. There are seventeen seconds left in the fourth quarter, and Clay’s team is down by three points. I’ve been on the edge of my front-row bleacher seat the whole game. I want this win so badly for Clay. It’s been three weeks since he laid himself bare on his family’s front lawn. The sensory glove has helped him find a new release point, but his shoulder is still iffy. Even so, he decided to play for another season, because my competitive, loyal man doesn’t want to let his fans, or himself, down. He’s announcing it after the game this afternoon, and his fans are waiting with bated breath to see if their Mr. Perfect will sign or walk away. This was a torturous decision for Clay, and I couldn’t be prouder of him for following his heart.
As Clay’s team gets into position, the opposing team calls a time-out. I turn to Sable, Kane, and Seth, who came out to support Clay. “I never knew football could be so nerve-racking. I don’t know how the players deal with this.”
“I think they get used to it,” Seth says.
“It should be illegal the way Gorecky keeps going after Clay,” Sable says.
“He got a penalty for roughing the passer,” Kane says.
“He gets one every game when he plays against Clay,” Seth says. “Clay caught him cheating on his wife when he played for the Giants and gave him hell for it. Gorecky’s been all over him ever since.”
“I should’ve kicked Jason Gorecky’s ass when I had the chance,” Sable says.
Seth arches a brow. “Did you have a run-in with him?”
Sable looks at me, her jaw tight, giving me space to respond.
Clay and I had dinner with several of the players last night. That’s when I found out Jason was playing in the Charity Bowl. I avoided him like the plague, and I’m glad I didn’t reveal to Clay that it was Jason who hurt me in college. He’s worried enough about his shoulder. He didn’t need to worry about me being uncomfortable.
“I knew Jason in college,” I say. “He was a jerk then, too.”
“Guys like that never change,” Seth says as the time-out ends.
The crowd cheers as the players get into position.
“Seventeen seconds on the clock, and they’re on their own forty-two-yard line,” Kane says. “Clay needs one hell of a Hail Mary.”
Fans begin chanting, “Let’s go, Clay! Let’s go, Clay!” We all join in. I chant as loud as I can, my heart filling up at the love pouring out for him.
Clay gets the snap and scans the field for his target as the defensive line charges. I watch the clash of men with my heart in my throat as Clay evades a defender and the clock ticks down. Thirteen seconds, twelve, eleven …
Their star wide receiver cuts toward the center with two defenders on his heels. Clay fires the ball like a rocket. I hold my breath as it bullets through the air with pinpoint accuracy. The receiver leaps across the end zone, his arms outstretched, and the ball lands in his hands as he crashes to the ground. The crowd erupts, and we jump up and down, hugging each other and cheering for Clay. Clay looks over at me, his arms shooting up in the air, and I yell, “Way to go, baby!” as players barrel into him.
“Way to go, brother!” Seth hollers.
Time moves in a heart-thundering blur as the extra point is lined up, and the kicker nails it. The crowd goes wild again and players spill out onto the field. I’m so happy, I’ve got tears in my eyes.
“Go get him, Pep!” Sable yells.
In the next breath, Seth and Kane are lifting me over the railing. I don’t have time to think as Clay sprints toward me and throws his helmet to the ground. Then I’m in his arms, and we’re kissing and laughing, and he’s spinning me around. Cameras are pointed at us, and reporters are shouting for Clay’s attention. Players are everywhere, the crowd is cheering, and Clay is looking at me like I’m all he sees, as he says, “That was for you , Reckless. Just for you!”
“And this is for you!” I crush my lips to his for all the world to see.
“I love you, baby!”
As he lowers me to my feet, I see Jason coming up behind him.
Clay
The blood drains from Pepper’s face, and she stumbles backward. I reach for her just as Gorecky sidles up to me, and she steps farther away. One look at the humiliation and anger warring in her eyes and Gorecky’s smarmy smirk is all it takes for understanding to slam into me. I grit my teeth, my hands curling into fists. Media cameras are all over the fucking place, reporters are shouting at me about my Hail Mary, but all I see is red.
Gorecky lifts his chin in Pepper’s direction and says, “Looking good , Pepper.”
“Don’t you fucking look at her,” I seethe.
He flashes an arrogant grin, turns his back to the cameras, and says, “Enjoying my sloppy seconds, Brad—”
A crack sounds as my fist connects with his jaw, and he reels back. Blinded by rage, I get another punch in before he comes at me, his face bloody. Our fists fly, but guys drag us away from each other.
“Watch your back, Braden!” Gorecky shouts. “I’m gonna fucking kill you this season.”
Cameras are in my face and people are shouting at me. I tear my arms out of my teammates’ grips, searching the crowd for Pepper. I scan the sidelines and see Seth and Kane standing in front of Pepper like bodyguards. Sable has her arm around her, and my girl, my love , has fear written all over her beautiful face.
“Clay!” a reporter shouts. “Why did you go after Gorecky?”
I look into the camera and grit out, “Because he’s an asshole.”
“Are you worried about his threat for next season?” the reporter asks.
“Not even a little. But he’ll have to come find me, because I’m done. I’m retiring.”
There’s a flurry of shouts and gasps as I stride toward Pepper, who looks as shocked as everyone else.
The reporter keeps pace with me. “What’s next for Mr. Perfect?” He shoves a microphone into my face.
“Hopefully marrying the love of my life.”
Pepper’s eyes widen, and her jaw drops as Seth and Kane step aside, and I step in front of her.
“Clay, what are you doing ?” she asks with a nervous laugh. “Are you okay? Did he hit you in the head? I thought you were signing the extension.”
“I’m following my heart. The only thing I want to sign is a marriage certificate making you my wife.”
Her eyes tear up. “What?”
“Baby, when I threw that winning pass, all I wanted was to get to you. I’m done being Mr. Perfect and living my life for everyone else. I want to live it for us . I want to help make your dreams come true, because if you marry me, my dreams will be signed, sealed, and delivered. I want to bring you lunches and spend our lives finding new hobbies and taking polar plunges and dips in the hot tub. I want to make out in parking lots with the woman I love and not care who sees it. I want you to be reckless with me, and I’ll be not so perfect with you. What do you say, baby? Want to tie the knot today in Vegas?”
She laughs, tears spilling from her eyes. “Do I even have a choice? I mean, look at those dimples.” Laughter rises around us.
“Is that a yes ?” I ask.
“ Yes , I’ll marry you, you crazy man!”
The stadium explodes into whoops and cheers, and I crush my lips to hers. “I love you, baby,” I say between kisses, and she says it, too, her salty tears slipping between our lips.
There’s a frenzy of commotion as I give statements to the press, and my teammates and coaches congratulate us and give me shit for retiring. But I know I’m doing the right thing.
When we finally carve out some space from the mayhem, Sable says, “I guess we’re heading to the Chapel of Love.”
Kane eyes me. “How would you feel about making it a double wedding?”
“ What? ” Sable says. “We can’t crash their wedding.”
“Yes, you can!” Pepper exclaims. “We started our lives together. It’s only right that we start our marriages together! Right, Clay? Would you mind?”
“Not at all, baby.”
Pepper squeals and hugs Sable.
“Mom’s going to kill us,” Sable says.
“That’s okay. Our mom is going to kill Clay, too,” Seth says. “We’ll send pictures.”
I turn to the brother who has always had my back and clap a hand on his shoulder, “Spoken like a true best man. What do you say, bro?”
“You just want an accomplice,” Seth jokes, and everyone laughs.
I draw Pepper into my arms. “Ready to go ring shopping, baby?”
Her smile lights up the whole damn afternoon. “I’m ready for anything with you.”
“That’s my girl,” I say, and lower my lips to my love, my life, my future wife.