Chapter 6 #2
They were distracted for a moment by the Kings’ defense sacking the Fortune’s quarterback, the game going on hold after the play for a commercial break.
“Is Hailey the one?”
Eli’s eyes rounded, and he flashed the smile of a man in love. “She is, yeah. Why?”
“How did you know?” Reese asked, scanning the crowd for Sutton. He could barely make her out from where he sat, but he knew she was there, cheering him on.
“I knew when my dog was so sick, and she drove all the way down from her grandparents’ place in Indiana to be with me.
She didn’t have to, but she did.” He looked down at the ground, then back at Reese.
“She told me that Talulah was my baby, and she wanted to be there in case something bad happened, and I needed her. That’s when I realized that she was the one for me. ”
“Well, Talulah is still around and kicking, thankfully,” Reese replied, the old golden retriever all over Eli’s social media.
“She is that,” Eli replied. “But that dedication showed me Hailey was in it for real.”
Reese clasped his hands together in front of him, watching as the defense kept the Fortune to a three and out.
Before they retook the field, he looked up at the jumbotron once more as Sutton was shown, chatting with Amy next to her. She pointed to the screen, and Sutton looked up with a wave.
Reese looked into her eyes and felt something creeping in, the way it had during their kiss.
He had mostly done it for the cameras, but deep down, he did it for himself, too.
That hit had knocked the wind out of him, and he was worried about himself. But when he saw Sutton’s concern for him, he had immediately wanted to alleviate it and let her know he was all right.
Shit, you do like her.
He tried to tamp down the panic that rose up, the realization that the fake dating he signed up for was quickly deteriorating into real feelings.
“Vaughn!” He looked onto the field at Eli, who waved at him to join them.
He pushed the thoughts of Sutton away and ran onto the field, turning his attention back to the game.
Sutton jumped as the two-minute warning rang out, indicating that the game was almost over.
Since Reese’s touchdown, the Kings had gotten another touchdown, holding the Fortune to two field goals in the third and fourth quarters.
The Fortune currently had the ball, and with the score 39 to 23, she knew anything could still happen.
She’d noticed that the Kings benched the starters in favor of the secondary, and the secondary was playing their hearts out and giving the crowd a great show.
Boos rang out as the Fortune’s quarterback broke out of the pocket and shot the ball downfield, finding a receiver and the end zone.
“Think they’ll go for two?” Amy asked, looking over at her.
“They probably will,” Sutton replied. “If they make it, they’ll have to go for an onside kick to get the ball back. Then it’ll be a mad scramble for a touchdown and a two-point conversion to tie it up and send it into overtime.”
Amy sighed, clasping her hands together in front of her.
“It’ll be okay,” Sutton said, putting her hand over hers.
Carter had taken a huge hit on the touchdown play and had gone into the medical tent, but he appeared a few minutes later, and Uncle Magnus had given them the wave that he was okay.
“I know,” Amy replied. “I’m just worried about Carter. I want him to be able to play in the big game. He’ll never forgive himself if he doesn’t get to.”
“Amy,” Sutton said, drawing her cousin’s gaze to her, “he will play. He has two weeks to rest and get himself well.”
She pointed to the field, the Fortune’s Special Teams taking the field.
“Here we go,” she said, the crowd standing in anticipation.
The Fortune set up for the two-point conversion, as Sutton thought they would, the ball snapping into play. The Fortune’s quarterback scrambled as the Kings broke the pocket, the quarterback using his legs to zip past the defense and dive into the end zone for the two points.
Sutton clapped, able to appreciate a good run when she saw one.
“Now comes the fun part,” Sutton said, nudging Amy with her elbow.
“Don’t even,” Amy said. “I’m already nervous enough. They got the two points, so they need that touchdown with the two points to tie it. It’s looking pretty good right now.”
The Special Teams came back onto the field and got into formation, setting up the ball for the kick.
The announcer called the onside kick attempt, and the Fortune’s kicker sent the ball to the side, and it rolled six yards past the Fortune players into the hands of a waiting Kings player but he didn’t get a secure hold on it before it slipped out.
“He touched it!” Sutton called, watching as players fought for the ball, piling on top of one another.
“Can you see anything?” she asked Amy, who shook her head.
“We’ll have to wait for the officials to figure it out,” Amy said as she crossed her arms.
It took them about three minutes to untangle the mess of the pile, but after all was said and done, Las Vegas came up with the ball.
“You ready?” Sutton asked. Amy rolled her eyes at her, but Sutton knew Amy was as excited as she was.
Sutton loved the crazy games that ended with weird things happening. And being here at the stadium, among the energy of the crowd, gave her a high she couldn’t get anywhere else.
They spotted the ball at the thirty-one-yard line, and the Fortune’s offense took the field and got into formation; the Kings starting defense was back on the field.
“They brought the starters back out,” Sutton said, pointing to the field.
“I saw that. Dad must be worried,” Amy replied, crossing her arms.
“I don’t blame him. In less than two minutes, they’ve turned the tide.”
They watched as the ball snapped into the quarterback’s hands, the clock ticking down as he looked for someone to throw it to.
The quarterback launched the ball down the field to an open receiver… and directly into the hands of Andre Green; Nicole’s shriek of excitement as he rushed down the field reached Sutton’s ears.
Andre was tackled at the forty-two-yard line, and the crowd went wild. Kings players rushed the field to tackle him and pile on.
With the interception, the game was officially over, the announcers proclaiming the Kings the winners. An explosion of noise filled the stadium as blue, silver, and gold confetti rained down on them as the celebrations began.
“Let’s go down to the field,” Amy said, as the entire group gathered their things to go down to celebrate.
It took a few minutes to get them down there, but as they arrived and spread out to find their guys, Sutton felt awkward about being down there.
I feel like an imposter.
“Sutton, come on!” Amy exclaimed, grabbing her hand. “Reese is with Carter, Kyle Conley, and Eric Danes.”
She tugged her through the throng of people until they reached the guys, other ladies already with them. Amy did a quick round of introductions as Sutton joined them. As she said hello, Reese stepped up next to her and slipped his arm around her.
“Hey,” he said, drawing her gaze to him.
“Hi,” she replied, butterflies in her stomach.
She was glad to see him okay since the hit he took earlier was hard to watch. Her heart was in her throat until he got up off the grass and walked over to her.
That kiss, though.
She fought the flush that threatened to creep up. She knew it was for the cameras, since they were on them, but that didn’t mean she didn’t like it.
“Are you okay?” he asked, picking off a piece of confetti that fell onto her cheek.
“I am now,” she said, quoting him.
He grinned and leaned over to kiss her, this one soft and gentle. Releasing her, he said, “I’m glad. Come on.”
He took her hand and pulled her over to a small stage, where a few famous faces were chatting it up.
Ignoring them, he showed her the championship trophy.
“Isn’t it amazing?” he asked, the joy on his face making her heart threaten to burst out of her chest.
“It is,” she replied.
Elliot walked over to them. “How about a picture with the trophy?” she asked.
He looked at her. “How about it?”
“Are you sure?” She leaned over to whisper. “I don’t want this memory ruined for you.”
He smiled. “No matter what happens between us, tonight is one to celebrate. So, let’s celebrate.”
She returned his smile. “Okay.”
“All right, Elliot,” Reese said, turning back to her. “We’re ready.”
“Okay. Everyone say champions!”