The Trade (Gridiron Legacy #1)

Chapter 1

CHAPTER

ONE

TWO YEARS, FIVE MONTHS AGO

Liam

Why am I standing on a rooftop in the middle of winter, freezing my balls off? I did not sign up for this. I thought coming to some posh wedding meant we would at least be, you know, comfortable. I’d take the heat and humidity of New Orleans over this.

I came up to New York City for one of my college teammate’s weddings. Brandon had been my roommate when I transferred to Michigan after I left Walker. He and his new wife live in New York since he plays for the Titans, so they got married at some fancy hotel in Midtown during a bye week.

Coming up here also gave me a good excuse to escape a little drama of my own. Last week, I’d broken it off with someone I had been seeing because I needed to stay focused on football right now. Too bad for Sabine, she’d thought our relationship was more serious than it was ever going to be.

Her texts have been coming in more frequently over the last few days, including two today, so, yeah, I’ll probably have to change my number when I get back from New York. I have a feeling Sabine won’t leave me alone otherwise.

Trying to warm myself up, I take a hefty gulp of my Macallan 18.

Sure, there are heating lamps placed strategically around the rooftop with a glass wraparound to cut the wind, but it’s still fucking cold.

It was only supposed to be a short cocktail hour up here, and then we’d go to the main dining room for dinner, but I’ve been standing in this same spot, under one of the heaters, for close to an hour.

If I had been better prepared and maybe worn a thicker coat, I wouldn’t be acting like a pussy about the whole thing.

Glancing around, I take in the all-white wedding theme. Even we, the guests, were asked to wear white. It almost feels like we’re in a white-out blizzard … inside a snow globe … that you can’t get out of because it also started snowing about ten minutes ago.

Fuck, I’m trapped in this snow-globe world and starting to feel claustrophobic now.

A few of my old college teammates from Michigan are hanging around, but almost everyone brought a date, except me. They’ve tried to include me, and I can carry on a conversation with the best of them, but I’m just not feeling it tonight. I’ll probably duck out after we eat.

They’re great guys, but I miss my guys from Walker. We’re on our own paths now, too, but we try to see each other now and then. Especially Archie Griffith. He’s my best friend and the one I talk to the most.

My friends are either in the league now, too, or will be soon. And they’re all falling in love. Not only are they falling in love, but they’re getting married and—in Archie’s case—having babies.

I pull out my phone because, now, I really miss them. Damn, I’m feeling sappy. I take a quick selfie and send it off to Archie, Beck, and Casey.

Liam: Wishing you guys were in NYC with me this weekend.

Beck: Aren’t you at a wedding?

Liam: Well, yeah, but it’s kinda boring.

Casey: Dude, I can’t travel right now. We had a game today. You know this.

Archie: Sorry, buddy. I have a game tomorrow, and Emma is studying this weekend, so I’m on baby duty. Heading down to the ranch for a bit so Em can have a quiet house.

Liam: You guys suck. You should have come with me.

Casey: You love us.

Liam: Unfortunately. Assholes.

Archie: Have a good time. Maybe get laid or something. One of the bridesmaids?

Beck: Text us later. Charlie just got here and says hi.

Liam: Tell Little King I said hey.

Beck: Soon-to-be Linson.

Casey: Still a King right now.

Liam: Fine. I’ll send you pictures of all the fun things I’m doing in New York. Without y’all.

Archie: Fun things to do ... you mean pussy, right?

Liam: Any girl I meet in New York tonight will strictly be a hookup.

Archie: Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do. HA! Text me later, Pitzy.

I laugh, then drop my phone into my pocket.

When I look up, I see the bundled-up bride standing next to a woman with long, dark brown hair in an ankle-length, bright red coat.

I’m guessing she didn’t get the all-white memo.

Then I see my buddy Aaron Muldoon walk up to her.

He places a hand on the small of her back, and when she turns her head to look up at him, I almost drop my whisky glass.

I’ve seen some beautiful women in my life, but she is unbelievably stunning, and I can’t even see her whole face yet.

But then they turn and walk away from the bride, and I get to see her head-on.

She’s got hair that looks like silk, with piercing blue eyes, a perfectly symmetrical nose, and her lips …

fuck me. They’re full and painted in bright red lipstick that matches her coat.

They’re walking toward me now, and he leans down to say something to her that makes her laugh. I’m done for. By the time they reach me, I’ve managed to pick my jaw up off the floor and compose myself enough that I don’t look like an idiot.

“Sup, man? How’s it going? Good to see you.” Aaron reaches his hand out and pulls me in for a bro hug.

“Muldoon, good to see you. How’s New York treating you?” I ask him, but glance her way.

“Good, good. The season’s been—” Aaron stops talking when he looks behind me. “Oh shit, I gotta go say hi to someone. I’ll be right back.” Aaron looks at the woman as he walks away.

“Okay then. No problem. I’ll just stand here by myself, freezing, but cool, cool.” She tucks a piece of her hair behind her ear.

“Right?” I chuckle. “Whose idea was this? I mean, it does look incredible, but these heating lamps aren’t doing a whole lot to cut the chill.”

She straightens her arms and holds her hands out. “Picture this…New York City, it’s snowing, love and magic are in the air, but I feel like I’m standing in a cryo chamber.”

“Ha! Pretty close to the truth there. You ever been in one?” I tilt my head toward her.

She nods, smirking. “Oh, yeah. I’m a fan, but this is, like, really kinda crazy.”

“It really is. I was just thinking about leaving after dinner. My hotel room is calling my name. I’ll need a good thaw out after this. Until then, a stiff drink helps.” I lift my glass to my lips and take another pull of my whisky.

“Whatever you have in that, I might need some to warm up.” She tips her head toward my glass.

“Do you want some of this while I go get you a drink?” I hand it out to her.

“Hmm … risky, taking a drink from a stranger. But you look like a trustworthy guy, and Aaron seems to know you, so why not?” She takes my offered glass and sips. “Nice. Macallan. Eighteen?”

My mouth drops open, and then I shut it so I can form words. “You know your whisky?”

“Mmm. I do. My father is a big fan. I also love a good brandy.” She hands it back to me. “So, are you here on the bride or groom’s side? Guessing the groom since you know Aaron?”

“Groom. I know Brandon from Michigan. Think I was more of a courtesy invite than anything else. We were roommates, but not incredibly close.”

She laughs a warm sound that blends with the music. “I came as Aaron’s plus-one. His girlfriend missed her flight, so I said I’d keep him company. That said, he’s more interested in working the room and catching up with people.”

I smile. “Yeah, he’s always been a social guy. Always the life of the party. Even when it’s freezing.”

She grabs my drink from my hand and lifts it slightly. “The whisky helps.” She takes a sip, and I take it back from her, lifting it in my own cheers. “To questionable decisions and good whisky.”

She laughs again, and there’s a devilish twinkle in her eyes. I’m mesmerized by them until lights begin to brighten behind her in various shades of red, blue, and purple. I move to the side to see where they’re coming from.

“It’s the lights at Saks,” she states, and I arch a brow.

She further explains, “The holiday lights show at Saks Fifth Avenue. The sparkling wonderland of lights and music that graces the building’s facade every ten minutes.

” There’s a pause in her voice when she realizes I have no idea what she’s talking about. “I forgot you’re not from here.”

I grin. “Midwestern boy. Kansas born and raised. How did you guess?”

“I hear the hint of twang. Have you ever been to New York City in December?” She rubs her gloved hands together.

I shake my head. “I have not. And unfortunately, I’m only here for the weekend and spending the better part of it in my own snowglobe of New York City instead of exploring it.”

“Too bad because a guy like you could get into a lot of trouble in this city.”

I’m just about to say something when a woman wearing a headset starts to speak.

“Excuse me, everyone. Can I have your attention, please? Thank you so much for your patience tonight. There was a minor water issue that we’re working to resolve.

We should be able to go in shortly. In the meantime, we’ll be bringing more appetizers out for you to enjoy.

And don’t forget to grab a drink at the bar.

” She waves her hand, then spins around and walks over to the bride and groom.

I glance over at this angel in red, and she meets my gaze.

“I have an idea,” she says, grinning.

“Oh, yeah? What’s your idea?” I move in a little closer to her.

“How invested are you in staying here?”

I mean, is this a trick question? “Uhh, not very.”

“I … ” She starts to say something, then stops.

“I … ” I prompt her.

She laughs. “I was going to say, do you want to get out of here? Let me show you what a Manhattan Christmas is like.”

Fuck. Yes. “Absolutely. But I don’t even know your name.”

She tilts her head to the side. “Let’s go with … Vixen. And you can be … Blitzen.”

“What? Why?” I chuckle.

“Because it’s fun and the holidays are magical.” She holds out her hand to me. “What do ya say, Blitzen? You wanna go make some Christmas magic with me?”

I place my hand in her small one. “Lead the way, Vixen.”