Me:Lottie and I are going to have to share the #1 title. Tomorrow’s game, you’ll show me exactly why you’re worth it.
I hit Send, not sure if the text was too sweet, or dumb, or whatever, but I already knew Pearce was worth everything.
CHAPTER4
PEARCE
The leather connectedwith my hands. With a tight grip, I flexed my fingers, darted to my left, slipped past Giles, dribbled, and took a shot.
I swore someone hit slow motion on the remote. I didn't dare look at the timer, sure doing so would make the shot miss.
The buzzer sounded, right alongside the final call for the end of the game. Immediately, I grinned, relief mixing thick and fast with joy. Winning this game meant finally, for the first time since playing in the League, we'd be going to the playoffs.
I didn't have time to search the crowds before the bedlam began. Lucas and Smith were on my back, Jax had scooped me up in a hug, and then there were the press and Coach, and cheers and chants.
I went with it, knowing it was no use digging in my heels. Sure, I wanted to see if Eddie was still in the crowd, but with the three mics in my face and the manager's arm around my shoulders, giving me a tight squeeze before he left me to it, I forced myself to be present.
“Great game, Malcolm, and congratulations on earning your playoff spot.”
I grinned at Tony, the local sports reporter I’d hooked up with for a while. He was one of the few good journos I'd met. “Thanks, Tony. We played a hard, fast game.”
“Last time we spoke, sixty was your magic number. This game, you blew your points scored out of the water. Seventy-nine points. That's the third highest in the League, ever. How do you feel about those numbers?”
My heart galloped in my chest. Seventy-nine was incredible. Knowing that made holding back from searching for Eddie even more of a challenge. He'd get such a kick out of it.
“Well, Tony, you know there was so much riding on tonight's game. The Eagles have fought long and hard to get here. I had a great performance, right alongside my team. I wouldn't have been able to make those points without my boys. None of it would have been possible.” Tony's smile grew wider. He was a legit fan of the Eagles, and since I'd agreed to give him, a small-time local reporter, the only interview about me coming out five years earlier, his fan status had become more hard-core. Perhaps me liking him was more to do with how we'd hooked up a few times over the last couple of years, though we’d always managed to happily stay friends, neither seeking anything more.
Regardless of the bet my teammates had made.
“And the crowd tonight was intense. Every seat was filled, and a few interesting chants were going around containing your name.” There was a twinkle in his eyes as he spoke, and I dreaded to think what he was getting at.
“Was there anyone special in the crowd tonight, someone you played extra hard for?”
The asshole. Somehow I maintained my easygoing smile, though I hoped he could mind read, as I was going to nut punch him when it was safe to do so.
“All of our hard-core fans make it easy to give it our all for.”
“I saw a few former greats in the crowd tonight,” he continued mercilessly. The nut punch would only be the start of the level of pain I was going to throw at him. He was the only person who knew for a fact about my absolute infatuation with Eddie Phelps.
And apparently, Tony took great pleasure in torturing me.
“I expect some of those former greats have offered you so much inspiration over the years. Are there any in particular you want to give a shout-out to?”
And then Eddie was by my side, grinning and throwing his arm around my shoulders. I soaked in his touch and his happiness, allowing the pride evident on his face to wrap around me.
“Eddie Phelps, what are your thoughts on Malcolm's game?”
“Malcolm didn't hold back tonight, nor did the Eagles. They played like every team should. Seamlessly.” He squeezed my shoulder, and somehow I didn’t spring wood.
Movement next to Eddie dragged my attention to the left of him and down. A new smile formed, this one just for the little girl at his side. Complete with my numbered jersey and brown ringlets, Lottie was close to being my favorite person. It didn't matter that she was only ten.
I looked over at Tony and gave him a silent plea to wrap this up.
“I best leave you to it.”
Relieved, I grinned as he finished off his spiel before instructing his cameraman to switch off and head over to Lennon, then he gave me a quick handshake. “I'll call you soon. Celebrate hard, and don't do anything I wouldn't do.” He followed up with a cheesy wink, and I rolled my eyes at him before turning my attention to Lottie.
I scooted down onto one knee and opened my arms for her. She almost flattened me as she charged into my embrace.
