23
Someone to Play For
Anton
I’m not sure if this is the best football game of my career—you’d have to ask the stats guy—but it’s got to be pretty dang close. I’ve thrown for four touchdowns and run for another one. The crowd in the River Foxes stadium is electric. We’re completely crushing our opponent, the team from North Carolina, which is why, with eight minutes left in the fourth quarter and our offense on the field, I’m sitting on the bench.
I’m not complaining. I don’t need to pad my stats. They’re plenty cushioned. I also don’t need to get a stupid injury when the game is well in hand.
Also, the view of Rose is better from over here. She looks incredible. She’s trying to pay attention to the game, and she’s making a good effort—I’ll give her that—but her gaze keeps bouncing in my direction. Exactly where I like it. I’m flying high. Higher than I’ve been in a long time.
I wasn’t sure how she’d react to my gift, but all signs point to it being a good idea.
TJ saunters over to me and plops down on the bench. “Heckuva game, 4.”
“Back atcha.”
“It looks like Operation Beauty and the Beast is firing on all cylinders.” He looks pointedly in Rose’s direction.
“It would seem so.”
“Told ya the gift idea was a good one.”
I nod.
Rose is looking down at her tablet. Her head pops up, and I hold my breath, waiting for her to look my way. She’s been able to sense me staring at her all game, and it’s like we’ve got our own little form of communication going on. I’m loving it.
My back-up takes a knee to run out the clock, and, as I hoped, Rose snags my eye. I can tell that she’s trying—and failing—to fight a smile. I keep her in my periphery as I shake hands with the other team. She trails Ned, who pulls me to an open spot in the corner of the end zone.
“Can I…?” I motion back to Rose, but Ned gives me an apologetic look.
“Interview first here, then with her.”
I grit my teeth but nod. I glance at Rose, but she’s frowning down at her tablet.
Erin Thomas, the sideline reporter for KNOX NFL Sunday saddles up to me. “Anton, great game. Thanks for giving us some of your time.”
“Happy to.”
We make small talk for thirty seconds until her cameraman is in place, and she grins at him, nodding and obviously listening to the commentators from the booth in her ear. “Thanks, Jim.” She turns to me. “Anton, you were on fire today. You’ve looked good all season, but what went especially right for you out there this afternoon?”
“The guys and I continue to find our stride as the season goes on. We were firing on all cylinders today. It’s almost like we can read each other’s minds. That comes from putting in the reps. There’s stuff we’ll continue to work on, obviously, but I like what I’m seeing.”
“Your QB rating was nearly perfect. Did you do anything differently today to have such a standout performance?”
I re-fell in love.
I bite back that initial thought, though it’s the truth. Ned and Rose are standing off to the side of the camera. Rose is looking atme now. Her eyebrows are arched, like she’s waiting to hear my answer. I stare straight at her, and, like she knows exactly what I’m thinking, her cheeks flush a tantalizing pink. My chest puffs up becausemyattention did that to her.
She doesn’t break eye contact, and I love her a little more for that. She’s not about to back down from me, and it’s invigorating. There’s palpable tension between us, the good kind, like when someone tugs on the ends of a loose braid, drawing the strands together so they’re snug and perfectly entwined.
You know who I’d like to be snug and perfectly entwined with? I’ll give you three guesses and the first two don’t count.
I hold Rose’s gaze as I deliver my response, letting a sly grin spread across my face.
“I had someone here who I was trying to impress.”
Rose’s eyes widen and flicker with a hint of heat. I want to dive straight into the furnace, but then she shakes her head, smirking at me. She schools her features when Erin turns to try to follow my gaze off camera.
