Thirty.
A body flies into my path, but I jerk to a stop, spin around him and keep going.
Twenty.
Ten.
End zone.
Game.
My teammates hoist me into the air, and I’m riding the best high, the kind that makes me think anything is possible. Like winning a championship and being drafted and making a name for myself in the NFL are all within reach.
The moment my feet touch the ground, my thoughts turn to Poppy and sweet, beautiful Gabby.
And I wish they were here in the stands.
31
GABBY
Like a kid scaredto get caught with her hand in the cookie jar, I check to make sure Sienna’s in her room before I switch the TV back to ESPN. My roommate will make a bigger deal of this than it is if she catches me watching the recap again.
But my God, that was a freaking amazing game.
I nearly gnawed off all my nails this afternoon. Sienna and I cheered our little hearts out. We even dressed Poppy in Bronco colors.
We sent Rider a photo of Poppy touching the TV when they did a close-up of him. I held her right up to the screen while Sienna snapped pics.
I pull up his response on my phone, happier than I should be that he texted shortly after his win.
Rider: Glad my girl could watch! I think she’s my lucky charm. ;)
I’m ashamed to say, for a hot second I thought he was callingmehis girl and callingmehis lucky charm. I was ridiculously pleased.
And then I remembered, no, dummy, he meant hisactuallittle girl.
I’ll admit it. I’ve finally gone to the dark side, but how can I take care of Rider’s baby and not cheer for the man?
Rider’s absurdly handsome face fills the screen. He’s wearing a fiercely serious expression, glaring like a Roman soldier going off to war. All he needs is a sword and shield. It’s no wonder women lose their minds at his games. They come decked out in bikini tops, even in cold weather, and hold up obnoxious signs about riding him.
When I think about all of his options—this guy truly could have any girl on campus—I wonder if I’m making more of what’s between us than there is. If I’m setting myself up to crash and burn.
Just like freshman year.
Am I totally misreading him?
I munch on thechurrosI made before the game while I debate if I’m being foolish.
“I knew it!” Sienna pops out of the hallway like a ninja, and I scream and leap halfway off the couch like a Halloween cat.
“What the hell?” With my hand on my chest, I try to calm my racing heart. Thank God I finished swallowing that last bite or I would have choked.
She shushes me, because the baby is asleep in my bedroom, but holy shit, this girl just shaved off an entire year of my life.
“I knew you were watching replays of Rider’s game!” She howls with laughter.
“And this indiscretion demanded that you terrify me? Really?”
