Kelsey nods and turns to me. “Thanks for the invite. I don’t usually like football, but I definitely had a great time watching you swoon over your boyfriend.”
My cheeks heat and I roll my eyes. “He’s not my boyfriend, and I was not swooning.”
Kelsey nudges my shoulder. “Whatever you’ve got to tell yourself. You’re still planning to be at my family’s gala next weekend, right? I’ll see you there?”
I nod. A few years back, Kelsey asked me to go to her family’s annual gala to raise money for the impoverished and homeless, and I’ve made sure to have it on my calendar every year since. This year I donated a few tickets and backstage passes to my upcoming shows to be auctioned off. “I’m looking forward to it.”
“You’re the best, Jersey.” Kelsey gives me a hug.
“Thanks for having us over! Have fun with that quarterback of yours. He’s one hell of a catch.” Bethany waves at me by the door. I stand up and walk over with them to see them out. As they head down the hallway from my condo, I realize I have a love-hate relationship with the two most important women in my life. I love them to death, and I hate that they know me so damn well.
Once everything is cleaned up, I go in search of my phone, finding a message from Hayes waiting for me.
Hayes
What did you think? Thanks for that selfie, btw. You’re stunning.
I flush and do a little happy dance to myself.
Wonder what Cal would think ofthatchoreography.
Jersey
That was amazing. You were meant to be a quarterback. You make it look so easy!
Hayes
Thank you. Nothing but a whole lot of work behind the scenes and an incredible team helping me pull it all off.
Jersey
It’s so impressive how you can read the players on the field and find exactly the right place to throw the ball. Even when you got tackled, you made it look like it was nothing. Did it hurt?
Hayes
Well… it didn’t feel great. I’ll leave it at that. Comes with the territory. But that’s why there are a lot of rules in place to protect the quarterback. Even still, we take heavy hits sometimes.
Jersey
Have you ever been hurt before?
Hayes
Yeah, plenty of times. It’s not a football game if I’m not walking away without some aches or injuries. I have a full recovery schedule lined up throughout the week. Massages, chiropractors, ice-baths, red light therapy. You name it.
Jersey
What kind of injuries have you had?
Hayes
A lot of sprained ribs, a twisted ankle or two. Tweaked shoulder. All nuisances more than anything. Usually means I have to focus more on rehab and recovery that week. By offseason, my body is ready for some rest.
I nibble on my lower lip, not loving the way Hayes is describing the physical toll the game takes on his body. How does he do this every week? Touring is physical for me too, and my training is regimented so I can have enough strength to dance up on stage for hours at a time, but I’m not getting two-hundred pounds thrown full speed at me at any given moment. I can’t imagine what that feels like for him.
Jersey
I loved watching you play. I never wanted it to end, even when they kept running into you. Congratulations on the win. I knew you could do it.
