She let out a breath and smiled huge as she ran to the sidelines. Trey fist-bumped her and grinned as he headed for the bench to take a much needed break. She’d done it, kicked her very first extra point as a Legend. Adrenalin spiking, she paced behind the bench as the defense took the field.
Both teams were playing tough defense and the score was Chicago twelve, Indianapolis ten with one minute seven seconds left on the clock when the Legends got possession on Chicago’s twenty yard line. They had less than two minutes to get in the end zone or get close enough for a field goal. The offense took the field and used their hurry-up offense to drive down the field.
Rocky warmed up, either way she was going to be kicking, whether it was for three points or one point. She watched as Corey threw a pass to Trey who was tackled on the goal line. She held her breath as she waited for the refs to determine if it was a touchdown. Butterflies took over her stomach when they spotted the ball on the one yard line. With two seconds left on the clock,it was up to her. Trotting out onto the field, she concentrated on the task before her – kick it through the uprights.
She knew as soon as she kicked it, it would go wide. Something just hadn’t been right. Maybe she’d stepped too short or too long. No matter the reason, they lost. She knew it wasn’t totally on her but it sure felt that way.
Head down, she walked toward the bench. Most of the players said things like, “We’ll get them next time.” Except for Butch. He stepped up next to her and snarled, “Thanks for the loss. I knew having you as a kicker was a mistake.”
She knew he was just pissed but the words hurt. Coach led them down the tunnel to the visitor’s locker room. Dejectedly, they filed into the room, leaving her out in the hall with the coach.
“Tough luck, Rocky. It happens. We’ll win the next one.”
She nodded and trudged down to the cheerleaders’ locker room. The chatter hit her in a wave when she opened the door. The other women stopped and then cheered.
“We’ve got a female player!”
“You’ll get it next time!”
“Don’t let the assholes get you down. The loss wasn’t just on you.”
She tried to smile but instead a tear ran down her cheek. Gah, she couldn’t let this get to her, she was a professional football player now. Time for her to act like it. She swiped at the tear angrily and declared, “Damn right, it wasn’t.”
They pulled her into their conversations as they headed for the showers, gossiping about which players were the best looking.
“Hi, I’m Tracy,” a tall brunette said as she sat next to Rocky to take off her shoes. “So, anyone special in your life? What do they think about you playing football?”
Rocky smiled as she reached into her bag for her shampoo and conditioner. “No boyfriend right now. My dad loves that I followed in his footsteps but my mom, she absolutely hates it. She’s always harping on me that I won’t catch a husband if I’m playing football with the guys.”
Trish, a cute redhead asked, “So, which player would you date if you could?”
Rocky laughed, “Like I’ve had time to look.” She grabbed her towel and headed toward the showers. “Trey Conners is good looking and he’s the sweetest. I don’t know why he hasn’t already been snatched up.”
“What about Butch Sutton? I saw you looking at him,” Trish said.
“Ugh! He’s a complete asshole. Sure, he’s good looking in that older somewhat scruffy guy way, but nope, not gonna happen in this lifetime.”
Tracy piped up, “No one else has caught your interest?”
“Nope, and it’s against the rules anyway. It would be grounds to break my contract and I won’t let that happen. I worked too hard to get here to jeopardize it over some guy.”
“Good for you,” Trish said as she grabbed her towel. “Here’s to you being the first of many women in football.”
The last of the cheerleaders left and the room was blissfully quiet as she finished putting on her makeup. Couldn’t go out looking like she’d just played in a football game or anything.Sigh.
She was zipping up her bag when someone pounded on the door. “Bus leaves in twenty.”
She would be glad to get home and crawl into bed, she was worn out.
Walling out the stadium doors to the bus she was bombarded by reporters.
“What happened on that last kick?”
“How did it feel to play in your first game as a Legend?”
“Is there someone special waiting for you at home?”
She stopped to talk to the reporter who’d asked how she felt. “It was glorious! I’m disappointed that we didn’t win but we’ll be practicing hard for our next game.”
