Page 77 of Second Down Fake

His spine stiffened, my pleasant headrest suddenly firm and uncomfortable. Had Diego Salazar just invited me home to meet his mom?

He raked a hand through his inky black hair. “I know it’s not exciting or glamorous. I usually stay at her house, but I can get a hotel, if you don’t want to?—”

I squeezed his arm, stopping his ramble. “It sounds like fun.”

“Fun?”

“Yeah. Who doesn’t want to vacation in beautiful Mississippi?”

“Um…anyone in their right mind? She doesn’t even live near the casinos.”

“Casinos are overrated. I’m terrible at blackjack. Ask Lena.”

“You really want to go?”

“I can’t wait,” I said earnestly. “Give me the dates, and I’ll clear my schedule. One question though.”

“Anything.”

My chest tightened. “Does your mom know…?”

I didn’t mind lying to the public about dating Diego, but the idea of lying to his mom made me nauseous.

“About us not really dating? Yeah. I told her at the beginning of the season. She saw the week one game. I think she just wants to meet you and knew we were hanging out a lot.” He laughed. “Paul even tried to buy us plane tickets.”

“That’s sweet.”

“What’s sweet is that I turned him down and got us first-class tickets instead. Going to Mississippi is bad enough, but going in coach?”

“You know I never flew first class before you, right? I picked whatever was the cheapest. And you’re offering me a vacation to a place I’ve never been before. We could drive to Mississippi in the back of a pickup and I’d be thrilled.”

“So, that’s a yes?” I nodded and he wrapped an arm around my shoulders, pulling me close so his warmth invaded my body. “You’re going to regret it because my mom lives in the middle of nowhere and it’s really boring, but I’m glad you’re coming.”

How could I say no?

* * *

The stands shook as the Breakers rolled over their opponents, extending a four-touchdown lead to a five-touchdown lead with minutes left on the clock.

The Jumbotron cameras stayed out of my face, and I waffled between relieved and disappointed. Realistically, the attention needed to shift away from our relationship. Over the course of six weeks, I’d gone from an occasional face on the Jumbotron to a target for journalists and photographers interested in the human interest aspect of our relationship.

After the games, the camera lens shifted in my direction, waiting for Diego to stop by the stands. More and more every week. Not an ideal situation when the end date of our contract loomed in the not-so-distant future.

“You okay?” Lena asked with a frown. Her soft brown eyes studied my face, a faint frown on her forehead.

“She needs a drink,” Cici insisted, picking up the empty aluminum cans from the floor.

“I’m fine,” I insisted, keeping my eyes glued on the game. “Just watching football.”

“Or distracted about meeting Diego’s mom during bye week?” Cici balanced the cans in one hand and gave me a soft punch with the other. “You’re locking him down, aren’t you? I don’t think any of his girlfriends have met his mom before.”

“How’d you find that out?” I asked, more shocked than upset.

I turned to Lena.

She shrugged. “Not me. Noa’s taking me to Iceland. I haven’t even asked about anyone else’s plans.”

“Oh, it’s big news on the Breakers’ discussion boards. Not sure who broke it, probably Breaking the Breakers. She gets all the juicy gossip.”

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