Page 29 of The Air I Breathe

I glance over. His facial features are lit by the green dashboard lights of the SUV. "The nervousness, the butterflies and excitement?"

"Yeah, all of that.” Blake smiles. “I might as well be a teenager on my first date, taking the girl I've had a crush on since freshman year home."

"Anybody ever tell you that you could write songs, Blake Whitfield?"

"No." He shakes his head. "I'll leave all of that up to you."

"You have a poetic soul, even if you want to think you don't. There's a lot of romanticism inside you, and it's been fun to watch that come out. You don't have to be a songwriter to tap into that part of yourself. Some people just have it, and I think you do." I put a hand on his shoulder and squeeze.

It's different for me to be in the front seat of an SUV as I'm riding around Nashville. Unless I'm with my mom or Avery, it's something that doesn't happen with any kind of regularity. This is a type of freedom I haven't had in years, and because it's with him, it's that much sweeter.

"What are you excited about the most since you're home for a while?" he asks as he checks his blind spot and switches lanes.

"Believe it or not, I really want to go to one of your games. Do you think that can happen? I don't want to put you into a bad situation with your teammates. If it's going to be a problem, please tell me. I would love to come see you play live though." I wince as I finish asking the question, nervous about what he's going to say—both afraid of a no and a yes.

He looks over at me, a bright smile across his face. "If you want to come, then I want you to be there. We will make it happen, and I would love to look up and see you in my family suite. It's been a long time since I had a significant other up there. Would that be okay with you? You have to know that you'd cause a lot of attention. I don't mind if you don't."

"I would love to be there. I'm sure the crowd and atmosphere is beyond electric. I've been a fan of football for a long time, but it's been years since I've been to a game." I smile back at him.

"Then you'll come. Do you want to go to the next home game? It's in two weeks. All I ask is that you allow me to talk to the team first so that they know what's coming to them. I'd venture to say you're the most popular person in the world, Willa. Whatever comes with us will come to them."

I like this idea. "Yes, please do that. I want them to know I'm not here to make their lives harder—I want to be with you and support you. I've never fully been allowed to do that with someone I've been in a relationship with. I know this is going to look like a lot of work for the stadium, but please let them know I'll bring my own security. I'll handle as much as I can." It's important for me to let him know I'm not planning on letting them foot the bill for this. It's my decision and I'm prepared to take the financial responsibility for it.

"Okay." He reaches over, grabbing my hand with his. "I'll talk to them, and I'll let you know what they say. If they all have issues and fears, we'll put the brakes on making this public in that way."

I exhale slowly. "Sounds good. Definitely let me know."

"I will, and I know that we can handle anything—as long as we handle it together.”

Chapter Twenty-Four

Blake

I've been in a lot of high-stress situations and none have ever been as nerve-wracking as this one. I've asked Coach if I can talk to the team after we have our Monday meeting. Everyone should be in a good mood because we’ve won our away game, so I'm hoping to approach this with nothing but the best of expectations.

"Before we leave today, Blake wants to talk to you all," Coach says as he turns from the middle of the room.

I don't stand up because this isn't the type of team meeting where I need to show my authority as one of the elder group members. Instead, I sit in front of my teammates hands clasped in between my knees. "Here's the deal. I know there's been some talk, some rumors, and I'm here to tell you they're true. Willa and I have been dating. It's getting more serious than either of us expected." I rub my hand along the back of my neck. "She wants to come to a game, and I want her to come to one, but we need you all to be okay with it before we attempt it. We don't want to be a distraction, but we all know how big of a star she is. It's going to be distracting."

Jamal, one of our newest players, raises his hand. "But do we get to meet her? Because I would do a lot to meet to her and the least of which is to just do my damn job."

The entire room erupts in laughter, and it's what we all needed to take some of the pressure off—to let me breathe a little easier, and for things not to be so highly tense. "I imagine she'd be willing to have a private meet-and-greet with everyone, since coming here would cause a bit of a ruckus. Plus she's a fan of football. But more than anything, we wanted to make sure it wouldn't distract our team. Us winning another championship title is the goal this season, and I don't want what's going on in my personal life to deter that."

"I think I speak for everyone." Russell says from where he's sitting, "when I say we see how much calmer you are, how you've been able to handle the stress of the last couple of games easier than you ever have. I'm more than sure that's because of her. If she's what makes you happy, then we want to be the people who are providing you with a safe space for you to bring her. But yeah..." He gives me a grin. "We all wanna meet her if we can."

The heaviness that had been in my stomach when I'd thought about asking them and explaining the situation is gone. Instead of anxiety, I'm feeling good about all of this, and I know if our relationship goes any further the guys on my team will have my back. Whatever she and I face, they'll be right there with us.

"Then she'll be coming to the game," I say.

Everyone stands, cheering as I make the announcement. It's the most excited I've seen them since we won the championship last year.

Coach grins, coming over and putting his hands on my shoulders, shaking them. "This is exciting, and I'm fuckin' happy for you. Know this is going to be difficult, but we're all gonna be here for you."

It’s good to know I'm going to have them in my back pocket if I ever need them.

A few hours later, Willa and I are lying in my living room. She's started spending more time here—I think because it's not downtown, and it's a lot quieter than the city. We're wrapped up in each other, and although she's been asleep, she's waking up now.

"Sorry I keep dozing off on you. I must be much tireder than I thought I was."

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