Page 17 of Second Down Scrooge

“I’m so proud of you,” I say, my voice low.

His eyes flick to my lips. “I can get you a couple of tickets if you’d like to come.”

“I’d love to.”

He drops his head a few inches, and my heart thunders as his lips move to mine.

God, after all this time, he still affects me. Deeply. Wildly.

His lips brush across mine, and it’s just the softest breeze of a kiss, but it’s still a kiss.

He pulls back, letting me out of his embrace even though it’s not really what I want, and he turns to open the door.

“Good job, Graham,” I say, and I’m not sure if I’m talking about getting the chance to start, doing it the right way, or that kiss.

He turns back toward me, and he grins. “Back at you, Kaplan.” He winks, and then he walks out the door.

I close it behind me, and I lean on it like I did not so long ago when I arrived home. Instead of doing it to compose myself after a not-so-great date, though, I do it to compose myself after that heated little exchange.

Chapter 9: Austin Graham

Put Me to Work

Two and a Half Weeks Until Christmas

We win on Sunday, and I fully believe it’s because Kelly is in the crowd watching with her Graham forty-one jersey on.

I fully believe that’s why I have the drive of competition in me. I’m fired up, and I score on the third play of the game only to glance up and see her screaming like crazy in the crowd. She catches me looking and waves at me, and I wave back to let her know I’m thinking of her even in the moments when I’m scoring a touchdown for my team.

How the fuck did that happen?

Better yet…whendid that happen? I’ve always played for myself, but maybe that’s because I never had anyone else to play for.

And maybe I do now.

Kelly found a babysitter and brought Ava to the game, and every time I looked up from the field into the stands, I saw the two of them laughing and having a great time.

Having her in my stadium, wearing my jersey, makes me feel a little less lonely.

It feels a little less like rock bottom today…like maybe she’s here today for more than just supporting the father of her child. She’s here because she wants to be.

At least…that’s what I’m hoping.

When Tuesday rolls around, I head to Kelly’s place to pick up Mia. It’s Kelly’s day off from the bakery, and when she answers the door, she looks…flustered.

“You okay?” I ask, reaching over to remove a piece of ribbon from her hair.

“Yeah, I’m fine. Good. I just…” She sighs. “Come on in.”

I follow her into the family room, and she has a six-foot folding table set up with all sorts of crafting supplies on it. I spot Mia on the floor unspooling a roll of red and silver ribbon, and I walk over and grab it from her.

I respool it as I ask, “What’s all this?”

“Mrs. Howard—the woman who set me up on that awful date last Friday—she told me she’d pay fifty bucks for one of the wreaths I made for the cookie shop. At the game on Sunday, Ava encouraged me to sell them at the shop, so I thought I’d use today for my side project and bust out a bunch of wreaths. Only…I can’t really get anything done with this sweet little doodlebug here.”

I chuckle as I watch that sweet little doodlebug lift herself to standing using the chair Kelly presumably was sitting on before she answered the door. Mia proceeds to run her hand along the top of the table, knocking all the decorations Kelly had organized on the top into disarray.

Kelly huffs out a sigh, and I swoop in and pick up Mia. Her shirt rides up a little, and I lift her into the air and blow raspberries on her stomach. She dissolves into giggles, and I tuck her into one arm like a football as I bend down to pick up all the things she just tossed on the floor.

---