Page 101 of Playing Games

I fucking kiss her.

She tastes like everything I remembered. She tastes like love. She tastes like mine.

She kisses me right back, wrapping her hands around my neck as she melds her mouth with mine. But our kiss is cut a little short when the sounds of the crowd booming with applause and cheers and wolf whistles start to echo inside my ears.

I pull back, and when I see Lexi’s eyes move to the jumbotron to the right of us, I follow their lead and find out that we’re currently the center of attention.

“Oh my God,” Lexi mutters through a half giggle, half groan.

“Too much?” I ask, smiling at her. “I mean, you said you wanted to be out in the open, so…”

Her giggle turns into an outright laugh. “No, Blake. It’s not too much. But it’s certainly something I’m going to have to get used to, huh? Dating the star quarterback and all that.”

It’s my turn to laugh. But I cut off my own laughter by kissing her again.

But she only lets me do it for a few seconds before she pulls away with a big smile.

“I love you, Blake,” she says and climbs out of my arms and back to her feet. “But now, it’s time for you to get your head in the game.” She reaches up to pull my helmet the rest of the way down my head, and she grips the face mask with her petite hand. “And if you win, you can spend the night at my place.”

“And if I lose?”

“You won’t lose.”

“You’re right.” I wink. “I won’t.”

There’s not a chance in the world I’m walking away from this game with anything but a win andmyLexi on my arm.

Lexi

Friends and family stand outside the Dragons’ locker room, everyone vibrating with excitement from the game.

The Dragons won, just like I knew they would. And Blake is undoubtedly the MVP of the game, with twenty-four of twenty-five completed passes, four touchdowns, 360 passing yards, and zero interceptions.

He was a beast and, statistically, showcased a game that will have ESPN commentators recalling it for years to come.

And this game was most certainly on ESPN. I know this because I’ve received so many phone calls and texts from my family about the infamous kiss between Blake and me that I could hardly keep up.

I’m so happy for you, honey. And more than that, I’m proud of you, was the text from my mom.

Tell me I didn’t just see you kissing Blake Boden, was the message from my stepdad Wes.

Fucking gross, Lexi!came from my brother.

Quinn Bailey sent me anI told you so!Followed byProud of you, Lexi Lou.

But the most entertaining of them all was Ace’s dad Thatch, who sent me a video message that included him blubbering like a fool and telling me how he was all up in his feels over Blake’s and my love story.

I haven’t heard from my dad Nick, but that’s probably because he spends most of his time at the hospital instead of watching Saturday college football.

And I haven’t had time to go through the messages from my aunts and uncles, but I’m sure I’ll get an earful at the next Winslow family dinner.

But all of that can wait, because right now, there’s only one person I want to see, and he’s currently walking out of the locker room with a big smile on his face. Blake’s hair is wet from a fresh shower, and he’s sporting his favorite pair of jeans and a Dragons Football T-shirt. He looks big and strong and so damn handsome I simply let myself enjoy the view that ismyguy.

He doesn’t see me at first, but when he does, the widest smile appears on his lips, and he doesn’t waste any time pushing through the crowd to get to me.

And before I know it, I’m being lifted off my feet and into his arms.

“Good game,” I tell him, and he leans back to meet my eyes.

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