Page 140 of The Thing About My Rival

A round of appreciative, rather than joyful, applause emanates from our fans’ section of the stadium.

“But the proceedings aren’t quite over yet,” I tell anyone who’s sticking around to listen.

Heads turn to look at each other, accompanied by a mildooosound. And in the owners’ box there’s some shrugging as they presumably each establish that none of the others knows what the hell is going on, and probably wonder whether I’ve lost my mind and/or if I’m about to get us all into a lot of trouble.

“I just want to tell you all something.”

Some people in the crowd sit back down.

“After what happened at the end-of-season dinner lastyear, you all know that I’m crazy about our general manager.”

There are someawwws and a couple wolf whistles. And Wilcox’s face drops into her hands.

I know exactly what she’s thinking—Not again, please don’t do it again. Well, hold on to your sky blue and orange hat, sweetheart.

“Yesterday we picked up the keys to our first home together.” Moreawwws and a smattering of applause. “Took us a few months to agree on a house because, apparently, having a room big enough for a giant screen isn’t necessarily the only important quality in a home.”

Laughter, excellent.

Now Wilcox has her arms folded and is staring right at me. But Leo has unfolded his, seemingly accepting I’m not about to do anything too bad.

“We move in next week. And I could not be happier. Not only has this remarkable, smart, talented, and incredibly beautiful woman”—more wolf whistles—“transformed this club, she’s transformed me too.”

More of the crowd are sitting again, including the Oldies, who must think they’re in for a long one.

“If you thought this club was in trouble a couple years ago, you should have seenme. I promise you, I needed a lot more work.

“Everything else I have to say this evening is for her, but I want you all to hear it too. Because it’s important. It’s important that any of you who’s disappointed in yourself, who’s not the person you want to be, hears that it’s possible to turn that around. All you need is a Wilcox.”

I turn and look directly up at her. Her hands are on her hips.

On one side of her, the Oldies lean forward in theirseats, rapt. On the other side, Chase sits down and stretches his arms across the backs of both seats beside him. Leo shoves his hands into his pockets and stares down at me, Miller leans against the wall and takes a drink of his beer, and Prince Oliver grabs Wilcox from behind to give her a squeeze.

“You’re cringing, aren’t you? I know you are.” She gives me a nod emphatic enough for me to see from this distance. “But if I didn’t do it like this, I wouldn’t be the person you know I am, would I? I mean, you shack up with a cocky loudmouth, you know what you’re getting into, right?” I shrug at the crowd, prompting more whistles, laughter, and applause.

“Come on, Wilcox, get down here.” I make an exaggerated beckoning motion, but she shakes her head slowly from side to side. “Oh, come on. Don’t leave me hanging.”

Shit, is that her dad behind her? A man in a trench coat just appeared between Leo and Miller.

Fuck, it is.

Why didn’t I know he was coming today? Well, bollocks to it, I can’t stop now.

“Come on.” I point at the grass in front of me. “Please?”

The fans erupt in a chant of “Wil-cox,”clap clap clap. “Wil-cox,”clap clap clap. “Wil-cox,”clap clap clap.

Joyce gets to her feet and whispers something in Wilcox’s ear, then gives her a peck on the cheek.

Wilcox hugs her, then turns and disappears into the back of the box.

The crowd bursts into cheers.

“Hey, gang,” I tell them. “She might not be on her way down. She might be on her way home. To burn all my stuff. Or to just drive far, far, away.”

The laughter dies down and there’s silence.

And for the first time in my life, I don’t know how to fill it. It just hangs in the air. Between me and several thousand people.

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