Page 17 of Game Changer

“I’m pretty sure I ate my weight in popcorn, but if you want to?—”

“Mommy, you gotta come, too. The girl bossesses are your friends. You gots to see your friends, like I gonna have new friends at pretty school after the ball drops.”

Pretty school, aka preschool, but why bother correcting something so damn adorable?

“Linds, you gots to.” Grinning, I bat my lashes and smile.

She rolls her eyes and smiles at Lily. “Okay, you two win, as usual.”

“All right, Daddy needs to go talk to the TV people.” I try to hand her off to Linds, but she koala bears my ass.

“I go,too!”

“Little flower, it’s only Knights?—”

“I’m a Knight, Daddy. Look.” She points to her shirt. “See?”

I glance at Lindsey, who shakes her head.

I squat down “This is a part of Daddy’s job that’s only for the players because the reporters ask tough questions.”

“I will save you,” she says, her little smile faltering, and it feels worse than a defensive end laying me out.

“If I need saving, I’ll shout for you, okay?” I hold out a pinky.

Frowning, she hooks hers around mine as best she can.

“Smile, little flower, we won today, and we’re celebrating after this.”

She nods. “Okay, Daddy.”

Fuuuckkk, I think as I set her on her little feet, stand, giving Lindsey a nod, and then walk away.

When I walk into the press room, my ass doesn’t even hit the chair before they’re pounding me with questions.

I drop into the chair, lean forward on my elbows, and nod to the reporters. “Let’s do this, yeah?” Then I lift my chin to Vega.

“Milo Vega with The End Zone Network,” she introduces herself, like they always do. “Beau, walk us through that final drive. How did you guys stay composed in such a tight game?”

I adjust the mic. “Trust.” My voice comes out steady. “Trust in our preparation, trust in each other. We knew they were gonna hit back, but we also knew we could take every punch and keep standing. Final drive? We did what we were built to do—we moved bodies, protected the QB, and made plays. That’s how you win.”

I nod to another.

“Devin Booker, Total Network Sports. Congratulations on the win.”

“Thanks, Booker.” I smile.

“First game back for Hudson Hart after the suspension. What was it like having him out there again?”

That question makes me grin. “In the words of … well, shit, probably shouldn’t mention a name or I’ll get canceled, too, but … it was about damn time.”

The room chuckles.

“We all knew the suspension was some bullshit, but he kept his head down, put in the work, and came out tonight with something to prove. And he did just that.” I glance at another eager reporter.

“Trey McAllister from Fast Break Sports. That touchdown catch of his in the second quarter … looked like you and him shared a moment after. What was that about?”

I lean back, shaking my head. “That was just me telling him, ‘Welcome back, man.’ He’d been stewing for a few weeks now, waiting for that moment. He wanted it bad. And when he got it? Hell, I think we all felt that.”

---