Page 79 of How to Prevent a Fumble

“You look so cute!” Heidi’s voice filters into the room, Zara’s following.

“Oh my God, that’s the cutest thing I’ve ever seen.”

Confused, I head to the door, poking my head out to find the two of them standing in front of Champ, who looks behind herself, her tongue out as she meets my eye, Leo’s jersey on.

And they were right. It could possibly be the cutest thing I’ve ever seen in my entire life.

My heart melting, I head back into my room to finish getting ready, and grabbing Elara, we head out the door.

There is nothing quite like football season, and there’s definitely nothing like the first home game of the season.

The energy in the stadium as their favorite players warm up on the field, the smell of hot dogs and beer filling the air, the sea of purple in the stands. Football season is special. A start of something new. New possibilities, new careers, new chances to become one of the greatest players to ever live.

The Warner suite is packed full of his friends and family, though I know his parents couldn’t make it. He told me the other day that he bought his mom a few highland cows, and his father told him that the consequence of doing it was that they couldn’t leave them alone or find someone to take care of them, so they wouldn’t be able to go to the first game.

He was sad, but he seemed more happy that his mom was having such a great time with her new animal friends.

The entire conversation happened over coffee in the morning, before I was completely awake, while he was getting ready to go train.

We got here early, and after talking to all Isla’s friends inthe suite, she takes my hand, leading me out the door, Elara in tow.

Heading down to the field, she takes out our passes, making sure we both have them on.

It’s a lot easier getting on the field than I thought, considering the only time I’ve been there was after the Super Bowl win, when it was incredibly difficult.

“They’re just going to be able to talk to us for a few seconds before warmups end,” she tells me quietly, taking the lead as we head out.

The section is roped off, and there’s a slew of fans with passes walking about. We smile at them, Elara tugging at my arm. I can tell she’s nervous. She’s never been the biggest fan of crowds.

“You ready?” Isla smiles at me as I watch Owen slap Leo in the chest before pointing over to us.

I was ready to talk to Leo. I was ready to get a photo with him, even.

What I wasn’t ready for was the megawatt smile he has the second he saw us. Or the way his eyes never once leave mine as the two jog over to us.

Owen regards me with a quick hello before pulling Isla into a giant hug, and I can practically see the wheels turning in Leo’s head as he figures out what he should do.

So I make the decision for him.

Reaching up, I put my arms around his neck, pulling him in for a hug. I feel him stiffen against me, shocked.

“You good? Never been hugged by a woman before, huh?” I whisper into his ear.

“Never in front of this many people, and certainly not by one that looks like you, Sweetheart,” he whispers back before planting a kiss on my cheek.

I pull back, my brows pulling together as I look at himsuspiciously. “Sweetheart?”

“I think it fits.”

And as much as I tell myself I hate it, the way my stomach twists proves otherwise.

Leo bends down, wrapping Elara in a hug. She doesn’t let go easily, and when I pull her back, she frowns up at me, clearly upset. “You’ll see him after the game, Bub,” I assure her.

She looks up at me, her eyes filled with wonder as she watches her uncle and Leo run back out onto the field, and when Isla leads me back off the field, I can’t help but feel the immense weight of guilt settle on my shoulders knowing my daughter is getting far more attached than I am.

I can deal with a broken heart. I’ve done it time and time again, each time I lost my ex-husband a little more. But her?

She doesn’t deserve that.

---