Page 94 of The Forever Play

My chest fills with something glorious. I have no idea what this feeling is, but I could get high on that shit.

She’s proud of me.

And she was kind enough not to mention my humiliating fuckup just before she left.

Fuck, I love her.

Closing my eyes, I pull in a breath and quickly call her back.

“Hey!” Her bright greeting amplifies that fantastic buzz in my chest, and I grin.

“Hey, beautiful. Thanks for your text.”

“You’re welcome. I’m glad I got to use your number for something so positive. How are you feeling?”

“Yeah, pretty good. I’m stoked with the win, especially after my epic fuckup at the beginning.”

Why are you bringing that up, you douche?

I wince and scratch the back of my sweaty head.

She laughs. “It was just one mistake. The way the commentators were talking, you played like an American all-star. Seriously, they couldn’t say enough good things about you in that last quarter.”

Thank fuck for that.

“Yeah, I just took a minute to get my head in the game, I guess.”

“I hope I wasn’t a distraction.”

Yes, you totally were!

But I’m not about to tell her that. I’m desperate for this to work, so I just need to figure out a way of dividing my focus when she’s around. I have to be able to tune her out… just like I did after she left.

I can do it.

Iwillfucking do it.

Because I can’t go screwing up my NFL chances now that she’s back in my life.

Dad always said Sienna cost me my best shot with Brighton College, and like fuck I’m going to let him prove me right on this.

Sienna and I can be together, and I can still play the best football I ever have.

This will work.

I’ll make it work.

“…and then I was practically screaming at the TV. It’s lucky I didn’t wake Zoey.” Sienna laughs, and I only just register that she’s talking to me.

I press my finger into my ear, trying to hear her better as the guys in the locker room talk and laugh behind me. They’re in celebration mode, and it’s getting a touch wild.

“I missed some of that, sorry.”

“No, that’s okay. I can hear the noise in the background. I should let you go.”

“Can I come over later?”

“Uh…”

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