Page 96 of False Start

“I can’t believe you held out on me,” I muttered, shaking my head in mock rebuke.

“Held out on you?” Kit gasped. “I was protecting you.Us, actually.”

“Protecting us from victory?”

“Protecting your reputation from taking a hit.” She shook her head as she sipped her drink. “And judging by how fast you turned your phone off, I’d say that maybe I should have left us in second place.”

Kit posted the video and within the hour, it caught the attention of gossip sites, fan sites, and had even been viewed by a couple of my teammates.

ROB

I thought you were staying out of trouble.

NOA

Looks like you’re having a fun off-season, Vogt!

DIEGO

Great video! Thanks for keeping the heat off me for another week! See you soon!

The string of unanswered calls from my agent and the offensive coordinator guilted me into turning the phone off completely. I’d deal with that mess in the morning, once the afterglow of victory wore off.

“Nope, winning is in our blood. This was our destiny.” I took a sip of my bottle, readjusting so I lay flush against Kit’s side.

She lolled her head onto my shoulder. “Maybe your blood. I’m going to really enjoy going back to being a nobody.”

“You’re not a nobody, Kitten.”

“You’re probably right.” Kit sighed. “Breaking the Breakers wants to do an interview with me, so I’m definitely not a nobody. I was thinking I could do a video call once we’re checked in at the hotel.”

“You’re joking.” I tilted my head toward Kit. The last rays of sunlight shone behind her head, giving her an angelic glow.

“I guess you’ll find out when Poppy publishes my exclusive interview: How I Got Trent Vogt’s Pants Off.” She wrinkled her nose. “Actually, that may not be completely exclusive.”

I grinned. “There have been a few before you. Never videotaped, though, so you’re the only one with physical proof.”

“I’m glad I’ve got that going for me.” Kit lifted her head from the hood of the car, a backfiring engine catching her attention. When the car turned onto a side street, she lay back down.

“You really want to sell the Cougar?” I asked. “You don’t have to. I’ll pay to have it towed back to Virginia.”

Our final push in the Cougar shattered what was left of the transmission. The car died in the parking spot and refused to start up again without belching smoke and grinding metal.

And, surprisingly, someone still wanted it.

Kit hummed, her arm flush with mine, sending pin pricks of electricity through my body. “Yeah, this feels right.”

“You promise?”

“Promise. When I signed up, I just wanted to finish, but we won and it was…” Her voice hitched, her eyes glassy. “A real adventure. Unforgettable. And I really think my dad would have approved. It was the perfect send off.”

“Would you say it was a spiritual journey that has left you changed as a human being?” I raised an eyebrow.

“I’d say it’s been surprisingly cathartic,”she said, her eyes misting before she staunched tears with her wine. “Besides, the new owner seems really excited to fix her up.”

I brushed my hand over the worn green paint on the hood. “Thanks for letting me tag along.”

“You were the best non-hospitalized partner I could ask for.”

---