Page 20 of Unexpected Pass

“Thank you! Appreciate it.”

The segment ended, and I quickly removed my mic and returned to Phileigh without another word. I needed to be in her space.

“Hey. Guess the clock didn’t strike midnight,” I said softly. The noise from the crowd faded into the background when she smiled.

“I guess not,” she replied with a smile breaking across her face. “Ready to eat?”

“Kellon, we need to get you on the float!” my mama shouted, interrupting us.

Shit, I had forgotten about the parade.

“I forgot I gotta do this parade first,” I said. “Eat after?”

I reached out my hand to help her up.

“Okay,” she replied, taking my hand.

Her softness had my fucking heart jumping. I never wanted her to lose that softness. We walked through the crowd to where the brightly colored float was waiting.

“Watch your step, beautiful,” I told her as I helped her aboard the float.

“Thank you. I’ve never been on a float or a part of a parade before.” Her mouth was open as she took in the scenery.

“I’m glad I could be your first.”

I walked her to the back of the float where a bench sat against a wall. I wanted to have her front and center with me, but the media would have a field day with that, and I wanted to get a chance to know her before they ran her off.

“You good here?” I asked.

“Great!”

I glanced at her one last time, ensuring she was comfortable before I took my place at the front. Cheers erupted from the sea of fans lining the streets as the float began to move. Their excitement was infectious. I glanced down. The reality of my accomplishments hit me. I was a Super Bowl MVP.

I was living my dream—my brother’s dream. I should have been floating on Cloud Nine, but I couldn’t shake the guilt of being happy and the emptiness in my heart. My gaze driftedback to Phileigh. My mom now occupied her seat. I panicked, looking around frantically for her.

“You okay?”

Her soft voice calmed me. She was right beside me. Her hand wrapped around mine without hesitation. It was crazy how she could sense something was wrong. My mother couldn’t even do that.

“A little overwhelmed,” I admitted, surprising myself again.

I wanted to tell her I couldn’t stop the guilt from creeping in about how it felt wrong to be happy without my brother. I wanted to tell her he’d still be here if it weren’t for me, but that was too much information to spill to a stranger.

“I get you being overwhelmed. This is a lot, but you should try to enjoy it. You earned it,” she said, squeezing my hand reassuringly. I didn’t know if she realized how much I needed to hear those words.

“Thank you.” I squeezed her hand back.

“Just an introvert looking out for another.” She smirked, and that urge to keep her close grew more potent. I hoped she was ready because I was never letting her out of my presence.

“This day has beenbeautiful and eventful, and I am tired,” I said, glancing up at Kellon as we approached my hotel room.

Exhaustion washed over me, and with every step, my feet cussed me out for the amount of walking I had done. I thought we would only spend a few hours at the park, but we stayed the entire day, ducking and dodging crowds and signing autographs. At one point, we’d even broken out in a run.

“I’m glad you had fun,” Kellon replied with a warm smile on his face. “But the day is not over yet.” He tapped his phone on the door, and it swung open. “We gotta eat dinner.”

My breath immediately caught in my throat, and my hand flew to my mouth as the room came into view. This was not the way I’d left it this morning. Rose petals littered the floor.Balloons dangled from the ceilings, and candles flickered on every empty surface. It was beautiful, romantic even.

“After you.” He waved me inside and slowly entered. The smell of food hit my nose.

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