Page 26 of Red Zone

As the game wore on, I snapped photos and chatted with Aurora and Brielle, but my attention kept drifting back to Liam. Kylian was throwing rockets, completing short and long passes with precision. The crowd roared, but it all felt muted in my ears with my focus locked on Liam.

Liam dominated the field, every move precise and calculated, as if he were born for this. Watching him, I couldn’t ignore his magnetic pull. Everyone was watching him—including me. I raised my camera, trying to capture that determination in his eyes—the same determination that made my stomach knot. I alternated between my camera and phone, trying to catch a few live videos to post on social media. The rest would be edited and uploaded later. The game moved fast, and I adjusted the settings on my camera to focus on Liam mid-sprint. The light hit just right, illuminating his determined expression as he dodgeda tackle.Perfect.The caption formed in my head: “Unstoppable. Falcons Lead 21–14.”

“Liam’s on fire today.” Aurora nudged me as he made a spectacular catch, weaving through defenders like they weren’t even there.

The crowd chanted his name, and his stats flashed on the stadium’s giant video screen. I nodded, watching Ares bulldoze through two defensive players, clearing a path for Liam to sprint through the red zone. Touchdown. The stadium erupted, but I couldn’t shake the mixture of awe and worry tightening in my chest. Liam made it all look effortless, but I noticed the subtle tells—the way he shifted his weight at the line of scrimmage, his eyes flicking toward the scouts in the stands, even as he lined up for the next play.

“He looks stressed,” Aurora added, her voice quieter.

I swallowed hard, feeling the weight of it too. I couldn’t imagine him not catching the eye of every scout in the stadium. Liam wasn’t just good—he, Kylian, and Ares were unstoppable forces, creating magic on the field that rivaled top NFL players. I’d heard analysts on SportsCenter talk about him the same way. The only question was when his big break would come—not if.

As the crowd roared, I scrolled through photos of Lily on my phone before slipping it back in my pocket. How she’d giggled when Liam had read to her flashed in my mind unbidden.Would it be fair to let her get attached to someone who might not stay?

The camera lens followed Liam as he lined up for the next play. My hands shook slightly—not from the cold but from the memory of Liam with my daughter. Lily had adored him instantly, and the way he’d read her a bedtime story… It wasn’t fair. He wasn’t supposed to be that good, that kind. I forced myself to focus on the field. The ball snapped. Liam took off, and I took a picture, capturing him mid-stride, all power and precision.

Leroy’s tackle was bone crushing, the kind that left the crowd gasping. I winced, lowering my camera. Something about his speed seemed… unnatural. My mind flickered back to Jackson’s sudden power and skill.Was it just hard work, or was something else behind it?

My phone buzzed with notifications as I posted a slow-motion clip of Liam’s last touchdown. Within seconds, the comments had poured in—fans swooning over his athleticism, his smile as he ran off the field. I set down the phone, but not before sneaking another glance at him through my lens. He looked so alive out there. So untouchable.

The crowd erupted as the final whistle blew, but my chest felt heavy. I couldn’t shake the image of Liam’s smile—or the ghost of Jackson’s presence on the field. Victory felt hollow when so much remained unanswered.

After the game, as the crowd began to disperse, I lingered in the stands, snapping a few final shots of the field. Liam was at the center of it all, surrounded by teammates, coaches, and what looked like a few scouts. My emotions were a chaotic swirl—pride in his performance, anxiety about the drug rumors circulating after Jackson’s death, and the growing pull I felt toward Liam.

Our eyes met across the distance, and for a second, the noise around me faded. A jolt of connection shot through me, sharper than I’d expected. My chest tightened as I realized just how complicated things could get. My feelings for Liam were no longer just about me—they could impact his career. Since he’d read to Lily and tucked her in that night, something inside me had softened toward him.

He’d been right to tell me the truth all those years ago—football came first for him. It always had. I broke our gaze with a heavy heart, unsure of the future or if we even had one.

Aurora and Brielle waved goodbye as they passed, heading to wait for the guys outside the locker room. I packed up my camera gear, trying to distract myself from the nagging thoughts churning in my mind. Nearby, a group of cheerleaders gathered, watching the players with greedy eyes. I couldn’t help but overhear their whispered conversation.

“Liam was insane out there today,” one cheerleader said, her voice full of admiration. “He’s seriously NFL material.”

“Yeah, and he’s still single,” another added, giggling. “Think he’ll finally settle down? Or is he keeping his streak alive?”

Disgusted with their gossip, I pulled out my phone and scrolled through photos of Lily. I couldn’t let myself get wrapped up in Liam again. Even if I wanted to—and I could admit that much—I had to think about my daughter. She needed stability. I’d been terrified to tell Liam the truth for a reason. Especially after what had happened to my mom when my hotshot dad had decided he finally wanted me in his life.

I lingered a moment longer, watching Liam disappear into the locker room. The field felt empty without him. I didn’t know what scared me more—the idea of letting him in or the thought of what might happen if I didn’t.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

LIAM

The sidelines were chaos in the wake of our win against Indiana. We’d played the game for Jackson. I hoped our teammate would have been proud of us. But even with that energy, I couldn’t get my mind off something else. I hadn’t even felt the cold as wind tore through the empty field. There’d been a moment when I’d caught Skye’s gaze in the stands. Something was happening between us, and I didn’t want to fight it anymore. I wanted her.

She’d let her barriers down some since the night I drove her home. This was the time to capitalize on that response and worm my way back into her world, which I wanted to do despite the inevitable shutdown that came with a girl like Skye. I needed and wanted her more than she did me—even with that reality check, I couldn’t deny the pull I’d always felt for her. She was worth the risk to my carefully constructed rules of self-preservation.

And right now, she had no escape—not when she tutored me several times a week and showed up at practices and games because of her internship. All that gave me more chances to build on the connection that was so clearly present between us.

“Cartwright!” Coach Becket bellowed from down the sideline, standing next to Mark Thompson, one of Kansas City’s well-known NFL scouts and someone I very much wanted to impress. He was a former player for the Chiefs as well, one I respected a lot.

I broke away from Ares and Kylian, jogging along the sideline until I caught up with Coach as he and the Chiefs scout headed into the tunnel to the locker rooms.

“I want you to meet Mark Thompson,” Coach said. “We can use my office.”

I extended my hand and shook the scout’s offered one in a firm handshake. “It’s great to meet you, Mr. Thompson.”

“Mark is fine.” He grinned.

We chatted about mundane things until we arrived in Coach’s office. Coach took the chair behind his desk and waved for Thompson and me to use the two in front of it.

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