Page 62 of Red Zone

“Don’t let it go to your head,” he said with a wink, his tone warm. “We’re putting together a plan to meet soon. Keep your phone on, and we’ll reach out.”

“Yes, sir. I will,” I promised, my voice still shaking with disbelief as he gave me a nod and disappeared into the crowd.

Two scouts. Two teams. Two opportunities I’d only dared to dream about. I couldn’t wait to tell Skye. The buzz of the moment hadn’t faded when I felt a familiar gaze on me. My eyes found Skye near the social media tent, her camera slung around her neck, a knowing smile tugging at her lips. She was watching, waiting, and somehow, she already knew what had happened.

I crossed the field in a few long strides, skirting around Ares as he chatted with San Francisco’s scout, my grin breaking free. A wide smile tugged at Skye’s lips as I reached her.

“Not bad, Cartwright,” she teased, her voice warm.

“Not bad?” I repeated, stepping closer. “That was a playoff win. I think I deserve a little more credit than that.”

She rolled her eyes, but her smile widened. “Fine. You were great.”

After a beat of silence, she stepped closer, her hand brushing mine.

“You really were great,” Skye said quietly.

“I couldn’t have done it without you.” My voice was just as low. “You and Lily. You’re why I’m here, Skye. My motivation and why I’m doing all of this.”

Her breath hitched, and for a moment, I thought she might pull away. But then she surprised me, her fingers brushing against mine before curling around them.

“You were incredible,” she said softly, and for the first time, I believed every word.

I wanted to share everything with her, no more secrets, not more walls. Never again. “You’re not gonna believe the conversations I had with some scouts,” I said, breathless.

“Try me,” she teased, tilting her head.

I told her about the Baltimore and Kansas City scouts and the chance to make it to the NFL. Her reaction was immediate—her arms around my neck, pulling me into a tight hug.

“That’s amazing, Liam,” she said, her voice muffled against my shoulder. “I’m so proud of you.”

“We’re doing this together, Skye.” My voice held conviction. “The decision, the move, us being a family with Lily. I’m not going without you both by my side every step of the way.”

When she pulled back, her eyes shone, and the stadium’s noise faded for a moment. “I love you. And I want that too.”

Her words hit me deeper than I let on. I wasn’t just playing for me anymore. This win, this opportunity—it was for all of us. “I love you, Skye. I think I have from the moment we met all those years ago. I was just too stupid to realize it.”

Later that night, after the stadium lights dimmed and the crowd dispersed, ESPN broke the news. The TV in the locker room glowed as anchors detailed the fallout from Joe’s arrest:

“Two assistant coaches at Fall Lake University—Steve Mack and Mike Ramirez—are under investigation for their involvement in distributing an undetectable performance-enhancing drug developed by graduate student Joe Riken. The scandal has rocked the football program but left Head CoachThomas Becket untouched, with sources confirming he was unaware of the scheme and is aiding the police and university during the investigation. The university has fully cooperated with authorities, distancing itself from the accused and ensuring the team remains eligible for postseason play.”

The locker room went silent as players absorbed the report. Coach Becket had kept us shielded, working relentlessly to separate the guilty from the innocent. Despite the scandal, he’d made sure we could play clean—and win.

When the segment shifted to the victim—Kyle Jackson, the wide receiver whose death had sparked the investigation—a somber mood settled over the room. The scandal wasn’t just a betrayal of the team; it had cost someone their life.

My gut churned as the segment played. Coach Mack and Coach Ramirez had betrayed everything the team stood for. But Coach Becket had worked tirelessly to protect us, to make sure we could step onto that field with our heads held high—that was what saved him from the university benching him for the remainder of our season. It helped that the guilty parties were discovered—and Professor White and Megan Elwood had been cleared of any involvement. I glanced around the room, seeing the same anger and relief on my teammates’ faces. We’d earned this win, clean and fair, and no one could take that from us.

“Listen up.” Coach stepped into the center of the room. “What happened off the field doesn’t define this team. We play clean. We play fair. And we win because we’ve earned it.” His voice was firm, unshakable. “Now, go enjoy the win tonight. You’ve earned that too.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

LIAM

The crowd’s roar still rang in my ears as I stepped into the quiet corridor outside the locker room. My heart raced—not just from the game but from the scouts, the victory, and the weight of what it all meant.

Skye was waiting for me near the exit, her camera slung over her shoulder. She wasn’t smiling, but her eyes were soft, warm in a way that made the stadium noise fade into the background.

“Hey,” I said, my voice hoarse from shouting plays.

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