Page 55 of Hot Route
We take the field as lights flash and music blares through the place, but I’m only focused on finding her. When our eyes lock, all my nerves fade away. It’s just us for a moment, speaking to each other without saying a single word. I never thought I’d have this with anyone. Seven or eight months ago, if you had told me I would find the girl I planned to marry this season, I’d have told you to fuck off. I never saw her coming. My life changed the day Madison Rodgers landed on my doorstep. I still don’t know if I’ll ever deserve her, but I know I’ll spend the rest of my life trying to be everything she needs.
“I love you,”She mouths. I kiss my fingers before bringing my palm down to my heart. It’s my sign to her. She hasn’t been able to make it to every game after starting work, so I wanted to come up with something to let her know that she was with me, even when she wasn’t. I made it my new move after every touchdown. I knew that was the only time I could bank on thecameras being on me, so I made sure to score in every game so I could tell her I loved her on national television. The viewers may not have understood my message, but Mads did.
We win the coin toss and defer, sending our defense out on the field first. They force a three-and-out, so I buckle my helmet and follow Tanner and the rest of the offense to the line. The first pass comes my way, but the lineman gets a hand on it, making it drop short before I can make the grab. On second down, Dalton busts through for forty yards, getting tackled right as he makes it to the sideline.
Scoring on the opening drive is a rare occurrence, but it sets the tone for the whole game. I want it. I want to know what it feels like to score on the biggest stage of the season. That hunger motivates me as I line up for the play.
Tanner sees the blitz coming, so he changes the play to an out-slant combo, which will get the ball out of his hands faster, avoiding the sack. This isn’t supposed to gain us a lot of yardage. I just have to get my hands on the ball and get out of bounds so we can come up with a new strategy for the next play.
The ball is snapped, and I run my route, going about five yards before cutting toward the sideline. Tanner fires the pass and I make the catch, realizing that the defenders pulled off me, assuming I was headed out of bounds. I manage to keep my feet in as I turn, running as fast as I can up the open lane. The crowd is going wild, but I swear I can hear my girl screaming over all of them as I cross the plane into the end zone.
Holy fucking shit. I just scored a touchdown on the opening drive in the Super Bowl with the love of my life watching from fifty yards away.
MADS
There are less than three minutes left in the fourth quarter and the Blizzard are beating the Dallas Sharpshooters by seven points. All we have to do is stop them from converting here, then they’ll be forced to punt. Then it’s up to Blaze and the offense to get one first down before they can take their victory formation.
I hold my breath as the defense goes to work, causing a loss of yardage on first down. On the next play, the running back finds a hole for a six-yard gain.Fuck.We have to hold them here or they’ll have an opportunity to score.
The ball is snapped and our edge rusher, Maverick Moran, slips through a hole in the offensive line. He hits their quarterback at just the right angle, causing him to fumble. The stadium collectively gasps as players from both teams pile up on top of each other, arms reaching for the ball. It’s too hard to see who is at the bottom, so I wait with bated breath as the referees pull players up one by one. As soon as our guys start jumping and pointing in the direction of the opposing team’s end zone, I know we got it.
The refs confirm my assumption and the crowd goes nuts. All we have to do is get one first down, then we can kneel to run out the clock.
The first two downs don’t go well. They try sending Dalton up the middle, not wanting to chance an interception with a pass play. They'd have no choice but to punt if this next play doesn't result in a ten-yard gain. Ramirez is good, but this is out of his target field goal range. Blaze lines up and looks back at Tanner, nodding. It’s then that I realize something fishy is going on. Instead of leading with his inside foot, he puts the other oneforward. I bring my hands over my mouth as he backs up, lining up parallel to Tanner, who is in the shotgun formation.
No fucking way.
I hold my breath as the ball is snapped and Tanner tosses a lateral to Blaze. The defense was expecting the pass, but by the time they realize it won’t be coming from Tanner’s hands, it’s too late. Blaze fires the ball downfield to Dalton, who tucks it under his arm and runs at lightning speed into the end zone.
Even with time left on the clock, Dallas can’t come up with two touchdowns. The Blizzard won the Super Bowl!
Ice blue and white confetti rains down on the field as players and their families rush out to celebrate. A security guard, no doubt bribed by my boyfriend, hoists me over the guardrail and I take off in his direction. I don’t even slow down before launching myself into his open arms, wrapping my legs around his waist.
“You did it!” I say, covering his face in kisses. “I’m so proud of you!”
“Wedid it, Baby Doll,” he says, grinning from ear to ear before setting me down and running back to his team. I’m confused for a moment, but then I realize why he took off so quickly.
I watch from afar as the Lombardi trophy makes its way through the crowd, stopping along the way for the players to kiss. It’s tradition. My heart feels like it could burst as the Jumbotron zooms in on Blaze as he presses his lips to the precious piece of metal.
This season has been full of ups and downs for both of us. But we made it through. Blaze is officially a Super Bowl champion, and I’m working my way toward my dream of being a sideline reporter. Finding love was never part of my plan when I moved out to Boston, but it was inevitable. Fate brought me to Blaze that day. And I can’t wait to see what the future has in store for us.
EPILOGUE
MADS
One Year Later
I smoothmy light blue sweater before taking my microphone back and turning it on. The Blizzard just won their second Super Bowl in as many years, and while I wish I could be running onto the field to Blaze like I did last year, I’m working.
During the last week of preseason, Jacob called me into his office and offered me a new position as Tailgate Media’s official sideline reporter for the Boston Blizzard. After about one second of mulling it over, I happily accepted his offer.
Right now, I’m waiting for them to announce the Most Valuable Player. I know whose name I’m hoping they say, but Blaze and Tanner both had outstanding performances, so it could go either way.
The announcer’s voice comes through the speakers and I hold my breath, waiting for the decision. “And this year’s Super Bowl MVP with ten catches for one-hundred and eighty-one yards and two touchdowns…Blaze Beckham!”
The crowd goes wild as I jump up and down like a maniac, not caring in the slightest that I look unprofessional as hell.Tears of pride fill my eyes as the Commissioner hands Blaze his trophy. He worked so hard this season. After being out with a high ankle sprain for six weeks during the middle of the regular season, he somehow came back stronger and faster. Although he wasn’t able to break any records this year, he made his mark. Especially today, scoring the only two Blizzard touchdowns.
I wait patiently on the sidelines as the team takes the podium, waiting for their turn to make a speech. It seems like hours have gone by before the field has cleared a bit and I see Blaze making his way toward me. My instinct is to jump on him and press my lips to his, but then I remember that I’m about to be on live television, so I settle for a hug. I’ll congratulate him properly back at the hotel.
