Page 13 of Mr. Irrelevant
“Mhmm. We’re behind this big window, watching a bunch of guys roll around on the grass to prove that they’re better and stronger than the others. It’s like a regular zoo, but with boys.”
“You’re not right in the head,” I mumble, focusing my attention on the screen as our offense lines up. I can tell it’s a passing play before the snap is even made, and I cross my fingers as Maddox rolls back and waits for an open receiver. Emmett is in double coverage, which we kind of expected with the way he’s been playing, but Jett shakes his defender, continuing his route about twenty yards downfield. As soon as Maddox sees him, he fires a bullet pass, hitting his target with perfect precision right before the safety makes the tackle.
I jump off the couch, cheering loudly with my arms above my head as the referee confirms the completion. I remain standing, waiting with bated breath for the guysto take their spots at the new line of scrimmage. The first play is a run, which gains about four yards. The second is an incomplete pass, batted down by a lineman almost immediately after leaving Maddox’s hand. At first, I worry that it may throw him off and rattle his confidence, but his posture doesn’t give anything away as he calls for the next snap. It’s another passing play, but this time, none of the receivers are able to make a move to get away.
“Go, Mad Dog,” I mumble as the space in front of him spreads apart, leaving a wide-open lane. Without hesitation, he tucks the ball into his elbow, the muscles in his forearm flexing tightly around it as he takes off. My hands shoot over my mouth, and I don’t even blink as he runs ten, twenty, thirty yards—somehow managing to break tackles from the defense the entire way. And when he crosses the plane into the end zone for his first-ever professional touchdown, I gonuts. An obnoxious shriek leaves my lips, and I jump up and down like a maniac, screaming as if he can hear me, even though we’re on opposite sides of the country. The camera pans in on his face, and he gives a relieved, knowing smile that I can’t help but wish is meant just for me. The world fades away for a split second, leaving only the two of us, until the Renegades’ offense rushes him to celebrate. I laugh as Boomer encourages Maddox to spike the ball, which, of course, he does before they head toward the sideline with a renewed sense of confidence and determination.
“Mad Dog, huh?” Syd quips from behind me, causing me to spin around with my eyes as wide assaucers. I immediately know I’m busted by the maniacal grin plastered across her face, and my brain attempts to come up with a story that explains why I just used a nickname for Maddox that indicates some level of familiarity. I haven’t told anyone that I know him beyond just stats on a piece of paper, let alone the fact that I’ve spent every night with him for the past few weeks. It’s been a tough secret to keep, especially from my sister, who I know I can trust. She may be an absolute wild child, but she’s as loyal as it gets when it comes to her family.
I plop down, chewing on the inside of my cheek nervously. I don’t know why I’m hesitating. She knows how much football means to me and that I’ll do whatever I can to build the Renegades into a winning franchise. I have no doubt that she wouldn’t justunderstandmy reasoning for coaching him behind everyone’s back, but she’dencourage it.“I’ve been working with him,” I say with a cringe.
She sits forward, and I know by the look on her face that I’m about to get hit with about fifty questions. “What do you mean,working with him?”
“I noticed a few things during his first game—things I knew I could help him improve on. I was the reason Dad brought him to Cleveland in the first place, and I couldn’t stand by and do nothing when I saw him struggling. So, I followed him out of the stadium that evening and asked him to meet me at the practice facility. We’ve been doing it every weeknight since, and obviously”—I gesture to the TV—“it’s giving him some extra confidence on the field.”
Her head tilts in confusion as her brows pull tight. “You’re telling me Dad gave you access to the practice facility and is allowing you to go over the coaching staff’s heads to make his quarterback better? Was he body-snatched?”
I grimace. “He doesn’t know. Nobody does…except you, now.”
She gasps, her jaw practically touching the floor. “Oh my God, you little rebel,” she says, clearly shocked by my admission. “Daddy’s perfect angel is sneaking around in the middle of the night and committing actualcrimeswith the hottest player on the team. I’ve been waiting for this moment my entire life—welcome to the dark side, Liv.”
Throwing myself back into the plush cushions, I roll my eyes. “Don’t make me regret telling you about this. And don’t comment on his hotness level, either.” I groan, dropping my face into my open palms. “I already know.”
“Wowwwww,” she replies, drawing out the word. “This isn’t just about football. You like him.” I peek through my fingers, letting my hands fall into my lap when I see that her expression has softened. Just as I do, the camera focuses on Maddox as he walks along the sideline, hyping up his teammates. Pride swells in my chest for a moment becausethisis what made me push to draft him in the first place. He’s a phenomenal leader, and the entire city is better with him in it.
“I don’t know,” I whine, making her chuckle under her breath. “We haven’t known each other that long, but there’s something about him that draws me in. Ipromised myself I’d never date another football player, so even if he wasn’t a Renegade, it wouldn’t matter. But I can’t stop myself from wishing everything about the situation was different.” A slow sigh pushes past my lips. I should feel better now that I’ve said the words out loud, but I don’t. If anything, I’m more confused as I realize how much I’ve complicated things. What started as wanting to win games has morphed into me being attracted to someone that I can’t even explore the possibility of a relationship with. It sucks.
Sydney leans back, mirroring my relaxed posture. “I understand why him being on Dad’s team muddies things, but please don’t let that shitbag Deacon stop you from going for someone simply because they have the same job as him. As much as the media says otherwise, plenty of professional athletes have healthy, faithful relationships. Just because you managed to find the worst one on the planet doesn’t mean the next won’t be your Prince Charming.”
“No,” I argue, shaking my head. “Obviously, Deacon was a top-notch douchebag, but I know not all guys are like him. It’s not just that, though. The Renegades will be mine someday, and I’m always going to have to work harder to prove myself because I’m a woman. Mixing business and pleasure, our team or not, won’t make that any easier. There are plenty of fish in the sea. I just have to pick one that doesn’t get hit for a living.”
“Okay,” she relents. “But what if you just…have some fun with the fish?” I turn my head, shooting a glare her way. Her hands raise in surrender. “I’m just saying. You don’t have to marry the guy. But we both know the only thing between your legs these days is a thick layer of cobwebs because you refuse to let yourself have any fun. You had the perfect opportunity to leave the club with Hoodie Hottie the other night, and you totally chickened out. You need to get laid.”
Shit. I forgot about that. She saw me dancing with Maddox before he took off, but I obviously didn’t tell her who he was. It was way too dark for her to recognize him, and with the way my head was spinning, I just needed time to sort things out on my own. I still haven’t, obviously.
“Ummm. That was him.” She sucks in another shocked gasp, and I pull my feet up, curling into a tight ball before pressing my forehead to my knees with a frustrated whine. I’m expecting her to squeal or make some other noise only dogs can hear, but when she doesn’t, I look over to find her completely speechless as she stares back at me.
“You have to fuck him,” she finally says.
My sister, everybody.
I choke on a laugh. “You’re a pain in my ass. Thanks for your unwavering support, Syd.”
I turn back toward the television, watching as Maddox throws a screen pass to our running back, Wesley Rhodes, at the fifteen-yard line. Jett throws a monster block, clearing a wide-open lane all the way to the end zone. All the stress and frustration I was feeling moments ago vanishes into thin air as I jump to my feet, screaming like a crazy person again, becauseholy shit.We look like a real football team—one that’s being ledby a calm, confident quarterback. In just a few weeks, he’s gone from unsure and hesitant to someone who makes solid decisions under pressure. I’ll give his offensive line some credit…they’ve been working hard to protect him. But that doesn’t change the growth he’s had in such a short amount of time.
The rest of the game flies by, and when the clock runs out with a score of twenty-one to six, I beam with pride. They fucking did it.Hedid it. Not only did Maddox score his first professional rushing touchdown, but his first passing touchdown and victory, as well. He took a couple of hard hits during the fourth quarter, one of which landed him in the blue medical tent for a couple of plays, but thankfully, the trainers deemed him okay and sent him back to finish the job. I’m glad because he deserved to be out there with his team. He’s been working so hard, taking all my criticism in stride and putting my instruction to work. I feel like I can finally breathe now that it’s beginning to pay off.
Things may be complicated with us off the field, but on it—we’re making magic.
THIRTEEN
MADDOX
LIVVY:
I’m about five minutes away. Will you open the gate for me?
ME:
