Page 98 of Dirty Filthy Boy
"He can do that?"
"Yep."
Twenty-five yards, twenty. If he gets hit, that's the end of the game.
Someone's coming for Ty. A guy who looks like he weighs 400 lbs. He's going to hit him. But at the last second an Outlaws player barrels into him. The big guy goes down and Ty crosses over the goal line.
"We won! Oh, God, we won!"
Pandemonium erupts in the owner's box as everyone dances or high fives or hugs somebody. In the midst of it all, Oliver grabs Marigold and plants a kiss on her sizzling enough to burn the ends of my hair.
Everybody in the owner's box is so busy high-fiving each other and celebrating, they miss the big smooch, except for me.
"Oliver." Marigold pushes him back.
"Sorry. Forgot."
Forgot what?
Turning her back on Oliver, Marigold turns to me and hugs me. "Ty did it."
Yeah, he sure did. "Well, I'm sure the rest of the team had something to do with it."
Oliver hugs me tight. "Thank you."
I have no idea what he's thanking me for. "You're welcome."
He rakes a hand through his hair. "I have to get down to the field." Oliver exclaims, his eyes dancing like a kid's on Christmas Day.
"Yeah, you do." He's got to be there to accept the Lombardi trophy.
Mar and I stay in the owner's box, with our arms around each other and watch the joy play out on the field. I search for Ty, but I can't see him. He's lost in the maelstrom of confetti and balloons raining down from the dome's ceiling. The waiter walks around with trays of champagne glasses. Both Mar and I grab flutes and clink. We've been through a lot during the last several months, but somehow our friendship has withstood the test of good times and bad.
"Who knew four months ago we'd be standing here today drinking champagne and celebrating a Super Bowl win?"
I laugh. "Not me. That's for sure."
"So, about you and Ty?"
Another laugh escapes me. "You never give up, do you?"
"What else are friends for?"
"I have no idea, Mar. And that's the truth. All I know is I want to be with Ty. I'm ready to take a chance on him."
"Look at the tv." She gestures to the big screen in the corner of the room.
A stand has been erected in the middle of the field for the owner to receive the Lombardi trophy which is winding its way through the throng of players in the hands of a Hall of Famer. Oliver must have made it down there in record time, for he's standing there next to an officious looking man and Coach Gronowski. Ty's in the background, not quite taking center stage.
After the trophy finally makes its way to the stand, the Commissioner of Football makes a short speech and hands Oliver the trophy. Both he and Coach Gronowski thank the players and the fans.
And then Ty's called up front. He's been named the game's Most Valuable Player. As well he should. He does his bit thanking the fans, Coach Gronowski, and Oliver for keeping faith with him, even when he got hurt.
"And a particular thanks goes to MacKenna Perkins, for believing in me." He does the fist to his heart thing and gestures to the owner's box.
Even though I know there's a camera pointed in my direction, I can't help the tears from flowing down my cheeks.
With the celebration winding down, we make our way out of the box to the elevator and fight the crowds to the exclusive parking lot for the VIP guests. They'll celebrate in the locker room, shower and dress to get ready to celebrate some more at the party Oliver organized for them. But it will be a couple of hours before they get there which gives me enough time to change into the sexy dress Ty picked out for me. The one I found in my room when I arrived.
