Page 34 of Scoring Truth
“Son, I’ve never been so proud of the man sitting in front of me. Your heart is everything. You lead with it, and it brings you to where you’re meant to be. Every time. Football and Penelope. They’re both meant for you.”
“I don’t think so. She won’t talk to me. I know Francesca has been trying too, but…” I trail off and shrug. “I’m afraid I’ve lost her.”
“I’ve never heard you use the wordafraid. But that just means your heart is front and center in this. Always go with what scares you the most because that’s the risk worth taking.”
“Even though we’re so different? Maybe I’m just too much for her world, Dad.”
“Nope. Simplicity and complexity need each other. It’s called balance. Look at these two fools.”
Mark and Jackson throw their arms around each other and grin. “We do make a cute couple. Your dad is just jealous, that’s all.”
Jackson pushes Mark away and says, “I told you I was proud to be your coach and to never, ever doubt your talent. I see what you’ve got inside.” He pats his heart. “And in here.” He taps the side of his temple. “You’ve got it all, Jameson. And everyone sees it.”
They all crowd around me, hugging me and pounding me on the back. Jackson is the last to let go, stepping back and holding me by the shoulders. “And since you’ve got it all, you owe me for the tickets I bought. You promised to buy me fifty-yard line seats behind the bench, but my credit card is the one screaming!”
Laughing, I nod. “Don’t worry. I got you. But there’s one more thing, though.”
“What’s that?”
“A grand gesture. I wouldn’t be the romantic I am without it!”
25
PENELOPE
It’s Super Bowl Sunday, and before today, that meant nothing to me. Before today, football, magazines, and Jameson Winters meant nothing to me.
But now? They mean everything.
But I’ve lost it all.
I know I’m being stubborn. I know Jameson did not mean what he said, even if it was early in our relationship. We moved so fast that there was no time to adjust—only time to fall in love.
I also know how the gossip mags twist every little word. After Francesca explained to me how things really went down, I agreed to meet with her. She promised it’d be private and just be two friends meeting for coffee.
Francesca told me Jameson’s life story. She didn’t leave out one detail, and I fell more in love withhim with each word she spoke. She talked about how he had a high school sweetheart he thought would stick by him for life, only to realize he had to let her go if he was going to chase his dreams. She explained how Dash had the chance to go pro but chose to forfeit it and stay home to raise Jameson instead. So, in turn, Jameson worked endlessly to make it to the NFL, all to make his dad proud and give him a piece of what he missed out on. Francesca also explained a bit of her and Jackson’s story. The attacks on Jackson's character hit Jameson on a personal level, pushing him to drive the team to win States and showcase Jackson's coaching abilities to the world. Everything he did, he did with others in mind.
The entire time, I questioned how a man like him could love a girl like me. Now I see it, and I’m a jerk for not believing him when he was honest with me from the start.
I only asked for the truth. And I got it right from the start. It wasmewho couldn’t believe it. And that’s not Jameson’s problem; it’s my problem. Didn’tI dowhat everyone did to me? Judge him by an outward look instead of what’s in his heart?
So now I’m at RedZone, where my girls dragged me to watch the love of my life slip further away.
The place is packed, but we’ve managed to score a table right by a television. “Why are you guys torturing me with this?”
“We’re not torturing you. This is where we would be, anyway. It’s not our fault you fucked it up with him.”
“I didn’t fuck it up! The magazine did!”
“So, if it isn’t his fault, and not your fault, why are you sitting here with us instead of watching from the field?”
I’m silent. “Because I’m stubborn and fucked it up.”
They raise an eyebrow in agreement but still commiserate with me.
The bar goes wild as the announcers name the players, and we see them run from the tunnel. It’s a special thing when the town you’re from has a team in the biggest game ever. I watch Jameson run out last, and my heart races.
I miss him.
