Page 33 of Falling for the Quarterback
I don’t respond, just move to the next play. “Mind the gaps! Blue-Twinkle-Fall-Jump.Set, hike!”
I step back into the pocket and notice Ninety-Nine coming straight for me. “Silver, Ninety-Nine!” I yell, and then a player is on him, blocking him at the last minute from gettingto me. Dawson is open, it’s not our play, we were supposed to be running, but I go with it and launch the ball. He runs for it, trying to pace the ball with his strides. It sinks down into his arms, and he grips it to his chest, running for the end zone.
“Touchdown!” The offensive line screams around me, and Dawson jumps a couple of times, doing his victory dance. A few others run to him, joining in.
“Good job, QB,” my quarterback coach compliments. “That was a fifty-seven-yard pass. Your completion rates today are eighteen for eighteen. Now, let’s just do it again at the game.”
I nod. Those completion stats are for after I’ve done my customary two-hundred-and-two automated tosses earlier. Time has taught me that practice and repetition are my greatest assets to honing my skill, and I take advantage of both every chance I get.
I’m leaving the practice field, freshly showered and in clean clothes, as a few of my teammates catch up to me in the parking lot. “We’re having an afterparty at my place after we play the opening game, you coming?” Forty-one asks, and I shrug.
“Maybe, I’ll let you know.”
Dawson grins, “Probably depends on if he has company or not.”
I roll my eyes, “Bro, it’s the first game of the season, my mom will probably be in town.”
“Oh, perfect reason to take the party to your house. Your mom is hot.”
“Dawson, talk about my mom like that again, and you won’t be catching anything from me except these hands.”
“Damn it, I take it back, QB. Momma Camdon isn’t hotter than thesun.”
Denzel snorts. He’s on special teams. “You’re lucky QB is so chill, I’d be stuffing you in my trunk for talking about my momma.”
Dawson laughs it off, turning his attention to me again. “Seriously, when do we get to meet this Author girlfriend of yours?”
The guys perk up. “Wait, she’s an author?” Denzel asks.
“So cool, Bro,” Forty-one comments. I don’t call him by his name yet; he’s a rookie and has to earn his field time before I start showing him he’s anything special. And he is, the kid can block like it’s his one purpose in life.
“Yeah, she’s written a bunch of books. She’s smart, beautiful…” I trail off, going a bit gooey inside, overthinking about how much I care about her. “Anyway, I’m pretty sure she’s the one, so you’ll meet her eventually. I hope she’ll come to the game, but I’m not pressuring her.”
I get to my truck before I realize I left the others behind. I glance back, finding them several feet away, mouths hanging open, and eyes wide. “What?”
“The one, liketheone?” Dawson calls, and I automatically nod.
“Yep, I love her,” I admit and climb into my truck. Then I pull a Kinsley move and give them the bird as I drive off. Nosey assholes.
I groan as I walk through the door to my house, and a delicious smell greets me. I wasn’t too hungry when I left, but now I’m suddenly starving. Jingle, Bells, and Dude bum rush me as soon as I enter the kitchen. “Hey guys!” I greet them all with a ton of pets, letting my gym bag fall to the floor.
When I raise my gaze, I find Kinsley by the sink in the kitchen, watching us with an amused smile. “It smells amazing in here; did you order food?”
She shakes her head as I leave the dogs behind and make my way into the kitchen. “Nope, I checked out your refrigerator.”
I wince, knowing there was nothing but my meal prep. “I’m sorry, I would’ve had it stocked if I knew we were going to be here.” I glance at the stove and take in the pots and pans. “You cooked? I’m sorry, seriously. I would’ve ordered something for us as soon as I got home.”
She offers me a soft smile, so unlike the fiery woman I’ve come to expect. “I wanted to. You’ve kept me out of the spotlight, you’ve protected me, cared for me, and treated my dogs as if they’re your own. Let me do one little thing for you to show you how much you mean to me.”
She’s in my arms in the next moment. “Of course I’m going to do those things, haven’t you figured me out by now?” I pause, hoping she won’t run away from me with my confession. “I’m in love with you.”
Her lower lip trembles, her teeth sinking into the plump flesh. “Y-you love me?”
I nod. “I can’t stop thinking about you, every waking moment I want to be with you, talk to you, touch you. I’m so far gone,so in love with you, I feel like I can’t breathe without you in my life.”
“I’m here,” she reassures. “I love you, too, JJ. I truly do, even if that scares me.”
I kiss her again, knowing I will never have my fill of this woman for as long as I live.
