Page 2 of Playing for Keeps
I paused and couldn’t help but wonder if the answers I had placed in my mind were honest and trustworthy. We had to win this game; I knew it. If we didn’t, the sour taste it would leave on the coach would trickle down to us, which could only mean more challenging times to come, and in turn, the game I loved more like a forced day at the office, so to speak. Nodding in confirmation, I looked back down at the phone as a call started to come in. Before I could answer it, she snatched the device from my hands and arched her brows. I knew that look.
With a chuckle, I nodded once more. “Yeah, he’s ready. We are ready. We’ll win.” I confirmed with confidence.
“Good.” She held back my phone; before I could react, with a swift movement, she made her way to the other side of the counter. “You want anything more for breakfast?”
“Nah, I really should get going.” Sliding my phone into my pocket, I moved around the counter to her, stopping just before her as she turned to face me, our gazes locked with one another.We stood in silence for a minute when I smiled and leaned in, kissing her softly on the forehead. “I’ll call before the game.”
I made a swift move to my bag, gripping the handles and then my sunglasses. As I stepped to the entrance, my exit was halted by her. “Will you be home after the game?”
I glanced back at her with a shrug. “Depends on if we win or lose,” I answered honestly.
“Well, considering you just guaranteed victory.” She added with a sarcastic tone.
I chuckled. “True. Guess I’ll be late then.” I smiled with a wink. “I’ll call ya.” I opened the door, stepping out, “Have fun with Sofia.” I yelled before it closed behind me.
I stepped out of the elevator and moved into the garage, instantly hearing the crowd just outside the gate. I was honored to have fans, flattered even, but I was also a bit unsettled, as I wished they didn’t know where I lived. Giving the garage attendant a grin and nod as I passed him, patting him on the back as he moved from the open door of my Porsche Taycan. I tossed my bag into the passenger seat and climbed in, pushing my sunglasses on.
“Good luck tonight, Mr. Walters.” With a grin, I thanked the young man.
I waited for the gate to open, and as I pulled out, I slowed down to avoid the fans who had pushed past the stationed security. I waved as I continued forward and turned from the building, heading toward the stadium.
CHAPTER 3
HANNAH
Onyx Stadium, that was the official name, though it read ‘Home of the Sandusky Jaguars’ on the side. Marty had been there many times, though I’ve done all I could to avoid the place. Still, now it was unavoidable. The only positive thing I could say was that at least we didn’t have to endure the lines and parking that regular fans had to contend with. I considered that a silver lining. As we pulled through the gate of the employees' garage, I showed my pass. Without issue, we were waved through and directed to a spot next to my father’s SUV.
As we started our walk through the garage, I couldn’t help but look over the railing that divided us from the public. The attendance was extreme. Frankly, I thought his other games were packed, but they were nothing compared to the crowds that lined the walkways, crossed the roads, and cars waited patiently for their turn to enter the garage. Marty walked up beside me, nudging me with a smile as though she knew my thoughts. It was hard not to be slightly impressed and proud of how far my father had risen. He had worked his entire life to get to this place, and though I still felt resentment over the things he missed in my life for this moment, I was still happy for him.
“Come on, I want to see this box,” Marty said with an excited tone. I rolled my eyes just before we started our way toward our private entrance.
It was strange to think that we were walking the same path the players did, and we were nothing special. We continued forward, our arms linked together as Marty walked with a slight bounce in her step. I hadn’t seen her this excited since we were little girls, and she got the makeup set she had been begging for. I could smell the fried food from behind the wall that divided us from the concession area of the stadium. The loud rumble of chatter from the fans, mixed with the music playing through the speakers, was slightly muffled. The hallway was lined with workers, bustling around with total focus and eagerness. It was impressive.
It was when we turned from the long hall that I saw the very thing my mother had warned me about, the press. With a slight grunt, I lowered my head, and Marty, with her hand clenching harder on my arm. I had imagined she would want to stop, smile for the cameras, but no, she lowered her head, and both our steps quickened. Flashes surrounded us. They didn’t know who we were, but we had to be someone if we were there, right? I could hear the question, “What’s your name?” “Who are you here for?” Though I never replied, as instructed. When we arrived at the security checkpoint, I showed my badge and was waved through immediately. Then, I was met by a slender blonde in a black suit.
“Miss Marshall, welcome. My name is Tina, I’ll be escorting you to the viewing suite where your mother awaits.” The blonde turned and started her quick walk up the slightly inclined flooring, my gaze moving to Marty, who smiled. Wow, it was the only word I could think of. I exhaled and readied myself for not only the game, a night of shmoozing with people I couldn’t careless about, and of course, interacting with my mother, who could make moments more tense-filled than they called for.
We could hear loud conversations in the suite before we even got to the door, and I readied myself as best I could. Tina opened the door, smiling as she waited for Marty and me to approach before she walked in with a pep in her step. She waved us in without a word, my eyes fixing on my mother instantly as she stood in the center of the room surrounded by people. It took her only a second to notice I had arrived before she made her way to us, a soft smile on her features as she brought me in for a hug.
“You’re cutting it close, don’t you think?” She spoke in my ear with a soft tone, sure that I would be the only one to hear. As she stepped back from the hug, that smile stretched wider, and I knew it was fake, not genuine excitement to see me there. Though I knew my mother loved me, she was a good woman. However, when it came to my father’s nights or career, it took precedence over me.
“Apologies,” I said simply as she ran her hands down to my wrist.
“Not a worry, my dear, you’re here and that’s what matters.” She patted my hands and took hold of one, followed by a pull to move with her to the very group she had been entertaining when Marty and I entered. I glanced back at Marty and rolled my eyes, my dear best friend, of course, with an encouraging thumbs up.
One introduction after another, I met the other coach’s family, followed by a few select members of the press, and, of course, the team owner and his family. I did what I was supposed to. I thanked them for this fantastic opportunity for my father. I told them how much I loved the team and how impressed I was with their past seasons. However, I promised them that they would only be better under my father. I smiled, I shook hands, and I even laughed at the most atrocious jokes. If I were a paid actress, I would have won an Oscar.
Finally, able to escape, I made my way to Marty, who stood in the lower part of the suite, where seats lined the outside of the enclosed room, just above the stadium seats. I stepped toward her with an exhale and honestly felt a sense of fresh air being released from that room, away from the politics that came with my part to play. Gripping the railing that separated us from the ‘regular’ fans, I took in the view of the field for the first time. I smiled slightly, allowing for a single moment to enjoy where I stood and feel the energy of the crowd. Marty, with a quick pull of my arm, positioned herself beside me and snapped a few selfies, both of us interacting with a group of men just below us. They had no idea who we were, but we were in the owner's suite, so we must have been someone with clout, right?
Taking a breath, I moved to the seat behind me, plopping down with a heaviness. I glanced at my watch, doing the math on when the game would be over before it had even begun, when Marty’s excitement brought me from my thoughts. “This is just so unreal. I can’t believe I’m about to watch the game from here. I would say pinch me, but I don’t want to risk it.”
I chuckled at her watching as she turned and took a few selfies with fans, the field in the background. “I’m glad you’re enjoying it,” I said. I could see the disappointment on my best friend’s face because of my attitude, and I decided I needed to put on my happy face again, for her at the very least. “Okay, okay,” I added as I stood and returned to her side. She smiled and locked her arm around mine, her head lying on my shoulder. Quickly, she snapped a picture of us, forcing an honest laugh from my lips just as the crowd mixed with noise as the rival team, the Indianapolis Legends, ran onto the field.
They were focused, and some of the largest men I’d ever seen. I started to get butterflies in my stomach for my father. Would he be branded a bad coach if they lost? Would the fans turn on him? Would the owner and the rest of the higher-ups forthe team? I stood at attention, watching as the opposing team made its way to the other side of the field, exhaled, and readied myself when the lights went out and the stadium turned dark. I felt Marty take her arm away when the song “Till I Collapse,” by Eminem featuring Nate Dog, started to play, and the stadium erupted in a cheer that shook the ground.
An orange and black spotlight scanned the field during the instrumental intro, when suddenly fire burst up at the player entrance and the Jaguars charged onto the field. It was explosive, the energy that radiated through each person there was something I’d never felt before. It took my breath away, causing a genuine smile to pull wide along my lips. I looked down and saw my father running across the field. Instantly, I screamed and started to cheer for him. I still hated the game, I told myself, but it was impossible not to join in on the excitement of that moment. Win or lose, it no longer mattered; I was having a good time.
CHAPTER 4
