Page 94 of Play of Love
I shook my head. I’ve tried to forget it and move forward.”
“Why are you thinking about this now, at two a.m.?”
I looked over at the alarm clock and saw it had just turned two. When I looked back at him it occurred to me that I was being ridiculous and I couldn’t talk to him about this. I knew what his view was on relationships. Realistically, I was shooting Myself in the foot by being here with him, but in the same breath it would drive me crazy to be without him.
“Amy, you look really worried.”
“That’s all,” I decided to say. “I was just thinking about it all and it made me feel antsy.”
“Come here.” He pulled me into his chest and held me. “I’m sorry that happened to you. You deserved better, baby.”
He kissed my forehead and I rested my head on his chest as he lay back, holding me. I listened to the rapid beat of his heart and heard it slow down as he drifted off to sleep again.
I willed myself to sleep but I was still aware and awake.
All I kept thinking was that if I wasn’t careful, I’d end up exactly like my mother.
Or probably worse.
* * *
Josh
* * *
It was like déjà vu.
I stood next to Corey as the national anthem played, signaling the start of the new football season.
With my hand on my heart, I took a moment to appreciate being here. I made it. I made it and I was happy to be here. Happy and honored to join the Gladiators again and be the Mancini Machine.
I smiled to myself as warmth rushed over me and I thought of how proud my mother and Clarissa would be. I carried their memories and my love for them in my heart, carried them in my soul where they would always be.
I looked ahead at the crowd of fans and fixed my gaze on my father, Pete, and my beautiful Amy. They were in the front row looking on at me with pride and happiness.
Amy smiled at me and I hoped that she could see me smiling too. I knew she didn’t tell me everything earlier, and it seemed to be something she found difficult to talk about. That was why I stopped insisting and hoped she would tell me when she felt like she could.
I was so happy she was here and that she’d come back, and I couldn’t wait for this season to end so I could spend all my time with her. What she’d told me about her father really got to me and I was starting to get the impression that she didn’t have the best childhood. I felt that she’d gone through a lot and was one of those people who had to struggle to get to where they wanted to be. I had plans for us, and I wanted to make sure I did all I could to make her happy. She deserved it.
I turned my attention back to the game as the anthem finished. Time to focus and play. The team moved with one mind and like one body. It was time to be a part of that now.
As the game kicked off I had no trouble putting my mind in the zone, and by the end of the third quarter the score was thirty to twenty-five. The Centaurs were doing their best, but of course the Gladiators were in the lead. It was a crucial time, though, because the game could go either way depending on which team scored the touchdown.
I signaled to Gage as we got back on the field for the last quarter of the game. We needed to do something to change things up. If anyone could do something, it was him.
“Hey Montgomery.”
“Yes, old man?” Gage smiled as I came closer to him.
“That pansy ass receiver over there needs to know who’s boss.” I motioned to the Centaurs’ receiver, who was medium height and stocky like a pit bull. He’d zoned in on Gage several times and tried to trip him up at least four times.
“What do you have in mind?” Gage smiled with mischief.
“Let’s make him our bitch so he won’t try that shit again,” I said with a firm nod. Gage laughed and bumped my fist.
The receiver was a distraction and hadn’t done anything he was supposed to during the whole time they played. Their coach must have set him on Gage to slow him down.
As the game began again and the ball was passed around, I saw the receiver going in for Gage when he got the ball.
