Page 81 of Worth the Risk

I’mready to kill my quarterback, as his concentration seems to be lost. But we have enough time on the clock to get us the last point which would take us over the edge. It rained earlier, which will only make this messier.

“He seems in better position,” I hear my assistant coach say in my headphones, as he’s up in the press box overlooking the field.

Nodding to myself, I keep my focus on the field in front of me and stand firm in my spot. To many, I may appear calm and collected, but inside, I know I have a lot on the line if the last-minute play change is a miss. I would feel better knowing Piper was here, or rather if the agitation that she didn’t want to come didn’t have a firm spot inside of me, but I have to ignore it right now because I’m in coach mode.

I don’t even look at the clock, just keep my attention on my quarterback who is calling out a play for the scrimmage line. We have twenty yards to go, and we can do it.

It’s always the same, the last minute of a game. A blur. At the speed of light, someone may kick or run a pass, anything is possible to get the final point.

There isn’t much more I can do, and I know I already have to mentally prepare for a post-game talk with the team and a press conference.

Relief hits me when I hear a ref say touchdown, and a whistle is blown to end the game. Immediately, I have assistant coaches slapping my back and players running to congratulate one another. I rub my face with my hand, suddenly relaxed. Post-game after a win is by far ten times better than a loss.

It’s a round of handshakes with the opposing team’s coaches and players, and a few of my team’s guys too before I notice.

My smile changes to pure love.

Piper is standing on the sidelines, a perfect image. Fitted jeans, one of my team sweatshirts, and pink high heels. I make no mistake that they are the ones from the night we first met. A badge hangs around her neck that allows her to be here on the field. She wiggles her fingers in a cute little wave, and her closed-mouth smile tells me that she is unsure what to do yet satisfied that she caught me by surprise.

I pick up my pace and walk to her, quick to loop an arm around her middle and pull her to me.

“You’re here.” I speak loud enough for her to hear as the noise from the stadium fills our ears.

Now she smiles brightly. “I wouldn’t miss it.”

“But you said you—”

She shakes her head. “Now isn’t the time to get into that. You just won, and I have no idea who can hear into that headset around your neck,” she amusingly points out.

I chuckle. “God, you’re here.”

She glances away. “Kind of a perk of being your girlfriend. I get a free ticket.” Her eyes turn back to me, this time with seriousness.

I look over her shoulder and see Drew giving us space and pretending not to watch us.

“He didn’t give you a hard time, did he?”

Piper snickers. “It was a rough few minutes of convincing him I was here with good intentions. He thawed when I offered to get a round of beers, and when I admitted to him that I made a mistake, then I think he finally gave me your signature smile.”

I want to press her on the fact she just said that she admitted to making a mistake, but this just isn’t the place. Instead, I rub her back.

Her mouth parts open to speak. “I shouldn’t have let you doubt if I would be here or not. I know how much this means to you, so Iwantedto be here. Actually, there is a lot I want, and I can’t wait to tell you.”

Her answer slays me, and I slide my hand through her hair to bring her face to me so I can cover her mouth with my own for a quick kiss that won’t raise too many eyebrows.

I step closer to her, casting a protective touch to her elbow, aware that there are cameras everywhere. I lean in to speak so only she can hear. “I wish I could kiss you like crazy right now, but I have to talk to my guys and then face the press. Plus, I should probably review the video of the game while it’s fresh in my head since that’s what they pay me millions for.”

She nods her head in understanding. “I figured. But I happen to know it’s bye week, so you get a little break soon. Can we hold out until then?”

“Shit. I hate to say it, but we have no choice. By the time I’m out of here, I’ll only get a few hours of sleep, then I’m back with my coaching staff.”

The back of her hand runs along my jawline. “What’s forty-eight hours more then, right?”

I scoff a laugh, look away, and then back to Piper. “Knowing there seems to be a promising conversation at the end of the wait, then yeah, we can do a grueling forty-eight hours.” I take her hands in mine to give her fingers a quick squeeze with my own.

“It’sverypromising.” Her eyes grow bold, and her closed-mouth smile insinuates that my patience may just pay off.

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