“No, he wanted to talk to you first. Call me when you find him.”
“I love you, Jeremy.” No matter what happened next, I’d support my son and his father talking to each other. They were two of the best men in the world and deserved to have each other.
After circling the stadium, I found an office with people. The girl at the desk was dressed in a white t-shirt that was see-through to her black bra.
She waved me in and I asked, “Is Michael Irons here?”
“This way, ma’am.” She batted her eyes like she was sizing me up, then shrugged and guided me through to a small office.
She opened the door and Phil and Michael were sitting together. Phil stood immediately and waved for me to go inside. Michael’s blue eyes were as big as those balls thrown in the game. I switched places with his agent and the door closed.
He jumped out of his chair and said, “Georgie?”
Tears came out of my eyes as I said, “I love you. I was so scared yesterday. Please forgive me.”
His arms wrapped around me and he said in a low tone, “I love you, too. We need to talk.”
My stomach was in knots. I still trembled but I said, “I’m okay with going to New York. I want us to be together.”
He lifted my chin and waited till I looked at him. As my tears subsided, he said, “Good, but that’s not it.”
I swallowed and held him so I wouldn’t tremble as I asked, “What?”
He glanced at the door that was closed and then back at me. He pressed his forehead to mine and said, “I have two more offers. One from the Sooners and one from Texas. Which one makes you want to stay with me?”
If he wanted New York, I was there. I hugged his neck and said, “I don’t care. I just want you and us to be together. Forgive me.”
He kissed me.
I absolutely didn’t deserve a second chance, but if this was the start of one, I’d never, ever, ever screw this up again. Love was about being willing to change and grow together, and with Michael I had everything.
I’d never throw that away again because of fear.
Chapter 18
Michael
My arms still ached to hold the best thing in my life, to ensure she was real and here.
Today had been like a dream come true when she'd walked in the door.
I didn’t fucking deserve her or this elation in my blood.
She’d been sweet, and I’d fucked this up. All my life I'd defined myself from this game, and how I was on the field. Georgie had just wanted me.
The only way I changed was if I listened to her and my heart that she possessed.
I kissed her first as I needed to know she was real, and her kiss magnetized me.
I needed her like the wheat fields need sun.
Once I let her breathe, I held her sides and said, “I want you here to listen to the offers.”
She didn’t let me go past her to get Phil. Instead, she placed her arm on my shoulder and blinked as she asked, “Why are we at the stadium?”
I held my head down and listened to the beat inside my heart as I told her a truth I’d avoided for a while now. “I like my team. They’ve been good to me in Oklahoma.”
Her eyes widened and she asked, “So not New York?”
“Honestly, it’s one of the best stadiums I’ve ever played in and the team is top notch.” Right. I’d been so adamant about the dollar proving I’m the best that I'd hurt my family in the process.
If I didn’t let go of being the best, every day I’d die and eventually I’d start losing in the game, too. Georgie meant more to me. I honestly had no idea how she’d snuck into my heart these past seven years and how every day I played and prayed she’d somehow find me. If I chose the game over her, then I wasn’t honoring my own heart. I said, “The numbers aren’t what I wanted, no.”
She sucked in her bottom lip and bounced on her feet until she let it go and spoke, “Then we go to New York.”
And let her be miserable? And leave my team for the cold hard cash that, yes, I deserved, but at what price?
My own happiness? Georgie’s? I shook my head and said, “I can’t force you to go somewhere you don’t want. How would you feel about staying with my team?”
She was a sweetheart when she pressed her palm against my cheek and said, “I don’t care where we live as long as I’m with you.”
I tightened my hand around her waist and said, “We need to make a choice as a family and, in pursuing money only, I almost lost you. I can’t lose my son and, if possible, I’d like to be loyal to the team that groomed me.”
For a moment, neither of us moved. She closed her eyes, and I held her tight. It was like the warmth of light was in my life again and I never wanted to let her go. However, I kissed her cheek and she went on her tiptoes and kissed me back.
Her lips were firm. I ached for her. But I held back. We were in a side office. I let her go and she took the seat beside where I’d been and playfully elbowed me when she asked, “So what are the offers?”
“Let’s get Phil,” I said and stood, kissing her forehead as I passed. Then I opened the door and waved for my agent down the hall. “Come in and tell Georgie what’s going on.”
“Sure,” he called out and walked in with a new cup of coffee in his hand. He retook his seat on the other
