“I’ll say.”
I knocked him on the arm. “Look who’s talking, Mr. QB of the game. You played three quarters and didn’t have a single interception. And what was your final CMP?”
He smirked. “Sixty-seven percent.”
I shook my head, holding up my fist for a bump.
“Get some good rest tonight,” Gerald said. “I have a feeling coach is going to have a lot for you to do in practice this week. Can’t have a game like that and go unnoticed.” He winked, clapping my shoulder again before he moved on to congratulate Sean Whacker, who was trying to secure his position as a running back and had a monster game, too.
Pride made my chest swell, and I dressed as quickly as I could with Belle on my mind, but took a moment to just sit and watch the locker room when I was putting on my shoes. At every locker, there were legendary men, giving legendary interviews or recapping a legendary game. It didn’t matter to me if they didn’t play at all tonight. In my eyes, these guys were the elite few, the ones millions of eyes watched every week, the ones who made me pick up a ball and devote my entire life to it.
And I was here with them.
Sometimes it didn’t feel real, but in moments like this, after games like this… I couldn’t imagine my life any other way.
I was born for this.
I was made to be here.
My goofy-ass smile was still plastered on when I dug into my duffle bag for my phone, eager to text Belle and tell her I was on my way. I was even more eager to tell her everything about what my real job was tonight — mostly, because I couldn’t wait to celebrate with her.
I couldn’t wait to share all of this with her.
It was a strange kind of excitement, one unfamiliar to me since the women I’d dated early in my career had built a wall so high I didn’t think anyone would ever be able to climb over it. But I knew Belle. I knew who she was, what she wanted, what she cared about. I knew without hesitation that what I did for a living didn’t matter to her, and if she wanted something in life, she’d kill herself to go out and get it on her own before she’d ever try to take advantage of me or any other man, for that matter.
She was everything I’d ever wanted, everything I thought didn’t exist.
And she was mine.
I finally found my phone, pulling it free from my duffle and swiping to unlock it. I called my mom first, talking to her and my dad and both of my sisters for a short while before I assured them I’d be home in the morning to have breakfast with them. They’d been more than understanding that I wanted a night alone with Belle — especially with everything I needed to tell her.
Speaking of the angel, there was a waiting text from her that I’d missed before the game, and I smiled as I opened it.
Then, that smile was gone in an instant, along with every piece of joy I’d been floating on.
The video she’d sent played over and over, showing her feet up on the back of a chair here at Soldier Field, all of us warming up on the field in front of her before she panned over to show Gemma eating a hot dog. I let it play what felt like a dozen times, shaking my head, trying to convince myself it couldn’t be real before I closed it and saw the text that came with it.
This is why I couldn’t hang out today. My best friend is a football junkie, and she’s the only one I’ll break my No Football rule for. Hope you’re having fun with the fam. Tell them all I say hello, and I’ll see you tonight!
Bile rose in my throat, and I shook my head more adamantly, staring at the text and video as if I could undo them if I only stared long enough.
“No,” I muttered, blowing out a breath and swiping my bag off the bench. I threw it over my shoulder and rushed out of the locker room. “No, no, no!”
She was here.
She was at the game.
And now, she had to know everything I never told her.
As soon as I was clear from the noise of the locker room, I dialed her number, closing my eyes on a silent prayer that she’d answer as I put the receiver to my ear. But the call went straight to voicemail, and I cursed, hanging up and trying again, only to get the same result.
“Fuck!”
I sped across town as fast as I could, running red lights and trying to call Belle the entire way, even though I knew she had her phone off. I didn’t even take the time to park my car in the garage at her building, parking illegally on the street right in front, instead. I didn’t care if I got a ticket or even towed — I’d deal with that later.
I ran inside, screeching to a halt when I realized I wouldn’t be able to get up to her place without her buzzing me up. I ran my hands through my hair on a curse, trying to think of a solution. I was just about to call Gemma when Zach’s hand found my shoulder.
“Hey, man,” he said, squeezing. His eyes were laced with pity, his mouth tugged to one side. “Great game today.”
I shook my head. “Please tell me you were there with her.”
“It’s my mom’s birthday, I’ve been with the family all day.” He frowned. “I’m sorry, man. I didn’t know you hadn’t told her yet. When Gemma said they were going to the game together, I just assumed…”
I shook my head again. “No, don’t apologize.
