In the confusion, Teddy tried to scamper away. Dylan knocked him cold with one punch.
“Fucking glass jaw,” the tight end said. Without a backward glance, he rushed to Levi. “How bad is it?”
Levi waved off his friend’s concern. Looking into Piper’s worried eyes, he smiled.
“I’m fine.”
“Call the police,” Piper told Dylan. “I’ll take Levi to the hospital.”
“No!” Levi grabbed her arm. He measured the volume of his voice so only Piper and Dylan could hear. “No doctors. Promise me.”
“You need to have someone check you out,” Dylan whispered. “What if you have a broken rib? Or two?”
“I know what a break feels like,” Levi said. “At most, the rib is cracked. Some tape and a few aspirins and I’ll be fine by game time.”
“Are you crazy?” Piper hissed. “I won’t let you play with your health.”
“Please.” Levi took a breath and grimaced. “Trust me.”
“At least let me call Erin,” Piper said. “She flew in for the game and has a room here in the hotel.”
“Isn’t she a gynecologist?” Dylan asked.
“She’s a doctor.” Piper met Levi’s gaze. “It’s her, or I tell Mac what happened. One call and your head coach will know everything.”
Levi didn’t need to think twice. He nodded.
“Get Erin.”
▲ ▼ ▲ ▼ ▲
“THE RIB IS cracked,” Erin Ashmore said as she finished taping Levi’s ribs.
“Not broken.” Levi nodded, sending Piper a reassuring smile. “I knew it.”
“You should get an x-ray, just to be certain.” Erin sighed. “But since I know my advice will fall on deaf ears, I’ll do my best to make you as comfortable as possible.”
“Thank you,” Piper said.
“Yes.” Levi winced as the Erin stood back to survey her handiwork. “I know I’m asking a lot. Especially after Piper woke you up to help.”
“You don’t want anyone to know you aren’t one hundred percent for the game.” Erin sighed. “I understand. If management finds out, Mac will be obligated to report your injury. The less everyone not in this room knows, the better. My lips are sealed.”
“You’re angry,” Levi said to Piper when they were alone.
“I’m worried,” she said, correcting his assumption. “I also love you. I know how much tomorrow means to you.”
“Not just me,” Levi told her. “My teammates are counting on me. I can’t let them down.”
Dylan let himself into the room.
“Monte and Teddy were arrested. Mac and Darcy are on top of the media announcement.” Dylan sighed. “A minor shitstorm of questions is inevitable. Thankfully, access to the players is limited before the game.”
“Mac already called,” Levi said. “I assured him I was okay.”
Dylan looked at Levi, his gaze narrowed.
“I’d follow you to hell and back,” he said. “But I need to know. Can you play tomorrow?”
“I can do better than that.” Levi gripped Piper’s hand. “I can win.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
▲ ▼ ▲ ▼ ▲
SUPER BOWL SUNDAY
“YOU LOOK A little green around the gills.” Frowning, Dylan handed Levi a towel. “The last hit you took had me worried.”
“Nothing serious,” Levi said, tugging his dirt-stained blue and gold jersey into place.
Dylan didn’t know that Levi heard a definite crack when the other team’s defensive end’s helmet rammed into his midsection. Thank God for television timeouts.
“Just need a chance to catch my breath.”
“Last play of the game,” Mac said. The head coach dropped a hand on Levi’s shoulder. “The situations black and white. We need a touchdown, or we lose. Here’s the play.”
Listening, Levi nodded then ran onto the field. Every kid in America dreamed of a moment like the one he faced. Twenty seconds on the clock. Down by five points. He’d marched his team down to the twelve-yard line. He wiped the sweat from his forehead and fastened the strap of his helmet.
“Huddle up,” he yelled. Ten eager, exhausted faces looked Levi with hope and confidence. He clapped his hand. “Do your jobs. Let’s win.”
Levi took the snap. His hands gripped the ball, his fingers found the laces. Stepping back, he read the field, waiting for his man to get open. Wait, wait. He knew the longer he held the ball, the greater the chance he might be sacked. But with one shot, he needed to make the pass count.
Out of the corner of his eye, Levi saw a white jersey barreling toward him. Taking a breath, planting his feet, he let the ball fly. A second before he hit the ground, taken down hard, the saw the ball sail through his wide receiver’s hands.
The final gun sounded. Levi closed his eyes in disbelief. The Knights had lost.
“Get up,” Dylan shouted, kneeling by Levi’s side. “We aren’t dead yet.”
Dazed, unsure what happened, Levi let Dylan pull him to his feet.
“Roughing the passer, son,” his friend explained with a grin. “Thanks for taking one for the team.”
Levi’s knees almost buckled with disbelief. The NFL rules were clear. The game couldn’t end on a defensive penalty. Because the official ruled a late hit, the ball was placed on the two-yard line. The Knights had one more chance.
Glancing toward the sidelines, Levi held up three fingers, then, lowered one. Mac recognized the play his quarterback wanted to run and nodded his approval.
“We’re going with a sneak,” Levi said in the huddle, telling everyone that he would keep the football. He grabbed Dylan by the jersey. “You ready?”
Dylan nodded.
“I’ll make the hole,” he told Levi. “You get that motherfucking ball into the endzone.”
No time left on the clock. Levi stood behind the center for the last play. Their last chance. The call wasn’t complicated.
“Twenty-two, shift,” he yelled.
The unmistakable sting of leather hit his hands. Dylan surged toward the goal, pushing bodies out of the way. Levi followed. The hole wasn’t big, just big enough. Ducking his head, he fell forward, arms outstretched.
Before the dust settled, the referee crouched to check where the ball had landed. Standing, he blew his whistle
