Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 75626 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75626 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
“That’s really nice of them.”
Alex nods toward them, but now that more and more people have shown up, it’s hard to see the guys. I’m shocked no one bothers them. No one hounds them for photos or autographs. “Liam sang the National Anthem at the Super Bowl last year. It was poignant because his son was one of the starting quarterbacks for the game. I think everyone cried.”
“Where’s Noah’s mom?”
“If she came, she’s probably inside.”
“Just hearing you speak about them makes me miss my family. We’re close. Sometimes I hate being so far away from them.”
Alex reaches for my hand. “Maybe they’ll come to visit soon.”
“Yeah,” I say, nodding. “Although it’s a good thing my mom isn’t here now, or she’d be over there talking to them.” My head tilts toward the band. “She’s obsessed.”
“Sort of like her daughter.” Alex chuckles.
“More like starstruck. This is all new to me. It’s going to take some getting used to. Who on your team has a normal partner?”
“Normal?” Alex’s eyebrow rises.
“You know, not famous or on TV or whatever.”
“Um.” He looks into the apartment and shrugs. “I’m not really sure. Chase’s best friend is a local radio personality. Cameron is dating a mega popular influencer.” Alex shrugs. “And I’m dating an acquisitions editor. I’d say everyone is normal.”
“You know what I mean.” I push his arm with my hand, only for him to grab it and bring it to his mouth. He kisses my knuckles and then leans forward to kiss me.
“You don’t give yourself enough credit. I think you have a very cool job, and I love that you’re helping me write a book. I feel lucky to be in your presence.”
His words, they melt me. I’ve never been with someone who knows what to say, without me having to point it out. I return his kiss and whisper a thank you over his lips.
TWELVE
ALEX
This week of practice has been hellacious. Coach is in a foul mood and has been all week. Some two-bit-blogger-turned-reporter made some pretty heavy accusations about him, the way he coaches, and how we’re not going to make it to the Super Bowl this year. That alone pissed the entire team off. Normally, we ignore reporters like this. Everyone has an opinion and they’re entitled to express it.
However, when he wrote that Coach was mentally abusive to us, it took things a bit too far. Coach is anything but abusive and cussing at us isn’t any different than other coaches out there. It happens. We’re big kids, adults even, we can handle it. Hell, most of the time the camera catches all of us saying inappropriate things during the game. Doesn’t make us bad people. It makes us human.
To add insult to injury, Noah’s hurt. He won’t come out and say it, but we all see him limping on and off the field. He goes out for every down on first team and refuses to step aside for his back-up, Gio Munoz. Three years ago, he was a top draft pick, who, for some reason fell off everyone’s radar on draft day.
Except for Bud’s. Coach gobbled him up. In doing so, Noah’s been nervous. He hasn’t confided in me or anything, but I see the stress on his face. His contract has one year left on his ten-year contract, and as far as I know, negotiations haven’t started. Neither have mine because honestly, I’m waiting to see what Noah does. I’d rather go where he goes, although I’m being unrealistic. Most centers stay with one team their entire career. Our bodies don’t necessarily take the beating the other positions do.
I head into the weight room to get my lifts in. Since meeting Kelsey, I’ve skirted this responsibility a bit. I’ve cut some workouts short so I could spend time with her or, as Jessie McAvoy says, “to woo her.” Whatever the hell that means.
I haven’t seen her much this week but will on Friday night for the fundraiser the Pioneers are expected to be at. It’s a big event at the Children’s Museum, and in all honesty, I shouldn’t have invited Kelsey. Mostly because I’m nervous. Taking my new girlfriend to the place my former girlfriend used to run doesn’t seem like the smartest thing to do. I fear the people who still work there, and are friends with Maggie, may say the wrong thing to Kelsey. Neither of them deserves to have anything said about either of them. Maggie and I ended. There’s nothing more to it.
In the middle of my bench press, Noah comes over and swaps places with my spotter. “Where are you at?”
“Fifteen,” I grunt and then put the bar back on the rack. “You up?”
Noah shakes his head. “Peyton sent me over.”
“Fuck. What did I do now?”
Noah laughs. “Nothing football related. She wants to know if she can have Kelsey’s number.”