Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 82951 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82951 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
“Here’s some food for you, buddy. You didn’t eat your breakfast.”
“Mom, I’m too excited to eat,” Caleb informs me. “This is the best Christmas present ever.”
“No way,” I reply, shaking my head, and finger the necklace that my son got for me. “This one is.”
He grins happily and turns to his new hero. “Did you see the present I got my mom for Christmas?”
“It’s a nice one,” Old Caleb replies and winks at me. “We’re all glad that you joined us.”
“I am, too,” I reply and turn my attention to the field when the crowd erupts with applause. Up on the screen are Sophie and Ike, kissing. She says something to him, he nods, and then he turns to the field, ready to go. “I wonder what she says to him.”
“Mom, she totally told him that he’s got this. Can’t you read lips?”
I laugh and ruffle my son’s hair. “I guess I can’t. Be sure to eat the vegetables and the pizza, please.”
“She’s such a mom,” he mutters, making Drew’s dad laugh loudly.
“It’s her job, man. I like broccoli.” He pops a piece into his mouth and chews happily. My Caleb looks down at his own broccoli and takes a bite.
“I guess it’s not so bad. Come on, Seattle!”
Content that my son is happy and enjoying himself with Drew’s dad, I walk back up to where some of the others are gathered near the food.
“This is quite a spread,” I comment, just as Sophie walks back in.
“I don’t know if you’ve noticed,” Lucy says, “but the Montgomerys can pack away the food.”
Before I know it, the national anthem is played, the coin is tossed, and the game is underway.
“It’s so much better in person,” I hear my son say, and I smile over at Brynna.
“He’s so excited to be here. It makes me feel a little guilty that I didn’t let him come before.”
“Don’t feel guilty for trying to be a good mom,” Brynna replies.
“You did the right thing,” Olivia says, surprising me. “The press is a bunch of assholes. My dad did everything in his power to keep us away from them, too. And now, you have a place to bring him where he’s safer.”
“He probably appreciates it more now,” Stella adds with a nod. “Also? How cute is he? He’s wearing a Montgomery jersey!”
“He insisted,” I reply with a soft smile. “Because it’s Drew’s last name, and he said he had to represent Drew.”
“Okay, I’m officially in love with him,” Stella says, looking over at my son all dewy-eyed. “That’s the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard.”
I’m surprised halfway through the second quarter when the door opens, and my brother walks through it.
“Rome! What are you doing?”
“I had to at least swing over and say hello,” he says. “This seems to the be place to be.”
“It’s so fun, Uncle Rome,” Caleb announces. “Come sit with me!”
“Don’t mind if I do.” He snatches up a piece of pizza and makes his way down to sit with his nephew, just as Ike throws the ball for a thirty-yard pass, and it’s run into the end zone for a touchdown.
“That’s my man!” Sophie yells, jumping up and down. “Hell yes! Good job, baby!”
There are high-fives all around, and I look down in time to see Ike hurry to the sidelines, and Drew pats him on the helmet as he leans in to talk to him.
Watching Drew on the sidelines, doing his job so effortlessly, is incredibly sexy. His face is hard, his firm body strong as he stands with his arms crossed, chewing gum and watching the next play unfold.
The quarterback throws the ball, but it’s intercepted by our guys, and we have the ball back.
Drew starts talking into his headset, pacing along the sideline, and then claps his hands, and the next play begins.
“I think you’re good luck,” Rome says to Caleb, making him preen. “You can stay.”
“I want to come to all the games,” Caleb says and tosses a puppy dog look my way. “Can we, Mom?”
“We’ll see.”
“You’re always welcome in here,” Sophie tells me. “I’m here for every home game. I try to go to the away games, too, but I’m always up here.”
“Thank you.”
It’s the fastest few hours of my life. The game passes so quickly, and at the end of the fourth quarter, with less than two minutes left, we’re down by three points.
“We need a touchdown, baby,” Sophie says. Her hands are clasped under her chin, and she’s rocking back and forth with nervousness. “Come on, Ike. You can do this.”
But on the next play, Ike is thrown to the ground hard.
“Fuckers,” Hudson mutters. “That’s a shitty hit. It should be illegal.”
I nod in agreement and breathe a sigh of relief when Ike stands up and seems to shake it off. In fact, he looks mad.
“That’s the face,” Sophie whispers. “That’s right, babe. You got this!”