by Violet Paige
I laughed. “Yeah, and that .”
Stubbs pulled on his socks. We all had a pre-game ritual we followed. His started with the feet .
“Is she going to be here today?” he asked .
“Oh yeah. She’s in my box .”
“With your parents?” He scrunched up his face. “Your dad ?”
“Fuck.”
Stubbs stopped what he was doing. “What ?”
“I forgot to tell her about my fucking parents .”
He started laughing so hard he snorted. “That’s messed up. She’s going to kill you .”
I shook my head. “Lennon’s not like that .”
Or was she? Holy fuck. I’d told her that story about my dad and then stuck her in a box with him with no warning. I searched for my phone. I still had a chance to call her and give her a heads up. She could back out at the last minute and I’d get it. I wouldn’t want to be up there with him either .
Shit. My phone wasn’t in my bag. I pictured it in the bathroom, plugged into the charger. Double shit .
“Man, if you could see your fucking face right now.” Stubbs pointed at me. “This is why I never have one woman. I don’t want to deal with this shit .”
“You have two girlfriends. How is that any better ?”
“Well, if one gives me hell, I just go see the other one.” He grinned .
The guys started to trickle in. Everyone patted me on the back and gave me grief about my hand. There were a few comments about Lennon too, but I bit my tongue. I didn’t need to start punching out my own team before the game .
I’d never felt the need to protect someone before. But I didn’t like the way they talked about her. How hot she was. How fucking awesome she probably was in bed. I focused on lacing up my ties and tried to ignore them .
“Blakefield, you ready for this?” Bruno stuck his chest out and walked through the crowd of linemen .
“Hell, yeah.” I gave him a high five .
“Then let’s huddle and get out there .”
Eighteen
Lennon
I was taking being the quarterback’s girlfriend to a whole new level. I was wearing Wes’s jersey along with a pair of skinny jeans and a pair of gorgeous leather boots he had had embroidered for me with my initials inside. I knew the price tag on those alone was over a thousand dollars. He liked to spoil me, and I was starting to like it too. I pulled my hair back in a ponytail and slipped on silver hoops .
I looked at myself in the mirror. I didn’t look like a surgeon. I didn’t look like the girl who had graduated at the top of her med school class. I looked like some girl so in love, she’d do anything to see her boyfriend play football .
I heard the knock on the door. Too late to undo this now, I reminded myself. I was in it. Totally in it .
The driver dropped me off under the stadium and showed me where the elevator was that I was supposed to use for Wes’s private box. I wore the credentials tag he gave me around my neck and showed my ticket to the security guard at the elevator .
“Go Wranglers,” he grunted as the elevator doors closed .
My first AFA game, and I was going to sit in the most elite player’s box in the stadium. I’d seen the boxes on TV. But up close, I knew this would be a completely different experience .
Two weeks ago, I was on my couch, watching Wes walk the sidelines, and now I was here as his girlfriend. His number one fan .
I pushed open the door to the suite, and came face to face with a man with broad shoulders and an eerie resemblance to Wes .
“This is a private suite, ma’am. There’s an usher in the hall that can help you find where you’re supposed to be .”
“Oh no, this is where I’m supposed to be. Wes Blakefield’s box ?”
The man looked at a woman, who was picking through a tray of fruit. “Gloria, did Wes mention this to you ?”
She looked me over. “No. Honey, who are you ?”
Oh God. This was embarrassing. Horrifying. I knew it even without them having to make the proper introductions. These were Wes’s parents. How could he not tell me his parents were going to be in the box ?
I stretched my hand forward. “Hi, I’m Lennon. Wes’s, uh… Wes’s friend .”
Gloria dropped the strawberry in her hand and came over to meet me. “Honey, aren’t you sweet? I’m Gloria and this is Bud. We’re the parents.” She smiled .
“It’s so nice to meet you both.” I wanted to tell them how great this was, but I’d heard nothing about Wes’s mom, and the only thing I knew about Bud was how he drove his son to be a compulsive winner .
Bud scratched the back of his head, and I pretended not to notice that I’d seen Wes do that same exact thing when he was working through a problem .
“So, Wes invited you here? To our booth ?”
I nodded. “Yes, sir.” I held up my ticket as if I had to prove it to him .
Gloria tugged on his arm. “Bud, it’s his box. Don’t be an ass in front of the girl .”
It was hard to smile. The tension was filling the deluxe stadium box. I didn’t know if there were enough beers in that bar to lighten the mood or not .
“I’ll just stay out of your way and you won’t even know I’m here.” I walked to the front of the glass and admired the field .
The cheerleaders were running with flags across the end zones. At least I had watched a few games with Wes, so I should be able to keep up. I didn’t want his parents to know I was a complete football idiot .
Gloria sat next to me in a leather seat. “I’m glad Wes has a friend.” She held a beer in her hand. “It’s usually just Bud and me up here. This will be fun.” She handed me a cold bottle .
“Thanks.” I smiled at her. I could see where Wes got the green in his eyes .
“So what do you do, honey? Model ?”
I choked. “Oh God, no…I mean, sorry. No, ma’am. I’m a surgeon at San Antonio Mission Hospital. In orthopedics .”
“And you’re with my son ?”
I nodded. “Mmmhmm.” I was going to need more than just this first beer .
“Well, isn’t that something?” She turned over her shoulder. “Bud, did you hear that? Lennon is a surgeon .”
“Surgeon? Not a cheerleader or a swimsuit model? Huh .”
“Don’t listen to him,” Gloria whispered. “Once the game starts, you might as well cover your ears anyway. I bring these.” She revealed a pair of earbuds from her pocket. “He curses so much I have to listen to the game on my phone. Can’t stand to listen to him yell .”
“Oh.” I didn’t know what to say, but I had a feeling I was getting ready to get a first-hand account of how Wes Blakefield became the man I knew .
She patted my hand. “Glad you’re here, honey. I need a girl on my team.” She winked and planted the earbuds in her ears .
I took another sip of beer and watched the introduction for the Volts while the San Antonio fans booed. I sat forward in my seat as they began to introduce the Wranglers. Every player’s picture popped up on the jumbo screen, but when they announced Wes’s name, the place went insane. It was deafening .
“Just play some damn ball. Enough with the circus show,” Bud grumbled behind us .
But I didn’t let him ruin the moment. I watched as Wes ran onto the field, waving to the fans, smiling that gorgeous smile of his, and my heart clenched in my chest. He was mine. Millions of fans could cheer. And his parents could sing his praises. The cheerleaders could do somersaults all day for him, but Wes Blakefield was all mine .
* * *
I waited outside the locker room with Bud and Gloria after the game. I stood behind them, knowing this was part of their game ritual with their son. Bud made sure I knew they belonged here and I was just along for the ride .
He explained to me that Wes would have to finish up with the team, then a press conference, and then wrap with the coaches before he would see us. He also told me he knew every coach and trainer on the team, pressing the point he had
been a part of this machine a lot longer than I had .
Wes walked through the door, freshly showered, in a dark suit and tie. God, I loved how sexy he looked like that. But before I could throw my arms around him and congratulate him, his mom kissed him on the cheek, leaving a big lipstick mark. It wasn’t something I really wanted to follow .
“You missed three receivers out there, son .”
“Hey, Mom.” He kissed her on the opposite cheek and ignored his father. “I guess y’all met Lennon .”
I tried to act cool. This wasn’t the time to berate him. Bud would cover that enough for me .
“Oh yeah, we met her.” Bud pushed in front of me. “Who was calling the plays today? Why didn’t you run the route we talked about ?”
Gloria and I followed behind them. I was annoyed that I didn’t get so much as a hug .
“Are you and Bud driving back to Austin tonight?” I asked .
“Yes. We only come up for the games. We travel to every one of them .”
“Every one?” I hoped my voice didn’t sound as squeaky as I thought it did .
“What about you, honey? Will we see you in D.C. next weekend ?”
I hadn’t thought about it. Wes hadn’t invited me, and we were still taking things one day at a time, even though I felt like this was some kind of time bubble we both lived in .
“Playoffs are his busiest time of the year. If you think you’re going to see him at all, you might want to make some other plans,” she warned. “Traveling with the team might be your best bet .”
Oh God, his mother was giving me advice on how to see him. This was getting worse and worse. I overhead Wes and his dad arguing about a call on the field. The conversation was getting heated, so I decided to butt in .
“Wes, I’ve got that early surgery tomorrow, so maybe we could get going?” I wrapped my hand through the crook of his elbow, not giving Bud any choice but to step back .
“Oh, that’s right.” He smiled at me. “You know, Lennon’s a surgeon .”
“She told us all about it.” Gloria gripped her Wranglers purse. “We need to get on the road anyway. It’s hard for Bud to drive when it gets dark .”
“That’s not true,” he grumbled .
“Thanks for coming up for the game.” Wes hugged his parents .
“It was nice meeting you both.” Gloria wrapped me in a hug before I knew what hit me .
“Maybe we’ll see you next week, honey .”
“Maybe.”
They headed to the reserved parking lot while Wes and I stood in the tunnel and watched them walk away .
“So, how’d you like my parents?” He smiled wickedly .
“Oh, you are so making this up to me.” I crossed my arms .
“Is that a promise?” He waggled his eyebrows .
I rubbed the lipstick off his cheek. “I’d hate to interfere with your concentration for the playoffs .”
“Baby, I’m taking you home right now .”
I looked around to see if there was a reason he had grabbed my hand and started to run. “What’s going on ?”
“We’re celebrating. The Wranglers are in the playoffs, you successfully survived meeting the Blakefields, and we are both getting laid .”
I laughed at his last statement. “Sounds like a lot for a Sunday night .”
He started the ignition. “Good thing I drive fast .”
Nineteen
Wes
I locked the bathroom door and unlatched the cabinet. I retrieved one of the syringes Dr. Jones had given me and tapped the top before jamming it into my thigh. I pushed the plunger all the way to the end, trying not to tense up at the stinging heat that shot through my leg. Only a couple more, and I’d be done with the injections .
“Hey, I’m headed to work.” Lennon knocked on the door .
“I’ll be in film review all day. See you tonight.” I wrapped the syringe in a wad of tissue and threw it in the trashcan. I pulled open the door .
“Oh, hey .”
“Hey.” I grinned at her .
“I guess this is the part where we won’t get to see each other much. Maybe I should just stay at my place this week. Would that be easier ?”
“No. That would not be easier. Even if I get in at midnight, I can still curl up to your naked body .”
“Who said I’m going to be naked ?”
I tilted her chin toward me. “I want you naked and waiting for me when I get home .”
Her eyes flared. “And you think I’ll do that? Wait around for you with nothing on? Completely stripped? My skin clinging to your sheets?” She bit on her lower lip, and I knew she was teasing me .
“You know the rules in this room.” I growled in her ear, my cock hardening at the thought of her crawling in my bed naked. Her perfect ass bare. Her tits exposed. My hand slid under her shirt, working up under her bra .
She sighed as I rubbed her nipple with the pad of my thumb. It peaked under my touch. “You’re killing me, Doc. I need you. Now,” I growled .
“I have a surgery this morning. You have to stop.” She backed away and straightened her shirt .
“And I have hours of film to watch.” I hung my head, fighting off the need to take her. She was irresistible. She was like a drug. One touch wasn’t enough. One kiss wasn’t enough .
“Can’t promise I’ll be up when you get home, but I do promise to be naked.” She kissed me, and I slapped her on the ass .
“See you tonight, then .”
“Forgot my coffee,” she mumbled and rushed to the kitchen .
I followed her. “Hey, Lennon. I wanted to ask you something .”
She pulled a thermal cup from the cabinet. “What is it ?”
I scratched the back of my head. As if last Sunday wasn’t enough of a first with my parents, this was going to be another zinger. “I want you to fly up to D.C. with me for the game Sunday .”
She fastened the lid and spun to look at me. “You want me to go to the playoff game ?”
I’d never taken a woman on the road. I’d never wanted to. Never needed to. There were always women in whatever city we played. But looking ahead to Sunday, I didn’t want to leave Lennon behind. I wanted her with me wherever I was .
“Yeah, thought it’d be fun .”
“But your mom said you couldn’t be distracted. And besides, they’re going. I don’t think your dad is my biggest fan .”
“Don’t worry about them. You already knew my dad was an ass. I want you there with me. We’ll have our own suite .”
“But don’t you have to stay with the team ?”
“Well, yeah. Team hotel, but it’s not like I have a roommate. I’m the QB. I promise you’ll love it. I’ll fly you up on Saturday .”
She did that nervous thing where she clicked her fingers against the counter. “You sure? D.C .?”
“I’m positive. I want you there. I liked having you in my box .”
“All right. I’d love to go.” She picked up her keys. “I’ve gotta go. I’m late .”
“Bye.”
I walked over to the coffee pot and poured myself a cup. When had I become this man? I was so fucking crazy about her, I couldn’t think straight. I didn’t want another woman. I didn’t care about the poker games anymore. Nothing mattered to me other than football and Lennon .
I leaned against the kitchen counter. Maybe it was all the drugs pumping through my system, or maybe this was the side effect of falling for Dr. Ashworth .
Twenty
Lennon
W e would be landing in D.C. in twenty minutes. I fidgeted with my cocktail napkin and looked out the window as the plane began to descend. I should have told him. I thought about it all week. And what Gloria had said was true. Playoffs were a time we’d never see each other .
He crawled into bed so late I didn’t know what time it was, and it wasn’t really the right time to tell him I’d left an ex of a live-in relationship behind in the city we were traveling to. Besides, would Wes eve
n care? He’d never asked about my past. It was as if we had some unspoken rule about talking about our previous lives .
I tried to push Ben out of my head. D.C. was a huge city and there was no reason to see him or relive the hurtful memories. I was happy with Wes .
I pulled my luggage behind me down the jetway and looked for the sign with my name. Wes liked to arrange cars for me .
But when I saw the driver holding this one, my jaw dropped .
“What are you doing here?” I ran and jumped in his arms .
“Shh. Don’t blow my cover.” He kissed me quickly and picked up my bag. “Apparently Sharks fans haven’t noticed me with this hat on .”
I laughed. He was one of the most recognizable people in the country .
“How did you get away from the team meeting ?”
“Hasn’t started yet. Our flight got in an hour earlier, so I thought I’d wait for you here. We can ride to the hotel together .”
He ushered me into a long black car that was waiting for us by the curb. “I love this surprise .”
“Everyone’s all ramped up about the game tomorrow.” He leaned into the leather seats. “Coach, Stubbs, Hickson .”
I threaded my fingers through his strong hands. “You know no matter what happens, it’s going to be okay .”
He flinched. “We are going to win .”
“Well, right. I mean, you’re going to win, and then we go to the next play off game and the next. Wait, how many games are there before the Super Bowl ?”
He laughed. “For a brilliant woman, I like it when you don’t know shit about something .”
“Hey.” I punched him in the leg .
“Fuck.” He grabbed at his thigh .
“Sorry. Did I do something? I didn’t mean to hit you hard .”
He shook his head. “No, no, just a muscle cramp .”
I looked at him suspiciously, but the car pulled up and I didn’t have a chance to question him. The driver deposited our bags on the curb and I followed Wes into the hotel .
