Page 27 of Gridlocked on the Gridiron

He averted his gaze, grabbing a slice of pizza. “No, I’ve never dated a celebrity. I spend so much time prepping for the season that I don't have much time for dating at all.”

“But so many of your teammates have partners. Why do they have time but you don’t?”

“Because they rely on me to win, so I spend most of my time outside of practice in the weight room or on the field.” He was the leader, which meant there were higher expectations resting on his shoulders.

Lucia set her fork down. “This is what I mean. We have got to work through this. Football is a team sport. You are a part of the team, you are not the team.”

Colton pondered that as they ate in silence. Remembering their earlier conversation, he asked, “What about your family?”

“It’s just me and my dad, actually.” He didn’t want to pry, so he finished off his pizza and waited to see if she’d add anything else. “My mom didn’t want kids in the first place, so there was no chance of siblings. Then, you know, I guess she couldn’t handle it all, and she left us.”

Fuck. He didn’t know what to say. How do you help someone feel better when they’ve been through something as traumatic as that?

Lucia laughed. “Yeah, that’s about how most people respond to that.”

“Fuck, Lucia, I’m so sorry. I know it’s not the same, but I lost my mom eleven years ago.” He’d hoped it would assuage some of that sadness and anger he’d seen in her eyes, but he was worried it sounded like he was trying to take hold of the conversation and focus on himself. He cursed his brief dating history, wishing he’d spent more time learning about the women he’d taken to bed so he could be better at dinner conversation.

“I’m sorry about your mom.”

“I’m sorry about yours.”

They smiled at each other as they enjoyed their dinner, a comfortable silence settling over them.

Chapter eleven

Lucia

The team’s private plane was divided into sections, with regular traveling staff—Lucia included—in the back, players in the middle, and coaches in the front. There were curtains to partition and separate each group from the other, allowing each of them to do their different types of work.

Lucia sat near the back of the plane, tablet resting in her lap as she scrolled through analytics from the past few games. She was figuring out if there was anything in particular she wanted Colton to focus on before their next game. She didn’t even notice that someone had sat beside her until they jostled her with their elbow.

She turned to give a reprimanding look to the culprit but found Colton grinning at her instead. “Hi, beautiful.”

Her heart tripped for a second, and her stomach knotted up until she saw his head subtly tilt in the direction of the others in her section. Most of them had their eyes fixed on them, whispering amongst themselves.

“Hi…”

“You can call me handsome if it helps,” he whispered against her ear.

“Pass.”

“You’re not being a very good girlfriend. How will anybody know that we’re truly together if you won’t give me the verbal praise I yearn for? Tell me how hot I am.” He was still keeping his voice low, but there was a teasing to the words.

She laughed. “You’re an idiot. Shouldn’t you be going over plays or being a team leader? Or doing something even a little productive?”

He nodded. “Sure. What should I do to get my numbers up this game, O Learned One?”

“Honestly, I want to see you having fun on the field. This is something you’re passionate about.” She paused looking at him for confirmation. He nodded again. “So let that show.”

“Are ya gonna watch me have fun?”

She began typing notes to herself on the tablet, highlighting Colton’s relevant numbers and copying them into a separate document. “Well, it is my job.”

“I don’t wanna have fun all by myself.”

She turned to him again, and there was that wicked grin on his face. He was so handsome, even when he was trying to annoy her.

“Good thing you have a whole team, who, by the way, you should go bother instead of me.”

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