Page 47 of Gridlocked on the Gridiron

“One possession each, end zone right where the field ends. Ladies first.”

“Wow, Colton, I had no idea you were a lady.”

Before he could respond, Lucia had sidled up to him, eyebrows scrunched. “Colton, I don’t think I can—”

“It’s decided, Moretti. Come join our huddle.” Colton led Hayley and Lucia away from the picnic table and the rest of his teammates.

“Uncle Colt, how are we gonna beat them? They have an extra player.”

“Great question. Lucia’s gonna throw you the ball, and you’re gonna run it all the way down to the edge of the field while Lucia and I guard you. Sound like a plan?”

Hayley thought for a moment. “Okay, but you can’t let Oliver or James tackle me, they’ll never let me play with them again.”

“Hear that, Luc? Don’t let the demon twins tackle Hayley.”

“Worry about yourself, champ.”

He grinned, glad things between them were back to normal. “Alright, then.”

Colton grabbed a ball that’d been abandoned by the team at the mention of food. He lined Lucia and Hayley up, facing Cooper, Rudy, and the twins.

“Here you go, beautiful,” he said loudly as he handed the ball to Lucia.

“Alright, hurry up. I’m hungry,” Cooper called.

Lucia tossed the ball to Hayley and then moved to cover her right side. Colton followed her lead, covering Hayley’s left. They moved as a unit toward the edge of the field. Rudy and Cooper didn’t put much effort into catching them, but the twins were jumping around, yelling and screaming at their sister.

Just as Oliver broke through and closed in on Hayley, she threw the ball at Lucia’s feet. “Ah!”

James moved toward it. In an instant, Colton picked up the ball, placed it in Lucia’s hands, and threw her over his shoulder.

“Colton!” She laughed as he started to run with her. They weren’t far from the arbitrary line they’d set as the end zone, so he tightened his grip on her legs. Five yards from the line, he felt little arms around his right leg, and then another set close around his left.

He pulled James and Oliver with him as he trudged closer and closer to the line. And then he was going down, Lucia with him. He turned so she’d land on top of him, her legs straddling his hips.

Lucia was laughing, holding the ball up in the air triumphantly. “We did it, Hayley! You beat the twins!” Colton looked around Lucia to see Hayley, a pleased smile on her face.

James snatched the ball from Lucia as Cooper yelled, “You can’t call game when we haven’t touched the ball!” Oliver ran after his brother, leaving Lucia on top of Colton in the grass.

She shifted, eyes widening as she felt him against her. She traced her finger down his chest, knowing exactly what she was doing to him. “At ease, soldier.”

“If Luc says it’s over, it’s over.” His voice came out gruff. He wasn’t even sure if Cooper could hear him.

“Hey, man! This is a family picnic.” Rudy was covering Hayley’s eyes, turning her back toward the benches.

“Yeah, and it’s still our turn.” Damn Cooper. Best friend indeed. Colton made a note to ruin Cooper’s next interaction with a woman.

He sighed, squeezing Lucia’s waist once before releasing her. She rocked against him subtly enough to look like she was just shifting again before leaning down to whisper in his ear.

“That was for breaking your promise to not let the twins get to Hayley.” She stood, motioning to the rest of their group. “He’s gonna need a minute.” And then she was walking back to the center of the field.

He was going to have to break more of his promises if it meant she’d do that again.

Chapter seventeen

Lucia

Lucia wrapped herself in the hotel robe, hair tied up in her microfiber towel. She lay on her bed, looking up at the ceiling and pondering the fire she knew she was playing with. After her call with Isa, she’d sat in the shower, hoping to find answers in its scalding embrace.

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