Page 115 of Keep Me

A breeze cooled my arms, but it wasn’t strong enough to affect my kick, so I wiped my palms on my pants and looked down at the turf.

One breath.

Two breaths.

The whistle blew, then I let the flow take over, kicking the ball with ease. The second of silence as the football flew through the air was always my favorite moment of the game. I knew the kick was good, but the crowd didn’t start cheering until it made its way through the cross bars.

Then it played in slow motion.

We’d won the game. The band started playing our fight song and the rest of the team emptied the benches, making their way to me. I got so caught up in the hustle of the celebration, that I couldn’t find Britt.

Did she see that? Did she know it was all for her?

The moment passed in a blur, and by the time I got out of the huddle, Coach was waiting for me. “Good work, Mathieson,” he gritted out with flat lips. Usually, he’d have his hand out, ready to pull me into a hug. Not today. I’d screwed up too many times over the last couple of games to warrant that. I’d need to earn his trust back. “Glad you were able to concentrate today.”

He pointed to the cameramen. “It’s your turn to get interviewed, but for the love of all things football, don’t kiss your girl on screen.”

My girl? The tension eased from my body as I thought about Britt, and I nodded, thankful I still had my helmet on and he couldn’t see my goofy smile. “No problem, Coach.”

With a strong pat to the back, I turned my attention to the bench, the last place I’d seen her. She was still there, talking toTanner on the camera, giving that perfectly practiced smile of hers.

I strolled over, taking my time to admire Britt. My wife. My future. She’d been the girl in the stands cheering me on, and I always felt that support as my friend, but it was more than that now. She was my rock. The only person I wanted to celebrate with or come home to her after a hard loss. I wanted to make her smile. I wanted to know every damn secret about her. She was everything I ever wanted, but there was one thing missing. There was no ring on her finger claiming her as mine. Hell, she’d never even worn my jersey—ourjersey before. Both things I wanted to rectify as soon as I confirmed we were on the same page.

By the time I reached her, Tanner had left and she was talking to someone on her ear piece, too engrossed in the conversation to notice me. Not one to take kindly to being ignored, I took my helmet off and brushed beside her.

Britt’s gaze flicked to me, her smile firm. “Ah. We also have the winning kicker here with us. Ben, congratulations.” Ben? How very formal of her, and even though I hated my name, I liked the way it rolled off her tongue.

“Final few seconds of the game and it all came down to you. How do you hype yourself up for moments liked that?”

When she pushed the microphone in my direction, I looked down at it, then back to her. Still with her professional face on, I figured I might toy with her slightly. “Watching the guys play and seeing them put their all into the game gets me pumped up, but when it comes down to the few seconds before a kick, I always find focusing on the reason you’re out there in the first place, and most importantly,whoyou’re playing for is the biggest motivator. If I wasn’t thinking about her, then I’d probably fall on my face and miss.”

There was no emotion on her face. Still the same forced smile as the camera focused on her.

Did she get it, or was that not obvious enough?

“What about your little tradition with Jackson James on the sideline? Does clinking your helmets together bring you luck?” Nice change of subject, I see.

“You noticed, huh?” I raised my brows, grinning. For her to call it a tradition meant she had to have noticed it over several games. Maybe she was watching me as much as I was watching her. “Well, if you noticed that, then you’ll know my performance has been abysmal over the last few games. The thing that changed my performance tonight was the girl on the sidelines watching me.”

I took her in, trying to hide my smirk as she subtly shifted on the turf, squirming because I was being so brazen. I was keeping my lips to myself, though, so Coach would be happy. As tempted as I was to call her my wife on screen, I didn’t. Her family were here and I wanted to make a good impression.

“How does it feel when you know the game comes down to you?”

She pushed the microphone in my direction, completely ignoring my declaration again. I held back my laugh.

“I love it and I hate it. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous about it. It’s easy for personal things to get in your head and screw up your process, but when you have a team, a school, and a family to make proud, you turn up.”

I swallowed, watching her as I said the words. Would she finally acknowledge that all these statements and the win was for her? That I’d do whatever it damn well took to have her.

“Congratulations again, Ben. Thank you for taking the time to talk to me.”

“Anytime.”

The camera stopped rolling, but I didn’t stop looking at her. How could I when she was the best thing I’d ever seen?

Finally, it was our moment to talk. I could tell her everything I have planned for her and give her the ring that was always meant to be on her finger.

“Britt?”

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