Everywhere I look, there are thousands of fans in navy and gold, waving flags, drinking beer, shouting stats. The energy is so thick, so electric, it feels like a tangible thing wrapping around me, pressing in.
It’s louder than I expected.
Bigger. Everyone is so pumped up from the first week’s victory, you’d have thought they already won the Super Bowl.
Like, it’sone game,people. Relax.
And I feel like an intruder.
I pull my coat tighter around myself, despite the fact that the early fall air is still warm.
Lauren, on the other hand, is thriving.
She links her arm through mine as we make our way through the main concourse, scanning for our section. “This issomuch better than watching at home.”
“Speak for yourself.”
She nudges me. “Are youseriouslytrying to tell me you’re not excited to watch yourbaby daddycoach in his big season debut?”
I groan. “Can younotsay ‘baby daddy’ while we’re standing in a sea of people who literally worship him?”
She laughs, dragging me toward our seats. “Come on. Let’s go get you a front-row seat to yourlife imploding.”
We get to our seats, and I force myself to look down at the field.
At first, it’s all a blur of movement. Players warming up. Trainers and staff crisscrossing the sidelines. Cheerleaders hyping up the crowd.
There, standing near the fifty-yard line, headset on, arms crossed, watching his team like a king overseeing his kingdom.
Jackson.
Everything inside me seizes up.
Because he looks exactly the same…but somehow even better.
The broad cut of his shoulders. The way his navy Stallions quarter-zip clings to his body. The pure authority in his stance, like he belongs here. The energy around him as he commands the team.
And it’s same man who cooked me pancakes in nothing but boxer briefs.
The same man who kissed me so deeply, I thought I’d drown in him.
The same man who pressed me against a brick wall.
Oh, God.
“I am not okay.”
Lauren is already watching me. “Breathe, babe.”
I drag in a shaky breath. “I…I didn’t think seeing him would feel likethis.”
Lauren squeezes my hand. “Like what?”
Like he’s a stranger and the most familiar person in the world at the same time.
Like I’m watching someone who is so far out of reach, it’s ridiculous to even imagine he could ever be part of my life again.
“Like this is impossible,” I say out loud.