Page 132 of Blitzing Emily

In only moments, a stage was set up. A few stairs were pulled up in front of it, and microphones waited for the team owners, coaches, and captains. The Seattle fans were clustered in the stands nearby. Tom’s wife, Lauren, walked over to Emily. She was heavily pregnant, and she had another month to go.

“Emily, it’s so good to see you.”

Emily hugged her. “Tom was wonderful today.”

Lauren laid a hand on her belly. “I wish Justin could have seen it. We can make a DVD for him to watch when he’s older.”

On the stage, Shane Falcon and the FOX Sports announcers interrupted their conversation. “Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to the victory celebration of Super Bowl Forty-Two. The Seattle Sharks defeated the New England Minutemen, 27-26, to win their very first Super Bowl championship. Let’s hear it for Seattle.” More deafening applause, and, to Emily’s amazement, Lauren put two fingers in her mouth and whistled.

“I taught Tom how to do it,” she explained.

“Maybe you could teach me, too.”

“Later,” Lauren assured her.

Shane continued. “The commissioner of the NFL would like to present the Lombardi Trophy to the owner of the Seattle Sharks. Commissioner?”

Emily resisted the impulse to shout, “Hurry up!”

Brandon and the other team captains were heading toward the stage. The owner’s speech was brief. He thanked everyone. He lifted the trophy. Brandon, Tom and Damian climbed onto the stage, and the place went wild. Tom was first.

“I’d like to thank my teammates. I knew this day would come. My bride is somewhere on the field. She’s having our son next month. This is for the two of them, because I can’t imagine this celebration without them. I love you, sweetheart.”

“I love you, too,” Lauren shouted.

Tom handed the trophy to Brandon. Brandon scanned the crowd until he found Emily. He gestured for her to come to the stage, and she shook her head no. This was his day.

“Sugar, nothing’s happening till you’re up here with me,” he said, and held out his hand.

“Go, go,” Lauren urged.

Brandon was still beckoning her, and Emily finally moved through the crowd toward him. Harry McCord, former tight end of the Miami Kingfish, was speaking.

“Brandon, how does it feel to play the greatest game of your career? Three sacks. Nine tackles. An interception and a resulting touchdown. Amazing.”

The crowd cheered, and a grin spread across Brandon’s face.

“It’s about to get better,” Brandon said to Harry, and reached down to help Emily up the stairs. The look in his eyes made her knees weak.

Champagne dripped from his tangled curls. The eye black he wore at every game was smeared all over his cheeks. He was covered in sweat, mud, grass, and bloodstains. He’d pulled off the gloves he wore to play. Even with grimy tape covering it, his hand was big, warm, and comforting, as always.

“I couldn’t have done this without you,” he said to her. She heard his voice echoing around the stadium, and she shook her head again.

“No, baby. This was all you. I’m so proud of you.” She tried to smooth the hair off his face.

“I got you something.” He laid the trophy in Emily’s arms. It was surprisingly heavy. She pretended to examine it.

“Thank you. It’s really nice.”

The others assembled on the stage laughed. Emily glanced down to see that their families had materialized on the field only a few feet away. Her mom and Suzanne McKenna stood arm-in-arm. Behind them were Brandon’s dad, and Dylan. Amy held their dad’s hand. She couldn’t believe her agent David was there. Hehatedfootball.

“Baby, look, there’s your mom and dad,” she told him.

“Your folks are here, too.” The crowd was cheering again. Brandon waited until it was somewhat quiet, and said, “You gave up an opportunity you’ve been working toward most of your life to be here to watch me play. If I didn’t know you love me before this morning, I sure as hell know now.”

He dropped to one knee, looked into her eyes, and squeezed her hand again. She was so startled she blurted out, “Wh-what are you doing?”

His blue-green eyes danced. They were still the most exotic color Emily had ever seen, and she knew she’d never be tired of looking into them.

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