Page 124 of The Way We Collide

I’m training hard, doing my best to stay offline and keep my focus on winning—when it’s not on my ladies, of course.

The championship game is on Sunday, and after our last near-miss against Baltimore, the tension in my chest twists hard. So much has happened this season I never accounted for. So much has changed, but one thing is the same. I still want a legacy. I still believe this is the year for us, and I still want to go all the way.

Sittingin the locker room in Seattle, I smile down at the faces on my phone.

“We’ll be here cheering you on the whole time.” Raven is in my royal blue jersey with her dark hair pulled into a ponytail.

“Dada!” Haddy stands at the coffee table, also in her Number 85 jersey, bending her knees and bouncing.

Her hair’s getting longer, but she still has the two little blue puff balls on the top of her head. She’s active and so close to walking.

“I’ll miss seeing you guys when I play.” The twistin my chest tells me just how much I’ve gotten used to looking up and seeing them smiling and waving.

“I wish we were there, too.” Raven’s tone is wistful. “Seattle’s so close, maybe we should’ve just made the flight?”

“It’s okay. Either way, I’ll be home tonight.”

“Then we’re headed to New Orleans!”

The excitement in her voice makes me smile. “That’s the spirit. All the way.”

“You bet we’re going all the way! We didn’t come this far not to win it!” Her enthusiasm is just what I need to get me hyped. “When I hang up with you, I’ll FaceTime with the family. We’re all behind you.”

“Thanks, babe. I love you, Pink.” Her chin dips, and she blinks a few times like I just said it for the first time. “What?”

“That’s the first time you’ve said it in your uniform.”

“Is it?”

She nods. “I had to catch my breath. I love you, too.”

Nodding, I give her a wink. “Sleep in that jersey tonight, and when I get home, I’ll say it so many times, you’ll lose count.”

Her pretty eyes shine, and she lifts my daughter’s little hand to wave to me. I blow them a kiss just as the guys start yelling it’s time to get moving.

I end the call and put my phone in my locker, exchanging it for my helmet.

Jogging to the field, Tyler slaps me on the shoulder. “Man, that’s some good shit.”

“What?” I frown as we head out onto the sidelines.

The noise is deafening between the cheering fans and the blast of the music and the voice of the announcers.

“Having a sexy mama like that and a cute little lady at home cheering for you.” He holds out his hand, and we do our fist bump, hand-jive, point routine with our shoulder rotation at the end.

The fans do it with us, and I can’t resist a tease. “You see something you want?”

Pulling his helmet over his head, he shrugs. “Maybe I do.”

Nodding, I can’t argue. It’s a pretty sweet gig. I hang back thinking about them as he runs onto the field for the coin toss. My eyes lift out of habit, but we’re not on our home turf.

“I remember when you were more focused on the team than the spectators.” Rusty stands beside me waiting to get the signal. “It’s funny how it changes.”

“I never even felt it happening.” I look up at him as we hear we won the toss.

He gives me a salute before jogging onto the field. “Best feeling in the world.”

For years Seattle has been a sleeper team, but it’s been a breakout year for them. They’ve made it all the way to the championships and they want it bad. Which means they’re fighting hard.

---