Page 95 of Intercept My Heart

“Aye, Moolah!” His head shot up as he looked in my direction. “Show them what that little kid is made of!” I shouted for everyone to hear.

No one on this planet would ever make my son feel like he wasn’t good enough. Fuck them and their egos. My boy was damn near the same size as a lot of those players, which was another reason they were mad. However, they were on the same team, so there was no reason for them to act that way toward him.

The coach glared at me, and I winked at him. Bitch ass nigga. Hating on a kid because his own son was a disappointment.

“I can see that look in your eyes, Money.” Montez chuckled. He saw firsthand how I got down, so I didn’t have to say much. All I knew was that he better get a handle on that mothafucka before I stepped in.

“Come on, Moo,” I whispered, watching him crouch down. They were tied right now, and we were down to the last few minutes of the third quarter. If they could score one more touchdown and hold the lead through the fourth quarter, they would win.

I thought the QB was going to try to pass the ball to number sixteen, but he shocked the shit out of me when he turned to the right and fired the ball right to Moolah. My boy caught the ball, but the defense blindsided him, barreling his helmet into Moolah’s ribs. Dreis held me back because he must have known what was going through my mind when my son hit the ground.

The referee threw a flag on the play, but it did nothing to remedy the fact that my son had been injured. When it took a long time for him to get up, I raced onto the field without any interference from my friends. Kneeling down, I rested my hand on his chest.

“How are you feeling, little man?” The look of pain etched on his face sent me into overdrive. It took a moment for him torespond, but when he turned to look at me, a smile graced his face.

“Ain’t nothing little over here, Pops.” Cocky mothafucka. I grabbed his hand, helping him sit up. The medics were ready to take him off the field, but I wanted to check him out first.

“I don’t want them to pull me out. We can still win this game,” Moolah pleaded. The passion in his eyes mirrored mine as a young man. No one could get me off the field when I knew my team depended on me.

“We need to make sure you don’t have any cracked ribs. You took a pretty hard hit out there.”

“Man, that was nothing. I’ve taken harder hits from Cash at your house. I’m ready.” I stared at him, full of conflict. The player in me understood what he needed to do, but the father in me didn’t want his health or his career in the future to be jeopardized. Lifting up his shirt, I spotted a big ass bruise on his side.

“I’ll make you a deal. The third quarter is over. Let them wrap you up, and I’ll let you make one more play, okay?”

“That’s all I need.” He smirked.

“You are something else, you know that?”

“Like father, like son.”

I helped him stand up so the medics could get him on the stretcher. I followed behind them to make sure they were doing what needed to be done. I’d had enough experience with hits to know if someone was qualified to take care of my son.

Eight minutes passed before they finished wrapping him up, and I had second thoughts about allowing him to play. He swore he was okay, but I’d seen people say the same thing and end up dead the next minute from unknown complications.

“Pops, I’ve got this. I promise you I do,” Moolah declared. He read my facial expression as we walked out on the field. The crowd went crazy when he stepped back on the turf. I heardhis nickname being shouted from the stands as we walked. The only thing on Moolah’s mind was winning, and I couldn’t take that away from him. Charae would probably be pissed with our decision, but I would take accountability for it.

“I’m gonna let you play, but the minute anything seems off to me, I’m pulling your ass. Do you understand me?”

“I hear you loud and clear, Pops. I’m straight.” We bumped fists before he jogged back over to his team. The majority of them embraced him, including the quarterback. I kept my eyes down, not even wanting to glance in the direction of his mother. Knowing Sunny, she was probably cussing me out right now and sending all types of threatening messages to my phone. I would deal with her later because, right now, we had a game to win.

“Aye, I already talked to the other coaches and removed Coach Arnold from the game. He wasn’t playing for the best interest of the team, and I wasn’t feeling the way he was carrying Moolah. We’re here to have fun, but this is always an opportunity for these young folks to be seen, and I refuse for him to fuck it up because of his ego. He might need to find another sport for his son to play because football isn’t his calling,” Montez expressed.

“I appreciate it.”

“How’s little man doing?”

“According to him, he isn’t little. He’s all good, though. He wants this win badly, so we’ll see what happens.”

“I believe he can pull it off. He comes from one of the best to ever do it. I wouldn’t expect anything less.”

The game resumed, and they were down to the last few minutes. They were still tied, but the opposing team had possession of the ball. I’d give it to their defense because Moolah’s team had a strong defense line. The opposing team could barely get any yards, and I knew a field goal was coming. This would put their team up by three points if they made it, butif they didn’t, the teams would remain tied, and Moolah’s team would regain possession of the ball.

“Come on, Son. You can do this!” I yelled out as they got into formation. I didn’t think I’d been this nervous about my own games, but this moment meant so much. My sons were making names for themselves, and it was incredible to watch.

I glanced back and saw Sunny standing up with her hand on her belly. I couldn’t believe I had been blessed to have a family with her. We’d been through so much, but it was something about seeing her carrying my seed that had me rethinking so many things. Lately, I’d been re-evaluating everything that had taken place. It was time for me to make some hard decisions, and this time, I wasn’t running.

“Field goal incomplete. The ball is now in the possession of the Durangos. There are three minutes left on the clock,” the announcer called out.

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