Page 123 of Fumble Into the End Zone

“The Armadillos are going to the Elite Bowl. With the connection between Bryce and Marcus, I’m saying it right now: The Armadillos are winning the Elite Bowl. Doug Jordan and the general manager put together this team piece by piece,” the announcer said.

I scoffed at his statement. Kindness Jordan put this team together. Bryce was her first draft pick. When she jumped back in the first round and picked up Marcus, it changed my life.

“Mrs. Eddy and Ms. Renee, it appears we will be going to Philly to the Elite Bowl,” I said.

Both women smiled back at me. “Ms. Renee, I’m going to be here for the rest of the day. You are welcome to leave and get ahead of the traffic,” I said.

“I will take you up on your offer,” Ms. Renee headed to the back.

Within ten minutes, she waved as she exited the door.

“Mrs. Allen, are you hungry? I can whip up something,” I asked.

As I began to stand up, she motioned for me to sit back down. “I need to talk to you,” Mrs. Eddy said.

Nervous energy flowed through me as I played with my fingers.

“Thank you for taking care of my Marcus and Harley. Getting my hardheaded grandson in therapy was the best thing for him. And you make sure he keeps going. My daughter, Mariah, and I bumped heads when she told me about the pregnancy. She had a bright future ahead of her until she connected with Tate. Marcus’s daddy was a bad apple. He got back what he gave. My husband and I tried to show him and Harley love, but we couldn’t bring light to all the dark places. You, however, soften his hard shell. He will be putty by the time them babies are born,” she said.

I moved next to her and secured her hand. “Mrs. Allen, it’s sounding as if you are getting ready to tell me bad news,” I said.

She patted my hand. “No, I’m telling you what I can’t tell Marcus. Baby, I’m tired. I miss my husband,” she said.

A tear escaped my face, dropping to my shirt. I could see the tiredness in her worn eyes.

“Now, get in bed before him and your father have a heart attack,” she said.

I squeezed her hand, unsure about what to do with this information.

Marcus

I almost passed out this morning watching USPN. Kindness Jordan was Doug Jordan’s daughter. Mia gave me her back, and I pulled back the white bed linens and tapped her shoulder.

“Yes, baby,” she said.

“Don’tyes, babyme. Kindness is Doug Jordan’s daughter? I thought she was his niece,” I said.

Mia turned to me with a crowded brow. “Why would you think she was his niece?” she questioned.

I tilted my head in her direction. “Because there ain’t no way I would let my daughter be on the sideline around football players. They fuck anything with a hole. And Mr. Jordan is a grade A asshole and Kindness is a beautiful, weird person,” I said.

“First of all, just because football players are whores doesn’t mean Kindness would bite. Mr. Jordan is an asshole, but he couldn’t stop her from standing on the sideline. She owns the team,” Mia said and then slapped her hand over her mouth.

Air danced across my teeth with my mouth being wide open. Mia closed her eyes but reopened them.

“Marcus, please don’t tell anyone. I signed an NDA. Doug Jordan doesn’t own the team. He runs the team. Kindness’s first name is Denise, and her mother, Serena Jordan, inherited the team from her grandfather.” I opened and closed my mouth several times.

Thinking back on several things, this made sense. Why Bryce didn’t always stay at the hotel and why I caught her coming out of his room a few times. It also makes sense why his hate for Mr. Jordan deepened. And why he never told the team about her.

“I wouldn’t betray your trust, Mia,” I said and kissed her cheek.

Relief appeared on her features as her shoulders relaxed. I lifted my phone and texted Bryce.

Marcus

Our kids are gonna play together. Mia is pregnant, too.

When the bubbles popped up and Ed answered, I knew I fucked up. I moved too fast and put my business in the team group chat.

---