Page 97 of Love at Second Down

Through it all, my eyes scan the crowd, searching for one face in particular. And then I see her.

Avery stands behind the barricade separating the field from the stands, her honey-blonde hair tumbling over the shoulders of her Griffins jersey—my jersey—and her smile brighter than the stadium lights.

She jumps up and down, waving frantically to catch my attention. It’s a sight I thought I’d never see again, one that completely unravels me.

Without thinking, I break away from the celebrations, jogging across the field toward her with my helmet in hand. I dodge staff, security, teammates, and reporters, my focus on one thing as I reach the barricade. The fact I’m slightly out of breath has nothing to do with the short sprint to the edge of the field and everything to do withher.

Her hazel eyes brighten with unshed tears, and her cheeks are flushed pink from the cold. “Hey,” I say when I reach her, unableto help the smirk that crosses my face, because I won, in more ways than one.

“Looks like you got lucky last nightandtoday,” she says with a cheeky grin.

I reach out with my free hand, cupping the side of her face as I smirk. “Luck had nothing to do with it.”

“Oh, really?” She laughs, shaking her head as she glances down at her hands. “I’m just relieved because if you had lost—” She yelps when I grab the metal barrier with one hand and vault over it in a single motion, landing smoothly in front of her.

Dropping my helmet to the ground with a thud, I pull her into my arms and crush my mouth against hers as the world falls away. The roaring crowd, the flashing cameras, my teammates’ whoops and hollers, the sounds of celebration, everything around me fades to background noise. It’s a static buzz mingling with the roaring of my pulse in my ears.

I tilt Avery’s face with my hands, slanting my mouth against hers and relishing the taste of her?like cherry lip balm and victory. Like everything I ever wanted. Like mine.

With a growl, I bite her lower lip, eliciting a small gasp that reminds me of last night. I kiss her until we’re both breathless. Until someone shouts in my ear, and I finally pull away to see a microphone between us.

Beside me, a female sports reporter smiles. “Damon Huhn,” she says, pushing the microphone closer, “what an incredible victory! Can you tell us what was going through your mind during that final play?”

I blink, momentarily dazed by the bright camera lights and the reporter’s eager face. Without missing a beat, I sling my arm around Avery’s shoulders, and pull her tight against my side as my face splits into a grin so wide it almost hurts.

“Honestly? I just knew we had to execute. We might have been up by three, but with time still left on the clock, I knewwe needed to score to ensure a win. The team trusted me, and I trusted them. That’s what championship football is all about.”

The reporter nods, her eyes sliding to Avery with a spark of curiosity. “And who’s this lucky lady wearing your jersey? Does she have anything to do with your spectacular performance tonight?”

Avery stiffens slightly under my arm, but I give her a reassuring squeeze as I beam down at her. I want the world to know she’s mine. “This is Avery Astor.”

“Your girlfriend?” the reporter prods.

Avery’s eyes soften, and I turn back to the reporter. “She’s more than my girlfriend, always has been.”

“Well, I think it’s safe to say there are going to be a lot of disappointed ladies back on the AAU campus,” the reporter says, turning back toward the camera with a smile. “And there you have it, football fans. An inspiring win by the Ann Arbor Griffins, who will take the CFP trophy and some rings back to the Great Lakes State.”

Avery eyes me once the reporter is gone, her brows raised. “Girlfriend?”

“Has a nice ring to it after two and half years, don’t ya think?” I smile.

She reaches up, sliding her hands from my shoulders into the back of my hair as she rises on her toes. “It does. Because this time, I’m playing for keeps.”

And then she kisses me.

Chapter 29

AVERY

With the girls at my side, I unlock the door to our suite with a swipe of my key card. Conversation bubbles between us as we come off the buzz of adrenaline, post-win.

“I want a giant cheeseburger,” Charlotte calls out.

Brynn groans. “With fries and one of those skillet cookies with vanilla ice cream for dessert.”

“Oh my gosh, yes!” Charlotte’s eyes practically roll back in her head, and I laugh. “Are you sure you don’t want to join us?” she asks, flopping down onto the couch.

“Definitely not.” While Charlotte and Brynn are joining their men and the rest of the team for drinks and late-night grub at a local bar, I plan on getting a shower and curling up in bed. “I’m exhausted and perfectly content waiting for Damon to call.”

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