Page 61 of Hard Count
“That’s not why you lost. You can’t take the blame every time it doesn’t go your way. There are a lot of factors at play. You have to believe in yourself. Everyone else does.”
Lifting my head, I press a kiss to her lips. “You’re always so confident when it comes to me and football. You know your dad said something about you always believing in me in the fourth quarter.”
“Oh yeah?” She drops her gaze and if I had to guess she’s spinning her bracelet around her wrist behind my back.
“He gave me a nice pep talk. He said you were right about me. What did he mean?”
“I don’t know. Are you hungry? I think we have stuff to make a sandwich or maybe a few Lunchables in the fridge. Let me check.” She scrambles off my lap. I grab hold of her hips and pull her back towards me until she’s standing between my legs.
“Please don’t run from me. I’m really trying here. If you can’t meet me halfway…” I tip her chin up when her head falls toward the floor. “I will drag your ass. That’s how much I want this with you. I’ll wait for you to work through what you need to.” I run my thumb over the broken heart tattoo on her wrist. “But you need to know that I want it all. I’ll take all your messy, your funny, your brilliance, and your sexy too.” I palm her ass and squeeze. “I want all of you.”
“I want to give that to you. I'm trying,” she whispers and exhales a slow breath. Then glances at her phone sitting on the side table. “I’ll show you what he’s talking about but I can’t be in the same room with you while you watch. It’s too embarrassing.”
“There’s nothing to be embarrassed about. Not with me.”
She laughs dryly. “That’s easy for you to say.” She grabs her phone and starts clicking and scrolling around. “This was a really good day with my dad. I hadn’t felt that connected to him in a long time. Give me a minute before you hit play.” She passes me her phone and kisses the top of my head.
Once she’s out of sight down the hallway, I look at her phone. The video is dated five years ago. What does this have to do with me if it’s from that long ago? We didn’t even know each other.
I hit play and a younger version of my girlfriend pops up on the screen. She’s still gorgeous even at seventeen with her bright green eyes and freckled face.
“Drew here going live once again with Coach Prescott as we make our next pick for Newhouse University,” she says, scanning the room which looks like Coach’s office.
“Do you really have to film everything?” he asks.
“Yes. Don’t be a grump. You’ll thank me one day. What position are we looking at now?”
“Quarterback,” he answers.
“Oooh.” Her eyebrows wiggle at the camera, making me laugh. “Who’s on your list?” She turns the camera toward her dad.
“Sharp, Jenkins, and Curtis,” he says, flipping through papers. Wait, five years? That was when I got my offer from Newhouse but I wasn’t on their radar. My heart sinks to my stomach. My dream school wasn’t even looking at me. How did I—
“What about Pierce?” she asks, cutting off my thoughts.
“No one went to see him. He wasn’t on our list.”
“He was on my list. You need to look at him,” she says frantically.
“There aren’t enough games left in the season to get film on him. The offers have to be ready in two weeks. I can’t get my recruiting staff there in time and watch him play.”
“I’ve already seen him. I’ve been going to his games and recording him.” She fumbles with the phone and it suddenly goes black. “Here, put this in your laptop. Please, Dad, justwatch him. He’s incredible. Fast on his feet. Cool under pressure. He knows how to read a defense and make last minute adjustments. He's everything you look for in a quarterback. Please, do this for me.” She picks up her phone and cuts it to her dad’s computer.
Clips of me playing from my sophomore and junior year of high school flash on the screen. My vision begins to blur as tears fill my eyes. I don’t think Drew realizes the enormity of what she did for me at this moment.
“He’s good, right?” she asks, holding the phone out so they’re both on the screen.
“He is but I don’t know if we can make it work. We have other players lined up.”
She lean over the desk and closer to her dad's face. “You told me if you believe in something bad enough you make it work, you fight for it. I believe in him. I’m fighting for Nash Pierce. I chose him. He’s our guy.”
He sighs, resignation sinking in that he's no competition for his fierce daughter. “Can I keep this?” He points to the flash drive in his laptop.
“Yep. I made your staff a copy, too, and a full report on his high school career so far.” She grins.
“Of course you did,” he says with a lift to his lips.
She fought for me. I wasn’t a thought for their roster until she made them look at me. She shifted my life five years ago and she’s doing it again without even trying.
