Page 98 of Brick Wall
The Revs win, 27–24.
It wasn’t the most glamorous win, but it was strong andsteady, with zero mistakes. Sometimes, all you need to win is to stay focused and move forward. Those small plays will add up to a win too.
My teammates, coaches, and staff celebrate on the field.
People are everywhere.
I’m talking with a teammate when Annie finds me on the field, confetti flying in her hair and the biggest smile on her face.
At this moment, I realize how much I really did win.
Chapter Forty-Nine
Annie
Sebastian and I are lying on the beach in the Caribbean a few weeks after the Super Bowl win. It’s a beautiful eighty-degree day with the turquoise ocean as our background and the waves as our soundtrack. The beach is quiet, with only a few people in the vicinity.
I dip my toes in the warm, soft sand as I lie on my beach towel in the morning sun. I turn on my right side to get a better view of Sebastian. He’s lying on his back with just his swim trunks and sunglasses on.
I have the perfect view of him. His shirt is off, which is half the fun. Only his bathing suit remains until I can see…
“Stop ogling me, woman,” Sebastian interrupts my thoughts, but his complaint holds no heat. In fact, I think he secretly loves it. I also think hefinallybelieves in his own attractiveness and appeal, which he should. I make sure to tell him often, and he usually reciprocates.
“I can’t help it,” I say with a shrug. “Hey! Did you know thatwe met one year ago today?”
Sebastian’s face lights up with an all-knowing grin. “I did.”
“No, you didn’t!” I drop my finger into the sand and flick some onto his towel, but not enough to do any damage.
“Why do you think I planned this trip for this week?”
I sit up fast. He has my full attention now—and outrage! “Hey! I planned this!”
“Oh, that’s right,” he easily concedes. “Well, I helped.”
I scoff at that. If his definition of helped means let me plan every single thing, then yes, he helped plenty. He also ate all my snacks on the plane ride here and “borrowed” my travel pillow.
It’s quiet for a moment, and then Sebastian leans closer to me and adds, “We would have met eventually even if we didn’t at the bar that night.”
“Probably,” I agree, especially since Bryce and Goldie are still together.
“We would have met at the college since you recommended me and all.” Amusement is shining in Sebastian’s eyes.
I shrug. No comment.
“It was really cool when I got that call from Adam in Athletics. I never told you, but I loved that you saw value in my foundation and nominated me. I loved speaking at the college last spring.”
“Even if I was a crazy gold digger?” I tease.
“Hey, your words! Not mine!” He holds his hands up in the air in front of him like he’s a helpless victim. He’s not.
I graze my hand to the sand and flick it at him. I don’t care if he gets sand in his pants now.
There’s a peaceful silence in the air after. We are both quiet and thoughtful looking out to the beautiful, immense ocean.
My mind flicks back to the beginning, and a thought pops in my head.
“I never told you why I recommended you to my boss.” He quirks a single eye up. I take a small breath. Why am I so nervous all of a sudden? This is Sebastian. “Well, I knew you were a football player, obviously, but I also loved your foundation. You know how you give scholarships to female players to help them succeed in college and sports…” I trail off for a second, and look down at my sand-covered toes. “Well, you know my libero, Morgan? She received a private scholarship to play volleyball at the school of her choice.” I unfortunately only have so many scholarship dollars and offers to make, which is not much. Male athletes tend to have more scholarship opportunities in college sports than women. Shocking, I know. Cue the sarcasm.
