Page 71 of Lucky Baller
“To them, I am. I’m just some normal girl, just like them. Nobody knows my name, I don’t have famous parents, I don’t get paid millions of dollars a year, and I’m wearing the same shirt they’re wearing. So, yes, I’m just like them.”
“No. You’re. Not. You are mine. They are not. You have my heart. They do not. You, Tessa, are everything they’re not. Don’t let some crazy cleat chaser get in your head. We talked about this.”
“We talked about the tabloids. I didn’t expect to be confronted at one of your games. Oh, and then there was the drunk guy behind me.”
“What about him?” he asks, his voice is steely yet calm.
“Oh, after the woman left, he proceeded to bend over the seat and tell me that, and I quote, ‘he would do me.’ Can you believe that?”
“I should have punched that fucker while I had the chance.”
“Right, and be in even more trouble with your coach?”
“A small fine, and it was worth it.” He leans over and presses his lips to my temple.
Thankfully, the conversation moves on from the crazy people I interacted with tonight. Luna invites Autumn and me to her baby shower, and of course, Jeremy and Landon are tagging along. Something about if Trent gets to be there, so do they. But it’s Trent’s baby. I didn’t try to reason with them. Next week is an away game, and the season is in full swing. I’ll see less and less of him, so I’ll take any time with him that I can get.
“You want to talk about the game?” Landon asks once we’re back at my place.
“No. It just shocked me, I guess. I’m fine.”
“Are you, Tess? Are you really fine? I won’t lose you over this.”
“Hey.” I reach out and place my hand on his leg, where he sits facing me on the couch. “You’re not going to lose me. Where is this coming from?”
“I’ve seen it, Tessa. I’ve seen the press tear couples and families apart, and they won’t do that to us. Next time, call security, and we’ll press charges.”
“Do you hear yourself right now? She didn’t do anything but give me her opinion, which she’s entitled to. It’s that pesky little thing called freedom of speech. Sound familiar?”
“I get it, but harassing you… That’s out of the question.”
“Honestly, Landon, she was actually nice about it. She wasn’t mean; she didn’t yell. She just said it as if she were asking about the weather. It was strange as hell, but now that I look back on it, I’m glad she didn’t cause a scene. It could have been much worse. The drunk guys were just that: drunk and obnoxious. Who’s to say they wouldn’t have made a comment even without her? They were drunk. That’s what you do when you’re drunk. Act a fool. They didn’t hurt me or touch me. So get thislosing mestuff out of your head.”
“I know it’s irrational. Trust me, I get it. But you haven’t seen it the way that I have… So many times, the tabloids, the cleat chasers, they tear couples apart, but that’s not us, Tess. I won’t let that happen to us.”
“We’re good. I just wasn’t prepared for it, that’s all. Now I am. Next time, I’ll be ready with a comeback.”
“Come here.” He holds open his arms, and I waste no time going to him, sitting on his lap and snuggling him close. “Much better,” he says over a yawn.
“Let’s get you to bed, Number Eighteen. You played one hell of a game and even put on a halftime show. You have to be exhausted.”
“Ha ha, funny girl.” He kisses me softly before I pull away and stand.
“I’m going to lock up; head on to bed. I’m right behind you.” He disappears down my small hallway while I check the doors and turn off the lights. I grab his phone and charger out of his bag, and plug it in in the kitchen beside mine before making my way to the bedroom. I strip out of my clothes, not bothering with pajamas, and slide under the covers next to him.
“Love this, Tess. Feeling you like this next to me.”
“I love it, too.”
“Night, baby.”
“Night.” In the comfort of his embrace, I drift off to sleep.
Chapter Twenty
Landon
It’s Thursday morning, and when I say morning, I mean the sun isn’t even up yet. I’ve hardly slept at all. We have an away game in New York this weekend. The team flies out at two this afternoon. This is the first time in my career that I don’t want to go. Sure, there have been times I’ve dreaded the flight, but never this. I’m lying here with her in my arms, and the thought of not seeing her for four days is killing me.
