Page 68 of Lucky Baller
Any way I can have her. If that means with a ring on her finger and growing round with my child, I’ll take it. In fact, now that the thought is in my head, I can see it clearly. Our future flashes before my eyes. I can see it playing out, plain as day, and it’s not fear I feel, it’s excitement. I want to spend every day of forever with her by my side.
Chapter Nineteen
Tessa
The crowd is electric as we walk into the Cougars’ stadium. It’s as if the entire building is lit up with the excitement of the fans.
“Damn, I’m glad I left JJ with his aunt Alice. This place is crazy.” Autumn links her arms through mine as we filter our way through the crowd. “Maybe we should start taking them up on sitting in the box,” she says once we find our seats.
“What? And miss all the action. Pfft.” I wave her off. “This is where it lives.” I give her a cheesy grin.
“Yeah,itmeaning the madness.”
“Exactly. It’s exciting and electric. Besides, I like to cheer and scream, and I don’t think that would be allowed in the box. Then again, I wouldn’t really know, as I’ve never been in there.”
“We should try it at least once,” she counters.
“Fine, we can try it once.” I hold up my index finger for emphasis, making her laugh.
“Excuse me, are you Tessa Deaton?” a woman asks from next to me.
“Uh.” I look over my shoulder at Autumn, then turn back to the woman. “Yes, do I know you?”
“No, but I’m a huge fan of Landon Barker. You’re his girlfriend, right?”
I nod. I didn’t expect this. “That’s what I thought. He can do so much better than you,” she sasses, then turns and marches up the steps. Turning to face forward, I try to wrap my head around what just happened.
“Did she say what I think she said?” Autumn asks.
“She did. Those box seats are looking better and better,” I admit.
“Oh, hell no.” Autumn stands, but my hand on her arm stops her.
“Don’t. She’s entitled to her opinion. I’m different from any woman in his past.”
“Yeah, since you have a title that none of the others had.”
“That, too. Let’s just watch the game.” Luckily, kickoff is a few minutes later and I’m able to push the woman to the back of my mind. Mostly. I mean, who isn’t going to be affected by a comment like that? The first half of the game flies by, and before I know it, it’s halftime.
“You want anything?” Autumn asks.
“No, thanks.”
“You want to come with?”
I could use the restroom, but I don’t want to run into any other disgruntled so-called fans, so I opt to stay here. “I’m good. Thank you.”
She leaves, and I pull my phone out of my pocket to not seem like the loner girl sitting alone. I’m scrolling through my social media when I feel a tap on my shoulder. Turning, I see a guy who’s about my age, mid to late twenties. He has a scruffy beard, mustard on his shirt from, I’m assuming, the half-eaten hot dogin his hand, and he has a beer in the other. His eyes are glassy, and it’s obvious that he’s beyond wasted.
“Yes?” I ask, keeping my voice polite, trying not to let my earlier irritation or my dislike for this guy show.
“I’d do you.” He grins, taking another messy bite of his dripping mustard hot dog. His buddies cheer and laugh.
I don’t know what to do. What do you say to that? So instead, I don’t say anything. I turn back to the field and find Landon’s eyes on me. I smile, not wanting him to see I’m irritated, and raise my hand in a wave. Our seats are prime, bottom row on the fifty-yard line, so he’s close enough to see that something’s wrong. His blue gaze is penetrating as he takes me in. Then, without warning, he spits out his mouthguard, rips off his helmet, jogs to the concrete wall, and propels himself over it.How did he jump that high?My man’s got skills.
The crowd goes wild, and his coach is glaring at the back of his head. “What are you doing?” I hiss when he’s over the wall.
“What’s wrong?”
