Page 95 of Play of Love
Gage didn’t have to tell me he was going to pass the ball to me. It was like telepathy, the mental bond we’d developed from years of playing together.
When Gage ran forward making it look like he was heading for the finish line to score the touchdown, I knew different when I watched him lift his arms up.
As Gage launched the ball backwards, over his head, I was right there to catch it. I was also right there to do a little distraction of my own as Gage lunged himself out of the way of the receiver so that he would crash into me.
The idiot couldn’t even stop himself. The guy collided with me, knocking himself backwards from the impact. I, however, was still standing up, as if I hadn’t been rammed by a two-hundred-pound muscle freak. Thank God for the body I had. My muscles and height balanced me out perfectly, unlike my dumb friend on the ground.
The momentary debacle and confusion was the perfect distraction and I simply threw the ball back to Gage, who was now well in the clear of anyone who thought they had a chance.
I smiled knowing we had this game in the palm of our hands as I watched Gage take off, lightning speed down the field. As the receiver tried to get up, I put my foot on his chest.
“Stay down, bitch, and look ahead, that’s how you win a game like a real man,” I balked.
Gage had five guys on his tail but they were just wasting their breath. I smiled proudly as I watched my friend breeze down the field, maintaining his mantra that nothing was faster than Gage. The crowd went wild as Gage passed into the end zone, running past the goal post and across the plane of the goal line to score their winning touchdown. The stadium erupted with cheers and all the Gladiators roared.
I removed my foot from the guy and stood, still watching it all. I was proud, indeed, and I was also grateful. Like always I looked back to my father who was cheering for me. I wished so badly that my mother and Clarissa could be here too.
But…maybe there were, maybe they were here in spirit. It was a nice thought.
I looked at my father, balled my fist and placed it on my heart. My father did the same, gazing at me with pride, just like always.
The euphoria I usually felt after a game filled me. It was a good feeling and I was grateful to the woman who made this all possible. I looked at my Amy standing next to my father. They were a massive distance from where I stood on the field but she could see that I was looking at her. I kept my hand at my heart and mouthed “Thank you” to her, which she most likely didn’t see but I did it anyway.
I continued to stare at her until Scott landed a hand on my shoulder and ushered me over to join in with the celebration.
* * *
Amy
* * *
I was so proud of Josh, and today I had a new-found admiration for how he played with his team. This was the first football game I’d ever been to, and while I squirmed at the fighting and clashes, I had to agree that it was fantastic.
People hung around to celebrate after the game. The diehard Gladiator fans were everywhere doing all sorts of things, from buying memorabilia to taking pictures of themselves with some of the players. I was trying to get through the crowd to get down to the locker rooms to find Josh, but several people had stopped me to talk, and now Zelda was doing the same.
“Hey Miss Thing,” Zelda said, giving me a hug. Her bright green eyes sparkled with pride as she looked at me and gave me a hug. “We couldn’t have done this without you.”
“Oh stop.” I giggled.
“You know I’m right. You certainly slapped sense into the machine.” Zelda laughed heartily. “Well done.” She tapped my arm and left as she got dragged away by one of the photographers.
I made my escape and continued through, pushing the crowd of fans. I made it to the changing rooms and saw a whole other crowd. These were fans of a different category. These were the people who wanted autographs from the top players like Josh. The other category of fans I saw had to be what I called groupies. No mistake about it, the throng of women I saw gathered around couldn’t have been anything other, not in the skanky clothing I witnessed.
“It’s better if you stay here,” a pretty, dark-haired lady called out to me. She leaned against the wall adjacent to the changing room, holding her little brown purse to her chest. I had seen her here with Gage a few days ago when I’d stopped by to meet Josh for lunch. “Unless you want to be stamped on.” She smiled.
“Hi,” I said, going over to her.
“Hey, I’m Evie.”
“I’m Amy.”
“I noticed you squirming as much as me during the game. This is my first game.”
“Oh, it’s mine too. I don’t like the fighting and stuff,” I told her, wrinkling my nose. Evie laughed.
“Yes, that was my face too.” I nodded. “It’s rough as anything. I’m Gage’s fiancée, are you with Josh?”
What should I say?
