Chapter 8: That Love: Chapter 7

I’m awoken by the sound of knocking. I toss the fluffy comforter back and say, “Yes?” as I pull on a robe.

“It’s Chase. Mom said to tell you there are warm cinnamon rolls on the counter, and if you want one, you should come get them. ’Cause my mom makes them from scratch. And they are really good. Okay, uh, bye. It was nice to meet you.”

I hear footsteps across the wood floor, the door slamming shut, and then car doors and the garage door opening and closing.

Now that I’m awake, I notice the enticing smell of cinnamon. I go into the bathroom, run a brush through my hair before pulling it back in a ponytail, and decide to brush my teeth after I eat. I look at the clothes Jadyn bought me, all lined up in the closet, suddenly feeling like doing something I haven’t in a long time—running. I work out with my trainer, have to in order to keep my figure camera ready, but at some point, I stopped running.

I thought it was because I had grown out of the need. Running was always my escape when I was young. When I started acting, it became my escape from the pressure—something I did just for me. When Troy suggested we share a trainer, even though Troy didn’t work out often, I stopped running in favor of that.

I put on workout pants and a matching jacket and tie up the running shoes.

However, I think I need to stop in the kitchen first.

When I swing the door to the office open, I notice a plain white envelope on the floor. I open it and pull out a ticket to tonight’s game, a sideline pass, and a little note that says, There’s a heart and Danny’s signature.

I clutch the ticket to my chest, emotions flooding me. I feel bad for making him think I was leaving. I thought if he thought I was leaving it might spur him on.

But Danny hasn’t been behaving like most guys would in this situation. He hasn’t been throwing himself at me. If anything, I feel like I’ve been the one pursuing him.

I make my way to the kitchen. Find a note from Jadyn, saying she has appointments most of the day but that it was really nice to see me. There’s a phone number for a car service I can use to get to the airport.

I let out a whoosh of air, feeling like the wind got knocked out of me. She didn’t say good-bye.

But then again, she opened her home when I needed it, and I didn’t have the decency to tell her I was leaving. I’m a shitty friend.

I cover up the rolls, deciding to have one when I get back, do a few stretches, and then take off for my run. I have no idea where I’m going or if I’ll ever be able to find my way back, but it feels good to be out here. My feet hit the pavement with a rhythmic sound, my breathing increases as my heart rate rises, and my mind clears.

I follow the road to a park that leads down to the lake. I head toward it and soon find myself sitting on a dock, cross-legged, looking out at the water.

It’s a gorgeous late fall day. The air is a little crisp, but the sun is warm. A light breeze from the north causes gentle ripples to roll across the lake. I close my eyes and try to focus on my breathing.

When I open my eyes a short time later, I know what I need to do.

“You’re still here,” Dani says, coming through the Mackenzies’ front door after school to find me camped out in my spot in the study. “Chase and Damon not home yet?”

“No, just me.” I point down at the dog, who’s been by my side all day, like she knew I needed the support. “And Angel.”

“Angel seems to really like you,” Dani says, causing the dog to furiously wag her tail.

“She’s a good dog.”

“She’s a freak of nature,” Dani says. “Most Labs don’t live to be so old. Jadyn says it’s because of all the love she gets here. She loves Chase the most though. Slept under his crib when he was a baby.”

“I love her,” I say, leaning down and letting the dog kiss my face. It’s funny how good a dog can make you feel. Like you’re not alone in the world. Like someone loves you. Besides having kids, a dog was always on my list of things I wanted in life. Maybe, someday, I’ll buy a house with a big yard for a dog just like Angel. “I even love her name.”

“Do you know how she got her name?” Dani asks.

“Because she’s such a good dog?”

“No, when Jadyn was a senior in high school, her parents died in a car accident. A divorce is bad enough; I can’t even imagine what it would be like to lose your parents so young. Her dad always called Jadyn his angel.”

I let out a totally inappropriate snicker.

“I know, right?” she says. “If you’ve ever heard the stories about her and my dad when they were younger, I’m pretty sure she had her dad fooled. When Jadyn and Phillip were engaged and bought this house, my grandpa bought her Angel. The story goes that, on what was her dad’s birthday, Grandpa went to a place where he and Jadyn’s dad used to shoot skeet. They had a litter of puppies, and when the owner told them one was named Angel, he felt like it was a sign and brought her home.”

“I’m surprised he didn’t get your dad one, too.”

“Are you kidding? I remember when I was little, begging for a puppy. Even looked up breeds that don’t shed. My mother said something like, ‘Over my dead body.’ Although, from what I’ve heard, Angel wasn’t an angel when she was young.”

“Well, she’s grown into the sweetest dog ever,” I say as the dog kisses my hand. “So, how was school today?”

“Interesting. The entire varsity cheer team got called into the coach’s office. And then we were interviewed one-on-one, which was a little nerve-racking, but I did exactly what you said to do. I told Coach that it wasn’t the captain’s fault, who really invited the guys, that the guys were already drunk when they got there, that they brought all the alcohol, how she tried to get them to leave, and how it got out of control.”

“You told the truth,” I state.

“Yep. And it felt good. She shouldn’t have to get in trouble because of the other girls. Plus, the coach must have told her because, after school, she gave me a hug.”

“And what about Dalton?”

“His hand is in a cast. You know what that means, right?”

“That he can’t play?” I offer.

“That Chase, who’s not even in high school yet, is now the second-string quarterback for the high school team. A guy in my class told me that the coach wants to make Chase practice with them. Although, I don’t think he or my brother will like that.”

“Damon was trying to talk the high school coach into letting him on the team, too.”

“That sounds like him,” she says with a laugh.

“You didn’t tell me how your night was on Saturday. Did you and Chase have fun?”

She lets out a content little sigh and clasps her hands together. “Did you see how he decorated everything? It was beautiful. And our dinner—did you know about it? I can’t believe I’ve known him my whole life, and I never knew about their family tradition. Now, I want a bucket of chicken and champagne every time we celebrate.”

“Did you dance?”

“Yeah. Mostly, we talked. We talk about everything.”

“That’s sweet.”

“It is. He’s my best friend, but the guys at school are …”

“Older?” I reply.

“And they drive.”

“How does Chase feel about you dating someone else?”

She sighs. “He says any guy I date had better treat me right. He thinks he has a say in that, but he doesn’t. I can date anyone I want.”

“I hope you’d only want to date guys who treat you right.”

“That’s the goal,” she says. “And there’s this guy I kinda have a crush on. He’s older, he drives a motorcycle, and he’s so sexy. His name is Matt. He asked for my number today at lunch and has been texting me all day.”

“Isn’t that the guy who was all over you at the eighth grade football game?”

“Yeah.” She beams. “I guess he likes me.”

“But Jadyn said he’s not a good guy.”

“Auntie Jay doesn’t know him like I do,” she replies as Chase and Damon barrel through the front door, followed by Haley. “And you’d better not tell anyone. Besides, it’s not like I can do anything. I’m grounded for life. I don’t even get to go to Dad’s game tonight.”

“You’re still here,” Chase says to me in greeting.

“Yeah, I decided it might be fun to go to the game tonight. Danny left me a ticket.”

“Sweet.” He glances at my clothes and sees that I’m still in my running gear. “Um, you might want to change. If you need a team shirt to wear, I can get you one of my mom’s. She’s going to be home at five thirty, and we’re supposed to be ready to leave as soon as she gets here. We’ll eat dinner at the stadium.”

Angel ditches me for Chase, and the kids all declare that they have to get downstairs and get their homework done.

I figure I’d better do as Chase said and get ready. I run up to my room, stopping briefly to smell the gorgeous roses before I hop in the shower.

Soon, I’m standing in front of the closet, trying to decide on what to wear. I think back to what I wore to the Nebraska game years ago and compare that to what Danny’s wife was wearing to a middle school football game—which crosses such a wide spectrum, it’s no help. So, I do what any normal person would do. I ask Google what pro football players’ wives wear to games. I find a photo of a famous model who is married to a quarterback and peruse some of her photos, and I decide that Lori was a tad overdressed. I look in the closet again, grabbing a pair of black jeans, tall black boots, and a red plaid shirt, and I throw them on.

When I look in the mirror, I feel a little like a lumberjack.

I’m considering changing when my phone rings. I cringe when I see Jason’s name.

“Hey,” I say.

“Look, Jennifer,” he says, “I’m just going to lay it on the line. I don’t know where you are hiding out, but I need you to come back. You’ve got to help me talk Troy into going to rehab.”

“He hasn’t gone yet?”

“No. He says, without you in his life, why bother? That his life is shit. I got a call from the hotel bar the two of you used to frequent.”

“Why did they call you?”

“Because he was wrecked, and they wanted someone to come get him.”

“Celebrities get drunk there all the time.”

“Yeah, not like this. He was drunk. High. Saying he wanted his life to end. They probably didn’t want to risk a lawsuit. I’ve canceled his next few gigs, but we’re getting into the busy season here. He’s got a huge New Year’s Eve party in Vegas. It’s been sold out for months. I need him dried out—at least for that. If you can get him to commit to sixty days in rehab, then I can pull him out and take him to Vegas myself.”

“Jason, you just need to tell him all that. I can’t do it. Not again.”

“I can make excuses to get him out of his other contracts, but if I cancel on Vegas for New Year’s Eve, he won’t work there again. They were getting ready to offer him residency at one of the big clubs. He’d do two weekends there a month. It’s what you’ve been wanting—for him not to travel so much. It means, you could finally settle down. Have some kids.”

“Maybe you didn’t understand when I told you before, but I’ll say it again. I’m done, Jason. I’m absolutely not getting back together with him. I can’t. And if you think I’m going to have kids with him, you’re as crazy as he is.”

“Fine. You live your life however you want. But please, lie to him. Tell him whatever you have to. Just get him to rehab. You were together for years and supposedly loved him. Don’t you owe him this?”

“All you saw were the two big crashes that made the tabloids and forced him to go to rehab. But don’t think that was the extent of it. It was a constant battle just to keep him relatively sober. A battle that I didn’t often win. I wouldn’t have put up with it if I hadn’t loved him.”

“Prove it,” he challenges.

I don’t reply because I can’t. I know, if I open my mouth, I’ll agree. Not out of love for Troy, but guilt.

“Where are you anyway?” he asks.

“I’m not telling you that. But I’ll think about it.”

“Don’t think about it too long, or he might end up dead. Yes, I’m worried about the contracts, but mostly, I’m worried about him. This is bad. Really, really bad. And I’ve known him for longer than you have.”

“Bye, Jason.”

I hang up the phone and find it hard to breathe, feeling like I just got the wind knocked out of me.

I once thought I was having a heart attack. I had just come home after hours of being with Troy at the hospital. Of taking care of him and telling him it would all be okay. That’d we’d get through it. But as soon as I got home, I felt like I was going to die.

My friend called a doctor, who came to have a look at me, checked my heart, and told me it was stress. My friend told me that it was my body’s way of telling me that I was making the wrong decision regarding Troy. That I knew deep down I should leave him. That our relationship wasn’t a good one. She even told me, if I chose him again, we wouldn’t be friends anymore. That she couldn’t deal with the drama I was bringing on myself.

I feel like it’s happening again. That I can’t breathe.

I take deep breaths, trying to calm myself. Tell myself it will be okay.

My phone buzzes with a text.

I grab my handbag and run downstairs, putting the text and Troy out of my mind as I decide to take Chase up on the offer to borrow something of his mom’s.

When I get to the laundry room and am about ready to enter the kitchen, I find Jadyn and Phillip standing at the island, having what appears to be an intense discussion.

“Don’t take no for an answer,” Jadyn says to him.

“You don’t think I’m being unreasonable?” Phillip asks, looking stressed.

Jadyn reaches out and touches his face. “It’s your company, Phillip. That’s why you didn’t take any of the other jobs you have been offered over the years. You want to be your own boss.”

“Yeah, you’re right. I guess tonight will be interesting.”

“Our life always is,” she says, kissing him.

Their kiss is interrupted by a ringing phone that Phillip answers, so I come out of the laundry room.

“I heard you were still here,” Jadyn says very matter-of-factly. She doesn’t seem mad, but she also doesn’t seem happy.

“Yeah, I’m sorry I didn’t address that with you before. Danny and I had an argument the other night, and I said it out of anger. If I’m being honest, I wanted him to think that because I was hoping it would sort of spur things along. But it was dumb of me. I swear, I never would have left without thanking you for your incredible hospitality. I don’t have a lot of friends, so I really”—my voice cracks as I try to hold my emotions in check—“appreciate it. And I’m sorry if I haven’t told you.”

She nods and then gives me a hug. “That’s good to hear.”

“There was a ticket left at my door from Danny. I don’t know how it got there, since I thought he was at a hotel with the team.”

“He came back home this morning to see the kids off to school before heading to the stadium.”

“Were his kids home alone last night?”

“Although they are probably old enough, especially with us being next door, they either stay with us, his mom, or their part-time nanny comes over.”

“That’s good. So, I wasn’t sure of what to wear. Do I look like a lumberjack?”

Jadyn laughs. “You look cute, but if you’d feel more comfortable switching to a team jersey, you can borrow one.”

“Are you wearing what you have on?” I ask her, taking in her red tailored dress with matching blazer and black heels.

“I’m going to change into something a little more comfortable, but the box is often used for business. Phillip has clients coming tonight, but it’s also the boys’ first Monday night game.”

“Does Dani get to go?”

“Danny said no since she’s grounded.”

I think about the boy who has been texting her and offer, “Wouldn’t it be better to have her at the game than home alone?”

“That’s exactly what I said. Why don’t you text Danny and tell him you’re coming to the game? As of a few minutes ago, he didn’t know if you were.”

I instantly feel bad. I should have told him I would be there. With freaking bells on. “I guess I had visions of surprising him, showing up on the sideline.” I hold up the pass.

“Okay,” she says, glancing at the clock. “You call Dani, tell her to get over here. I’ll let Danny know I’m bringing her.”

“Thanks,” I say.

Ten minutes later, Jadyn is back in the kitchen, looking completely pulled together in a black silk blouse, dark skinny jeans, red wedges, a Burberry plaid scarf, and the red blazer.

I’m reconsidering my lumberjack look when she pulls a glittering red jersey from behind her back. “This might look cute under the shirt,” she offers.

I slip into the bathroom, quickly changing, and discover she’s right. The rhinestones that make up the team logo coordinate perfectly with the plaid and make me feel adorable—or it might be that the name is blazed across my back.

When I make my way into the kitchen, the babysitter has arrived, and the older kids, including Dani, are getting loaded in the car.

“Let’s go!” Phillip says.

I’ve always loved football, but I haven’t been to many games. When we went to the Super Bowl that year, it was all about being seen for most people, not really as much about the game. Corporations seemed to have most of the skyboxes, and Troy and I were invited to one by a company that handled distribution for his production company. I never really stopped to think about what going to a game week after week would be like.

The traffic getting to the stadium isn’t that bad for us. The parking lots are already packed full of tailgaters even though a cold front blew in this afternoon, bringing the temperature down to a cold-to-me forty degrees. Team flags are flying. Fans are decked out in team colors. Grills are smoking with barbecued food, causing my mouth to water the second we get out of the car.

We enter the stadium through doors indicating something called a Signature suite, and soon, we are in a box with an amazing view of the still mostly-empty stadium.

I find myself passing by the private restroom, fully stocked bar, and delectable-smelling buffet before standing in front of the glass.

, I think.

“It’s really beautiful, isn’t it?” Dani says, coming to stand next to me. “My dad isn’t sure about my love for football sometimes, but he has no idea what it’s like to watch him take a hit. Even so, this stadium has always been an almost magical place for me. My mom didn’t let me come to games much when I was a kid. Said it wasn’t a place for children. Of course, Phillip and Jadyn didn’t have a box back then. When I did get to come, I was always a really good girl because I wanted to come back.”

“Is it hard, being his daughter?” I ask her.

She nods. “Sometimes. Like, if he has a bad game, which thankfully isn’t that often, the kids at school complain about him. It’s not always directed to me, but I still hear it. Sometimes, it feels like a lot to live up to. Like, I have no idea what I want to do with my life.”

“You’re only fourteen. You don’t have to know that yet.”

“Chase and my brother know what they want to do,” she says with a sigh. “They know where they want to go to college. What they want to major in. Well, Damon says he wants to major in the female anatomy.”

“And what about Chase?”

“He wants a business degree. Of course, they both hope to play in the professional league someday, but Damon isn’t as concerned about having something to fall back on as Chase is.”

“He sounds very mature for his age.”

“He is in some ways. Like, he’s not afraid of anything. I still can’t believe he walked into a high school party like he did. But then, with other things, he’s kind of naive.”

“Like what?”

“The way the world works. The way high school works. He thinks he can just show up and study, and it will all fall into place. He says I shouldn’t be concerned about what people think of me. And maybe I’m shallow, but I do care. I want people to like me.”

“I always wanted people to like me, too. I think that’s part of why I wanted to be an actress. I like to entertain. Because my father was an alcoholic, I often had to pretend like I was okay when I wasn’t. I acted most my life without even realizing it. It became second nature to me.”

“Kind of like football is with my dad. He was good at it when he was young, and he loved the game. There was really no conscious choice on his part. He says it was just always his goal to be the best that he could be, regardless of the level he was playing at. I’m friends with a girl whose dad played. He hurt his knee one too many times, had to retire, and became depressed. I was worried about that when my dad hurt his shoulder, but he took it as a challenge.”

“Sounds like you respect your father,” I state.

“I do. I still don’t understand what happened with him and Mom. How Mom could just leave him for Richard. Now, he took really hard. He tried to put up a front for us kids, but I think he was more worried about us than himself. I’m glad he’s redoing the house. It feels better now. More like the kind of home you want to run to rather than run away from.”

“Do you not get along with your mom?”

“She’s very demanding,” she says, looking up at the sky, searching for the right words. “She likes things to be perfect. The problem is that I’m not perfect, no matter how hard I try. My back handsprings are never straight enough. My grades are never up to par with what she got when she was in school. She’s going to go ballistic if she hears about this weekend. And I’m sure she will. Being a cheer mom is one thing she’s really good at. It’s like she’s living her life again through me. Only this time, it’s going to be perfection.”

“Why do you say that?”

“I know she got good grades in school, but she wasn’t a cheerleader. She didn’t hang out with the popular crowd.”

“So, she pushes you to do that?”

“Yeah. She told me I should stop hanging around with my brother and Chase all the time. And it’s not like I didn’t have friends. It’s just that they were all cheer-team friends. When I made varsity, they decided I was too good for them. I don’t feel that way at all.”

“Have you told them that?”

“Yeah, but it doesn’t matter. Today, at school, they were talking behind my back, totally knowing I could hear them, about how my eighth grade boyfriend dragged me out of the party.”

“They didn’t think that was cool?”

“Are you kidding? He took me away from the guy they all crush on. The guy I crushed on, too.” She shakes her head. “Whatever. I keep reminding myself, it’s just high school. But I’ve also been looking into self-paced study programs and private schools. I’m not sure I’m cut out for all this drama.”

“There’s drama in life everywhere,” I tell her. “You just have to remember what’s important to you.”

A big voice booms from behind us.

“That would be Tripp,” Dani says with a laugh. “I should be polite and go say hello to him. He’s been around a lot since he’s been working with Auntie Jay. Plus, I’m starved.”

I stay in my spot, watching the seats fill up and the inside of the stadium become abuzz with energy.

Jadyn comes up next to me and says, “I’m not mad at you.”

“What?” I say, not sure how long I’ve been standing here. “I was just watching everything.”

She wraps her arm around my shoulders and stares out with me. “It is pretty cool to watch. I miss being down in the stands, all bundled up against the cold. The team should be coming out onto the field shortly. Would you like me to take you down there, or are you okay with going with the kids? They know the way.”

“With the kids. I didn’t know Tripp would be here.”

“I called him about the hotel. He said we needed to talk about it—tonight. Great guy, but he can be a little demanding. I told him I was busy. He invited himself. Not that he doesn’t have his own box, but whatever. I can watch the game and chirp in his ear about what I want to do.” She looks in his direction and laughs. “Maybe ply him with a few drinks and get him to sign on the dotted line.”

I meet up with the kids and follow them down to the field. They walk the sideline, stopping along the way to give a high five or get a pat on the back from different players and staff members. None of them stop long enough to be introduced or chat. I recognize the players’ looks; it’s what I call . When I’m shooting a movie and really into the character, it’s hard for me to stop and talk to people as myself. Even though the director yells cut, I’m thinking about the next emotion, the next scene, the next line. I assume they are doing the same.

Now, I sort of wish I weren’t down here. I should have told Danny I was coming. Not surprise him right before the game.

But then I spot him. He throws a warm-up pass and then turns in my direction. I should say direction, but when I saw him out there, throwing the ball, I stopped in my tracks to watch. I think the kids kept going.

Our eyes meet, and it feels like time stops, the noise of one of the loudest stadiums in the country fading away. I’m rooted in my spot as I watch him stride toward me. He’s dressed in his uniform from the waist down, those tight-fitting pants filling my mind with dirty thoughts. Covering his broad chest is a compression shirt that shows off all his muscles.

“Hey,” he says as he comes to stand in front of me.

“Hey is for horses,” I blurt out, causing him to laugh.

He stops laughing and then takes my hand like he’s shaking it, meeting me for the first time. “There are a lot of cameras around,” he stresses. “But I’m really glad you decided to stay.”

“I’m sorry for what I said the other night. It was just me being silly, remembering what I said that night we met. I don’t want you for just one night, Danny. I want so much more than that. And I’m sorry I threatened to go back to LA. I was hurt and sort of lashing out.”

“I didn’t mean to hurt you. Can we talk about it tomorrow when I can focus?”

“Depends,” I say with a grin.

“On what?” he says, letting go of my hand.

“On if I get to see you tonight after the game.”

“It’s a date,” he says as the kids join us.

He gives them high fives while they offer words of advice.

When they take off, I lean in and whisper, “And be sure to watch your backside. I know I will be.”

The game is exciting, exhilarating, and slightly terrifying.

Danny was bragging about his offensive line when we watched the film, but the defender he was worried about the most has broken through the line for two sacks already.

After a vicious third sack, Danny lies on the ground for a few seconds, not moving.

“Is he okay?” I ask Phillip, grabbing on to his shirtsleeve in a panic.

He watches the replay. “Yeah, looks like he got caught in the ribs with the helmet. Probably knocked the wind out of him.”

“Will he be able to keep playing?”

“Danny? Uh, yeah. If you’re around tomorrow and, you know, not going back to LA, maybe he’ll show you all of his bruises.”

“I’m not going back,” I say. “Will he be sore?”

“Oh, yeah. It will be hard for him to get out of bed. He’ll probably spend the morning at the stadium, being treated.”

“But I thought Tuesdays were his days off.”

“They usually are, but since they are playing tonight and then again on Thursday, it’s a short week. Hopefully, they figure out a way to stop that guy.”

“Yeah,” I say as Danny finally pops up off the ground in what was probably the longest ten seconds of my life.

At halftime, I decide to eat from the buffet that’s set up. And the food is delicious. I really should have eaten earlier, but I was nervous. I’m shoving food in my mouth when Tripp sits down next to me.

“I hear you don’t think I should tear down the hotel. Do you really think that Jadyn can make it a place that will attract you? Make celebrities like you want to stay there?”

“Have you ever been to her house? Have you seen what she’s done to Danny’s house?”

“No, I haven’t.”

“Not even her office over the garage?”

“No. But I have seen a lot of her commercial work.”

“If I had your money, Tripp, I would tell Jadyn to make the hotel feel like her home. Let her make it personal. Warm, inviting, and luxurious. The kind of place where you can curl your feet up on a chair, look out the window to enjoy a few moments of peace from your chaotic life, and sleep like a baby in the most comfortable bed you’ve ever felt. Tell her to throw in the delectable and healthy warm cookies she gives her kids before bedtime, and everyone in the world is going to want to stay there.”

“I asked her to fly to LA with me tomorrow to present her new ideas to my board. She refused. Apparently, tomorrow is Halloween. Trick-or-treating and all that.”

“That’s a big holiday for kids. Didn’t you go get candy when you were young?”

“Yeah, we’d run around the neighborhood with pillowcases until they were full and then go home and eat candy until we were sick. She’s coming on Wednesday instead. I have a favor. Would you consider joining us? Talking to the board about what celebrities are looking for. Really, if you would repeat what you just said to me, I think we could convince them.”

“Does that mean you are considering a renovation?”

“I can’t believe that I am, but yes.” He glances back at Jadyn. “She’s hard to say no to. It’d be tough to be her husband.”

“Phillip seems pretty happy,” I counter.

“Yes, he does. It makes me hate him a little. I’m trying to buy his company.”

“Because you hate him?”

“No, because he understands how to run a good business, values his employees, maintains a healthy bottom line, and has only fulfilled a portion of its potential. That’s what I do. I take good companies, infuse them with cash, make them great, and then reap the profits.”

“Sometimes, it’s not about reaping the profits,” I mutter as Danny throws a beautiful pass straight into the arms of a receiver for a touchdown. “Sometimes, it’s about the beauty of the game.”

Tripp slides his hand on top of mine. “I understand you’re newly single. Would you have dinner with me sometime?”

“Like a date?”

“Yes, like a date. My favorite restaurant in the world is in Paris. I’d love to take you.”

“Um, I, uh,” I stutter.

I haven’t been asked on a date in a long time. With Danny, it’s different. I can’t tell him I’m seeing Danny. I mean, I want to be seeing Danny, but I have no idea what we are doing. I guess we had a date last night.

“Jennifer,” Jadyn yells out, motioning for me to join her.

I excuse myself from my seat without giving Tripp an answer and take the stairs up to the lounge area of the suite.

“Was Tripp hitting on you?”

“He wants to take me to Paris for dinner. He also wants me to go to LA with you and talk to his board from a celebrity’s perspective.”

“I told him you were going through something personal and that I wasn’t going to ask you to do that.”

“It’s the least I can do,” I say, the guilt washing over me. “I should probably go back and deal with life there, too.”

After the game is over, I consider texting Jennifer from the locker room and asking if she’d like to come down. I know the guys would love to meet her. I imagine wrapping my arm around her and proudly introducing her to everyone. But, as usual, there are reporters in here as well. And none of them know that I’m about to announce my divorce. In less than forty-eight hours, I will be able to take Jennifer out in public. I can shower her with attention anywhere and everywhere.

If she wants it.

Most of the time, it seems like she does.

And I was shocked at how devastated I felt when she said she was leaving. That girl has no idea how hard it is for me to keep her at arm’s length. I thought having her here, hanging out with her, and getting to know her would maybe make me like her less. That, over the years, I put her so far up on a pedestal in my mind that she could never live up to it.

But she’s added scaffolding and built that pedestal even higher than I could have imagined. She’s my dream and so much more. Not only is she very real, she’s funny and freaking adorable.

I go through the motions of my postgame routine. Speak to reporters, sign autographs, do the press conference, congratulate the team. I know that Jadyn and Phillip have already gone home in order to try to get the kids to bed since it’s a school night. It was a big deal that Chase and Damon were allowed to come.

I walk out to my car to find the girl who’s been on my mind all day leaning against my old truck.

“I was looking for your Ferrari. I thought all top athletes drove their hottest cars on game day.”

“Not me,” I say. “I’ve never driven it to the stadium. I drive this instead.”

“And why’s that?” she asks.

“Tradition, maybe.”

“Oh, boy. Are you one of those guys who won’t change his socks all season?”

“Sometimes.” I laugh. “But this isn’t like that. I drove this Tahoe in college. Drove it to the stadium the first time I visited after I signed. I’ve driven it to every game since. It’s not a superstition though. It’s more about remembering how far I’ve come. The guy who took off for college in this truck had big dreams. The guy who got drafted to a professional team had even bigger ones.”

“And the guy who drives it now still has an empty wall to fill,” she says, completely understanding me.

I take a step closer to her, feeling awestruck. My wife chastised me for keeping my old truck. She bitched when I put a new motor in it to keep it running. She didn’t get why it was important. Jennifer understood after only a few sentences.

In that moment, I don’t give a shit who might see. I lower my lips to hers.

“This kiss,” she murmurs, “it reminds me of that night. It wasn’t deep, yet it wasn’t chaste. It wasn’t long, yet it felt like it lasted forever. It’s exactly the same as it was on the beach—profoundly fierce yet achingly, heartbreakingly soft.”

“That’s how I felt. Like my heart was literally breaking, knowing I couldn’t do what felt so right. What still feels so right.” I lead her around to the passenger side and open the door for her.

When we get home, I walk her up the stairs and to her door.

“Want to come in for a nightcap?” she asks.

I know the last thing either of us wants is a drink. I also know, based on the ugly bruises forming on my ribs and shoulder from the sacks I took, I’m going to be sore as heck tomorrow.

I pick her up, carry her over the threshold, through Jadyn’s office, and straight to her bedroom. She’s got her arms around my neck, holding me tight, and our lips move in a fervent kiss as I lie on top of her on the bed.

She pulls off my suit jacket as I’m tugging off her shirt and undoing her bra, knowing nothing is going to stop us. Our naked chests touch, igniting a passion in me I thought I’d grown out of. An uncontrollable lust-filled need. I’m devouring her lush lips, roughly running my hands across her beautiful breasts, slipping my hand down her pants—

I barely register the noise. The feel of her trembling under my touch has set my body aflame. I can see the goal line. The finish. The big score.

“Danny,” she says, pulling her lips away from mine, “don’t you think you should answer it? It might be the kids.”

I kiss her again, trying to wish away the noise.

I sigh loudly and get off the bed, my body aching the second our skin stops touching. I pick my jacket off the floor and pat it down, looking for my phone, as it rings again.

“Dad!” Devaney says when I answer, sounding like she’s crying. “I was worried sick about you! Why didn’t you answer?”

“I, uh—” I say, my mind coming up blank, mostly because my eyes are focused on Jennifer, topless, lying across the bed.

“Whatever. You should be home by now.”

“Are you crying?” I ask, trying to assess the seriousness of her situation versus the seriousness of mine.

“Yes, I am. Because Mom just called from Bermuda and lost it. She found out about the party from one of the cheer moms. I don’t think she knows everything, but she’s very angry.”

“Well, Dani, what you did—”

“Yeah, no. She’s not just mad at me. She said some really hateful things about you. That’s why I’m crying. How come you aren’t home yet? I you to be home.”

“I’ll be right there,” I tell her, ending the call.

I close my eyes and let out a sigh.

Topless Jennifer sits up, quickly pulling on her shirt. “Is she okay?”

“She’s upset. Lori found out about the party.” I glance at my phone and see the other two calls were from her. “Yelled at her. Apparently said some hateful things about me. I need to go calm her down.”

“Do you want me to come with you?”

“We’d probably better call it a night. I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay, Danny. For whatever it’s worth, I had fun tonight. Thank you for inviting me to the game.”

“Thank you for not leaving,” I tell her.

“Are we still hanging out tomorrow?” she asks as she walks me out. “Phillip said you’d probably have to get therapy or something.”

“I will in the morning, but I’ll pick you up around eleven. We’ll have lunch and then shop.”

“Sounds like a plan,” she says, pulling me to her lips for a really wonderful good-night kiss.