Football

BROOKE

The Panthers were the team to beat at the start of the season, but they ended up taking a back seat without Colin leading the team to victory every game.

So everybody’s surprised, including me, when the Panthers make a comeback during the playoffs.

This game against the Bucs is the NFC conference championship. One of these teams is going to the Super Bowl against the Kansas City Chiefs in a couple of weeks.

Colin managed to wrangle a third ticket out of Ashton, so all three of us are here for what’s shaping up to be the most exciting game of the season.

I watch in awe as Sydney sits on Colin’s lap for a better view of the field. He’s pointing and explaining each play as it happens, and she of course finds every second of it fascinating.

Another six weeks have gone by since Christmas, and my life couldn’t be more perfect. Colin is always there for us unconditionally, and at this point I can’t even picture a life without him in it.

The time has come to tell him how I feel. I love him. Every ounce of me loves this incredible man, and I want more than anything to show him how much he means to me.

For now, though, I just go over to Colin and wrap my arms around him from behind, smothering his neck in kisses.

The game has been tight every quarter but the Bucs have always had a one-score lead on us, and they’re leading 20-14 with thirteen seconds left.

But then Bradshaw, the Bucs quarterback, throws the ball and it’s intercepted. The crowd goes crazy with cheers, plus some boos from the visiting fans.

Syd doesn’t seem to know which team to root for today, but her eyes are glued to the action as the Panthers offense takes the field.

The Panthers bring in their newest replacement rookie free agent, running back AJ Downey, to make a go for the final play. The Panthers’ wide receiver throws Downey the ball in a trick play, and he takes off bombing down the field.

He weaves through a gaping hole in the offensive line, making a sixty-seven yard dash to the end zone! It’s the game-winning score as the clock runs out, and the extra point brings the Panthers to a 21-20 lead.

“OH MY GOD! WE WON! WE’RE GOING TO THE SUPER BOWL!” I scream. The whole stadium erupts in high-pitched screaming and cheering, and I start jumping up and down with Sydney, who was rooting more for the Bucs.

“Boo-hoo! We won!” I start teasing her and tickling under her neck. She’s a good sport about it; she knows I’m just joking around trying to get a rise out of her.

Then I look over and notice Colin isn’t celebrating like I thought he would be. Instead, he’s still looking out at all the Panthers players rushing the field and pouring the Gatorade jug over Downey.

Does he wish he was playing in the game? Does he wish it had been him making that unbelievable play?

I wrap my arms around his waist and kiss him once more. “You’ll be back out there soon enough,” I say softly. He put his hands over mine to acknowledge my presence, but doesn’t say anything in response.

After spending a while longer watching the celebration on the field, we all walk out of the private booth together. “That was an AMAZING game,” I enthuse.

“YEAH! BEST GAME EVER!” Syd cheers, holding Colin’s hand as well as mine.

“Let’s go this way,” Colin suggests, showing his badge to security and taking us through a private door. We follow him down the corridor, and each step we take gets louder and louder with thunderous cheers.

“Oh my god,” I say as I start to recognize the players’ faces, some of them talking to members of the press who are holding notepads.

A few reporters look like they want to grab Colin for an interview of his own when they spot him, but he glares them down and they look away.

I look down at Syd and she has a deer-in-headlights look on her face. I’m sure she recognizes the players’ faces too. We’re in the private players’ hallway where they do press interviews after the games, before both teams head out the private exit.

“Hey man!” Colin shouts, and the tall and ruggedly handsome Bradshaw turns around to face us along with his teammate and friend, Jacobs.

“Colin! Man! We’ve missed kicking your ass!” they both tease, taking turns slapping Colin’s back in a manly greeting.

“I have your biggest fan here. I’d like you to meet Sydney!” Colin scoots my daughter’s frozen body forward so she can get a better look at Bradshaw and Jacobs.

They’re good with her. They both kneel down to her tiny height and extend their hands for her to shake.

“Well, it’s nice to meet you, Sydney! Thanks for rooting against my friend Colin here,” Bradshaw teases with a glance at Colin.

“You—you’re amazing!” Syd mumbles, still in shock. I practically keel over laughing.

“And this is my amazing Brooke.” Colin wraps his territorial hand around my waist.

“Great game, boys! We gotcha in the end,” I say, throwing a tease back at them.

I extend my hand to each of them in turn; Bradshaw shakes my hand like I intended, but Jacobs takes my hand and pulls it to his lips for a kiss.

“Pleasure to meet you, Brooke,” he says with a smirk, looking back at Colin for a rise.

“Okay, easy there, player.” Colin smacks Jacob’s hand off mine. Bradshaw and Jacobs both laugh at Colin’s jealousy.

“Yo, man! That replacement, Downey, is giving you a run for your money!” Bradshaw comments.

“Yeah, better watch out!” Jacobs agrees, laughing and punching Colin’s chest.

I look at Colin and notice irritation and concern filling his eyes. Is Colin actually worried he’ll be replaced by this guy? Is that why he didn’t look excited about the team’s win?

He’s doing so well in his recovery now, he’ll be back on the field in no time. I didn’t think it was possible, but he really does seem to be coming back better than ever.

Even though it’ll be the end of the season by the time he passes all my tests, he’ll be ready to dominate for next season, no question.

“Downey’s got nothin’ on me,” Colin replies, but I can sense the concern in his voice.

***

The next few weeks fly by again, until suddenly it’s Super Bowl weekend. I notice during the weeks leading up to the big game day, the NFL is having a field day about this Downey guy.

Where did he come from?

Where did he play before this?

Then there are reports about Colin.

Is he returning?

How has he been recovering?

Will he come back as the superstar he once was?

The press is hitting nonstop as the game day draws nearer, and Colin is getting more and more tense.

I try to reassure him that everything will be okay, he’s going to be able to play again, Downey is just new news and nothing will come of it.

A few days before the big game, Colin flies out to Kansas City to support and be with the team, and also to be there for interviews and press conferences if they win.

With Colin gone to KC, Sydney wants to see her father, who of course hasn’t been around since that evening I went out with Davis.

John never calls wanting to see Syd, never asks how she’s doing, nothing. Not even around Christmas or her birthday, which is always heart-wrenching. Sure enough, we didn’t hear a peep from him this Christmas.

But now, Sydney wants me to call John and see if she can watch the Super Bowl with him.

I have to sit down with Sydney and explain really carefully why it’s so important to not tell her father about Colin. I explain how her daddy got hurt all those years ago. When he couldn’t play, Colin took his place, and the team liked him better after that.

So Daddy is upset and doesn’t like Colin for taking his job. No, it’s not really Colin’s fault, but it’s hard for Daddy to see that. Therefore, she is NOT to mention anything to him about Colin.

I know I can’t keep Colin a secret from John forever, but Colin and I are still somewhat new, and I want to see where things go before sharing it with too many people—especially John.

For all I know, John could lose his cool completely and start dissing Colin during press interviews. Colin and I have tried hard to keep the media out of our business, so I don’t want John messing things up for us there.

Syd promises her heart out, and I have no choice but to trust in her to do the right thing. I call up John, and naturally, he says he has plans to go out with his friends and watch the ever-so-important game, so no, Sydney can’t come over.

But he agrees, after I bark at him about parental responsibilities, to take her out to dinner the evening after the game.

Sydney seems happy about that, so I try to be happy too. For her sake.