I waited until most of the team had gone out, until all the coaches had retired to their rooms and put Holden in charge of letting them know if anything went wrong. I almost felt bad for our QB, our captain, our most responsible leader. He wore a lot of weight on his shoulders.

But he wore it proudly.

“You sure you don’t want to come?” he asked me at the door of our hotel room, and I knew he was asking less because he wanted me to party, and more because he didn’t want to be alone with the motley crew we called a team — especially after such a win.

I smiled. “Sorry, man. I’ve got other plans.”

Holden smirked at that, but he didn’t make to head out. He just watched me, his eyes assessing.

“What?”

He shrugged. “Nothing. I just… I’m sorry, about what I said earlier this season. About Giana being a rebound. I can tell she’s much more than that for you.”

I grabbed the back of my neck. “Well, honestly… you weren’t wrong. At least, not at first. But now?” I shook my head. “I’m so far gone for that girl it’s fucking terrifying.”

Holden laughed. “Yeah, well, I wouldn’t know what that feels like. But I trust you. And I’m happy for you.” He pointed at me then. “Just stay focused on the season, okay? And don’t let your grades slip. You can spend all spring doting on her, but I need you for a few more months.”

“Aye, aye, captain,” I said with a salute. “You really have never been like this with a girl?”

“Come on, Johnson,” he said, thumping his chest. “You know football is the only love of my life.”

I arched a brow. “Yeah… we’ll see how long that lasts.”

He just smiled on his way out the door, and as soon as he was gone, I texted Giana to make sure the coast was clear.

Fortunately, she didn’t have to share a hotel room the way the guys on the team did — she and Riley were the only ones afforded that luxury. Even when Charlotte came, she was too bougie to share a room with an employee. But she hadn’t come to this game at all, leaving it completely in Giana’s hands while she attended a friend’s wedding on the other side of the country.

That, alone should have told Giana and everyone else how good she was at her job.

I snuck quietly down the hall to the elevator, taking it two floors up to where Giana’s room was. She opened the door before I could even knock, pulling me inside and immediately melting into my arms.