What she said wasn’t even flirty, but I felt a bounce in my step like I was Missy getting ready to direct a cheer. I sat next to Max again.

“Who were you talking to?” Max asked.

“New girl.”

Max gave me a look. “I know it’s the new girl. What’s her name? Where’s she from?”

“Her name is Parker and I think she’s from heaven.”

He bumped my shoulder and laughed. “Maybe she’s the one.”

I couldn’t stop staring at her. She sat down with the defensive tackles and made small talk with them as they painted their signs. They laughed with her, but every few seconds, her eyes drifted my way. “Yeah, maybe she is.”

Chapter Twenty-six—Touchdown

Present

In my adult life, only two people have ever lifted me off my feet. A linebacker from Texas A&M scooped me up and out of the way when students rushed the field after we won a college bowl, and head coach Bill Tatum swung me when we made the playoffs. Both were painful, but exhilarating moments in my life.

I felt the tears on my cheeks before I realized I was crying. My career was riding on this season. We made it. I sat on the players’ bench, found a towel, and cried. No, I sobbed. I knew cameras were on me, and I didn’t care.

Massive palms slid into my view. “Let’s go, Coach. We aren’t done yet.” I looked up into Grayson’s smiling face and put my hands in his. He pulled me to my feet and hugged me. He was sweaty, dirty, and happy. I assumed that he would want the season to end, but he played like a wild animal out there fighting for yardage. Reporters were clamoring for an interview from him, but he checked on my well-being before talking to anyone.

“I’m good, Grayson, thank you. Go do some interviews.”

He shook his head. “Not without you.” He pointed to the towel. “Dry your tears. We’re going to be interviewed. Together.” He waited until I was presentable and pulled me over to an NBC reporter who was waiting for the exclusive.

“Grayson, how does it feel to take an expansion team to the playoffs?” Nikki James had been with NBC for over ten years. She was one of the first women on the field reporting from the sidelines.

“It’s the best feeling. Who knew I could do this?” He pointed at me. “She knew. Coach McCoy never let me give up. She was there at my lowest point and helped me see how important leading this team was. I did a complete one-eighty about two months ago thanks to her.”

“Coach McCoy, big praise coming from your biggest player. What do you say to that?”

“Grayson is a natural leader. Without him, we wouldn’t be here right now headed for the playoffs.”