When he finally came to a stop next to her, she took in his blue-black hair, meat-hook nose, and small, almost feminine mouth. “Miss Somerville, you gotta—Your father—” He stared at a point just beyond her left ear and lowered his voice. “Before every game, he always said, ‘Eat shit, you big bozo.’ “

Her heart sank. “Could I—Could I just slap your butt instead?”

He shook his head, his expression fierce.

She ducked and said the words as fast as she could.

The quarterback gave an audible sign of relief. “Thanks, Miss Somerville.” He jogged away.

The Stars had won the coin toss, and both teams lined up for the kickoff. To her dismay, Dan began running toward her sideways while he kept his eyes firmly fixed on the field. He was tethered by the long cord on his headset, but it didn’t seem to hinder his movements. He drew to a stop beside her, his eyes still glued to the field. “Do you have the gum?”

“The gum?”

“The gum!”

She suddenly remembered the Wrigley’s Ron had thrust into her hand and unclenched her fingers, which were rigidly clasped around it. “It’s right here.”

“Pass it over when the kicker tees the ball. Use your right hand. Behind your back. You got it? Now don’t screw up. Right hand. Behind your back. When the kicker tees the ball.”

She stared at him. “Which one’s the kicker?”

He began to look mildly crazed. “The little guy in the middle of the field! Don’t you know anything? You’re going to screw this up, aren’t you?”

“I’m not going to screw it up!” Her eyes flew to the field as she frantically tried to identify the kicker. She picked the smallest of the players and hoped she was right. When he leaned over to position the ball, she shot her right hand behind her back and slapped the gum into Dan’s open palm. He grunted, shoved it in his pocket, and rushed off without so much as a thank you. She reminded herself that only minutes earlier, he’d referred to the players’ superstitions as ridiculous.

Seconds later, the ball arced into the air and pandemonium broke out before her. Nothing could have prepared her for the gruesome sounds of twenty-two male bodies in full battle gear trying to kill each other. Helmets cracked, shoulder pads slammed together, and the air was filled with curses, growls, and groans.