“Hold on, partner,” Jake admonished. “There’s still a lot of game left.”

“Yeah, but—”

“Yes, Justin ...” Dominique interrupted

“We’re on fire!” Justin continued. “And now that their quarterback is injured ...”

“He may sit out a few plays, but he’ll be back in the game,” Jake replied. “But trust me, it would take him breaking something to not get back on that field.”

As the boys continued to talk, Dominique was happy to take in the halftime show and the jubilant fans around her. Never one who’d embraced sports, she now saw how one could get addicted to this atmosphere filled with camaraderie and excitement. She watched Jake and Justin conversing and felt warm all over. His ongoing presence and attentiveness continued to have a very positive effect on her son.

“And now,” the announcer began as the band marched off the field, “we’d like to say a special hello to one of our all-time favorite Raider players ... the Big Mac man himself... Jake McDonald!”

A camera zoomed in on Jake and soon Justin and Dominique were staring at his face on the big screen. Jake waved to the roaring crowd.

“And we’d also like to welcome the special lady in his life who is also the editor in chief of Capricious magazine ... Dominique Clark!”

Dominique’s eyes widened as she looked questionably at Jake.

“Stand up and wave, baby,” Jake insisted.

Dominique made a fuss, but finally stood up and waved to the crowd.

“Dominique,” the announcer continued, “Jake has allowed us to be a part of some exciting times in his life. He’s made some of his best plays right here in this stadium. But I think, and folks, you’ll probably agree with me, that this is the best one of all.”

The announcer stopped talking. Dominique looked at Jake. Jake shrugged.

Dominique turned to look at Jake. “What is he talking about, Jake? What play did you make?”

Jake pointed to the screen. “That one.”

Dominique looked at the screen. Her mouth dropped open as she read the words: Will you marry me?

The crowd started cheering. Jake’s heart thudded as he awaited Dominique’s answer. Dominique’s eyes filled with tears as she looked from Jake to Justin, who was grinning from ear to ear.

“Answer him, Mom!” Justin finally shouted.

Dominique couldn’t talk for the lump in her throat. So she simply nodded before throwing her arms around him. “Yes,” she whispered in his ear.

Once again, the screens filled with images of Jake, just in time to see Dominique plant a soft, loving kiss on his juicy lips. He raised his hand and gave a thumbs up. The crowd cheered again.

“Well, folks,” the announcer boomed in his signature deep voice, “it seems that while the Raiders have been keeping the ball in play, our own Jake McDonald has been putting love in play.”