A young, brunette woman, who looked little over the age of a kid herself, came up behind the two boys. “Hi,” she said, reaching a hand out to Dominique. “I’m Kathy, Travis’s mom.”

“Hi, I’m Dominique.”

“Nice to meet you. Wow, now I see where Justin got his build! I mean... height,” Kathy added after belatedly realizing how her comment may have sounded.

Dominique laughed. “He got his height and build from me. His father was average size.” Average at everything, Dominique thought but didn’t voice.

“Well, he’s a star for sure, already got a fan club.”

“Really?”

“Yes,” Kathy answered. She leaned in and continued. “Especially that cute cheerleader over there. I think her name is Ashley.”

Dominique followed Kathy’s pointing finger. “Oh, really?”

“Yes,” Kathy said, with a laugh. “But you didn’t hear that from me.”

Dominique waved at Justin as he and a group of boys followed Kathy out of the stadium. She looked back to see Jake and the blonde still deep in conversation. She watched as the woman touched him with familiarity, and he laughed at something she said. Dominique whirled around, totally forgetting that she was upset with Jake and shouldn’t care who he talked to. Instead, she barely resisted stomping out of the stadium. If not for the fact that her Jimmy Choos were reminding her that they weren’t made for foot stomping, cement pounding, and jumping up and down at each spectacular Hurricane play, she may not have been successful. She wrapped her scarf tighter around her neck against the unexpected October chill, joined the masses exiting the stadium on the way to their cars, and convinced herself that what Jake did and who he did it with was none of her business.

She’d just pulled into her driveway when the phone rang. A sound as smooth and sweet as fresh maple syrup poured into her ear. “Hey, baby.”

Dominique knew her body had no business growing warm with two simple words. But it did. “Hey,” she responded.

“Why’d you run off?”

“You were busy working, which I totally understand. I didn’t want to intrude. Plus, the reporter looked like she definitely wanted you all to herself.” Dominique hoped that she didn’t sound jealous... but she knew that she did.

“You should have waited. Madison is an old friend.”

“I see,” Dominique said, not at all happy that she could detect a smile in Jake’s voice.

“Ha! No, you don’t. Madison used to be married to one of the Raiders. That’s how I know her. The interview was quick, only a couple minutes. But then I got sidetracked by a group representing a summer training camp. They had all kinds of questions about me, my career... and a couple about your son. He’s making an impression in this league.”