“Awesome, right?” I ask at his captivated grin. I’ve seen this look before. He’s totally sold. “Let me just shut everything down and some of the guys should be waiting at the desk outside to take you over to the arena.”

I tap the screen and begin to shut things down. I’m sweating a little with Tom staring at me while I try to juggle my phone and the tablet. “Sorry, it’s my first time closing it out for the night.”

“No problem.” He shoves his hands in his pockets, and I turn slightly and walk toward the door. It isn’t pitch dark in here, but it isn’t exactly a comfortable light level either. Dakota is much better at sequencing everything, so it happens seamlessly.

“Okay, I think I got it,” I say as I tap the final button. Except instead of opening the door it shuts off all the TVs and now we really are in the pitch black.

Shit. I forgot to open the door before shutting down.

No problem. I’ve got this. With trembling hands, I try to turn on the TVs, but they won’t come back on until the system’s reset. I search for another button hoping to find one labeled lights.

Oh shit. Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit.

“One second. I’m so sorry.” My breaths come in quick, short gulps as I text Dakota and then press buttons at random on the tablet hoping I get lucky. I’m sure there is a very simple solution, but I’m panicking. Oh my god.

“Are you okay?” Tom asks.

I think I nod, but it isn’t exactly believable because I cower against the wall retreating into myself.

One, two, three…

28

HEATH

When Adam and I get over to the Hall of Fame, it’s chaos. There’s a crowd hanging out in the back of the main area, and a couple of security guards stand outside of the hype room.

“What the hell?” Adam asks.

My pulse accelerates and adrenaline swells as we head toward the commotion.

“What’s going on?” I ask one of the football guys hanging out watching the security guards talk into their walkie talkies.

“Two people got trapped in the hype room.”

At that moment, the doors open and a frazzled Ginny pushes out. Her breathing is so labored I can see the rise and fall of her chest, eyes wild, clutching the tablet to her stomach. Adam and I move to her, and when she sees us, her pace quickens.

“Oh, fuck,” I hear Adam mutter quietly under his breath.

He’s a step ahead of me and I’m so thankful he’s here because she looks like she needs him. She’s on the brink of a complete meltdown. But when we finally get to her, it isn’t him she throws her arms around. It’s me.