“No, no, I had a girl before I signed my contract and I’m just hoping she can deal with this aspect of the job, because I’m not giving her up.”
“Well will this mystery girl be at your big game on Sunday?”
“I hope so.It’s up to her to decide if she wants to put our relationship in the spotlight, but it’s not going to change how I feel about her either way.”
“Sounds like you’re in love,” the radio host said but then it cut away to a commercial.
“Oh, one hundred percent.”
Was he talking about her?Did he still have feelings for her and want to make this public?Maybe all this time he’d been waiting on her to fight for him.She’d thought she was being the bigger person by giving him his freedom but maybe he didn’t realize how much she’d fallen for him.Maybe Shelby was right and she’d only pushed him away because she was scared he would reject her, that he wouldn’t choose her in the end.But it sure sounded like he was choosing her now and he needed her to choose him too.She just needed to be brave and trust that Renn was different from the other people who had rejected her in her life.And believe she was good enough.
CHAPTER THIRTY
Renn
The Blitz
The smell ofthe field was like nothing else.Renn took another deep breath as he stood in the center of the freshly cut green grass, waiting for the coin toss.It was the season opener, a home game, and all the Harts were there in the family box.He’d also sent tickets for Miranda and Jeremy to join them, and Jeremy promised they’d be there.He’d been so excited and told Renn he was loving his new school and football coach, who turned out to be a guy Renn had played ball with in high school.
Now as he looked up into the family box he searched for Miranda’s blonde hair but didn’t see her yet.And as the announcer introduced him as his team captain it was time to focus on proving he deserved to be playing on this team as the starting quarterback.
“Heads,” the referee said after he flipped the coin.The Aces would have the ball first.Which meant, he would have the ball for the first play of the game.There was no time left to worry about who was there to cheer him on, or not.It was time to show them how good he was.
“Well, well, looks like the Aces made the wrong decision on quarterback,” one of the opposing team’s defensive line said as they all got into position.“Time to send this boy back to second string.”
Renn just grinned.If there was one thing he knew it was how to be the underdog and use people underestimating him to his advantage.
That first snap of the ball from the huddle was his favorite part of the game and he wasn’t going to let it go to waste.All eyes were on him as he sent the ball flying in his signature spiral down the center of the field to one of his receivers for a sixty-yard drive.And the crowd was electric.It was so loud he couldn’t hear his teammates as they all slapped him on the back.It was time to work.A game could be won or lost within seconds, and every point would be a battle.
By the fourth quarter the game was tied with one minute left on the clock.It had been a bruiser of a battle for every yard and point.Although he’d beaten his own personal record in number of touchdown passes and yards thrown in a game, the Texas team was giving them a run for their money.
“Let it Rip Ripley,” his teammate said, and the phrase was plastered all over the big screens throughout the stadium.The fans started to chant, and he could feel the surge of adrenaline and pressure to make a perfect play and end this game.The whistle blew, the ball was snapped back to him.He caught it and then searched for his receivers.He could feel the magic of the moment and let the ball fly as if he’d shot an arrow.Time seemed to move in slow motion as the ball landed like a bullseye in his teammate’s hands who ran it into the end zone for a touchdown.The crowd surged and the volume was unbelievable as they all screamed his name.
Renn was euphoric as their kicker delivered the final point with the field goal, and the clock ran out.The Aces won and he looked up at the family box where he could see his brothers, wearing his jersey, high-fiving and cheering.He pointed at them in the stands and they all cheered louder.Aside from when his mom would come to his college games, this was the first game he’d really enjoyed, in his NFL career.
The fans were going wild as the players all made their way back to the locker room and he couldn’t decide who was more excited—him or his coaches.
“Great job, Rip,” the head coach said, patting him on the back.
But before they made it back to the locker room a beautiful journalist from one of the biggest networks put the mic in front of him.
“Mr.Let it Rip Ripley, you definitely confirmed for the Aces you were the right choice this season.”
“Thank you.Hopefully that will be the toughest game of the season.”
The woman smiled.“How about you settle another big question for all the women watching.Is the new star quarterback single or not?”
“No, ma’am, I’ve got a girl.And although I’d rather talk about that sixty-five-yard touchdown pass when I’m at work, I’m actually glad you brought this up.I’m in love with Miranda Sutton and really hope people can just accept that.It’s not her fault I signed up for a public job—that’s on me.”
“You may have just inadvertently made the rest of the women in America fall in love with you too, but I agree let’s focus on your game on the field.Because this hometown crowd is hoping for a run at the Super Bowl again with you.Are you going to take us there?”
“I’m going to try.”Renn smiled then walked away.He hoped Miranda wouldn’t get mad at him when she heard that sound bite, but since she wasn’t taking his calls, he didn’t have much choice but to tell the world.Because being subtle and pretending like he wasn’t completely, head over heels in love with her wasn’t working.
He hoped maybe she’d agree to date him now that she was living at the Dixon ranch.And his next move was to drive out to the Dixon ranch and beg her for a second chance.
After celebrating with his team in the locker room and getting cleaned up, Renn made his way out to his truck.He was supposed to meet his family back at his place for a family dinner so he wouldn’t be able to drive out to see Miranda until they left.Digging his keys out of his bag he didn’t see the tall blonde dressed in cowboy boots and fitted jeans leaning against his truck until he was only a few feet away.
“Are you mad?”he said, dropping his duffel bag on the hood.
