I unlocked the screen and pulled up the article. “My PR team just sent this out.”
Becca’s eyes scanned over the headline
Nate Sandler confirms relationship with team reporter.
In a statement released this morning, Nate Sandler confirmed his relationship with sports reporter Becca Hendrix from Pressbox Media.
Sandler, who has long kept his private life out of the spotlight, decided to go public after rumors of their relationship started to intensify.
“I want to make one thing very clear. In all the years Becca Hendrix has covered our team, her work was never compromised. No rules were broken. At the end of the day, this is not a scandal. Becca and I were just two people who got to know each other and fell in love. She deserves all the professional respect she has earned in this industry with her insightful reporting. She is incredibly good at her job, and dating me shouldn’t change that.”
She looked up at me with watery eyes. “I can’t believe you said all that about me.”
It was no secret that I hated talking about my private life, but this statement was more about protecting her. Brian had already taken enough from me. I wouldn’t let him take from her too.
“I meant every word.” I brushed a tear from her cheek as her eyes continued poring over the rest of the article.
I wouldn’t let people think I was hiding her. She was one of the best things that had ever happened to me. I refused to let anyone make her feel like she was some dirty secret.
She blinked through her watery lashes. “Even the part where you said you love me?”
“Yes.” I brushed my thumb across her cheek. “I love you with everything I have.”
My entire world felt upside down. The only thing that made sense was her.
No one has ever gone to bat for me before the way she did. Becca put her career on the line. Made me remember what it felt like to have someone stand beside me.
I brushed my hand slowly up and down her back. “You know, I was ready to walk if it came to that. If they told me that I was done. I would have been happy starting over and making a life with you.”
“Nate, you don’t mean that. Football is your life.”
I tightened my arms around her. “Becca, you’re my life. Football is what I do, not who I am.”
She placed her head against my chest and peered up at me. “Good. Because I’m hopelessly in love with the man, not the player, and I need you to know something. If everything went away tomorrow, you’d still be enough for me.”
My hands slid into her hair. “You know, I wasn’t scared for myself. I was more concerned about what it would do to you. I can handle people coming after me. I’ve dealt with it my whole career. But when Brian started coming after you, it scared the hell out of me.”
“Nate…”
“Let me finish.” I shifted her onto my lap so she was fully facing me. “You are one of the strongest people I have ever known. And I’m around a lot of strong people.” I brushed a loose strand of hair back from her face. “You risked your own career for me. I don’t know how I will ever repay you.”
“All I did was tell the truth.”
I shook my head. “You protected me. You gave women a voice. You spoke up for people who were too scared to. That matters. I’ve never been prouder of anyone in my life.”
Her hands slid up my chest. “I’m really proud of you, too. You stood up and took responsibility when it would have been easiernot to. I know today wasn’t easy for you, and I admire the way you handled it. I don’t think I could love you anymore if I tried.”
Her words nearly ended me.
I spent so much of my life surrounded by people whose loyalty came with strings or ulterior motives.
Agents who cared more about themselves than others.
Management that only cared about winning.
Sponsors who cared about image.
And fans who only loved you when you won.
