Page 2 of Lavender and Linebackers

“Obviously, I want to play in the NFL. That’s always been my dream. You know I love football. As long as I can play, that’s what I want to do.”

I want to tell him that for years he’s been my dream, but that feels silly when I think about how hard he’s worked for an actual future. He’s so focused and determined. How can I be anything but proud of that?

“Well then, it’s only fitting that wherever you are, I’ll be standing on the sideline cheering, too. You know, I’ve always thought I’d be a professional cheerleader and try out for the Tampa Tarpons, but it doesn’t matter where. I guess it’s dependent on you.”

“Al, I want you to go after what you want. If you see yourself as a Tarpon, then that’s where you should be. Who knows where I might end up. Could be San Francisco."

“Really, the team doesn’t matter. If we want the same thing, can’t we do it together?” I turn my head so I can lay it on my knees and watch him too.

He doesn’t realize that I couldn’t care less about the team. All I want is to cheer for him. Anywhere. Anytime.

He looks over at me again, his deep brown eyes scanning my face before they lock onto mine. Butterflies take flight, flapping their wings as they rise and dive. This boy has no idea of the effect he has on me or what he means to me.

“I guess we can.”

“You are my best friend,” I tell him, just over a whisper. I know he hears me when the muscles in his face shift and relax just a tiny bit.

Answering me like he always does, my heart trips and falls a little bit more when he says, “And you are mine.”

Chapter 1

Alice

Four years later

Today is the first day of the regular season practice for all of the Tampa Tarpons organization. While tryouts to be a Tarpons cheerleader took place in May and June, this is the first time I’ve been to the headquarters when it’s overflowing with this many people. From the front office to the back office, to the coaches and players, the halls and rooms are filled with people and meetings. The excitement in the air is palpable and infectious in the best way, and this is also my first season as a professional cheerleader. I feel like I’m floating into my dream come true.

Like a lot of little girls, my mom put me in gymnastics at a young age. I competed, I traveled, and I placed, but I wasn’t as passionate about it as she was. That is, until one day after school, I walked into the gymnastics facility to train and saw the cheerleaders. I was mesmerized by their combination of gymnastics, dance, cheer, stunts, and overall friendship. They laughed together, hugged each other, and when they landed their pyramids, cheered together. I wanted that. I wanted to belong on a team where I wasn’t competing against my friends, but we were competing together.

While my mother was wary of the change—after all, the time and commitment that goes into something like gymnastics is exhausting—she didn’t discourage me when I joined the middle school’s cheerleading team. It was after that first day that I never looked back. For over ten years, I have been a cheerleader. I competed at the club level throughout middle school and high school. I cheered for my school, and then I cheered for my college, the University of Florida. It’s something I plan on doing for as long as I can, and now I’m proud to say I am a professional cheerleader for the Tampa Tarpons.

Was it an easy road to get here? No. But I did it, and no one can take that away from me.

“Hello there,” a man in dress slacks and a button-down says with a nod as he passes. The headquarters of the Tarpons is about two blocks away from the stadium. All of those blocks are vacant for game day parking, but it’s here where the practice facility, the weight room, the athletic trainers, the corporate folks, and all the meetings are held.

“Hello.” I smile back at him, feeling giddy as I cruise down the hall that smells like fresh lemons.

Everyone that I’ve met is very nice, which brings me to why I am here today.

Yesterday, I received an email from the marketing department asking me to come in this afternoon for a quick meeting. While I’m not sure what this is about, some of the others on my team told me that they do this when they’ve assigned public appearances they want us to attend. Of course, a cheesy grin split across my face because I would absolutely love to represent the Tarpons out and about around town.

Glancing at the numbers on the gray conference room doors, I’m almost to mine when I hear a voice I haven’t heard in over four years. It’s a little bit deeper, but it’s undeniably his, and I come to a screeching halt, as the familiar sound ricochets like shock waves through my body and an instant cold dread races down my spine.

“We’ll get started in a few minutes,” a female voice says from the open door. “She should be here soon.”

“She?” he asks, and instantly, I turn and flatten my back to the wall. My jaw drops as I gasp, my arms and legs go numb, and my heart races as I wait for her answer.

“Yep,” the voice says, not elaborating, when I know deep down in my soul I’m the “she” she’s referring to.

Oh no.

No. No. No.

This cannot be happening.

Not today.

Not on my happy first day.