Page 97 of Lowering His Guard

An assistant coach tosses me a blocking pad and I strap it on.

May backs away. “This looks dangerous.”

“Hit it.”

She blinks. “Excuse me?”

“Hit me.”

She lightly pats me.

I raise an eyebrow. “You call that hitting?”

“Fine. Remember you asked for this.”

She takes three steps back before charging toward me. She slams into the pad, bounces backward, and falls on her butt. She immediately springs to her feet. “I meant to do that.”

I chuckle. “Sure you did, pint-sized.”

I hand the pad to Raven, who straps it on. “Let me show you how it’s done.”

I step back and drop into a stance. I wait a second before exploding. I hit Raven with a thud. He slides backward three yards.

May's mouth falls open. “Smoking smugglers.” She pokes the blocking pad. “People actually volunteer to stand here?”

Raven laughs. “Unfortunately.”

“Now imagine the pad is moving,” I say.

Her nose wrinkles. “Toward you?”

I nod. “Really fast.” I point to Gage. “You’re going to pretend to be him.”

She beams. “I’ve always wanted to be a professional football player.”

“Pint-sized, you don’t know the game.”

She shrugs.

I position myself and point to Raven. “He’s trying to tackle you. Walk toward the end zone.”

She walks forward and Raven follows her. I slide between them. And she walks through untouched.

She meets my gaze. “Every play?”

I nod. “Every play.”

“This is why you’re covered in bruises.”

I shrug. “Occupational hazard.”

She reaches up and touches my shoulder. “I don’t like people hurting you.”

I smirk. “Good thing they usually end up hurting more.”

“I have a newfound respect for football. Can I come and watch one of your games?”

Relief flows through me. Serenity was never interested in football. She only cared about how much I earned. While May fights to pay for a five-dollar ice cream cone.