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Ten.

Five.

Then, finally, he makes a touchdown. Everyone jumps and cheers him on, including me. My dad is throwing his fist in the air while my mom screams.

Caleb runs across the field with his teammates hyping him up. Just as I think he is about to do his usual dance, he doesn’t. Instead, his eyes search the crowd by my section.

What is he doing?

When his eyes find my location, he points to me and then points to his heart, causing the crowd to look around until their gazes land on me. If things couldn’t get worse, my face pops up on the big screen. The crowd goes absolutely insane when they realize I’m the person who he is pointing at.

While my parents are excited and jumping for joy, I want to bury myself under a rock and never come out. To make matters worse, my mother spins me around, and the audience gets a full look at the back of my shirt. I knew when my mother forced me to wear this, I would regret it. Now, look at me.

Regretting it.

The crowd goes wild until it’s time to continue the game. When the attention is taken off me, I use this opportunity to go to the player’s family lounge and get a drink. Excusing myself from my parents, I venture past the rowdy people and towards a security guard who recognizes me. He doesn’t talk much, which is perfect.

“Hey, Lucas.”

His lip twitches. “Hey, Josie. Congrats on your relationship.”

Rolling my eyes, I reply, “Yeah. Yeah. I’m heading to the lounge.” I move to walk past him, and he gently grabs my arm before letting go. I raise a brow at his actions.

“I’ve worked here a long time. You were the friend who just supported a player. Now, you’re a player’s woman. The wives and the girlfriends are going to treat you differently than before,” he warns.

I smirk. “What? Are they going to kiss my ass?”

He gives me a look. “Quite the opposite.”

“Why? I've never had an issue with them.”

“Yeah, ‘cause they ignored you before. Just keep your guard up.”

I pat his shoulder. “I always do.”

He looks towards the field and murmurs, “Not always.”

I narrow my eyes but decide to let it go, needing to quickly get my drink and head back to my seat.

When I reach the lounge, I stroll in like I always do and head straight for the drinks. All the wives and girlfriends are sitting around chatting while some of their kids play in the corner. The energy in the room shifts, and I look up to see them staring at me.

I wave awkwardly. “Hey.” Some size me up, and others roll their eyes. About a quarter of them give me welcoming smiles. Guess Lucas was right.

The pack leader, Patricia, drawls, “Interesting how you’re finally dating Caleb. How did you trick him into that?”

She is a beautiful woman. There’s no denying that. Her hair is straightened and frames her face. Her light brown skin pops out with the yellow, fitted dress she is wearing. The heels that adorn her feet make her already tall frame even taller. She would be perfect if she wasn’t a complete bitch.

I reply dryly, “I told him I had gold in my pants. He looked for himself and realized it was true.”

She laughs. “Yeah, right. Don’t worry. He will get his senses back soon.”

I’m so confused. Aren’t they all dating or married to some of the players? Why in the hell do they care about Caleb and I? Like I know that Patricia had a thing with Caleb before she started dating her current man. From what Caleb told me, she didn’t want things to end with him, and her current man is the back-up plan.

“May I ask why Caleb and I are your biggest concerns? Last time I checked, you were dating one of the players.”

“I am. I just recall when Caleb and I were dating, you told me you both were just friends. Seems as though you lied. What were you doing? Biding your time until he finally decided to settle for you? He won’t be with you long. I hope you know that.”

An unrecognizable sharp pain hits me in the chest at the truth of her words, but I don’t react. I don’t know where that came from. Caleb and I are doing this for our careers. I know that.