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“Yeah, okay,” I said, although I knew it was a different cheerleader who was responsible for my on-field performance.
Stepping off the team plane in Miami was like entering a different world. The sun was warm and the air was pleasantly humid, especially after the dry, frigid winter we had just come from. All of us peeled off as many layers as we could while boarding the bus to the team hotel.
Everyone had a different routine the night before a game. Some guys stayed in, while others went out on the town—though never too late. Tonight, Dallas took his entire offense out to a really nice steakhouse in downtown Miami.
“As quarterback, I get too much credit when things are good,” he said at the table. “But I have all of you to thank for our success. Especially the offensive line. The last four games, you’ve kept me so well-protected that I could sit back and have a tea party if I wanted.”
Everyone laughed, especially when Double-D shouted, “You’re damn right!”
Dallas sat back down, but then Andrew Stark, the backup tight end, stood. “I know I’m new to the team, but I wanted to congratulate Brody Carter on the season he’s having. I’m glad you found your groove, Brody, because you’ve been a huge inspiration for the past month.”
“Boy, have you lost your mind?” Kincaid asked. “Brody’s success is keeping you on the bench.”
“I know, but we’re a team,” Andrew replied. “His success is my success. And I’m learning a lot under him.”
He sat back down. I raised my water glass to him and gave him a wink.
He’s a good kid. He’ll go far in this league with that attitude.
“Speaking of being under Brody,” Kincaid said, “I think Brody’s got a new girlfriend, and that’s the reason he’s had an extra skip in his step lately.”
I made myself grin like it was a joke. Stevie was sipping his water and not looking at anyone in particular. Same with Dallas, who was suddenly very interested in his napkin.
“You know me,” I said, letting an extra helping of Texas drawl into my voice. “I’ve got all sorts of game. And I’m not talkin’ about that thing we do on Sundays with the pads and helmets.”
Everyone laughed, and thankfully they dropped the subject. I breathed a sigh of relief.
If the rest of the team finds out, word will get back to Isabella, I thought. I need to be careful.
But it still stung to have to keep it a secret from the other players, who were like a second family to me.
Back at the hotel, there was a cluster of fans outside waiting to get autographs from the players. Dallas and I stopped to sign a few before going inside. When we got to our floor, we saw a familiar sight.
“Dallas,” Stevie called out. “Your fiancée is here!”
Kim Dresden was standing outside Dallas’s hotel room, smiling. “I’ll never get tired of hearing that.”
“You trying to distract our fearless leader?” I asked.
“My sister lives in Miami, so I came here to visit her. And to watch the game tomorrow, which you boys had better win! Do you have those tickets, honey…?”
Dallas pulled a stack of NFL tickets out of his pocket. “Here you go.”
Kim gave him a big kiss. The football players in the hallway let out a chorus of hoots and jeers.
“Yeah, yeah, shut up,” Dallas said.
As she passed me in the hall, Kim gave me a smile and a wink.
That was weird. Nobody else seemed to notice it, though. I said goodnight to the rest of the team and unlocked my hotel room.
I flinched when I realized I wasn’t alone. Laying sideways on the bed was Taylor. She was wearing a black teddy with lace and garters, and her crimson hair was spread out next to her on the white sheets.
“Hello there, big boy,” she said in a goofishly-lusty voice.
So that’s why Kim winked at me. She must have been sneaking Taylor into my room.
“Damn, Foxy,” I said. “You know my birthday isn’t until March, right?”
