AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The sky erupted in confetti. People were swarming and ebbing around them. Jake’s mom tapped his shoulder. “Mom, Mom, Mom!” he cried out, his head on her shoulder in disbelief that this was him, he was here. “Dad,” he yelled, reaching for his dad’s arm, seeing Jenae and Melissa just behind them,tears streaming down their faces and slipping into their smiling mouths as they all came together in a group hug.
They all fell apart laughing when they saw Georgia, Dwayne’s mom, screeching, “Dee, Dee!” pulling along her other son Damien and her daughter Eva.
Jake turned just as Georgia pounced on her son. “Dee, you did it! Daddy would be so proud. I’m sure he’s up there jumping up and down like a crazy fool right now. You did it! I remember him asking…”
“Mama, make no mistake about it, I did this for you.Youdid all this, Mama!” He opened his arm to his brother and sister. He was so damn proud he could help send them to school (his brother was in law school, and his sister had her eyes on medical school). That’s what catching a football allowed him to do, so by God, he would keep doing it.
Sylvia waited patiently, a few feet beyond their family huddles. “Jake,” she said, looking at him then to the camera, “whenever you are ready.” Levi Storm stood beside her.
Jake really wanted to find Rakell and give her a fucking insane kiss, but the field and the stands were a blur of people, screaming, cheering, twisting around each other; he’d never witnessed such celebratory chaos.
Jake and Dwayne practically skipped toward Sylvia and Levi. The cameras rolled, and Sylvia mic’d up. “You did it, you proved everybody wrong, and Jake, I guess the man upstairs finally heard your request.” The TV stations were constantly replaying his and Dwayne’smeet cutefrom almost eight years ago.
“Yep,” Dwayne said. “And I am one thankful son of a bitch right now!” he shouted into the microphone.
Levi jumped in. “So you know Sacramento is partying, but I can tell you right now that the bars in Austin are overflowing. I saw a short clip of downtown; the crowds were going wild. Youmay not play for a Texas team, but in Austin, we feel like you both belong to us.”
Jake smiled widely, nodding his head. “Dwayne and I are so grateful for the Austin love. We will head back to Sacramento tomorrow to celebrate, but then we’ll be in Austin for some parties, too. Thank you, Sac-Town and Austin! We love you!” He blew a quick kiss at the camera, his mind tugging at him to find her.
“Dwayne, congratulations on MVP. Were you surprised?” Levi asked.
“Well, this is the first I’m hearing of it. So yes!” Dwayne said, bouncing up on his toes.
“Well, the official announcement will come soon,” Levi added.
“I’m just grateful….AND I’m going to Disney World,” he yelled, his arm around Jake’s shoulders. “He played a small part in that, too.” Dwayne chuckled.
“Small is the key word here.” Jake smirked, then nudged his hip toward Dwayne. “Hey, hands off, I’m working on a girl back home so I don’t need you hanging on me.”
Sylvia raised her eyebrows. “Jake…that’s news…Was she wearing a white jacket today?” She jumped in, making all of them snicker, including the camera crew. “I know our cameras were looking for your personal cheerleader, but alas, the white jacket is no longer her identifier.” Sylvia shot a knowing look at the camera. “Any chance she’s here?”
Jake’s gaze shifted toward Levi, who wore an impassive mask, hiding his knowledge of Rakell from Sylvia. He adjusted his eyes back to the camera just as Sylvia picked up on the silent exchange.Shit, Jake thought. “Did you check all the owner’s boxes, just in case?” he said with an impish smile. Before she could follow up, Jake pivoted and said, “Levi, did your crew find her? You know I would like to connect with her and thank herpersonally”—he arched an eyebrow right at the lens—“and thank her for manifesting this day.” His tone was purposely infused with amusement.
Damn, he did want to thank her—strip her clothes off and thank her with his tongue between her legs before he buried himself inside of her for days. Fuck all these interviews and mandatory parties. He had one party in mind, and it was anywhere he could get her naked.
Before Sylvia could dig deeper, they were called to the stage. He held the big silver trophy as if he were watching someone else, some other team, on the TV. Then the big announcement came as the NFL commissioner leaned into the microphone. “Today’s Super Bowl MVP is Dwayne Bradshaw. Congratulations on the game of your life, Dwayne. Get on up here and say a few words.”
Chapter Nine
Jake:Just finished hosing off six bottles of sticky champagne. I want to see you…Send
Rakell:Jake I know I sound like a broken record, but we need to talk…delete
Rakell:Oooh…you know I love champagne. I could have helped…Send
Jake:SOLD! Not going to the after-party! Telling everyone I sadly got sick…Send
Rakell:Haha…we are in an Uber…heading to Bourbon St…Send
Jake:Seriously, I want to see you…Send
Lana peered over at Rakell’s phone. “Is that Jake? Because Levi is texting me to see if we want to join the Condors’ party at the top of the ACE Hotel. We are pretty close,” Lana said, looking at Rakell’s phone sheepishly. “I already texted that you can’t do that, but Levi said there are so many people there you could probably blend in.” She chuckled like she knew it was nuts. Both of them felt the buzz from all the drinks at the game.
“Is he out of his mind? Because I don’t think I can wear sunglasses in a dark bar without raising suspicion. But I can return to the hotel, and you can go to the party. I'm not sure I am up to battling the crowds on Bourbon Street anyway.”
“No, I wouldn’t do that.”
Jake:Hey, you blowing me off? I just won the Super Bowl….Send
