Page 12 of Kicked in the Heart

“Of course, Cynthia,” she said as she held out her hand to take the shirt.

“I want to play football when I grow up,” Cynthia said as she watched Rocky sign the shirt.

“What position do you want to play?”

“I really want to be a quarterback, but my brothers think that’s silly, that girls can’t be quarterbacks.”

Rocky smiled. “A lot of people told me I couldn’t be a kicker, but here I am. You keep practicing and don’t give up. I bet you’ll be a quarterback before you know it.”

She handed the shirt back to Cynthia along with a signed photo. “How about a picture?”

“Can we? That would be so awesome!”

Rocky stood and walked out to the front of the table as Cynthia pulled a man forward.

“See, Daddy, I told you she was nice. She said we could take a picture.”

The man smiled at her. “You don’t have to…”

“I’m glad to take a picture with a future player.”

Cynthia smiled huge as she moved to stand with Rocky. “You really think I can be a player?”

“Of course. Now, scrunch in and smile!” she said as she held out her phone and snapped their picture.

“Here, let me take one with your phone,” Cynthia’s dad said, holding out his hand. “I’m Steve.”

“Nice to meet you,” she said as she handed him her phone. “Are you a Legends fan?”

“Ever since I was a kid,” he replied with a smile as he snapped a picture with her phone and then switched to take one with his phone. “I’d, uh, I’d like to take you out for a coffee or something.”

That surprised her. Most men were intimidated when they knew she played on a men’s football team. “Would your wife like to join us?”

“She died two years ago.”

“I’m so sorry,” Rocky said.

“How about I put my number in your phone and you can call me if you decide to take me up on it.”

“Okay.”

She didn’t see Butch staring at her, a scowl on his face.

“Looking forward to hearing from you,” Steve said as he led his daughter away from her table.

“This isn’t a singles bar,” she heard Butch say.

She smirked at him. “Like I haven’t heard at least ten women proposition you today. Get over yourself.”

She turned back to find someone walking toward her table.’

“Rocky! Good to see you!”

She smiled. “Randy, long time no see!” she said as she hurried around the table to hug him. “I didn’t know you were back in town.”

Butch scowled until a fan walked up to his table.

“I got back last Thursday. Too bad about the field goal. You’ll get ‘em next time,” Randy said with a smile. “I always knew someone in the big leagues would see your talent.”