Page 16 of Mr. Irrelevant (Rock City Renegades #1)

She gasps, her jaw practically touching the floor.

“Oh my God, you little rebel,” she says, clearly shocked by my admission.

“Daddy’s perfect angel is sneaking around in the middle of the night and committing actual crimes with the hottest player on the team.

I’ve been waiting for this moment my entire life—welcome to the dark side, Liv. ”

Throwing myself back into the plush cushions, I roll my eyes. “Don’t make me regret telling you about this. And don’t comment on his hotness level, either.” I groan, dropping my face into my open palms. “I already know.”

“Wowwwww,” she replies, drawing out the word.

“This isn’t just about football. You like him.

” I peek through my fingers, letting my hands fall into my lap when I see that her expression has softened.

Just as I do, the camera focuses on Maddox as he walks along the sideline, hyping up his teammates.

Pride swells in my chest for a moment because this is what made me push to draft him in the first place.

He’s a phenomenal leader, and the entire city is better with him in it.

“I don’t know,” I whine, making her chuckle under her breath.

“We haven’t known each other that long, but there’s something about him that draws me in.

I promised myself I’d never date another football player, so even if he wasn’t a Renegade, it wouldn’t matter.

But I can’t stop myself from wishing everything about the situation was different.

” A slow sigh pushes past my lips. I should feel better now that I’ve said the words out loud, but I don’t.

If anything, I’m more confused as I realize how much I’ve complicated things.

What started as wanting to win games has morphed into me being attracted to someone that I can’t even explore the possibility of a relationship with. It sucks.

Sydney leans back, mirroring my relaxed posture.

“I understand why him being on Dad’s team muddies things, but please don’t let that shitbag Deacon stop you from going for someone simply because they have the same job as him.

As much as the media says otherwise, plenty of professional athletes have healthy, faithful relationships.

Just because you managed to find the worst one on the planet doesn’t mean the next won’t be your Prince Charming. ”

“No,” I argue, shaking my head. “Obviously, Deacon was a top-notch douchebag, but I know not all guys are like him. It’s not just that, though.

The Renegades will be mine someday, and I’m always going to have to work harder to prove myself because I’m a woman.

Mixing business and pleasure, our team or not, won’t make that any easier.

There are plenty of fish in the sea. I just have to pick one that doesn’t get hit for a living. ”

“Okay,” she relents. “But what if you just…have some fun with the fish?” I turn my head, shooting a glare her way.

Her hands raise in surrender. “I’m just sa ying.

You don’t have to marry the guy. But we both know the only thing between your legs these days is a thick layer of cobwebs because you refuse to let yourself have any fun.

You had the perfect opportunity to leave the club with Hoodie Hottie the other night, and you totally chickened out. You need to get laid.”

Shit. I forgot about that. She saw me dancing with Maddox before he took off, but I obviously didn’t tell her who he was. It was way too dark for her to recognize him, and with the way my head was spinning, I just needed time to sort things out on my own. I still haven’t, obviously.

“Ummm. That was him.” She sucks in another shocked gasp, and I pull my feet up, curling into a tight ball before pressing my forehead to my knees with a frustrated whine.

I’m expecting her to squeal or make some other noise only dogs can hear, but when she doesn’t, I look over to find her completely speechless as she stares back at me.

“You have to fuck him,” she finally says.

My sister, everybody.

I choke on a laugh. “You’re a pain in my ass. Thanks for your unwavering support, Syd.”

I turn back toward the television, watching as Maddox throws a screen pass to our running back, Wesley Rhodes, at the fifteen-yard line.

Jett throws a monster block, clearing a wide-open lane all the way to the end zone.

All the stress and frustration I was feeling moments ago vanishes into thin air as I jump to my feet, screaming like a crazy person again, because holy shit.

We look like a real football team—one that’s being led by a calm, confident quarterback.

In just a few weeks, he’s gone from unsure and hesitant to someone who makes solid decisions under pressure.

I’ll give his offensive line some credit…

they’ve been working hard to protect him.

But that doesn’t change the growth he’s had in such a short amount of time.

The rest of the game flies by, and when the clock runs out with a score of twenty-one to six, I beam with pride.

They fucking did it. He did it. Not only did Maddox score his first professional rushing touchdown, but his first passing touchdown and victory, as well.

He took a couple of hard hits during the fourth quarter, one of which landed him in the blue medical tent for a couple of plays, but thankfully, the trainers deemed him okay and sent him back to finish the job.

I’m glad because he deserved to be out there with his team.

He’s been working so hard, taking all my criticism in stride and putting my instruction to work.

I feel like I can finally breathe now that it’s beginning to pay off.

Things may be complicated with us off the field, but on it—we’re making magic.