Page 5

Tanner

“Tanner! Hey, Tanner! Really? You’re going to ignore me now? After nine full months in the womb together? Or was it eight? Mom had a C-Section, right?”

I turned to see Thea hurrying down the stadium hallway with Jackson following behind. The lanyard around her neck bobbed between the blazer of her sharp jacket and slacks, the most professional thing I’d ever seen her in, but that was understandable. Today was almost as big a day for her as it was for me.

“Tan Tan!”

She said, slightly out of breath as she reached me. “I’m so glad I caught you! Didn’t think I’d see you until you were out on the field and that’s no way to wish your little bro good luck.”

She pulled me into her arms which I eagerly accepted. Although I hadn’t seen my sister in a few months, we talked almost daily, and it always felt like we picked up right where we left off.

“I’m surprised you’re just walking around back here.”

“It’s all thanks to this.”

She lifted the lanyard with ‘PRESS’ on full display and I smiled. My sister had finally gotten her life together. She was working hard on something she loved, and I loved that for her.

She leaned forward just as Jackson got to us. “We just finished with the Chally executives, and they’re officially very interested.”

She lowered her voice, glancing around. “It’s all down to my performance tonight, so you better win, otherwise I’m going to have to ream your ass on TV and I really don’t want to do that.”

“Way to kick your brother’s nerves, Pyro,”

Jackson said. It was his turn to pull me into a hug, and I accepted it. The guy already felt like a brother to me with how well he’d treated my sister over the last five years. “How you feeling?”

“I’m doing okay. I’m used to playing under pressure,”

I said, the same thing I always did during intense times like this because that was the best way to focus. Disconnect. Take the emotion out of things and focus on the game.

“This isn’t just pressure. This is the Super Bowl.”

Jackson let out a low whistle, shaking his head. “No big deal or anything.”

“Yeah,”

I said with a shrug, even though I could feel my pulse ticking up my neck. “Just another game.”

But I knew it wasn’t. As if the Super Bowl wasn’t enough pressure, I’d decided to add even more.

Thea snorted. “You keep saying that like the rest of us aren’t about to throw up from nerves. We saw mom and dad in the box before we came down here. Dad was showing old high school footage of you to whoever would listen and mom was pacing to the point that I thought she’d worn a hole in the floor.”

“What about Aster’s family? Are they there yet?”

Thea’s face softened. “Mom said they were on their way when we were leaving. I assume they’re here now.”

“Good,”

I nodded, more to myself than anyone else. Things were thankfully going to plan. Aster’s family being here was one of the most important parts of the puzzle today.

I wasn’t going to screw it up. Not like last time.

“They’re so excited to watch. We all are, and whatever happens out there, you’ve already made us proud. All of us,”

Thea said with her hand clasped on my shoulder. There was more behind her words, and I knew it, I just didn’t want to acknowledge it.

I nodded, swallowing hard. “Thanks. That means a lot.”

She stepped in closer, her voice soft this time. “But you’re going to win.”

“Hope so.”

“I mean,”

she continued, lifting her lanyard again, “I’d hate to waste this outfit on a losing interview. And I’ve got a speech ready for your post-game moment.”

She blinked a couple of times with an opened mouth smile. I was almost certain she was trying to wink but still hadn’t learned how to. “You know, the moment.”

I raised a brow. “The moment?”

“Way to be subtle, Pyro.”

She ignored her boyfriend; her smile turning smug. “Look, just play your heart out. Leave it all on the field. And when the clock runs out?”

She leaned in, her eyes locking with mine. “Don’t waste time, Tanner. You already know what matters most.”

Aster.

She was the first thing that came to mind when I thought about all the things that mattered to me because if it weren’t for her, I’d have nothing. My dreams would’ve died sophomore year along with my grades. Thea would’ve been kicked out of Covey too because her place was contingent on mine.

Everything.

Aster changed everything and I’d been working hard over the last few years to prove to her that taking that chance on me was worth it. I’d screwed up the first time I considered it. I wasn’t going to screw up this time.

Win or lose, I was going to ask Aster Paige if she’d marry me.

“She's going to say yes, you know,”

Thea whispered.

“You don't know that for sure.”

“Well, you’d better hope after six years you’d be more confident about the answer than that,” she said.

“Pyro’s got a point,”

Jackson piped up, offering his two cents. “For what it’s worth, I think it’s about time. You two were practically married from the moment she started tutoring you, and I think you would already be married if you didn’t have that little blip in college. Trust me, bro. You got this. The game and the girl.”

I felt a small smile tugging at my lips despite the nervous energy coursing through me. “Thanks, guys. That... means a lot, but I’ve, uh, got to meet Devin in one of the conference rooms to talk strategy,”

I said, glancing at my watch because looking at Thea was causing me far too much discomfort. She knew. Jackson knew. Hell, I was pretty sure our entire family knew I was going to propose when I bought a $2 million dollar suite for everyone after going half-sies with Devin on the one next door.

It was the most reckless thing I’d ever done, but having Aster’s family there to celebrate was important. They’d been there through our toughest times and now I wanted them to be there at our biggest win…. Hopefully.

Thea glanced over at Jackson. “Yeah, we need to get going too.. Pre-game interviews and all that.”

“Right.”

I nodded, suddenly feeling the weight of the day ahead. “Hey, Thea?”

She paused, looking back at me.

“I'm glad you'll be there. You know, for both things.”

“Wouldn’t miss it for the world. I love you, Tan Tan. You’re the best.”

Her smile was genuine and she pushed onto her tiptoes, giving me another hug. Only this time, it was tighter. “Now go win a Super Bowl and get engaged. Preferably in that order.”

She looked up to the ceiling. “Wait, maybe I shouldn’t say that because if you don’t win, we might be waiting another five years for a proposal.”

“Pyro,”

Jackson warned. He clapped his hands on her shoulder and started to steer her in the other direction. “Good luck, man. I believe in you.”

And with that, she stepped back and looped her arm through Jackson’s, letting him tug her away while she talked to him about camera angles.

I stood there for a moment. My heart was thudding because before that conversation, I’d managed to let myself believe this was like any other game. Now, the true weight of what came after was lying heavy on me.

Would she say yes? Of course she would. She all but admitted she would five years ago when she accidentally found my grandmother’s ring in my bag. It resulted in me being an idiot and running away before we could talk it through. I was embarrassed; she was mortified because I left her with her parents to pick up the pieces.

We were in a different place now. Not only were we older, but I’d already finished my rookie contract and was now going to be a Crossbill for another seven years, at least. Aster had finished her masters and I would be working within the charitable division of my team. She focused on the kids at work and how to help them make the best out of whatever challenges they may face.

Of course she went for something to help others. That was so Aster. Selfless. Focused, and always ready to help.

I could feel myself smiling in this empty hallway as I thought about my girlfriend. I had it bad, but I knew that the minute I stood up to her against that idiot Connor back in college. She was everything then, and she’s everything now.

I reached into my pocket for what must have been the twentieth time that morning and ran my hand over the small velvet box tucked safely inside. The ring had been burning a hole in my pocket for weeks now… years even. My grandmother’s ring. I already knew she loved it.

I turned on my heels, darting down the hallway because I was already late. “Pull it together, man,”

I muttered to myself.

My phone buzzed, cutting through my spiral of doubt. It was a text from Devin: You still coming?

I texted back a quick thumbs up and headed straight to the conference room.

The game first, then the proposal. One life-changing event at a time.

When I got to the room the door opened and Dean Reeves, one of the newest defensive ends, came walking out with his five-year-old son, Levi asleep in his arms.

“Hey, Tanner,”

he said, quietly as not to disturb his son. He’d only been on our team for a couple of months after the Crossbills claimed him off of waivers before the play-offs, which meant he hadn’t been part of any of the team building throughout the season. It was a hard adjustment for him, since he was also going through a messy divorce, but Devin was adamant he was an asset to the team.

“Hey. Is Devin in there?”

He nodded and made his way down the hall.

I stepped into the room and found Devin leaning over a whiteboard, arms crossed, eyes narrowed as he studied one of the formations we’d been practicing all week. He didn’t look up when I entered.

“Took you long enough,”

he muttered.

“I got held up by my sister, her boyfriend, and my girlfriend who keeps watching me as though she knows I’m up to something.”

“Ah,”

he said, finally turning around with a smirk. “So, the usual.”

Devin Walker was the heart of our defense, the most focused and brutal player I’d ever shared a field with—and also one of my closest friends. We’d captained this team together through the worst of rebuild seasons and into the best playoff run in franchise history. I’d trust him with my life.

“What’s the plan?”

I asked, stepping up beside him.

He tapped the board. “The Snakes are gonna try to blitz early and often. I told Coach to expect heavy pressure in the first quarter. They’re going to want to rattle you.”

I nodded, already flipping through scenarios in my head. “Screen left to Reeves, then deep right to Mathers on the second drive.”

“Exactly what I was thinking.”

Devin gave me a quick side glance. “And if they go into nickel early?”

“Delay the release and have Jones chip the weak side.”

Devin nodded, his approval wordless but obvious. “You’re ready.”

“Yeah,”

I said, but my voice lacked conviction.

Devin squinted at me. “You sure? You’ve looked like you’re gonna throw up since you walked in here.”

“It’s just… a big day.”

He raised a brow, slow and knowing. “The game or the proposal?”

I blinked, startled. “What?”

He chuckled, shaking his head. “Man, please. You think I don’t know? You’ve had that box on you since Wild Card weekend. You split a sky box with me and then bought the one next to it. No one drops that kind of money just to let their girlfriend’s cousin sit in comfort.”

I let out a slow breath and dragged a hand down my face. “I didn’t think it was that obvious.”

“It’s not. To most people. But I’ve seen you go head-to-head with guys twice your size without blinking. The only time you look this nervous is when Aster’s involved.”

He clapped a heavy hand on my shoulder, firm and grounding. “So? You gonna do it?”

“If we win.”

Devin stared at me for a beat, then nodded. “Then we win.”

I smiled, but the nerves still clawed at my chest. “You think she’ll say yes?”

He looked me dead in the eye. “I think she already has. You just haven’t asked yet.”

For a guy who hit like a freight train, Devin had a way of making things sound so damn simple. And maybe they were.

“Thanks, man.”

“Don’t thank me yet.”

He turned back to the board. “We’ve got four quarters to get through first. No hero ball. Stay patient, stay in rhythm, and trust your line.”

“I always do.”

He grinned. “Good. Because I plan on watching you get your ring tonight—and I’m not just talking about the one on your finger.”

I let out a short laugh, the weight in my chest lifting just a little.

One game. One girl. One perfect shot.

I could do this.