“Drake batted down a pass,” Mama said, setting the hot dog in her lap. “Then Pittsburgh ran for eight yards and a first down.”
“Well, darn. Okay. But still no score, so that’s good.”
“Yeah.”
Harmony took a sip of her soda and set it in the cup holder, and was about to pick up her hot dog when Pittsburgh’s quarterback threw a pass. When Drake stepped in front of the receiver and intercepted the pass, she screamed.
So did Mama. So did the entire stadium. Drake took off in the opposite direction, heading for the goal line.
She held tight to her mother’s hand, hollering Drake’s name and mainly screaming as she watched her brother outrun the other team all the way into the end zone.
“Yes!” she yelled. “Oh, my God, yes!”
She finally caught her breath and sat down when their kicker came out to kick the extra point.
“That was amazing.” She turned and grinned at her mother, who grinned back like any proud mother would.
“It definitely was.”
They were seated in the family section, where they always sat, so Tina, one of the player’s wives, turned around and grasped Mama’s hand. “Oh, Diane, you must be so proud of Drake. We were all screaming.”
Mama laughed. “I was screaming, for sure.”
“Defense looks killer,” Tina said. “I know we’re still in the first quarter of the first preseason game, but I think we’re going to kick some serious butt this year.”
“I hope so,” Harmony said.
And it seemed like defense was pretty impressive, at least so far. At the end of the first quarter, Tampa was up fourteen to nothing. Most of the starters would come out and second stringers and rookies would get a chance to play now.
She finally relaxed her shoulders. “I feel like I’ve been holding my breath the entire first quarter. I think I’ll spend the rest of the game just breathing.”
Mama grabbed her hand and squeezed. “It’s all going to be okay. Our boys look great. They’re gonna win this one, baby.”
She hoped so. She knew how much football meant to Drake. He’d worked so hard all his life to provide for her and for Mama. And he’d made a success of himself. He looked so damn good out there.
So did Barrett, though she’d never say that to her mother. Or anyone else, for that matter.
Maybe Alyssa. She confided everything to her best friend, but Alyssa had an out-of-town trip today, so she couldn’t make the game.
Which meant Harmony had to ogle Barrett in silence.
He looked fine today out there in his uniform, which was stretched tight over his gorgeous muscles. The man was truly ripped and it was all she could do to concentrate on the game.
Everyone in the family boxes thought she was there to cheer on her brother. Which she was, of course. But she couldn’t help but let her focus drift to Barrett. He was fast and strong and the way he’d barreled into the opposing players made her clench in ways that turned her on.
And she knew that in the preseason they weren’t going to press as hard as they would once the regular season started. This was more like a practice game.
Still, Barrett had looked hot. Formidable. Exciting.
Of course, everything about him excited her. All the time. Every day.
She should be used to it by now.
But getting turned-on by Barrett was not a typical response at a football game. Then again, her reactions to Barrett had never been typical. From the first time they’d been alone together, he’d lit the torch on her passions.
It had been an out-of-control wildfire ever since.
“Girl, you are miles away,” her mother said.
She’d been thinking about tonight, when she’d see Barrett.
“Sorry. Work is on my mind.”
“Well, get your head out of work and onto this game.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
She had to focus. So she did. On the gorgeous man she was in love with.
And someday very soon everyone would know Barrett was hers.
They’d won the game. Even better, defense had held Pittsburgh at the goal line twice, leaving them without a score, even though first string had been out of the game after the first quarter. Their backup players had done well.
Barrett was as pumped up postgame as he’d been before. They all were.
But they also knew this was just the first game. The first preseason game. They had three more preseason, then sixteen regular season games to prove themselves.
Which they would. Barrett had a good feeling about this season.
“Okay, gather round,” Coach George McGill said.
They moved to the center of the locker room.
“This was a good start. I’m proud of all of you. We’ll set up on Tuesday with game films and practice. Until then, enjoy your time off. You earned it. We’re going to take this season and we’re gonna take it hard. Now bring it in.”
They put hands in and yelled their victory call of “Hawks!”
Barrett showered and went to his locker to get dressed.
“Man, that was a good game,” Drake said, raking his fingers through his dark, curly hair.
“Hell yes it was.”
“Feel like celebrating tonight?”
Shit. “Uh, I’ve got something to do.”
Drake grinned at him. “Got a date?”