“If this goes into overtime, I don’t think I’ll be able to take it,” Sheridan said, chewing on her index finger.
“For a girl who couldn’t give a crap about football six months ago, you’ve certainly changed,” Willow observed dryly.
“Please, like you’ve ever been a big football fan. Now look at you.” Sheridan rolled her eyes.
“I’m here for you. Moral support.”
“Nick Hamilton support,” Sheridan added.
As if he heard his name, Nick went running by, flashing a giant grin at the two of them. Fans sitting above them went nuts, the women cheering his name and he waved, revealing the sexy tribal tattoo that wound around his right bicep.
Willow sighed. “He’s such an ass.”
“He’s a gorgeous ass. I bet he has a gorgeous ass, too.” Sheridan laughed.
Willow socked her. “Look at your own man’s butt.”
“What? You staking claim?”
“Ha, never. That man goes through women like they’re Kleenexes.” Willow crossed her arms in front of her chest. “Whatever’s happened between us is nothing. Meaningless.”
Sheridan thought her friend’s frustration was sort of cute.
“Get rid of the smirk. You’ve been smiling the entire game.” Willow shook her head. “I’m guessing you two kissed and made up?”
“Sort of.” She didn’t know. She’d been fully prepared to let him go—or at least that’s what she told herself—but clearly he didn’t feel the same. Which thrilled her. He’d been so possessive, how he touched her, kissed her. His voice full of promise when he’d told her it was real between them. And that he was going to prove it.
She couldn’t wait to see how he’d prove it.
The crowd yelled and she returned her attention to the field. Her breath caught in her throat when she saw Jared throw the ball just in time before he was taken to the ground by two huge linebackers. Nick caught the ball with ease, running with at least three players from the opposing team nipping at his heels. He sped up, making it look so easy as he crossed the line and scored another touchdown.
The entire stadium erupted in cheers, the sound deafening. Sheridan stood, her gaze locked on Jared’s prone figure, all the while Nick showboated in the end zone, riling the crowd up into a frenzy. Not that she could blame him.
But omigod, her heart was in her throat as she waited for Jared to move.
Which he did, like, no problem. He sprang to his feet, pumping his fist in the air as other teammates approached him, slapping his helmet, his back, his butt. A big smile broke out on Sheridan’s face as she watched him run to Nick, whom he embraced like a long-lost brother.
“I told you that’s all it would take,” Willow said smugly.
Once the extra point was made, time seemed to tick by so slowly. That remaining one minute felt like twenty as endless time-outs were called, penalties, first down calls. Sheridan sat on the edge of her seat, afraid another touchdown would be made and the game would slide into overtime. Willow looked just as nervous, the both of them not speaking as they waited anxiously for the game to wind down.
When finally it was called a Hawks victory, Sheridan and Willow leapt to their feet, bouncing up and down as they hugged. Relief swamped her. Jared had played like a superstar, thrown two touchdown passes and essentially won the game, along with Nick, at the last minute.
No way could Charlie Monroe ignore that.
After the game, they waited for the stadium to empty, Sheridan craning her neck to see if she could spot Jared somewhere out on the field. Like she could tell him apart from all the rest of the players at such a distance. Besides, most of them had left the field.
But the sound of Jared’s familiar, deep voice made her turn around on a gasp.
“Up there.” Willow pointed to the Jumbotron, where Jared’s face appeared, dirty and smudged, a big smile on his face, his hair damp with sweat and sticking to his head. He was standing with a reporter, still on the field, she could tell, and her gaze flicked downward but she couldn’t see him.
“…we just had a perfect rhythm today, Nick and I. We’ve always worked well together,” Jared said with a modest smile and a shrug, his attention focused on the reporter. “We were definitely in sync this game.”
“I’ll say. Jared, you moved like we haven’t seen you play in years. Have any explanation for it?”
“Definitely, definitely. I saw my wife just before the game started. She gave me a good luck kiss.” He grinned at the camera.
Sheridan’s breath lodged in her chest.