The rest of the game goes well, and ends on a happy note as Jacob’s team gets a close win. “Nice . . . home playoff game next week,” Derrick says as we leave the stadium. “He’ll enjoy that.”
I smile, putting my arm around his waist. I don’t know what exactly that means, but I loved being by Derrick’s side and knowing that he’s there for me just like I was there for him today. We’ve been tested, and though it wasn’t pretty, we withstood the potential hellfire.
“You two go on, I’ll be fine,” Dad says when we reach the car. “I think after a game like that, I’m going to just go relax, and I’m sure for you two the evening is just starting. I’ll grab a taxi home and catch you later.”
He flags down a taxi as if it were nothing, and we watch him get in, leaving Derrick and I holding each other in the chilly wind. “So . . . how was your first football game?”
I chuckle, and hug him. “I enjoyed our little practice game more, but it was fun just being there with you guys. So what are we going to do?”
“I say we hit up Jacob’s after party,” he says. “I could use some adult supervision.”
I laugh, and we get in his car, driving to a nearby nightclub. Walking in, I’m surprised to see a familiar face. “Elise?”
She looks like a million bucks in a sparkly, tight-fitting club dress, and when she turns around, a huge grin breaks across her face. “Hey babe, why didn’t you tell me you were coming!?”
“Kind of spur of the moment . . . but what are you doing here?” I ask. Derrick gives a nod to Elise, but before he can say anything, someone calls his name from across the room and he turns. “Go,” I tell him. “I’ll catch up in a minute. Tell Jacob good game for me.”
“I will,” he says, kissing me on the cheek.
Derrick leaves with a wave, and Elise turns back to me. “So what are you doing in town?” I ask as she leads me over to a table where another woman is sitting. “Hi.”
“Hi,” the woman, who honestly I would never expect to be sitting with Elise, says. She immediately ignores me though, gushing to Elise. “Check it, babe! I was talking with some of the girls, and you’d never believe what Christian K is up to.”
“What?” Elise asks, and I suddenly get it without her explaining. She’s in town working. Guess a gossip columnist has to follow the gossip.
The woman looks over at me and smiles, then back at Elise. “You sure your friend here is up to hear about it?”
Elise sighs, and grimaces. “With that, I’m not sure even I want to know,” Elise says. “Why do the handsome ones have to be so fucked up?”
Her friend laughs, sipping at her drink. “Well, if you don’t want to hear that, I’ve got an even better story to tell you.”
The music’s starting to heat up, and we have to lean in close to hear. “What?”
“You’re never gonna believe it.”
Elise grabs her drink, downing half of it in a single gulp. “Okay, I’m ready. Spill it!”
“Okay, well, check out across the room,” the girl says, gesturing. “See him?”
I turn with Elise, seeing nothing until I recognize the guy at the bar. I almost missed it because his infamous hat is missing and the lights are landing on his bald head at all angles. “Is that?”
“Yep,” the girl says. “Keith Perkins. You know, the country star?”
Elise hums, nodding. “The one who’s been gathering the award? What’s he doing in a club like this?”
“Who knows? He seems to be going incognito without the hat, and maybe there’s a little more to him than his public image says,” gossip girl quips. “Anyway . . . watch him.”
We do, and while I only see a man who’s out having a good time, he seems to ignore all the women who hit on him, all of them beautiful. “Get my point?” the woman says.
Elise nods. “Yeah . . . players gon’ play, but this one ain’t playin’ . . . interesting. Gotcha. Two more rounds on me.”
“I think I’ll go see Derrick,” I whisper in Elise’s ear. “I’ll let you work, find your next scoop. Come see us with Jacob up in VIP when you get the chance?”
“You got it,” Elise says, giving me a kiss on the cheek. “Have fun, babe. And congrats on the win.”
I go find Derrick, who’s toasting with Jacob. “To the future . . . well, I’m not gonna jinx you yet.”
“Good, because I don’t need any jinxing,” Jacob says, chuckling. He clinks glasses with Derrick, then sees me. “Hey Kat. Enjoy the game?”
“Had a ball,” I quip. “But I think it’s time to party.”