“Thanks. I just hope I don’t drop the ball.”
“There’s a secret to that.”
The kid looked up at him with serious brown eyes. “What’s the secret?”
“Don’t drop the ball.” Cole winked and Kenny laughed, then blew out a breath and dropped his shoulders.
“Okay, man, I’ll try to relax.”
“You do that.” He put his arm around Kenny’s shoulder. “Take this all in. It’s your rookie year, your first game. This is only going to happen once. Enjoy it.”
They watched the kickoff. Miami returned it twelve yards, and it was game on. Defense was solid, so Miami punted after their first possession, and it was time for the Traders to take the field. First two plays had the running backs in, and they gained a first down. Davis and Fields went in on the first pass play on second down and short yardage. Fields caught the ball on a slant and picked up an additional four yards, gaining them another first down. After a couple runs and a successful shovel pass that netted fourteen yards, they were at midfield and Cole was in.
He took his position to the left, mindful of the Miami defenders. When the ball was hiked, he ran a post pattern, pushing past the cornerback. He turned and the ball hit him right in the numbers—he loved Grant Cassidy’s throwing accuracy. But he went down when the safety slammed into him, so he only gained ten yards. If he’d managed to break free, there would have been nothing but the goal line ahead of him.
But at least they’d gotten another first down.
He was pulled out for another couple running plays. The team was in the zone, moving the ball consistently and incurring no penalties. Cassidy threw a bullet to Jay Martin, their tight end, who pulled it in twelve yards out and dashed into the end zone, scoring their first touchdown of the game. The entire sideline broke into wild cheers. And the crowd went crazy. Cole just soaked up the adrenaline rush.
By the end of the first half they were up ten to nothing. Cole had been given several plays, and was two for three. Coach gave them the requisite pep talk in the locker room, but the team was doing a good job. Defense was kicking ass; they just needed to put more points up on the board.
Fortunately, they received the kickoff to start the second half. They got the ball on the thirty-yard line after a great return by special teams. Cole went out for the first play, but only as a decoy. He blocked for the running back, who took it twelve yards for a first down. He stayed in for the next play and took a pass sixteen yards for another first down. The offensive line was opening up holes like crazy. When he ran a post, he blew through an opening and saw nothing but the end zone ahead of him, two defenders hard on his heels. He dug in and ran for all he had and hit the end zone for a touchdown.
His teammates caught up and mobbed him. He couldn’t remember ever being this happy, or more a part of a team.
Coach pulled him out for the next offensive series, and Davis and Fields took some passes for yardage. By the fourth quarter they were up by twenty-four points and the offensive coordinator signaled for Kenny Lawton to go in on the next offensive series.
“You’re going to do great,” Cole told him. “We’ve got this game in the bag, so no pressure. Just read the signals of the defense. And don’t forget to catch the damn ball.”
Lawton nodded and ran out when the offense took the field. He lined up, ran his route at the snap, and dropped the pass.
Damn.
Lawton was left in for another shot at it, and this time he caught the ball on a play-action pass for an eight-yard gain.
Hell yeah. Kenny grinned so wide you’d have thought he’d just caught a touchdown pass in the Super Bowl.
Cole remembered what it was like to catch your first pass in a regular season game. It was monumental and something you never forgot. When Kenny came back to the sidelines, he, Davis, and Fields all slapped him on the back.
“Good job, kid,” Cole said.
“Thanks. I mucked up the first one, though.”
He looked pained about it, too.
“Don’t worry about it,” Jamarcus said. “It sure as hell won’t be the last pass you drop. We all do it.”
“More than we want to,” Lon admitted.
Cole liked these guys. He liked playing for this team. And when the whistle sounded to end the game and they’d won, the team gathered around to celebrate, hooting and hollering and slapping one another, celebrating with the fans as their way of thanking them for their support. Cole was dragged around the stadium and shoved around in the locker room.
For the first time since he’d started playing professional football, he actually felt like he was part of a team.
Things were changing. He’d done a lot of the changing, and he had Savannah to thank for that.
When the media came in to interview him, he answered their questions—even the tough ones—honestly.
“I have a lot to prove this season. I’m with a great team, and I’m lucky to be here. I’ve been given another chance, and I’m going to work my butt off to prove to the team and to the fans that I deserve to be here.”
He left it at that, and the media seemed satisfied. Maybe because it was the truth, and he’d finally left his attitude behind.
Now it was time to look forward.
SAVANNAH COULDN’T BE MORE PLEASED FOR COLE. IT had been such a great game. His performance on the field had been nearly perfect. And off the field? She couldn’t have asked for more. She’d listened to his after-game interview, and he’d done everything right, had answered the media’s questions honestly, and had even added touches of humor. He’d had a complete turnaround, and she wouldn’t be surprised if he continued playing well. The media hounded him for interviews now, but more for the positive than the negative.
She hoped his family celebrated his success today.
She went home and waited for him to pick her up, knowing he had those interviews and a team meeting. It took him an hour and a half, and she nearly ran to the door when he rang the doorbell. She opened it and threw her arms around him.
“Congratulations,” she said when he scooped her into his arms. “I’m so proud of you.”
He brushed his lips across hers, then grinned. “Thanks. But it’s only the first game. I don’t want to get my hopes up.”
“I think you should definitely get your hopes up. It’s going to be a great season and you should be positive and hopeful about it.”
He kissed her again, this time wrapping his arms around her and giving her a deep kiss that curled her toes and made her hotter than the weather outside. When he pulled back, she licked her lips and tried to calm her rapid pulse.
“You’re good for me. And my ego.”
She laughed and laid her hand on his chest. “I don’t think your ego has ever needed any boosting.”
His lips curled. “You ready to go?”
“Yes. Is there anything I should bring?”
“No. There will be a ton of food and drink at the bar. And family, too. It should be pretty crazy, especially since Mick’s game is tonight.”
“I can’t wait.”
Riley’s Sports Bar was an amazing place and, as Cole had warned, absolutely packed with people, a mix of both customers and Cole’s family. His parents were there, along with his sister, Alicia, as well as his aunt Kathleen and uncle Jimmy, who owned the bar. His cousin Jenna was bartending, Jenna’s fiancé Tyler was helping her. Tara was there, too, surrounded by the family in protective mode. They grabbed seats at a huge table reserved for the family.
Savannah met Tara’s son, Nathan, a very handsome teenager who smiled at her, shook her hand, stayed long enough to be polite and exchange a few sentences, then ran off with his cousins to play games in the back room.
Cole got her a seat, then went off to get them drinks. She figured she likely wouldn’t see him for a while since he was being congratulated by his family and several of the patrons.
“Come sit by us,” Alicia said.
“Thank you.” She changed tables, since Cole had found them a cozy table for two. They had plenty of time to be alone later. She’d much rather sit with his family.
“It’s a madhouse, isn’t it?”
She grinned at Tara. “It’s amazing. You must love it.”
Tara laid a hand on her belly, which had expanded some since she’d met her the night of Elizabeth’s wedding. “I do love it. I unashamedly adore this family. My own left a lot to be desired, so I was always sad not to be able to give Nathan a big extended family.”
Tara looked around. “Now we have all this. Nathan loves the Rileys. They’ve accepted him as their own and have since the beginning.”
Savannah could imagine they would. The Rileys seemed to have an unending capacity for love and acceptance.
“And with the new baby coming, I feel like the luckiest woman alive. He or she will never lack for love.”
Savannah saw Cole sandwiched between his father and uncle, talking with Ty at the bar. Their gazes were glued to the action on the TV. “I can see why.”
“Do you have a big family, Savannah?” Alicia asked.
Savannah pulled her attention away from Cole and back to the women. “No. It was just me and my mom.”
“So this might be overwhelming to you.”
“Not really. I find it all just a little bit wonderful.”
Tara laughed. “So did I when I first met them. I have to admit it wasn’t just Mick I fell in love with, it was his entire family. And when Mick and I decided to get married, we figured it would be best to relocate here—for Nathan’s sake and for mine.”
“Mick plays for San Francisco, right?”
“Yes. And that’s where my business was. But he knew how much his family meant to me, and to Nathan. And his season is only a few months out of the year. With only half of his games being at home, it made sense to make our home here, where the family was. Now that I’m pregnant, I’m so glad we’re in St. Louis. Otherwise I’m pretty sure his mother would have packed up and moved in with us.”
Savannah laughed. “I take it she’s excited.”
“Beyond thrilled. Which in turn thrills me.” Tara’s eyes filled with tears and she blinked. “Sorry. Damn hormones.”
Alicia put her arm around Tara. “I think it’s normal to be like this when you’re pregnant, honey.”
“Oh, god, you’re not getting weepy again, are you?” Liz pulled up a seat at their table and kissed Tara on the cheek. “I swear to god, woman, you’re like a walking faucet.”
“I know. I can’t help it. Everything makes me happy lately, and when I’m happy, I cry.” Tara looked across the table at Savannah, then shrugged. “I’m sorry.”
“I don’t think you should ever apologize for being happy. Or for being pregnant and hormonal.”
“Thank you.”
“Don’t encourage her. She’ll cry more.” Liz shifted her gaze to Tara and winked.
Tara stuck her tongue out at Liz. “It’s going to be like this for at least four and a half more months. Suck it up and deal.”
“If I must. The things an aunt-to-be must tolerate.”
Savannah’s stomach tightened. She’d pay all the money she had to be a part of a large family like this, to be able to celebrate triumphs, get together and talk babies and husbands and just about anything.
To have sisters, even by marriage.
To have a family. Her foster families had all been temporary. Nice at the time, but not permanent. When she’d left, there had been no ties, no one to come back to. Just like always, she’d been alone.
She took a deep breath and shrugged it off. This wasn’t her family and wasn’t going to be. She smiled when Jenna came over and fell into a chair.
“Oh. My. God. This place is a nightmare tonight.”
“Why are you even working?” Liz asked. “Shouldn’t you be turning the reins over to your new manager and getting your sweet ass over to the new place?”
She shrugged. “It’s Mick’s first game and I wanted to be here. The new place is coming along fine, and Dave needed help so I just stepped in to assist behind the bar, then I got sucked into chatting with the regulars. Old habits die hard, ya know.”
“What new place?” Savannah asked.
Jenna turned to her. “Hi, Savannah. I’m so used to just launching myself into the middle of a family conversation I forget you might not be used to it.”
“It’s no problem,” Savannah said with a laugh.
“Good. You kind of have to get used to that with this family. Anyway, I’m so glad you could make it tonight. Cole told me he’d be bringing you.”
“He did?”
“He did,” Jenna said with a waggle of her brows. “In answer to your question, I’m opening a new club. A music club. Well, kind of a music club. More of an open-mike kind of place, where people can come in and show their stuff.”
Savannah caught the excitement in Jenna’s eyes, the way she wriggled in her chair when she talked about the club. “How thrilling for you. It sounds like a unique place, and a lot of fun. I can’t wait to check it out when it opens.”
Jenna grinned. “Thank you. I’m pretty stoked about it. Of course at the same time I’m also planning my wedding. Nothing like a little massive juggling.”
“Hey, that’s why you have family. So we can help you,” Tara said.
“Please. You’re busy being pregnant.”
Tara rolled her eyes. “And that makes me, what? Incapacitated? Brain-dead? Incapable of doing what I do best? For your information, I can be pregnant and plan your wedding at the same time. The baby is due in January and your wedding isn’t until late next year. By the time this little one arrives, I’ll be up on my feet again and ready to take care of the final details.”