Their victory parade was the other day. While the Camels all celebrated with them as a group of supportive friends, I didn’t get to celebrate with my girl the way I would have wanted.
It hurt. A lot. I’ve tried to pretend otherwise, but I’m not very good at lying. I’m sure she senses it.
We have a nationally televised home game tonight. It’s also the big reveal for her makeup commercial that she filmed several weeks ago. They decided to debut it during a second-half timeout of our game to try to piggyback on both the Beavers’ championship and the introduction of the new women’s football league. They’re hoping our fans will gravitate to that league too.
I’m having a terrible game. My head isn’t in it. I don’t want to upset Kennedy, but don’t my feelings matter too? Can’t shesee that the continued secrecy is hurting me? Yes, I know the decision is hers, but I’m struggling.
I spoke to my father about it earlier today. He seemed bizarrely confident that things would work out and that I should be patient a little longer.
He was so damn sure of it. He’s never let me down before, so I’m rolling with things. Just a little longer, and we can tell the world.I hope. Something tells me she’ll delay it again. I’m afraid of how I’ll react if she does.
It’s finally time for the commercial. It’s not only playing for the people at home on their televisions, but they’re showing it on the big screen here at the stadium because of Kennedy’s local stardom.
The commercial begins, and it’s hot as fuck. Holy shit. Jordie McNamara and Kennedy are both in significantly sexier versions of their respective jerseys. They’re both beautiful in totally different ways, and the hair and makeup people did a great job accentuating that. While they both have makeup on their faces—it’s a cosmetics commercial—it’s not overdone or tacky. There’s a whole theme about it being okay to look the way they do while playing as hard and tough as they do. It’s a female empowering message, and I’m proud of my girl. Good for Hale Cosmetics for highlighting what real beauty is.
The message is so strong and deep that it garners a standing ovation from the huge crowd when it’s over. Vance smacks my back. “She looked amazing.”
I nod. “Yes, she did.” She’s smokin’ hot.
The screen then switches to an interview with Jordie. She talks a bit about her journey of having played with the boys in high school and having to hide her more feminine side, and how happy she is to now be able to embrace it all. She then explains the reason behind why she named her lipstick and eyeshadow what she did.
When they move on to Kennedy’s interview, I can’t help but inhale a sharp breath as she appears on the screen. She’swearing my jersey. I blink a few times to make sure I’m seeing things correctly. Yes, it’s a number eighty-eight Camels jersey. This is her subtle way of telling the world that we’re together. I can’t help the big smile that overtakes my face, but the joy I feel is nothing compared to what she does next.
First, she talks about how much she enjoys traditional girlie things like clothes and makeup and how it doesn’t impact who she is as a player or how she plays the game. The off-camera interviewer then asks her what she’s chosen as the name of her lipstick.
She answers, “Humble Rose.”
“Why that name?” the interviewer inquires.
“It’s named after my mother-in-law, who I unfortunately never had the chance to meet,” she states as if everyone knows she’s married. “I told my father-in-law my plans to name it after her, and he and I came up with the name together. She was a special woman, and I’m excited to honor her memory this way.”
Monkeys could fly across this stadium right now, and I’d be less surprised.
“You’re married?” the interviewer asks, failing to mask her clear surprise.
Kennedy grins widely as she nods. “I am. Very happily.”
“To whom?”
Kennedy tugs on her jersey. “To the greatest football player on the planet, of course. Daylen Humblecut.” She rubs her belly. “And we’re expecting a baby this spring.” She blows a kiss into the camera. “Good luck in your game tonight, baby. I love you.”
All hundred or so teammates and staff on my sideline turn and look at me. There’s no masking the shocked expressions on their faces. Hell, I think all sixty thousand fans look at me too while there’s collective gasp in the stadium.
My best friend has a huge grin on his face. He’s so happy for me.
The interviewer then asks, “What did you name your signature eyeshadow?”
Kennedy bites back her smile. “I named itWaterfalls. That song is my husband’s happy place, and he’s mine.” They play the song as the interview ends.
I look up to try to find Kennedy in the Beavers’ suite. I see her standing front and center, wearing my jersey in public for the first time. She holds up her left hand and wiggles her ring finger, which I see isn’t covered by a Band-Aid or makeup anymore. She then blows me a kiss. I realize she did all this for me. All the waiting was a ruse. She wanted to give me the huge—and I meanhuge—public display of our love. I didn’t think I could love her any more than I already did, but I was wrong.
I wish I could climb this stadium right now just to kiss her.
After I excitedly remove the Band-Aid from my ring finger, I give her the heart sign with my hands. At least people now know why I always do that after every touchdown. All for my wife.
SIX WEEKS LATER
KENNEDY
