“Best throw and catch of the season,” Callahan said with a smirk.“Cash Money here gave me lots of lead time to outrun the secondary.”
“How does it feel to be conference champs?”the reporter asked.These guys had a knack for asking obvious questions, but O’Reilly and I were seniors; we knew how to handle them.
“We’re going to enjoy this tonight.Then tomorrow we start preparing for the second half of the season,” I said.
Out of nowhere Taco, Dalton, and Tarvi showed up to jump on Callahan and me and mug for the camera.We all started laughing, effectively ending the interview.
As I made my way through the throngs of people filling the field, I scanned every face for the one I truly wanted to see.At last, I found her near the end zone in front of the student section standing beside Piper and Bax.I dodged a few other fans as I half-jogged over to her through the blue-and-gold sea of people.
Before she had a chance to say anything, I wrapped her in my arms and swung her in circle.She laughed down at me before I set her back on her feet and swooped in for a smacking kiss.
“What did you think, babe?Did we do good out here today or what?”
“You did great.”Her radiant smile turned upside down.“Are you sure you’re okay?You lay on the ground for ages after that jerk tackled you.”
“Just knocked the wind out of me.I’m good.Don’t worry.”Leaning down for her ears only, I said, “I’ll still be able to celebrate properly with you at your place later.”
Bax’s laughter broke in.“What’s going on with your face, Saylor?”
She stuck her tongue out at him, making both him and Piper crack up.
“Hey, listen.It’s gonna be about an hour till we finish the press conference and shower.Will you wait for me?”I asked.
“The SCRs will be tailgating for at least that long, so I can hang with them.”Turning to Piper, she asked, “Are you sticking around for Bax?”
Piper shot Bax a teasing grin he met with a mock glare before she replied, “Sure.Only because the SCRs have a portable fire pit.It’s freezing out here.”
My buddy didn’t miss her implication.“I’ll be out of the facility as fast as I can.”
I gave Saylor one last lingering kiss, then Bax and I headed toward the tunnel.The fans had dissipated somewhat, making our journey shorter, but several of them still stopped us to congratulate us and grab selfies with them.It was all part of the deal and honestly a ton of fun to have that kind of adulation.Still, the shadows in Saylor’s eyes, coupled with what I wanted her to do—what I knew she was going to balk at doing—worked on me.
It was a full hour after the game ended before I finally left the facility.The tailgates were still going, though at about half-strength.No doubt all the bars and restaurants were filling to the brim.Saylor was standing inside the wall tent the SCRs had erected behind one of their pickups, the portable fire pit keeping the area toasty-warm.If my girl had had to wait in the frosty November afternoon, I would have felt even worse than I did for asking her to stick around instead of meeting me at Stromboli’s with the rest of the gang.
Now I had to hope she’d play along with my next big ask.
After fielding backslaps, handshakes, and a beer thrust into my hand as congratulations from Saylor’s frat buddies, I finally had my chance to escort my girl to my Jeep.
“I could have met you at Stromboli’s, you know,” she said as she strapped herself in.
Rubbing my palm over the back of my neck, I said, “Well, that’s the thing.We’re not going to Stromboli’s.”
A frown furrowed her brow.“We’re not?”
Clearing my throat, I said, “My folks are in town.They have reservations for us at The Divide.”
“You’re taking me to meet your parents?”The low tone of her voice hollowed out a space in my chest.
Yes, I’d heard her words when she’d repeated we were only hanging out, that we were only having a good time, that we were only a thing until graduation.I’d also listened to her body when we were together, both in and out of the bedroom, and her body wasn’t talking temporary.
“I may have mentioned you”—a time or ten—“when I talked to my parents on the phone.They want to meet you.Is that such a bad thing?”I put my ride in gear and pulled out of the parking lot.
“It’s just… I don’t want to give them the wrong impression.”
“In case I haven’t mentioned it recently, you’re awesome.You won’t give them the wrong impression.”
“About us.Meeting the parents implies something long-term.This”—she waved a hand between us—“is only for now.”
“Uh-huh.”I played along.“They still want to meet you.It’s no big deal.Besides, we all need to eat.”My stomach chose that second to let go a loud rumble.“Me especially.”I grinned.“Look, tonight is the only time I’m going to be able to see them while they’re in town, since they flew in late last night, and they fly out early tomorrow morning.”
