As the national anthem filled the stadium, goosebumps prickled my skin. The crowd went silent, a collective hush falling over Stallion Stadium.
And then, with a roar that shook the foundations of the building, the game began.
My heart swelled with pride as I watched Sloan on the field, his every movement a testament to his passion for the game.
Beside me, Nisha let out a gasp of excitement as our team scored on the very first drive, the crowd erupting into cheers. Honestly, the energy in the suite was electric. That's how I got caught up in the thrill of it all, cheering alongside Nisha and the others.
It didn't matter that I was the new Shelby, and they didn't think Sloan and I would make it. Because I knew we'd be just fine. Which was excellent, because the camaraderie among all of us became palpable, a shared sense of pride and support binding us together.
I'd been wrong all this time. The excitement and the thrill were football. The game had nothing to do with Elliott and his volatile teenage hormones.
I'd been missing out, but that stopped right then.
CHAPTERNINETEEN
SLOAN
Pre-season went better than expected, and the Stallions were favored going into the regular season.
Today, the late-afternoon sun slipped through the windows, casting a glow on the entire living room where Maya curled up in my arms, staring at the view. Even with everything that was wrong—I had to leave today for the first away game—everything felt right because we were together.
For now, at least.
My regular season was starting, which meant my time would be spent with the team, and she was heading out to rehearsals for the Dimefront tour, so her time would be there. We'd done the math, crunched the calendars, and we couldn't reconnect until the Dimefront opening night in Los Angeles.
That was weeks away. Weeks I was certain would feel like forever. But neither of us had mentioned the separation coming. The unspoken topic was off-limits.
We talked about everything else, but we didn't tackle the big issue. Instead, we made out on the couch and stared out the window together. She pressed a kiss to my mouth, and it heated in the familiar way because there was no lack of chemistry between the two of us.
"Maya," I whispered, brushing a lock of hair out of her eyes. "You know what's better than sitting here looking at the view?"
Her eyes twinkled. "I have some thoughts, but I'm curious about what you'll go with."
"Being outside in it." I waggled my eyebrows.
She frowned.
"C'mon, let's go for a hike," I said. "A little adventure before we have to… leave."
She scowled, but her heart wasn't in it. "No, I'm good inside. I like inside."
"I know you like inside, but you never go outside," I murmured, but her mouth was on mine, so it wasn't easy to get the words out.
Then she did the thing with her hand on my chest that was definitively her way of initiating sex. A totally unfair defense against my suggestion.
"I want to take you to my special spot," I murmured, trying to distract her from her absolutely unfair tactics.
"Mmm, I think I know your special spot."
My attempt to distract her didn't work, because then she was full on kissing me and climbing to straddle my lap with a mischievous glint in her eye.
"Please?" I asked, kissing her back because there was no way I wouldn't.
She sighed and pouted, while still straddling me as if staking her claim. "Sloan, there are bugs out there. I don't like critters."
I held her tighter, trying to reassure her with my touch. "I'll be there the whole time."
After a moment of silence, she finally said, "You won't let me out of this, will you?"
