Page 96 of Colliding with Ten

I smiled at the screen.

Lennox

Tell me

Ayla

I chuckled.

I watched different angles on two monitors. On screen were new plays from the Hawks in the last two games I’d studied for three days. They favored patterns and formations in the red zone my offensive staff was planning for. We were going to be ready.

Lennox

Tell him I said good luck. He’s going to need it.

Ayla

He says the same.

I’m staying out of this.

Lennox

Smart woman

Ayla

You’re going to try to destroy us, aren’t you?

The honest answer was yes. The plan was to destroy the Hawks in Los Angeles in front of our home crowd. Every piece was in place.

Lennox

I’m going to try.

By Thursday, our game planning had reached peak intensity, and everyone in the building was focused. Everything that wasn’t football moved to the periphery, except Ayla. She texted me the night before the game. It was late, and I was in bed staring at the ceiling, running plays in my head, when the phone vibrated.

Ayla

Tomorrow’s going to be interesting.

Lennox

Yeah. It is.

Ayla

For what it’s worth, she said, I’ll be watching from the sidelines.

I smiled.

Lennox

Cheering for me?

Ayla

Watching