THE STORY OF Jordan's childhood pops into my head at odd times. I think of my sisters and my mom, wondering if they've faced inequality. What if Candice wanted to play baseball and not softball? Steph chose a career that wasn't as accepting of women. She never complained. Hell, Jordan never complains. She takes shit from the media, the players, and hell, other women.

Mike Goodwyn came back at Jordan on his next show with a lineup of women, including a psychologist, who all agreed that Jordan shouldn't be playing pro football. One of them even quoted the Bible. Something about women remaining silent. My eye roll was so exaggerated my eyes should have stuck to the back of my skull when that aired.

Kelson Miller's trade to another team was announced Tuesday. His locker was cleared by the time we came in from practice. I heard grumbling from some players but for the most part, Kelson won't be missed. Fergus moved into the second-string quarterback position. He looked good in preseason and I'm hoping he holds onto the position.

Jordan's stunt of showing the guys her breasts has opened them up in a way I never expected. They've teased her this week and they ask for a flash to inspire them. Of course Jordan doesn't play their peep show games but she's good at throwing it back in their faces and laughing it off. The difference in attitudes this week is nothing short of miraculous.

Jordan was upset over Kelson's trade. I assured her it was coming and Kelson is the one who sped up the process. This is football. Players come and go.

Daily practice is brutal. Our season opener is against last year's Super Bowl Champs the Phoenix Scorpions and the best quarterback in the league, Killian MacGregor. We need a win so damn bad.

Jordan spends an hour each day in physical therapy and she's making progress. Our clandestine meetings at her hotel are brief; I've only been there twice this week. A thought has been playing around in my head but I haven't broached the subject with her. She needs a permanent place to call home and I want her with me.

If- no, when that happens, we will no longer be hiding our relationship. I can't believe I'm considering this lunacy. It's her lips. They drive me crazy to the point of running over, lifting her helmet, and kissing her on the field each day. Not that I do it. But yes, I think about it all the time.

The game against the Scorpions is Sunday night. Jordan's father, her agent, and friends from out of state arrive tomorrow, Saturday. They, along with Doris, the woman who helped Jordan when the asshole in the store assaulted her, and Doris' husband are sharing a skybox with my family at the big game.

The rest of the world may not know about my relationship with Jordan but this weekend our families will. This opens up another set of problems because if our relationship is leaked to the press, it will be bad.

Early Friday morning I drive to the side of Jordan's hotel to pick her up. She walks out the side door swinging her arms and I'm relieved to see her shoulder is no longer bothering her. She leans in and kisses my cheek. I hold the door open for her and run my hand up her thigh before closing it. "I missed you last night."

"You were horny last night. The phone sex was good, though."

What the hell? "We didn't have phone sex," I growl.

Her sly smile should have warned me. "Maybe you didn't, but I did."

My hand freezes. "Who the hell with?"

She swats my shoulder. "You, dummy. When I said I was breathing hard because I was stretching, I lied."

I step onto the side runner of the truck and lean in with my hands to either side of her head. "That's just wrong." Her cherry red lips are too much to resist.

"You're squishing me," she says as soon as I relieve her of her morning lipstick application. She runs a finger across my lips before I pull away and go around the vehicle.

We're early as usual. Our routine is to work out in the gym for an hour before everyone shows up. We drop our stuff in the locker room and run into Bobby on our way out.

"Hey, Bobby," Jordan says and pulls him in for a hug.

"We're gonna win. I can feel it," he grins and then turns to me for a handshake and my usual hair ruffle.

"I hope you're right, big guy."

Bobby is one of the great parts of our team. We're his family and Rick, the team's owner, trusts him in our care. We take that trust seriously. Jordan and I head to the gym and start warming our muscles. "How's the shoulder today?" I ask from the treadmill beside her.

"As good as new. Not a twinge for two days."

"Nice to hear." I hit the button and increase my speed.

"Thank you for getting the skybox," Jordan huffs as she runs faster to keep up with me.

"It's in my contract. Your dad and friends have an open invitation."

She smiles and I wish I hadn't removed her lipstick earlier. "Quarterbacks are so spoiled," she says on a laugh.

We run a few more miles and finish up our warmup. There will be a short meeting before official practice begins. Again, I find it hard to resist taking Jordan's hand as we walk back to the locker room. I've turned into a complete pussy when it comes to this woman and I honestly don't give a damn. The glaring emptiness of Kelson's locker is no longer staring at us because thankfully Bobby has moved Fergus' items over. There is a problem, though. Each locker has a-I move closer because I'm really not sure what I'm seeing. Hanging from a majority of lockers, dead center, is a tampon. Half the lockers have the added feminine product in place and Bobby's still hanging more.

"Bobby?" Jordan says in a strangled voice. "What are you doing?"

He gives her a grin and shrugs. "My dad said these might help the team play like girls and win for a change."

I can't help myself and start laughing. My laughter quickly grows so hard, I sit on the bench in front of me.

"You're not helping, Aiden," Jordan snaps.

I look at her with tears in my eyes as two players enter the room. They stop dead when they see the tampons hanging from their lockers. "What the hell?" Randy Byer asks with a look of disgust.

I laugh harder.

"This isn't my fault," Jordan tries to explain.

Bobby comes to her rescue. "It's not her fault, it's my dad's. He thinks these will help you play better."

"Yeh, if the team sticks it up their ass," I say as I laugh like crazy. "Who knows, they could be the luck we've needed."

"Ignore him, he's off his meds," Jordan tells the other guys. "Bobby, we need to take these down."

I stand up and intercept Jordan from reaching the far right locker. "No, if Rick Dove wants tampons hanging from the lockers, that's what he gets."

She looks from me to Randy. Randy shrugs. "He's right." He sticks out his hand and flicks the tampon above his locker. "This brings a whole new meaning to leaving blood on the field."

"No," Jordan stomps her foot in the cutest way and I crack up even more.

Another group of players walks in. Grumbling, laughter, and outright teasing commences. Lane swings his arm around her shoulder. "Did anyone ever tell you that those things are the easiest way to clear a room full of men?"

"I didn't do it," she argues. She's about to lose her shit when Rick Dove strides into the room with the coaches.

"All done, Dad," Bobby says with a proud look on his face.

"Good job, son."

Coach Mitchel steps forward. "Were having our meeting in here; gather 'round."

We form a large huddle as more players come in. It's a few minutes before everyone is present. Coach holds his clipboard and goes over what's expected.

"Uh, Coach?" one of the newly arriving players asks. "Why are there, umm, feminine napkins hanging from our lockers?"

Snickers sound from around the room.

Coach Mitchel hides his face behind his clipboard and answers. "You might try studying up on your feminine hygiene products. Those are tampons, and Rick thinks they might help you play better. He says you can only take them down if you win."

I glance over at Jordan's locker and she hasn't been left out. I bite my lips to keep from laughing again.

I turn back when Carter replies to the coach. "If they work, I'll hang one from my fucking helmet."

The tension eases as laughter fills the room. I'm sorry Jordan is embarrassed but really, as a newbie, she's gotten off lightly when it comes to practical jokes and initiation. Hell, I wish I would have thought of the tampons. This is what happens in the locker room. She's here because of her hard work. It's about time the guys starting appreciating it.

She looks at me with a gleam in her eyes before she addresses the team. "If this doesn't work, I vote for dildos next week."