Completion Chapter 75
Advertisement
WHERE'S A THROW-UP bucket when you need one?
I swallow and then try breathing through my mouth to ease the nausea. It shouldn't be this bad and I somehow need to control it. I barely slept last night, had trouble eating all day because of the balloon in my stomach, and now my head is pounding. It doesn't matter that this is what I signed up for, I'm terrified.
"Buck up, kiddo, we're on in a few minutes," Lane says as the team fills the tunnel and we wait to run out onto the field. Lane is too damned calm and I hate him for it.
How does the team do this each week? "What if I trip?" I whisper harshly in Lane's ear.
He only grins. "You pick your ass up and take the ribbing on the nightly news. But worse, you take it from all the guys until the end of time."
"Thanks. That helped."
He laughs. "Anytime."
"Go, go, go," says a coach at the head of the tunnel.
I close my eyes and then open them. I place my helmet on and Lane gently knocks his against mine. "Showtime," he yells. Whoops fly from players and I join the fray as we run onto the field. I break through the tunnel opening and barely notice the cheerleaders, smoke, and music once my cleats hit the grass.
The loudspeaker fills my head. "And here she is-the first woman to play pro football. Our very own, number nine, Jorrrrdan Giveeeens." The announcer stretches out my name like they do for a boxing match.
Lane nudges my arm as we come to a stop. "Wave at your fans, Jordan."
I lift my hand and wave to the crowd. They go even crazier. Our colors are navy blue and a dark burnt orange, but all I notice is a sea of white jerseys with pink number nines on them. Girls of all ages jump up and down and scream my name. I can't help the tear that breaks and trails down my cheek. There's no way to wipe it until I take my helmet off and I'll be damned if I don't allow my emotions to show freely. I make a last sweeping turn of the stadium, lower my arm, and run to the sideline with Lane.
"If I haven't told you, it's been an honor to mentor you," Lane says beside me.
"Don't make me cry," I snap and fight the urge to throw myself into his arms. The cameras are focused on us and it would start unnecessary talk. I pull my helmet off, smooth my hair a bit, and give one last wave to the fans. We line up for the national anthem and the crowd finally quiets. I listen to the words of the song and feel incredible emotion. Hold it together, I silently tell myself as the final chorus blares. When the last of the music fades, the team captains walk onto the field. Aiden's tight ass in his football pants and his bare muscular arms help me gain the control I need. We lose the toss and the Scorpions choose to receive the ball. I glance in the direction of the skybox where my father and friends are and wave even though I can't make out any of their faces. With a deep breath, I pull on my helmet, insert my mouthpiece, and run onto the field. I have the privilege of kicking off the season.
Advertisement
We line up while the energy of the stadium sizzles around us. I'm still terrified. It helps to remember what Lane told me at the first preseason game. I picture the opposing team naked and smile behind my face mask. Too bad Killian MacGregor isn't on the field. Bad girl, I mentally chastise myself. I'm sleeping with the hottest guy in football and images of Aiden supersede those I try to conjure of Killian. It makes me smile and does exactly what Lane meant it to.
I inhale. The stadium actually smells of excitement, if that's possible. It's the newly cut grass, fresh popcorn, and thousands of cups of beer. The place is filled to capacity and everyone is standing. I jump up and down on my toes before pacing my steps and lining up to the left of the tee. I look to the players on my right and then left. I hear grunts. The roar of the crowd quickly drowns them out. The players have their fingertips of one hand on the field and I'm the only one standing upright. I focus my gaze on the ball resting on the tee. The bright lights shine down and my concentration narrows.
It's time to make history.
The whistle blows.
With a pounding heart and the football world watching, I charge forward. The team moves with me as one unit. My cleats grip the grass on the way to the ball and my left leg locks slightly in front of the tee as my right leg swings back. With all the power in my body, the side of my foot connects. Muscle memory did its job. The football flies up, the stadium lights making it fade from sight for a second before the ball descends.
I'm running full out. I block a Scorpions' player, feel nothing, spin to the side, and continue running. The ball is a fair catch in the end zone and Scorpions take possession at the twenty-five yard line.
I catch sight of Aiden's smile as I run toward Lane on the sideline. Who gives a fuck right now? I throw my arms around Lane's neck and he swings me in a full turn. Get over it, people. I may be a football player but you can't take the girl out of me.
The game continues and Killian MacGregor moves the ball downfield but only gets as far as the thirty-two yard line. The Scorpions field goal kicker moves in to put three points on the board. Aiden takes the field after the kickoff and completes a thirty yard pass on the first play.
He steadily picks up yardage and moves the ball into enemy territory. He's doing great until he's sacked on second and eight. I glare at his front line, though they aren't paying attention to me. "Get your shit together," I grumble. "You let them hurt my man and those tampons hanging in the locker room will go up your nose."
Advertisement
They pay no attention and Aiden completes his next pass for a first down. Three more plays and Aiden throws a perfect spiral into the end zone for a touchdown.
I'm up with no time to congratulate him. And besides, there's a lot of game left. I do my job and make the extra point. Pronghorns are up by four.
The game goes back and forth. We're playing the Super Bowl champions and actually making a good showing. In the second half, Killian throws a touchdown and I kick a field goal. We're in a tie game when we head to the locker room at halftime.
Twelve minutes is all we have and much of that is eaten up by walking to and from the locker room. In all actuality, we have about seven minutes before we go back on the field. The air is warmer in the room to keep our muscles heated. Players go in different directions to take care of their needs. The training room is a mass of trainers and helpers pulling off jerseys and medically assessing the needs of the players. I'm clear for my shoulder and don't bother seeking any help. I head to my private room for a bathroom break. By the time I untie my pants, do my business, and get them adjusted again, three minutes are off the clock.
I walk back into the locker room and gather with the special teams players as Coach Morely starts in on a few items he thinks will improve play in the second half. Carter wheels an intravenous cart over and stands beside me. He's been sick and the trainers are pumping fluids into him as fast as possible. He's radiating heat and I can't help but feel for him. You're paid to play and sickness has no place on game day. Coach Morely finishes and all the coaches gather in a side room where we can't hear them talking. The sound system cranks up and a loud jamming beat shakes the walls. "In the Air Tonight" by Phil Collins is one we played in college. It's on the Pronghorns' playlist too and when the beat starts, I smile. Aiden, who is huddled with offensive players, looks over at me and grins.
"Two minutes until we roll," one of the trainers yells.
I grab a bottle of water and down half of it. Coach Mitchel waves to someone to shut down the music so he can make his final halftime speech. "You all know what you need to do. We're playing the Super Bowl champs and you're playing like a championship team but each one of you can do more."
As he continues, his voice puts me back in the zone. We're on a locker room high when we charge the field ready to kick ass. Unfortunately, the third quarter goes downhill quickly and we find ourselves down by ten points. I listen to the grunts and swearing as our team gives everything they've got to stop the losing tide. Three minutes into the fourth quarter, I score a field goal. I'm too caught up in the suspense of the game to do more than crack a quick smile when Lane slaps my ass.
Killian throws a touchdown four plays into his next possession. We're down by fourteen. Coach Morely walks over and talks to Lane about doing an onside kick. This is something Lane is really good at. Usually you try to sneak these in. When Lane walks out there, the Scorpions will know what's happening. In this situation it doesn't hurt us because an onside kick is expected. Mine have improved and I'm ready to go when it's asked of me. I have no problem putting this one in Lane's capable hands, though. We have eight minutes of play left and we need to score big.
Lane takes the field. My palms are sweaty as I watch from the sidelines. He kicks a short grounder that barely makes the prerequisite ten yards. Carter lays his hands on the ball first, twists, takes two steps, and is pounded by Scorpions. He's slow in standing and two players assist him. He slowly limps off the field with the help of a trainer. Within thirty seconds, the trainer takes him back to the tunnel.
Aiden gets the ball on our forty-five yard line. The clock is ticking.
Advertisement
His Cute Wife Is A Little Crazy
His Cute Wife is a Little Crazy *COMPLETED*
8 1634The Alluring Girl
she is a mysterious beauty
8 451The Family (VOL. 1)
Matilda and her boyfriend Matt are injured in a car crash and left stranded in the rural backwoods of Texas. All the commotion draws the deadly attention of a sinister family of cannibals who capture Matilda and Matt, separating them from one another until the mute butcher can take care of them. Matilda offers to teach him sign language in order to gain his trust and escape, but instead, she gains something else. His devotion.
8 206Levi x Reader-lost friend
We were friends in the underground city until we got separated. I thought I would never see him again but here he is... what do I do? Does he even remember me? We're standing face to face saying nothing...NOT EDITEDSHIT SPELLING. IGNORE IT OR DON'T READ... ✨simple✨I would delete this book but people seem to love it so I can't.
8 190Meet Noah Hunt. He's the definition of a "good boy": perfect grades, all the right extra-curricular, doesn't drink, party or get into any trouble whatsoever. Why? Because he is on a mission: to get a scholarship and get as far as he can from his dead-beat father. He doesn't want any distractions- if you can't help him get there, you're irrelevant. It's always been that easy to stay focused until he meets a broken Damian Silva or "Silver" as Noah likes to call him. Can Silver show Noah all that he is missing? Can Noah save Damian from himself? Or will these boys be each other's destruction? Don't forget to add in a bunch of friends, jealous love interests, bullies and some strange happenings and you get their typical day of high school.....THE SEQUEL 'STILL BREATHING' IS OUT NOW!_____________________________________________________________________________"Oml I love this book so much thank you for making it...it's incredible ☺️" - yazmen98"I read this in just a day and was captivated by the storyline. This must be in the hidden gems collection " -3ndlesslove"This was, by far, the best one I've read. It just resonated with me when it came to Noah's POV. It wasn't something that just magically came together. It took time and effort for them to get to where they are, and I respect that. It taught me more about how to look at things so thanks a lot for making this book. I meant a lot to me. I will definitely read the sequel and your other books" - Generik_Jay
8 141The Ruels of My Heart
After a troubled past you swore you'd never love again. Fresh out of high school, you move to Sydney, and meet someone just as mysterious and misunderstood as you are. Will you end up wanting something you can't have? Or will you take the easy option, which could just as easily end in heartbreak? Everyone has secrets, but who's are the biggest?
8 99