Dreaming of His Pen Pal's Kiss - Jessie Gussman Page 0,28

There are just people who have big celebrations in the end zone, and then there are the guys who dropped the ball and kinda smile a little. I suppose both are equally happy, just some of them express themselves in a bigger way.”

“I can see that. Not that I’ve watched a lot of football, but I have brothers.” She grinned a little, like that explained everything.

Not all men liked football, but he didn’t correct her.

“So what kind of player are you?” Her question was casual, and she didn’t seem to recognize him, but as small and unpretentious as this town was, and as into Christmas and farming and animals as they were, maybe football wasn’t a big deal here.

“I suppose a mixture. I do a little more than smile when I make a touchdown. Especially if it’s a big one.”

“Like a game-winning touchdown?”

“Definitely.”

“Have you made many of those?” she asked, turning the corner and indicating with her head the long white building ahead. They started toward it without any more direction.

“Forty-two in the last six years.” Which was a record for the tight end position. “But who’s counting, right?”

Her laugh rang out again. He found he wanted to do more to draw it out of her. “Sounds like someone is.”

“It’s kind of a big deal. I have the balls from those touchdowns, too. Well, some of the balls. I’ve given some of them away. I suppose eventually I’ll give the other ones away as well.”

“To family? I suppose your mother’s pretty proud of you?”

“No. Kids who come and watch us practice. Training camp especially, they show up. The ones I gave away, I signed and gave away the next year at training camp.”

“That’s generous. I suppose they’re worth money?”

“I guess. I’ve never looked them up, but probably.”

“So your mother’s living without the touchdown commemorating ball?”

“I haven’t talked to her in a couple decades at least. I don’t even know how I could get in touch with her, to be honest.”

She stopped. Her head turned and tilted, and her eyes narrowed. “Really?”

He stopped beside her, but he didn’t really look down at her. His eyes had been skimming over what he thought might be the obstacle course. At least, there were two chimneys set in what looked like the middle of the field, and some tables, and a few things that were covered with blankets. A small set of spectator stands sat off to the side.

“Yeah. Really. I guess I should feel lucky I wasn’t aborted, because she didn’t want me. She never really pretended she did. She and my dad spent most of my childhood fighting about who had to take me. I heard about other kids caught in custody battles, and while I felt bad for them, because nobody wants to see their parents fight, I was also slightly jealous. My parents never had a custody battle about who got me. But they had plenty of fights about who had to take me.”

“Oh my goodness.” Her tone held pity, and he hated that. He never told people about his past. Even in interviews, he glossed over it.

Somehow, he hadn’t quite reached the point where he wished he hadn’t said anything, but he definitely didn’t want her pity. Not for this, and not from her.

“It made me a better person. Honestly. I learned to be scrappy and tough, and my childhood gave me grit. I can’t regret it.”

“I’ll do that for you.”

“Don’t waste your time.” The words came out a little shorter and more severe than he wanted. Especially to someone that he liked so well. He looked down in time to see a touch of hurt flash across her eyes, which didn’t exactly surprise him.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to say it like that.”

“It’s fine. I’m just really blessed to have parents like Race and Penny. And I guess I was thinking about Darcy and Frank. Maybe the Lord has me talking to you for a reason.”

“Raising a kid’s a pretty big responsibility. It’s brave of you to even think of doing it by yourself.”

“Well, that’s really where I’m stumbling. I don’t want to. I’m hoping, and definitely praying, that God has a set of parents for them. But so far, no answers other than wait.”

“That’s the hardest one. I can take a no, and everyone loves a yes, but wait? That’s tough.”

“Agreed.” They both stood, staring at the field with the chimneys in it.

“Your dad entered me in the obstacle contest. I’m guessing that’s it.” He nodded at

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