to help create a life I was comfortable with in the wake of everything. What I didn’t realize until I lost Mase all those months ago was that I was still letting them win.
I almost let the fear of history repeating itself keep me from experiencing the type of one-of-a-kind love my brother shares with his wife.
Mase was too stubborn to let me push him away. He wanted me, knew I wanted him too, and refused to let me deny it. Thank god for it. I love him in a way I didn’t think was possible. He fought for me, for us.
So this? Me walking through the tunnel that will take T and me to the field inside Levi’s Stadium? This is me taking a page from my boyfriend’s playbook and showing him he’s not the only one who’s playing for keeps.
“Can you stop bouncing?” I put a hand on T’s arm, trying to still her. She’s been Miss Ants In The Pants since this morning.
“I’m sorry.” She continues to push up and down on her toes. “I’m just so excited.” That might be too tame of a word to describe her current state. She’s more like Tigger after downing one of Lyle’s triple espressos at Espresso Patronum.
“You don’t even feel a little bit guilty, do you?” For as much as this is supposed to be my grand gesture, T is the architect of the plan.
“What should I feel guilty about?” She lays both her hands over her heart and innocently bats her baby blues at me.
“Oh, I don’t know.” My sarcasm ricochets off the walls back to me. “Maybe because you accepted these field passes from the Bama coach to meet with the team knowing full well you’re going to end up going to the U of J.”
I gotta give Coach Price props, too. Inviting Tessa to meet the members of the Crimson Tide’s all-girl cheerleading squad during a game setting—such a high-profile game at that—is an experience she wouldn’t get on other recruiting trips.
“How do you know I’ll pick the U of J?” T challenges.
I roll my eyes as if to say Puh-lease. “For as close as your brother and I am, you and Savvy are a whole other level.”
If I didn’t know how much of a good girl T is at heart, I’d probably be afraid of the devilish, it-spells-trouble smile blooming on her pretty face. She’s much too proud of herself. She can’t deny it’s true though.
“Have you figured out how you’re going to get to Mase to kiss him?” she says, changing the subject, not wanting to admit I’m right.
I shake my head. I only have a small window to work with, and I already feel like I’m running out of time.
For those of you who’ve never been to a football game, the first time a team takes the field isn’t when they are announced with all the fanfare that comes with hyping them up. No, before all that, both teams take to the gridiron to warm up.
Do you see what my plan is?
Mase will be on the field…
I’ll be on the field…
I worry the thick lanyard around my neck, pushing away all the concerns about figuring out the getting to Mase to kiss him logistics, and inhale a deep breath, soaking up the grandeur in front of us as T and I step out of the tunnel onto the turf. No matter how many times I’ve experienced it, field access will never get old.
The stands are still more than half empty but will continue to fill the closer we get to kickoff.
Linking her arm with mine, T guides us toward where both Alabama cheer squads work through their own warmups. Knowing she won’t walk me into anybody, I let my gaze track across the football field, searching out my man amongst the sea of white jerseys. Mase’s back is to me when I finally spot the large red 87, and I take a second to admire the way his butt looks in his tight red football pants.
He really is the sexiest tight end—all the puns intended *spirit fingers*—in all of college football.
My giggle has T turning around to face me, and when she follows my line of sight, I can tell by the shake of her head she knows exactly where my, and my inner cheerleader’s, thoughts have gone.
There are more than a few questioning looks sent our way as we walk along the sideline for the Crimson Tide. Maybe we should have changed