it up at the sight of Quinn, with sweat still pouring down her face on the field.
“That was an insane play you ran at the end there,” the reporter said. “How did it feel crossing that line?”
“Unlike anything I’ve ever felt before,” the recorded version of Quinn responded. “We owed the Vipers a loss for the one they gave us, and I was happy my team did me the honor of letting me bring it in.”
“My rib still hurts,” I grumbled, hugging Quinn close to me. “That was amazing.”
Quinn shrugged. “I didn’t want to lose again.”
Everyone, both Widows and Vipers alike, started to cheer. On the TV, I walked over and stood next to Quinn, and everyone smashed into MontRec quieted down. “Zeke, what do you have to say about the Vipers giving their semi-pro status to the Black Widows?”
Quinn raised her hand. “I’d like to address that, actually.” The reporter turned the mic back to Quinn. “We have decided not to accept the semi-pro status.”
The reporter gasped. “You’re not?”
“We don’t want to go semi-pro if we can’t do it with our rivals. So, unless we are both allowed semi-pro status, the Black Widows respectfully bow out.”
There was a murmur around MontRec as the reporter on the TV turned the mic to me. “Zeke, what do you have to say to that?”
“I have to say that the Vipers feel the same way.” The recorded me looked at the recorded Quinn. “We’ve developed a real rivalry here, so if the Widows aren’t allowed the semi-pro status they’ve clearly earned, then the Vipers will be stepping down, as well. It’s both of us or neither of us.”
On the TV, Quinn looked directly into the camera. “Well, commissioner, looks like it’s check-mate.”
The Black Widows, Vipers, and all of our guests at our after-party at MontRec started cheering. Kris muted the TV but left it playing in the background and turned to hold her beer in the air. “To Quinn!”
Everyone held theirs up as well. “To Quinn!”
Someone started some music, and everyone broke to mingle around the community center. I nuzzled my head against Quinn’s and placed a kiss on her neck. “Congratulations.”
“Thank you.” She turned her head to kiss me properly.
We hadn’t heard anything since Quinn and I made our ultimatum on live television. I told Quinn about how I played Wright at his own game and took my story public, and she decided that the Widows and Vipers could do the same. The entire country saw our rivalry and amazing game play out. To not give us both semi-pro status would be to lose all manner of followers, likes, subscribers—whatever the hell he was after. We didn’t say much as we sat there, but I held Quinn close and vowed never to let her go again.
The Vipers were clearly impressed with the Widows, both on and off the field. To our surprise, very little flirting was going on in favor of friendly competition. Some of the Vipers and Widows had crowded around a foosball table, some of them had started up beer pong, and others just sat and exchanged plays and football advice.
Quinn set her head on my shoulder, and I kissed her forehead. “This is awesome.”
I smiled. “Yeah, it is.”
“I don’t get it,” the Widows’ coach, Cal, said. “I would think you two being all lovey-dovey would get way more views or whatever than you two hating each other.”
Alec was leaning against a wall nearby. “It’s like I said before, that guy isn’t wrapped too tight.”
“No kidding,” Quinn replied.
“Well, I just think that…” Cal’s voice trailed off.
Quinn and I looked over just in time to see what Cal had noticed first. Lila had entered the community center and was slowly slinking her way over like a dog with its tail between its legs. Just looking at her made my blood boil. She nearly cost me Quinn.
She looked down at Quinn. “Listen, Quinn—”
“Nope,” Quinn said before she could finish. “Get out.”
“Hey, Quinn,” Cal said, “hear her out, at least.” Both Quinn and Lila looked at Cal with shock. Cal shrugged. “Well?”
Lila took a deep breath. “I’m s-sorry. I…” She looked like she was on the edge of tears, and I’d never seen the haughty player act like that before. “I thought I knew best. It’s clear I didn’t.” She glanced at Cal and then back at Quinn. “The Widows are my home.”
Many of the Black Widows had walked over and were watching the interaction curiously. Quinn closed her eyes for a minute,