2. Chapter 2

Nine years later

The crowd roars as the Mavericks get the winning field goal in the last few seconds of the game. And that exact scenario is why I wear the kicker's jersey. The kicker is one of the least respected players on the team, and yet they're called upon during clutch moments to win a game with just seconds on the clock. Johnson, thankfully, is an amazing kicker and the Mavs are lucky to have him.

"YES!" Brian, Susie's flavor of the week, cheers with the rest of the sixty-thousand fans in the stadium as we all high five. "That was awesome! This was an amazing game. Susie, you're the best!"

Susie is constantly dating someone new. Poor guy doesn't realize it yet, but this is a test. Most of the guys Susie brings to home games fail. Bringing them to the games and sitting at the best seats in the house is how she can see who they are more enamored of, her or Josh. Usually they pick Josh, or one of his teammates.

Poor Brian is going down in a blaze of glory. He has all the tell-tale signs of a "this is Maverick's Wide Receiver Josh Owen's sister" super fan going on. I know because he has the same look of every other guy she's brought to a game. That look of a kid who's so excited about opening his presents he can't sleep on Christmas Eve.

I take a sip of my Dr Pepper as we sit waiting for the crowd to empty out before even bothering to get up. We're not going home right away. We'll meet Josh at the locker room and head home with him. It will take at least an hour before he's ready to leave. So we're not in any rush, plus the crowds are brutal.

"Do you do this every time you come to a game?" Brian asks breathlessly and I roll my eyes.

Really dude? They are just men playing a sport. They aren't anyone changing the world. Plus it's just Josh. The most annoying big boy in the world.

I will never understand why people get this excited over athletes. I mean yeah, they're fun to watch compete, and their coordination is amazing but they're just big boys, playing a game. Okay, so Josh is one of the top players in the NFL, and for good reason. It's only halfway through the season and he already has fifty-eight receptions, an average of fifteen yards after the catch, seven touchdowns, and almost nine hundred receiving yards. He's pretty impressive and a fantasy manager"s dream number one receiver.

I would die first before letting him know that I follow his stats that closely. Although I've known Josh forever, he's a thorn in my side and I swear he's on a mission to annoy the living daylights out of me. There isn't a time I don't remember us not bickering. At some point in time it went from being really annoying to a battle of wits that I look forward to.

"Let's head down," Susie says as the stadium crew starts to clean up. She stands up from her seat tapping Brian on the shoulder while looking at me. "They should be out in about thirty minutes."

I get up and start to head up the stairs out of the seats into the concession area. Josh looked off his game today. Usually he's their go-to guy but today he was on and off the field and in the blue tent a few times. That is not normal. I know that a few weeks ago he took a hard hit to his shoulder and that it's been bothering him, even though he says he's fine. It doesn't look fine, but hopefully it's nothing too serious.

We make our way down toward the locker room, leaning against the wall opposite it. The guys should be coming out shortly after finishing with their press interviews and whatever talk Coach wants to give. At just that moment, Darius comes out and gives both Susie and I a smile and a wave.

"WOW," Brian says in a stage whisper with eyes wide. "Is that Darius Brown? He's seriously the best safety on the field right now. His stats are incredible. I can't believe I'm here. This is a dream come true." He gleefully rubs his hands together and I swear he's going to bounce on his toes.

I roll my eyes, and feel Susie glaring at me.

"Stop it." She hisses.

"What?" I snicker.

"I can feel you judging him," she whispers in my ear.

"Me?" I point to myself with eyes wide and then look away from her unable to contain the smile that spreads across my face. We both know that this is the last time I will see Brian.

"Hey, Susie. How are you?" Adam, one of Josh's offensive lineman, comes out of the locker room with a grin. He's a new member of the team, freshly traded from the Jags this offseason. His twin brother, Steve, is still playing for them. I've met their mom and she's got the split jersey look going on. It's adorable.

So far Adam Daniels has been a great addition to the offensive line of the Mavericks and has really added that extra something that the O-line has been missing for the last few years. Barring any injuries, they have a real chance at a Super Bowl run.

"Brie," he nods acknowledging me, but he's only got eyes for Susie. I give him a smile not taking it personally. My best friend is a stunning woman, with her green eyes and long, wavy brown hair.

"Hi, Adam. Great game today." Susie's smile lights up and her eyes sparkle as she looks at him. I can feel the sparks between these two. Heck, anyone who's paying attention can. Anyone that is, except Brian, who's only got stars in his eyes for the players, and, oddly enough, Josh. Josh is usually right on top of any teammates who might be interested in his sister. He makes it very clear that she's off-limits. Maybe he already had a talk with him.

He's done it with me a time or two as well, and I always tell him I can take care of myself. The way he treats me like I'm his little sister is something that has always driven me crazy. That protective, big brother attitude is condescending. What he doesn't realize is that I love football, but I would never date a professional football player.

"Can I get an autograph?" Brian interrupts, looking star struck at Adam.

Susie scowls at me, and hits my arm as I turn my head away to hide my smile. Of course it just makes me laugh out loud. Brian is enjoying this moment so much that he probably won't even remember who Susie is after they break up.

"Sure thing," Adam takes it in stride, and does a good job of keeping his laughter at my reaction in check. It's not the first time this situation has happened. "Do you have a pen and paper?" The look on Brian's face is one of pure panic when he realizes he doesn't have either.

"I'll be right back," he says, just as he runs off to see where he could possibly get a pen and paper for Adam's autograph.

"Don't you carry those around for just this occasion?" I nudge Susie's arm, teasing her. She rolls her eyes not even bothering with a response. At that question, Adam does let out the laugh he's been holding in.

"Where do you find these guys? A sports bar?" Susie's smile drops and her eyes widen like a kid caught with their hand in the cookie jar. "YOU DO!" Adam's laughter rings out loud and echoes down the empty stadium halls.

"Still wearing the kicker's jersey I see," Josh's teasing voice breaks into the conversation as he heads over to our group.

"Yup." I narrow my eyes at him while feeling a smile tug at my lips. "I do believe that Johnson won the game for you guys today."

"Pfft," he snorts. "I don't think three points would've made a difference if not for the other points on the board."

"Three? Don't forget about the extra points, those perfect punts and that other field goal. I wouldn't say it was just three points." My pulse rises at the usual banter that Josh and I engage in. It's probably my favorite part of any home game.

Josh's eyes get a mischievous glint as he walks closer to me, he puts his hand on the wall behind my shoulder and leans in to whisper in my ear. "Oh Brie, you know you want a different name and number on that jersey."

His deep voice sends little shivers down my spine and I feel my knees buckle slightly. Thank goodness I'm leaning against the wall, otherwise I might have stumbled.

"Shut up." I laugh and shove his shoulder to push him away. His rich laughter at my reaction is annoying, but not as annoying as the heat I feel creeping up my face. "You're the worst, Joshua Owens. Come on, Susie, let's head home."

"Okay," she responds as she says goodbye to Adam.

"Bye, Brie," Adam says as I wave to him. He slaps Josh on the shoulder. "I'll see you tomorrow, man."

"See you then," Josh responds as he turns to start walking to his car in the team lot.

"Oh shoot," Susie exclaims. "We have to find Brian."

Josh and I both hoot in laughter as Susie starts to text Brian. I hear Josh under his breath humming Queen's "Another One Bites the Dust" just as Susie slaps him and glares at both of us.

"I swear I hate the two of you so much," she says and shakes her head laughing with us.