Chapter Forty-Eight

Blake

C onference Championship Week and Game

"Here's hoping I don't have to get pissed again and spend the plane ride home not talking to anyone." I laugh as we get started on practice for the week. I do have to admit, how I worked out that anger with Willa kinda made the anger worth it.

It was a good time for both of us, and I'm sure it'll happen again, but I'd prefer not to have it happen soon.

"This team isn't as physical or as fucking stupid as the last one," Bret reminds me as we finish up and head toward the locker room. "How was your night when you got home, by the way? You hardly ever lose your cool. How did Willa handle it?"

No need to tell my brother I spent the night emptying myself so deep in her body that I wasn't sure where she began and I ended. "Like a champ, and I mean, she knows me pretty well now. She realizes that I don't act like that on a regular basis."

"Very true. Are you ready to go do this press?" Brett sighs, putting a hat on his head that's been handed to us, and pulling it down. "This is the part I hate."

We walk beside each other down the tunnel into the press room, where we wait our turn to get in.

"Me too, man. But it's what we signed up for, whether we knew it or not."

Russell has been standing at the podium answering questions for a good fifteen minutes when his turn is finally over, and it's mine. I steel myself for what I know I'm going to get. Turning my neck this way and that, I loosen up the tight muscles.

"Hey, everyone." I give the media a wave. "Be nice to me."

The group of reporters who've gathered laugh, and now that the ice has been broken, we get to why we're here.

"Blake, did you ever doubt that the team would make it to championship?"

"Nah." I shake my head. "I knew everyone was going to be gunning for us because we won last year, but I had every confidence, even when it looked like we might be losing a little ground, that we'd be able to pull it off. I'm proud of this team and how they've come together. The only thing that can stop us is ourselves."

Another reporter stands. "I'll be the first one to ask—how has having Willa in your life distracted you and the team this season?"

"It hasn't. My family loves her, my friends love her, her the team loves her, and I love her. She's helped me be more focused because I see what her work ethic is like. We might think our job is physical, but so is hers. Just watching how tired she is sometimes, but seeing her work through it? It's been good for all of us." I take a drink of my water and nod at the next person.

"What do you feel your future looks like? Are you looking to retire early?"

"No..." I laugh, shaking my head. "I don't plan on retiring before thirty-six. I have a few more years to go. Unless anything changes, I won't be going any earlier than that."

"Even if you and Willa get married?" a female reporter in the corner yells.

"Even if we get married. There are a lot of families who have both partners who work. Including as parents, if that's in the future for us. Mine did. We were a two-income household, and both of my parents did the raising of the kids and the making of the money. If that time comes for Willa and I, I have no doubt that we'll figure it out. We're both very passionate about what we do, and I don't plan to change that. Her decisions are hers. Whatever she decides to do..." I shrug. "We'll work it out."

"Do we have any more questions?" One of our PR people comes out to end my time with the press.

"I have one more," a woman from the back says. I can't see who they are. "Are you and Willa getting married?"

I knew this would be coming, and I plan on having a little fun with it. "Maybe we are?" I shrug. "Maybe we aren't. Guess you'll just have to wait and see."

"Keep on talkin' and your pop star girlfriend will be seeing you with a bruise on your fuckin' face." Walton, one of the players I absolutely hate facing off against, says as I run a route, and take off past him.

I've learned to ignore what people say about me when we're playing. Instead, I let my actions do the talking. Which is why right now, I'm turned around and eyeing the ball that's heading for my hands. When I catch it, I take off toward the end zone, and as I run across the field and score, I jump up into the stands with the Warriors fans.

That seals the game for us, and now that we know we're going to the championship game, here's no stopping us.

There are thousands of people on the field, but I'm looking for one person—Willa. I want to celebrate this with her. I'm walking around, and then I spot her. She's half walking; half running onto the field with Mom and CeCe.

"Wills!" I yell, waving my hands, hoping that she can hear me. Her head lifts up and the smile that spreads across her face is everything. She runs for me, I run for her, and we meet in the middle like some romantic comedy. "I'm so excited that you saw that."

"You were amazing." She hugs me tightly, wrapping her legs around my waist. "I love you. I'm so glad I get to experience this with you."

I take off the hat they gave me that proclaim us division champions and put it on her head. With a wink, I lean in to take the kiss I've wanted all day. "Me too, babe. Me too."