Page 101 of First Down Promise

“Look, I don’t want to rehash that night. No fucking need.” I bristle.

“Well, take my advice or don’t. Who cares, Pete?” she asks, moving her hands in the air as if they were choreographed with her words. “But here’s the reality. I’ve seen the way Josh looks at her. He’s always had a big smile for Abby. I’d kill to have a guy look at me the way he always has with her. I think he was in just as deep as she was before either of them admitted it.”

“Ugh, I need some Pepto,” I say, holding my stomach. She rolls her eyes again and gestures to the books.

“I should go, but I brought you some books. It’s a fantasy romance series, and it’s pretty popular. I thought you might be bored,” she explains. The TV announces they’re kicking off, capturing our attention. “And if you don’t like them, maybe you can throw them at the TV when the backup QB fucks up,” she jokes.

I laugh through my nose to avoid pissing off my ribs. “Might need to get a new TV after this game,” I joke back. “Anyway, thanks. I’m not really a reader, but I’ll try them out, I guess.”

“Okay, cool.” She pulls her phone out of her back pocket. “I gotta pick up my daughter, but I hope you feel better.”

My eyebrows knot together. “You have a daughter?”

“Come on, what was I just saying?” Strike three—I’m so fucking out. “A little tip, Pete. Pay attention. People like it when you remember details about them.”

“Ouch.”

She sighs. “Sorry, I’ve just been on my own with her since I was seventeen. Her dad is…what you’d expect. That’s why I know Josh is so for real with Abby.”

“What has Abby told you about him?” My stomach churns again as I ask, but I can’t avoid it. Sadie smiles to herself, her shoulders shifting as she holds back a giggle.

“Oh, Pete, I can’t tell you that…”

“I meant how he treats her. I walked in on them—I know they’re...” I pause and release a huff. “Physical.”

“Yeah, I heard about that. That’s not how she wanted you to find out. Josh wanted to talk to you after the season ended. After Abby resigned. But she’s happy not to hide it anymore,” Sadie adds.

“Oh, I know. She’s constantly in and out.” I dip my head. “I just want my best friend back.”

“Look, time heals everything. My parents and I went through a very long, rough patch when I got pregnant in high school, but now they’re amazing grandparents. You and Josh will get through this.” She glances at her phone. “I really gotta go. Let me know what you think if you read the books.”

“Yeah, thanks.” She starts for the door, but then she tilts her head in my direction and brushes her thumb over her lower lip. “What?” I ask. She says nothing and continues to leave.

I cocoon myself against the pillows again. The cold bite of the ice pack makes me jump before the relief settles in. I turn up the volume and notice our starters on the screen. Dane looks like a wall as usual, but seeing the backup QB behind Coop fucking sucks. He’s a good backup, but I should be there with my boys. Instead, I’m watching them from an empty house, and Sadie’s words creep back in.

Then, I notice Josh fucking Mackenzie.

My little sister is somewhere in that crowd, cheering him and the Stallions on. There’s something bittersweet about knowing her days of wearing eleven are over. I have so much I want to say to her, but the words just keep escaping me. The only phrase that comes to mind is don’t forget about me when you’re famous, but instead of famous, I mean riding off into the sunset with Josh.

I rub my temple and focus back on the game. On the field, it’s easy to spot our group—what Abby calls the ones. I couldn’t have guessed she meant eighty-one was the one.

I eventually tire of watching the backup quarterback fumble and the guys miss catches. Just before halftime, he makes a solid throw toward Josh, who is completely open in the end zone. It’s not the route they were running, and Josh misses.

“They need Iron Man,” the commentator says about the Stallions. I wipe a hand down my face. Sadie’s right; I really could chuck these books at the TV.

“It’s just not the same magic Pete Wilson and Josh Mackenzie have,” the other commentator adds. I purse my lips together and turn the volume down until it’s a faint buzz in the background.

Holding my side with one hand, I carefully reach over and pick up the top book. It has a number one on the spine, so I should probably start there. I put a throw pillow over my stomach to support the book, and I’m a couple of chapters in when I glance up and notice the Stallions are down by an unrecoverable amount. If I were playing, I could’ve brought us back from this, but everyone is likely thinking the same thing: our season got fucked. Very few know what caused my accident, though.

The game finally ends, and I’m quick to hit the power button on the TV. I need to swap out ice packs again, but fuck me, I can’t look away from this weird romantic fantasy book. It’s late by the time my body is screaming for more pain medication, and my lower back is aching so badly I can’t get comfortable on the couch anymore.

With the book and my tumbler of water in hand, I finally retreat upstairs to bed. If my football career has taught me anything, everything is worse at night when cortisol drops.

On the way to my room, I pass Abby’s door and frown. She left it open, and I notice her bed out of the corner of my eye. I might have to seal that room off whenever she moves out purely because I don’t know if I’ll ever shake the knowledge that Abby and Josh likely got intimate there. Whether it was before his bash or during the nights I spent in the hospital… I shudder and continue on.

It’s well after midnight when my eyelids become too heavy, and I have to put the book down. I hope Sadie doesn’t kill me, but I grab a condom from my nightstand’s top drawer as a bookmark. Unused and unopened, of course. I’m not disgusting. I set the book down on the empty side of my king-sized bed and reach for my phone to check on things before it’s lights out.

The Stallions posted the final score on social media with a message about how they’re grateful for a good season, even if it meant not making the playoffs. I just roll my eyes and scroll as I land on the explore page that feeds me more and more football content about the Iron Stallions, other teams, and who made the playoffs.