Page 106 of First Down Promise

“Oh!” I say, grabbing my small satchel handbag from the floor.

I follow Diana’s assistant through a hallway of tall, white walls and photographs of Diana from her various celebrity podcast appearances. I’m far from a celebrity, but the timing worked out perfectly, with the big game and Diana’s podcast both bringing me to LA.

Diana’s assistant, whose name I’ve forgotten because of the ball of nerves in my gut, gestures to an open doorway. “Through here.”

I turn the corner and spot Diana’s small frame, looking out the broad window. She turns, shoving her signature oversize sunglasses into her perfectly straightened, bluntly cut bob. A warm smile appears, and she holds out her arms.

“Abby, it’s so nice to finally meet you!” I hug her back, breathing in her expensive perfume. “I’ve been stanning the Stallions’ page for months. I cannot get over you and Josh, and your sideline reports are sometimes so fucking funny,” she says. I knew she was a podcaster, but she apparently had just as much to say offline. “Glad I snuck into your DMs,” she adds with a light laugh.

“Me too! I’ve been going down a rabbit hole of your episodes,” I reply.

“Oh gosh, sometimes they get a little messy.” She giggles. “But, oh my God! The Stallions and the Championship. I can’t believe it, but I told my dad back in Nashville that Pete Wilson could bring it home.”

“Yeah, they have a good crew. I feel like it’s going to be a nail-biter of a game,” I say.

“Or the Stallions will kick all the ass. Well, before we run out of content, shall we?” She nods toward her high-back velvet chair next to a plush couch where two microphones are set up.

“Yeah. Just to warn you, I’ve never done this before.”

“It’s a piece of cake. Instead of asking the questions, though, you’ll be answering,” she says. “Leave it to me.” She takes her seat, and the oversized silhouette makes her look like a Polly Pocket. She kicks off her red-bottomed heels and tucks her calves under her as I sit on the couch. “Before we start, is it okay if I ask about Josh? I know we’re here to talk about the big game, but I mean, people want to know the tea, too.”

My cheeks heat again, but I expected some personal questions to be sprinkled in. “Of course. I have some big opinions about that one,” I say with a smirk.

“Eek! Can’t wait to hear them!”

Her podcast producer gives me some basic pointers, and we’re each handed a margarita. Diana went viral for her unhinged drunk podcasts, and while it’s not her main type of podcast anymore, she still does them. And they’re my favorite to watch. Those episodes always start professionally but get more hilarious as she and any guests drink.

“Today, my special guest is the little sister of my hometown’s star quarterback, Pete Wilson. You may also know her from her sideline interviews all season, and her slightly too flirtatious banter with veteran tight end Josh Mackenzie. She went viral twice for kissing that hunk and is also a former Stallions cheer squad member,” Diana introduces, making my eyes wider with each accolade. “Welcome, Abby Wilson!”

“Oh my God, that was good.” I laugh.

“You mentioned you watch my podcast, so you know the drill. We chat and get drunk at two PM on a Friday. So, cheers!” She clicks her glass against mine. “How are you liking LA?”

“It’s beautiful here. I know it’s February, but I’ll definitely be hitting the beach before we leave. Definitely beats winter in Nashville,” I reply and take a sip. “That’s so good!”

Diana laughs and takes a drink from her glass. “The margs are bottomless here,” she half-jokes. “So, you’re from Wisconsin. Isn’t it milder in Nashville this time of year than there?” she asks as I sip from my glass. The blended margarita burns all the way to my stomach, but in a pleasant way.

“Um, yeah, mostly,” I answer.

“Can you believe the big game is in two days? Are the guys nervous?”

“Probably more than they let on, but they’re excited too and totally ready for Sunday.”

“Does Josh or Pete have any pregame rituals?”

“You’re gonna laugh. Pete does yoga, and Josh doesn’t have sex the day before.”

Diana laughs. “There we go! The tequila is working. Cheers!” She clinks her wide-mouthed glass with mine again.

Good thing Josh knows I’m doing this, and alcohol is involved. She asks me a series of questions about the team, the road to the playoffs, the divisional game, and this podcast begins to feel like a Friday night at Pete’s with everyone talking football over takeout. She’s fluent enough in football to hold her own, and if we have time, I’ll have to introduce her to the guys.

As I’m handed my second margarita, she clears her throat. “We’ve gotta talk about it, Abby.”

“What’s that?” I ask, pinching the paper straw in my drink.

“Josh. Fucking. Mackenzie.” I giggle into my drink. “I mean, you caught the one who couldn’t be tamed.”

I run my finger along the rim of my glass. “No, no. He caught me. The first time we met, I was like, that’s the one. That unattainable one.”