City of Champions (6 page)

"Hey, Wy — wait, where are you going?" J.J., his go-to wide receiver asked him, jogging up to his side.

"Home. Good night, man."

"Come on, dude, you're kidding, right?" J.J. asked, suddenly losing his cool exterior.

"No. What's the big deal? Game ends. People leave. It happens. Take it easy, dude," Wyatt answered, with a confused laugh, as he continued toward the door.

J.J. jogged after him and blocked his exit from the locker room.

"Don't you remember?"

"What, that you're a spaz?" Wyatt asked, with a laugh, continuing to the door, barely missing a step.

"No, dumb-ass. We have to meet that VIP author dude and his guests."

"Shit. I forgot," Wyatt answered, stopping to look at his friend. "Wanna cover for me, J.J.? I'm not in the mood for that bullshit right now."

"What else is new? You're never in the mood for this shit, asshole," J.J. said seriously, walking closer to Wyatt so they couldn't be overheard. "You know you're on thin ice with the team right now. This extra 'bullshit' is part of the package and you know it."

"Thanks for reminding me. So you're an expert now?" Wyatt grumbled out.

He'd known J.J. for a couple years and he was his biggest ally on the team, so it didn't do him any good to yell at him. It did make Wyatt feel a little better at that exact moment, though.

Wyatt was fully aware he needed to play nice. Between his shoulder still acting up and three losses in a row, he needed to do all he could to show he deserved to be a starting quarterback — whether it be in Pittsburgh or somewhere else — at least for another few seasons. The only way to do that was to get this season, and his role on the team, back under control.

"Don't take it out on me, Wy. I was on that field when we shit the bed, too, you know," J.J. answered, with a sarcastic tone that might have irritated Wyatt from anyone else.

"You're right, man, but I don't like to be around people after a loss. And definitely not any 'VIPs' — it's probably a bunch of rich, douche bag armchair quarterbacks showing off their connections to their boring wives."

"Well, you do have the right attitude to be an ambassador for the team today," J.J. said, with a laugh. "You'll have to leave all the charming up to me then. And if any of those boring wives are hot, it won't be so bad. I'll let them touch my muscles. They love that shit."

"You're pretty optimistic, J.J. Look, I've done enough of this crap since college to be able to guarantee you they are definitely not going to be hot. So fine by me, you and your muscles can have them all. I just want to get this over with."

"I get it, man. You're a cranky old bastard tonight."

"Twenty-nine makes me old, huh?" he asked, finally cracking a smile. "You're twenty-six, you idiot."

"You know what — you're right, we are still young. So why don't you come out with us after this VIP shit is all over? We're going to the Southside to get a drink — or four — and maybe find some Pittsburghers that aren't totally disgusted with us. It'll be good for you to spend some time with the guys."

"No, I need to call it a night as soon as we're done."

"Old
and
predictable — Christ, Wy, you are one boring guy."

"Looks like I am. Sorry, man."

Wyatt actually was tempted to cut loose instead of hiding out in his big empty house all by himself.

But he knew that it all started with one fun night.

In fact, that was how it began, and, ended for his father — simple nights of entertainment, enjoying the pleasures that came with being a star NFL quarterback. In between those nights came too much partying, too many women and run-ins with the law that got swept under the rug. Then came more folks asking for money, and bad investments taking whatever else he had left. Until he had lost the family's home and his wife couldn't ignore the cheating and long absences for another day. She'd taken Wyatt and the rest of their kids to live with her grandparents, so they could try to start their lives over quietly.

Wyatt realized he may be facing career speed bumps, but at least they were all his own. He would deal with those, while doing whatever it took to avoid the failures of his father and the humiliating fate that came with them.

"Man, you really are a pain in the ass, Wy. Fine. Your loss."

"Don't I know it," he answered.

"Come on, let's get out of here so we can go meet these stiffs."

Wyatt tossed his bag onto the bench and followed J.J. to the vestibule outside the locker room, where the rest of their group was waiting.

"Hell, yeah," J.J. said, under his breath. "I definitely still call the women. Old, boring wives, my ass, Wy."

Wyatt rolled his eyes at J.J. before turning around to get a load of what had J.J. all worked up. His taste was pretty lenient — breasts connected to a willing body were often enough to get him going, but as soon as Wyatt turned around he started to think he'd underestimated J.J.

Tom was leading the group next to a guy about Wyatt's age with a riled up little boy who was so excited, he looked about ready to jump out of his own skin.

Behind them was the sight that had J.J. and Wyatt's full attention. Three beautiful women were pulling up the rear — one had short, dark hair and a quirky smile, while another had a sweet face and a massive head of light brown hair, almost the color of honey. But it was the serious-looking stacked blonde standing next to her that had Wyatt's heart suddenly pounding. Her blue eyes were penetrating and screamed of a challenge he was ready to take on — because, dammit, he really needed a win, and quickly.

"I call the blonde, J.J.," he said to his friend with a quiet intensity.

"Fuck, you're kidding — she's perfect for me."

Wyatt threw him a look that had managed to make unruly teammates fall in line since he was a kid, and now was no different.

"Fine, if that'll cheer you up, I'll let you give it a shot. I like the look of that crazy brunette, anyway," J.J. answered confidently.

"Perfect. Let the games begin," he whispered to himself.

They want me to play nice?
Wyatt thought to himself.
Sure, I can do that. I'll play really nice with this hot blonde.

"Tea, I'm gonna head home after we meet the players," Jenna whispered to Tea as they followed Tom, who was still chattering almost nonstop several feet ahead of them to Griffen and Johnny.

"What?" Tea whispered back with concern, stopping suddenly until Aubrey barreled into her from behind.

"Jeez, Tea, are you trying to kill me?" Aubrey huffed at her.

"No, but I may kill Jenna. She wants to go home." Tea turned back to Jenna, glaring at her with an amount of frustration in her eyes that surprised her, considering Tea was usually so nice — maybe a little dramatic at times, but always sweet. "You really can't be serious, Jenna. Not after Griffen went to all this trouble."

"I know, and I am so grateful for getting to make that connection with Tom, I had a crappy day and am totally beat. It's not like I blew this off."

"You're blowing it off now," Tea whispered angrily in response. "I can't believe you."

"Calm down, Tea…"

"Tea, ignore Jenna. She's just nervous about spending so much time with Gunslinger McCoy."

Jenna rolled her eyes at Tea but was getting no support from that member of their triad.

Instead, Tea simply glared at her.

"Hey, are you guys coming?" Jenna heard Griffen's deep voice boom back to them. He headed over to their direction and immediately looked at Tea with concern. "Gorgeous, is everything okay?" he asked her softly, as he placed his hand at the small of her back. Tea looked up at him and the two simply stared in each other's eyes. The adoration they shared for each other was almost palpable.

"I'm fine," Tea said reassuringly to Griffen. "It's Jenna, she's got a bad case of the stick-in-the-muds. She's trying to skip the tour."

"No way, Jenna, this is a huge opportunity to spend time with these players and they're expecting all of us to be there. It will look bad if one of us bails. It'll be short, I promise, and I know Johnny will be bummed if you leave.
Please
?"

Griffen shot his best puppy dog eyes at her, bending his head down and letting his longish, dark, wavy hair fall on his forehead.

"Uh-oh, Jenna, he's got you in his blue-eyed clutches, you're toast," Aubrey said, with a giggle, which Tea quickly joined in on with her own snickering.

Griffen wouldn't look away and threw out his bottom lip further. Jenna had to admit that he was devastatingly handsome. Yes, he was madly in love with her best friend, but she was a woman with eyes, after all.

"Fine," Jenna muttered in defeat as she started walking toward Tom and Johnny.

"Sweet," Griffen exclaimed. "Come on, hurry up, ladies, they're waiting for us."

"I win," Aubrey whispered to her.

"Grow up," Jenna said, elbowing her in the ribs.

"All right, folks, are we ready?" Tom asked when they caught up to him. Everyone nodded and proceeded to fall in behind him again like obedient puppies until they made it to the entry area in the NFL team's locker room.

Tom stood next to the three players that were pegged for the meet-and-greet portion of what was rapidly feeling like one of the longest days of Jenna's life. The sight of Wyatt McCoy was unnerving. She worked with athletes every day, but none that had intrigued her for such a long time like he did — plus, he was staring at her with such focus that she began to feel downright overwhelmed.

Only one person had ever stared at her that way, or had that kind of power over her, in her whole life. Jenna wanted nothing to do with anyone who stirred up that memory, no matter how much Wyatt may have fascinated her as a player over the years.

"I have our quarterback, Wyatt, wide receiver, J.J., and safety, Trajan, here to meet you. If you're NFL fans, as I know at least a couple of you are, they won't need much introduction," Tom said, with a smooth tone suffused with authority.

Although Jenna was forcing herself to look at Tom, she was having a difficult time listening to his words. Her chest felt oddly tight and her palms were sweating. She refused to meet Wyatt McCoy's stare or let him see that her breaths were becoming unnaturally short and sharp in her throat.

She tried next to distract herself by watching the happy response of Johnny, whose eyes were wide with excitement. Jenna couldn't help but be amazed at how he was speechless for probably the first time since he was born. She loved to see Johnny so happy and proud, knowing that his "Gwiff" had done all of this for him.

Out of the corner of her eye she could see that each of the three handsome players waiting for them had showered and seemed amiable enough. Though it was surely an annoying task having to meet "VIP Pittsburgher" Griffen Tate and his motley crew entourage after a long game and depressing defeat in overtime.

Jenna could almost feel that Wyatt Alejandro McCoy was still eyeing her like she was a glistening mojito on a hot day at the beach. He was blindingly handsome in person. She could also tell how he'd earned the label of moody, intense, and unpredictable just by looking at him.

Every woman that saw his picture wanted him, but not Jenna, of course. She'd watched him like a hawk throughout the game — and his whole career — but she assured herself that her acute interest was purely due to her love of the game and a small concern for what looked like a subtle issue with his throwing arm.

Yet, with each moment he stared at her, her blood warmed and her ability to ignore the focused gaze of his warm brown eyes became increasingly difficult.

"What do you say, guys?"

"Huh?" Jenna muttered inelegantly. She was completely oblivious to anything in the room but the arrogant grin on Wyatt's face. She couldn't believe her own error. Aubrey had already pounced on the opportunity to torment her.

"It's time for the tour," Aubrey said brightly. "I was thinking maybe we should split up. Mr. McCoy, our friend Jenna here doesn't know much about football, could you possibly..."

"Take her on a private tour for more focused instruction?" he asked, with that same damned leering expression.

"No, that's not necessary," Jenna responded curtly.

"I insist. It would be my pleasure. Though I didn't catch your name," Wyatt inquired.

"Jenna, her name's Jenna," Tea blurted out, knocking her forward with her shoulder. "And you two should definitely split off, what a great idea," Tea crooned with a devilish grin.

"Tea, jeez," Jenna whispered, scowling at her. She should've known that Tea would get in on Aubrey's fun. They all loved messing with each other. Jenna just preferred to be on the giving end of it. "Sorry for the hold up, guys, we just need to chat for a bit," Jenna said, dragging Tea and Aubrey out of earshot of the group of confused men.

"You two have got to be kidding me," Jenna whispered with irritation.

"What?" Tea whispered back innocently and then twisted her face into a scheming sneer. "Are you the only person that can pester her friends into talking to guys?"