Playing for Keeps (28 page)

Annoyed, she gave Johnny a glare, and was surprised when he grinned back at her, as if to say:
You may call the shots in the bedroom, but this is football, so back off.

“I guess the Surgeon isn’t the only one with a God complex,” she muttered.

Bannerman hooted. “Man, she really owns you.”

“I thought we were changing the subject,” Decker reminded them. “For one thing, we need a schedule. If we win on Sunday—”

“We’re winning on Sunday,” Johnny assured him. “That’s in the bank.”

“Right.” Decker nodded. Then he turned to Erica. “You’ll be at the game, won’t you? Then we can head back here to watch Jayce on the DVR. Then there’ll be a party for us. Division champs. You need to be there, obviously.”

“Actually, I’m flying out of Detroit as soon as the game’s over.” She cleared her throat, aware of Johnny’s wince. “So just celebrate the way you usually do. I’ll see you next weekend. We’re expecting the game to be in Philly, right?”

When the three men just stared at her, she smiled. “I keep meaning to ask if you can get tickets for me and my brother. I want to watch it with him. Good seats but not anywhere prominent.” Turning to Decker, she explained, “He goes to your old alma mater so he can just drive over that day.”

“And then you’ll take off again after
that
game?” Decker asked her quietly. “That’s just wrong, Erica. We want to party with you.”

“Drop it,” Johnny growled. “I’ll work out the details with Erica. In private.”

Bannerman spoke up. “What about the Super Bowl? She’s gotta stay for that.” He held up his palms in the face of his QB’s murderous reaction. “Okay, okay. You’ll work it out in private. Just get it done.”

“Or what?”

“Huh?” The halfback blanched. “Nothing. I just figured you wanted her there. So . . .”

“It’s fine,” Erica assured him. “Like Johnny said, we’ll make plans and we’ll share them with you guys.”

Bannerman got the message but was too stubborn to back off completely. “Deck needs Erica to have pancakes with him before the game.
All
the games. It’s his new ritual, right, Deck?”

Johnny surprised them by chuckling. “We’re losing sight of whose girlfriend she is. Speaking of which, you guys need to get lost.”

His teammates were on their feet so quickly, Erica couldn’t help laughing at them. Then she stood too and gave each a kiss on the cheek. “Get some rest. You have a big game in less than forty-eight hours, remember?”

Bannerman pulled her close. “We’ll probably hit a couple of bars. Wanna come?”

“Bars?” She arched an eyebrow in warning. “Just don’t talk to strangers.”

“We’re not going drinking,” Decker promised her as he rescued her from the halfback and gave her a gentler embrace. Then he murmured so only she could hear, “Give the guy a break.”

“Butt out,” she told him just as softly. “Everything’s under control.”

• • •

When his teammates had left, Johnny quirked an eyebrow. “What were you whispering about with Deck?”

“He wants me to give you a break.”

“Good.” Taking her by the hand, he led her back to the sofa. “Do you really have to leave straight from the game?”

“I want to get home at a decent time for once. I keep showing up at work with bags under my eyes. And sometimes, it’s Tuesday morning. I’d like to reverse that trend.”

“That makes sense.”

“If I thought there was a possibility you’d lose the game, I’d stick around. But Sean’s his old self, right?”

“Yeah, it looks that way.”

“So you’re back to being unbeatable?”

“Yep.”

“Yay.”

His expression grew stoic. “What about the conference game? I’ll get the tickets for you and your brother, obviously. But I want to spend time with you.”

“I’ll get there the night before. And like I said, if it’s in Philadelphia, Connor will meet me there on Sunday. So we’ll have time to ourselves Saturday night.”

“And then you’ll leave right after that game too?”

“He’ll drive me back to the city. So no trains or planes, thank God.”

Johnny took a deep breath. “So basically, we’ve got one night together. And I need to sleep for most of it.”

“We do best with short, intense dates,” she reminded him lightly.

“That’s such bullshit.” His calm tone told her he wasn’t really upset. “So what about the next weekend? Can you come to Hawaii?”

“Hawaii? Oh, right, the Pro Bowl. Ugh . . .” In her revised fantasy, she had seen them spending every weekend together from now until the Super Bowl. But Hawaii was too far for an overnight stay. Plus, the publicity would really start ratcheting up at that point, wouldn’t it?

She couldn’t afford to get caught on camera with him. His family might see them. Start asking questions. Why take that risk? Especially now.

He was waiting, so she murmured, “The Pro Bowl is one big party, right? You’ll be with your friends. And it’s such a long flight from New York.”

“I agree. You should skip it.”

She drew back, honestly surprised. “Really?”

“Yeah. I’ve been selfish about that. You need to rest up. Spend a week or two in one place for a change. I get that.”

“Thanks, Johnny.”

He smiled. “It’s different for Super Bowl week, though. You should be in the Bay Area the whole time. Our old stomping grounds, right? I always visit the campus when I’m there, and it’ll be even more fun with you. We’ll eat at Spenger’s. Maybe even do some whale watching. Whatever you want, actually.”

“Your whole family will be there. They’ll want to know who I am. What I do for a living. And since I’m a lousy liar, they’ll know I work in advertising. Then they’ll realize you’re doing commercial promo. Then your father will blame it on me.”

“Seems fair, since you lured me into it.” He grinned. “He’ll go easy on me when he sees how pretty you are.”

“That’s enough.” She took a deep breath, surprised at how much it all hurt. “I don’t want to meet your family. Not ever. There’s no point, and it would just make us both miserable.” She brushed away a tear from her cheek. “I don’t want to talk about it anymore.”

“Why are you crying?” He pulled her against his chest, then kissed the top of her head. “You’re making this tougher than it has to be, babe. Just be with me. The rest will work itself out.”

She wanted to believe that. That just being together would cure all ills. But wasn’t that the point? Nothing could change the cold, hard facts about their jobs, their locations, and the stages of their lives that just didn’t mesh.

Struggling free, she said softly, “Remember what you said? That I was giving you an ultimatum? Forcing you to choose between my way or no way at all? That was actually true.” She stood and walked across the room to stare out at the bare tree trunks in the distance. Then with her back to him, she explained. “We’re together this weekend. We can be together next Saturday. And the Saturday before the Super Bowl. And then, if you want, we can spend some time together the following Monday, just to—well, to say good-bye.”

He walked up behind her and slipped his arms around her waist. “Are you listening to yourself? Four more dates and then we’re done? It’s crazy.”

“Then we’re done today.” She felt her tear ducts activating again, but couldn’t stop them. And why should she? She had a lot of crying ahead of her either way. Why not start now?

“Hey.” He turned her around and kissed her gently, then cupped her chin in his palm. “We’re not over. Not today at least. And you don’t have to meet my family. I don’t give a damn about all that. I just want to spend time with you.”

“That’s all I want too,” she assured him, wrapping her arms around his neck and sobbing against his chest. “Please don’t fight me anymore.”

“Don’t worry, babe. We’ll do this your way. I promise.”

• • •

He kept his word, doing everything she asked that night and on Saturday. And on Sunday morning in Detroit, he even let her have breakfast alone with Decker, which proved to be an amazing experience, because the kicker took his pre-game pancakes very, very seriously.

Then she found her nondescript seat in the stadium and screamed her lungs out just as she’d done for the Monday night game. But this time, she had
three
men to cheer for. And while Johnny dominated the scene, Bannerman hammed it up so much, hit so hard, and ran so powerfully, she knew he was trying to impress the big dog’s girl.

They didn’t let Decker attempt any field goals, but Johnny had explained that in advance. There wasn’t time to alter the game plan, even assuming Deck had overcome his problems. And when the game was close, they didn’t even let him try for an extra point. But once the Lancers pulled ahead by sixteen, the kicker went for—and scored—the extra point twice. The fans from Portland, who were legion despite the location, went wild with glee and relief, and Erica’s throat developed rawness bordering on laryngitis.

The only bad moment was one of her own making. During halftime, when she was digging in her purse for hot dog money, she ran into the diamond bracelet, still in its box. On Thursday morning, she had imagined wearing the diamonds and nothing else for her QB during their romantic retreat at her aunt’s house. By the afternoon of that same day, she had fantasized about throwing them into his handsome but vile face.

And now? She just knew she had to give them back. They were too expensive, too impersonal, too symptomatic of the confusion in their relationship. She wanted to love the gift, but it meant nothing to her. And except for a debit to Johnny’s gigantic savings account, probably meant even less to him. He had needed a Christmas present for a long-haired, long-legged woman with whom he was temporarily having sex, and a diamond bracelet had fit that bill.

But to give it back? He didn’t need the money, so it would just be symbolic. Or worse.

His words echoed in her ears:
You’re pissed about the voice mail so you’re punishing me.

It wasn’t true. Or at least, not exactly. But rejecting a gift? Wasn’t that going too far?

• • •

After a decisive win that would send the Lancers to the conference championship, Erica blended into the exhausted crowd and made her way toward the parking lot to find a cab. But Patrick Murphy intercepted her, insisting her “fan club” needed a couple of minutes.

“I hired a car to get you to the airport on time,” he promised, then he steered her around a corner and disappeared discreetly, leaving her to smile into the grinning faces of Decker and Johnny.

“Go celebrate with your team,” she scolded them, but they were irresistible, so she wrapped her arms around Decker’s neck and told him happily, “I’m so proud of you.”

“Thanks, beautiful.”

“This is effing nuts,” Johnny complained. “You hug
him
first?”

Decker chuckled and gave her a final squeeze. “I’ll give you guys some privacy. And maybe I’ll see you tonight?”

“Be adorable somewhere else,” she advised him. “I’ve got a sexy quarterback to kiss.”

Johnny pulled her into his arms as his friend departed. “I love it when you get this look in your eye. You’re such a fan.”

“Of you,” she agreed, kissing him. Then she pulled back. “You should go. Do your interviews and celebrate with your team. We can talk later tonight.”

“So you won’t reconsider? Let me drive you at least.”

“Murf hired a car. So problem solved.” She hesitated, then arched an eyebrow that reminded him silently,
You promised to do this my way.

He seemed conflicted, but only for a second. Then he said, “I’ve got something for you,” and pulled an orange from his jacket pocket. “For your flight.”

“I love it when you do this,” she told him breathlessly. “That first orange was the best gift I ever got from a guy. You couldn’t top it if you tried. And meanwhile . . .” She fished in her purse for the box containing the diamond bracelet. “You shouldn’t have given me this, Johnny. It’s beautiful, but I can’t accept it.”

His blue eyes clouded. “Why not?”

“It’s too mistress-y. I know you meant well, but please take it back? Return it to the jeweler for a credit.”

“Mistress-y? I gave it to you because I
love
you.”

“I know, but the orange was better. I’ll never forget it.” She kissed him again, saddened by his crestfallen expression. “I need to run, Johnny. Or I’ll miss my flight.”

“Yeah,” he murmured. “I should get back too.”

She knew she could make him feel better if she would just admit she loved him too, but they had come so far. So all she said was, “See you next Saturday?”

“Yeah, that sounds good.”

“Congratulations again.” She slipped her hands behind his neck, raised up on tiptoes, and whispered in his ear, “You know how I feel, right? So go have fun with your team.”

He nodded, backing away. “Have a good flight, Erica.”

Every cell in her body begged her to take the bracelet back. To praise it to high heavens. To use the L-word, just once, just to restore his cocky smile. But he needed to know the truth, didn’t he?

• • •

When she shared the details with Jenna and May over drinks the next night, Jenna reacted predictably by urging her to apologize to him, tell him she loved him, and above all, get those diamonds back.

May’s reaction took her by surprise though. She had expected her to endorse the breakup, but instead she murmured, “If you’re really in love, maybe you should just go for it.”

“Go for it?” Erica gave her a teasing wince. “My football-speak is rubbing off on you.”

“Not
your
football-speak,” Jenna told her. “It’s that teenager she’s sexting with.”

Erica smiled despite her pain. “So it’s true? Yowza. I love it, but still—you and Connor?”

“We haven’t been sexting. Just exploring our compatibility like two adults.”

Jenna hooted. “Except he’s
not
an adult. He’s a baby.”

“Leave her alone,” Erica said with a laugh. “I’m looking for advice here, not jokes.”

“Okay,” Jenna replied, settling down. “Here’s my advice: elope with him tonight, then figure the rest out later.”