“Look, Brett,” I begin. “I don’t know if you know this, but on New Year’s Eve, I went to your place.”

“I figured as much, considering you ran into Izzy in the hallway,” he says in understanding.

“But, I didn’t see Izzy in your hallway.” I let out a deep sigh. “This is difficult to tell you because this is the most important game of your life. I knocked on your door and Izzy answered.”

Brett’s eyes widen. Then, he looks down to his feet, “I should have told you earlier, but Izzy and I, well, we used to date. I never slept with her on New Year’s, though.”

“I know, I know. I believe you. Uh, have you ever watched the video leaked online, Brett?”

“No, it was bad enough seeing all my dick pics earlier this season, I thought I’d spare myself.”

“The video leak didn’t come from your phone.”

“What? What do you mean?” His brow furrows.

“There were two videos. Izzy must have stolen the video of you and I together in your room. Jade Stolt recorded us at the art gallery on her phone.”

“What?” he bellows. “Those two were in on this together?!”

“That’s what it looks like. But I feel so much better knowing that you didn’t leak those videos, or cheat on me.”

“Yeah,” he says softly, his anger turning to relief. He touches my cheek with his gloved finger. I feel a shiver run through my body. “Now we can face this together.”

I say, looking up into his eyes, penetrating mine, “Do me a favor, Brett. Win this. Not for me or for anyone else, but for yourself. Prove to everyone that you’ve always had what it takes. This season has been one hell of a ride. But no one handles pressure like you. Don’t let yourself down. You’ve worked so hard. Don’t slack now.”

I move toward him and push up onto my tippy toes, he takes me into his arms and kisses me. I can hear the crowd wail around us as his lips warm mine. As his lips part from mine, he gives me a sultry smile, “I believe you’re supposed to interview me, sports bunny.”

“Mike, Jax, let’s do this,” I say as he releases me from his big arms.

“Let’s go!” Mike holds up his hand, “In five, four, three …”

I turn to the camera, “I’m at the sidelines with Brett Brock on what has been a season full of emotional ups and downs, and is now ending in a dramatic Super Bowl showdown.” I turn to Brett. “Brett, right now the Blazers are down by two and it could be anyone’s game. What do you think the chances are that the Blazers will take the championship?”

“I believe they are strong. Right now, we aren’t far behind. It could be anyone’s game, but I feel myself getting a bit of a rush right now. I’m definitely ready to win this.”

I want to laugh, his cockiness is off the charts, “Do you feel you’ve been playing your best tonight?”

Brett slicks his wet hair back with his glove. “I think I started out a bit rough. But I was in a funk. I’m on my game now.”

“I’m sure all of New York will be happy to hear that. Before coming today, what did you think would be the greatest challenge while playing the Crusaders?”

He pauses a moment, looking at me. “Uh, the Crusaders have a very strong defensive line. I’ve watched plenty of their games. But I know Coach Dietrick has a few moves up his sleeve to counter their strategies.”

“People have talked about the possibility of you becoming MVP this year, but you’ve played in the spotlight for only one season,” I say. “What are your thoughts on that?”

“I’d be honored, there’s no question about it. But in my heart and mind, every man on this team is an MVP. These past few weeks, I’ve needed help in my own life, sorting my emotions about losing a special someone.” He winks at me. “But they’ve been there for me. They even boycotted interviewing to help support me today. This was their time to shine too, Miss Driver. I hope post-game you’ll go out with the rest of the journalists and put them in front of the camera.”

“We will. I’ll make sure that Shonda Washington and I put some more of the Blazers in the hot seat. I’m sure our New Yorkers are a little tired of hearing from the Crusaders this past week.” He chortles, and I continue, “I do have one last question for you, Brett. It was sent to me from a fan. Bizzymama16 would like to know the following. ‘It has been a season filled with lots of drama for the Blazers, but what has been the biggest highlight of this season?’”

He chuckles; he knows the question came from Dana. He looks directly into my eyes with a sweet, boyish simper on his face. “The biggest highlight came from you, Miss Driver. My favorite moment this season was when you came out onto the sidelines to cheer me on.”

I melt into a puddle onscreen. It takes a moment before I finally answer. “Oh. Good luck, Brett,” I say, my voice cracking. “I’m sure you can lead the Blazers to victory.”

Brett gives me a quick hug, leaning next to my ear he whispers, “I’ll be sure to do what I can, bunny.”

Mike turns off his camera and Jax pulls back the boom. “All right, guys. Let’s start looking for more Blazers to interview now and after the game,” I say. “I know Coach Dietrick is up to his eyeballs right now, but even if we can get a list of players for Shonda and I, that would be great. Not all the boys will be playing the last quarter.”

“That could be a little difficult. Interviews aren’t done during the games,” Mike says. “Come on, Lex. You know they were willing to make this one exception.”

“True. But giving the boys the interviews they didn’t get this past week will boost morale. The Crusaders got all the media this past week. The Blazers deserve their time in the limelight, too.”

As the Blazers play the fourth quarter, I have Steve scramble to get a list of athletes able and willing to give interviews from the sidelines. “We’ll air a couple short interviews after the game,” Steve says. “Anything else can be recorded post-game. Right now, viewers only care about how the last quarter plays out.”

The list is only two players; many of the best players are on the field, but there are some interviews with stronger players after the game. But then it hits me. What about Dion? He wants to be a broadcaster. Now would be the perfect time to go talk to him about the game and get his analysis about the season. I look at Steve, “Give Shonda the interviews at the sidelines. I’m going to see if Dion Calloway would be interested in giving some insight into the season and the games.”

“Are you nuts? Dion was horrible at his last press conference.”

“True. But there are things about Dion you don’t know.”

“Like what?”

“Like he wants to sit on a discussion panel and give sports analysis. He’s thinking he’s done with football.”

I walk away leaving Steve speechless. I spot Dion sitting with the rest of his teammates. I wave to him, “You want your first debut giving some analysis?” I call out.

“Don’t mind if I do,” he yells back, grinning as he approaches me.

I hand the mic over to Dion and Mike and Jax surround him. Though I’m curious to see the analysis he will give, I want to watch.

Brock takes to the field, and further down the sidelines I can see Coach Dietrick shaking. I realize that this is his first Super Bowl as a coach. I feel ashamed that he didn’t do an interview on Media Week. But by the looks of things, he’s focused on the game. If anything, he wouldn’t want an interview right now.

I quiver as I look onto the field. Looking at the scoreboard I can see that the Blazers are still trailing by two points. Ugh! What a blunder. Had I only looked at the score, I could have thought of more exciting questions to ask Brett! There are two minutes left on the clock. God. Did I take Brett’s two-minute timeout at the end of the game? As I watch, slack-jawed, I realize that the last time out of the game—the time Brett should have been having a talk about plays with Dietrick and the team—was taken up by my interview with him. The walking time and setting up the interview took at least twenty minutes. My heart shrinks. If they have no plan, my interview may have cost them the game. I look over to the Blazers. A lot of the boys look roughed up. The Crusaders have given them a beating. I can hear Dion talking behind me.

“It looks like the Blazers are going to have to work hard to get more of the field. But we’ve seen lots of surprising plays from the team this year. I wouldn’t be surprised to see some guns blazing here. The best bet for New York would be an unusual play. But with sixty yards to the end zone, there needs to be more time on the clock.”

Then I hear another voice, a softer one.

“To the Blazers credit, they aren’t allowing the Crusaders any more inches of the field.”

It’s Shonda. I grin.

“Very true,” Dion says. “I imagine Coach Dietrick has been encouraging them to look past their pain and toward the reward of victory.”

I stare out onto the field, as the next play commences. The Blazers have the ball but within thirty seconds the Crusaders take them down. They gain a mere ten yards. Gil Thompson manages to hold the ball beneath the hundreds of pounds above him. I hear Dion continue behind me.

“We may only have fifty yards to the end zone with a little more than a minute left, but if they can gain some more yards, there is the possibility of a touchdown.”

Shonda agrees, “It may be a long run, but the possibility is there.”

Another play happens, but before Brett can throw the ball, he’s taken down by a stampede of burly men. The pile up looks damaging. “Oh, God!” I cringe watching the wreck of men removing themselves. Brett gets up, looking a little worse.

Less than a minute left. I watch them quickly organize themselves and to my shock, I see a smile on Brett’s face. How the hell could he have been so happy to do that interview? I think it may have cost him the game. There’s no way he could throw the ball that far. Looking at how the players have lined up. I can sense what play will come next.

“Ah, yes,” I hear Dion say behind me. “It looks like the team’s best bet is Brad Andrews. He’s the fastest runner on the team. If Brock can make a successful twenty-yard pass to him, he may bring it in for a Super Bowl win.”

“Looking forward to the ring?” Shonda jokes.

“You know it, girl.” Dion laughs.

I watch with bated breath as the ball lands in Brett’s hands. Everything happens in slow motion; Brett pushes back and heaves the ball into the air. I look toward Brad Andrews. I close my eyes tightly as I see the Crusaders take him down. The crowd continues to cheer, and I open my eyes. Where’s the ball? My eyes dart to the field as I see it, speeding through the air. A Hail Mary?

Deshawn Washington is nearing the end zone. I look at Brett, the intensity is written all over his face as he watches the Crusaders begin to crowd around Deshawn, reaching out for the ball. Deshawn jumps up.

“It looks to be a fifty-yard Hail Mary!” Shonda calls out as the ball reaches Deshawn’s grip. He clasps it to his chest and goes down with the ball.

The players struggle around him. But Deshawn holds strong.

“Touchdown, Blazers!” Dion bellows.

“OH MY GOD! AH!” I scream. As I watch Brett do a fist punch, I jump up and down in the air. I turn around and rip the microphone from Dion.

“Hey, bitch, that’s mine!” he yells, howling at me as I run onto the field.

“No way, Dion. I’m the best reporter in sports!” I holler back, laughing.

Everyone’s flooding the field and I’m praying that I won’t be taken down by the herd. I’ve been in this spot a few times. I try to watch for the bigger players, but it is near impossible. But something odd happens. I feel several of the boys pick me up from off my feet. I’m on someone’s shoulders. I look down, seeing who has lifted me above the pit of people below. It’s Gil Thompson.

“Thanks, Gil!” I yell out above the screaming fans.

“Not a problem, Lexi. It’s easier this way!”

He rushes me to the crowd and I see Brock, being hoisted above his teammates. I’m sure somewhere there’s a camera zoomed in on Brock. I’m not sure if my mic is still connected. My interview may not make it to air, but why would I want it to? We already had an interview for the crowd earlier and there are things I want to say that I don’t want the rest of the world to hear. I switch my microphone off.

When Gil and I reach Brett, Gil lowers me, and I stumble onto my feet. Brett grabs my hands and pulls me into his embrace, away from the photographers and reporters surrounding us. “Oh my God, Brett! That Hail Mary was incredible!” I plant a big kiss on his cheek.

“I’m glad you think so.” He grins. “I really meant what I said, you know. The highlight of my season was you interviewing me. I don’t think I could have won this without you cheering me on.”

I give him a tight squeeze and lean toward his ear, hoping he can hear my words over the screaming fans and reporters surrounding us. “Truth is, I still was rooting for you. These past few weeks, I was watching all your games, excited for all your wins. Guess I’m the biggest Brett Brock fan.”

His expression softens, “You were still watching? You’re not only my biggest fan, Lexi. You’re my favorite.”

Brett cups my face and presses a soft kiss to my mouth. I close my eyes, surrendering my lips to his as flashes from cameras surrounding us continue in succession, warming my skin.