The sight in front of me never gets old. It’s a perfect scene I’ll treasure for years to come. The emerald-green field, perfect white lines, and the Idaho Diamonds logo shining brightly in the middle of it all. Goosebumps race up and down my arms. I shiver even though I’m nuzzled in one of Liam’s hoodies. He has a dozen of them in all different colors and styles, but the one thing they have in common is his scent. My favorite.

“This freaking rocks, Justice.” Danika bounces up and down in her seat. “I’m speechless, and you know that never happens.”

“Am I going to need to pop you a Xanax during the game if you’re this wound up about a walkthrough practice?” I shake my head.

“I’m not going to be able to sleep tonight, that’s for damn sure.”

I grin to myself knowing damn well I’ll sleep just fine tonight. I always look forward to our game day ritual. I shiver and sink further into the stadium seat. The early November air is crisp and chilly. It won’t be long until winter is upon us.

I look up to the sky, the retractable roof wide open. The head coaches decided to keep it that way until the snow comes to prepare our players for games in Chicago and Wisconsin.

“There’s nothing sexier than muscles peeking through those cut-off T-shirts, and don’t get me started on the shorts,” Danika whispers, watching as the players finish up.

“I’ve only noticed the tight ass on one player, and believe me, there is something sexier.” I rise to my feet keeping my vision on Liam, the same way I did when we were in college. I elbow Danika. “Watch this and remember he’s all mine.”

Liam jogs with a steady precision to the sidelines, snags his water bottle, and tilts his face to the sun. It’s the same every single time. I’m not sure if he even realizes he’s doing it. He pours it on his face, cooling himself down, picks up another, and chugs it down. But it’s the next action that always gets me heated up to the point my core tingles, and I countdown the seconds until my hands are on him.

In that sexy smooth-as-hell way men do it, Liam reaches behind his back and pulls his practice jersey over his head in one jerk. My fingers itch to be the ones undoing his pads instead of his, and I swear to God, when he bares his chest, he could be the next man in the Dr. Pepper commercial.

“Jaw up, Danika, jaw up,” I sing out, watching Liam leap over the low railing and take two steps at a time until he’s in row five, pulling me into his side. I rub my hands on his chest, loving the slick sensation of his sweat on my skin.

“Ladies.” He nods, then dips his head, giving me a chaste kiss on my cheek. Then shoots me his evil eye.

“Don’t you dare!” I warn, trying to push his chest. “I mean it, Liam Blake.”

“What are you talking about?” Danika asks.

I back out of the row, putting distance between Liam and myself, smiling the entire time.

“Liam thinks it’s funny to play the wet dog trick. Last time was back in college, but he keeps threatening me with it.” I shake a finger at him. “No sex for a week!”

Not much of a threat, since his reaction is a full-out belly laugh. Danika joins in on the fun harassing me about my lack of self-control when it comes to Liam. I hold my ground, sticking up for myself until Danika so eloquently points out the steady beat that was coming from the pantry last night.

I shrug and grin like a fool in love, well, because that’s what I am. “Fine, but not fair siding with him, Danika. You’re a traitor.”

“Oh, baby, can’t help my natural charisma.” Liam strides toward me.

His sweaty body presses into mine along with droplets of water falling from his hair. All his hard work and determination would make an ultimate meaning of sexy in a book.

“Love you, baby.” I reach up on my tiptoes and kiss him. When our lips meet, a strong flutter floats around my abdomen.

I pull back and drop my hand to my baby bump. At first, fear strikes. This feeling is entirely different from the clenching when I was going through morning sickness. My stomach feels as if tiny bubbles are popping.

“What’s wrong?” Liam grabs my face, forcing me to look up at him. “Are you going to be sick?”

I shake my head from side to side in slow motion. It happens again. I grab Liam’s hand and bring it to our baby bump.

“I… I think Chip is moving,” I stutter.

Liam’s eyes go wide. Both of his strong hands are now on my stomach. My eyes well with tears. Chip is the nickname Liam started calling the baby because of my obsession with chocolate chips lately. I eat them with everything. It’s a serious addiction.

I run my hands through his hair while watching his facial expressions. “I don’t think you’ll be able to feel it for a couple of weeks yet.”

“Was that the first time?” he asks.

I nod.

I look over to Danika, who has tears running down her face. She’s armed with her cell phone, snapping pictures of the moment. I whisper “Thank you” to her.

“Just when I think life can’t get any better. Our baby moved. I can’t wait to feel you kick, Chip. I’m happy as hell I was here to witness this.” Liam leans in and kisses my belly. It flutters all over again. The smallest of pops. Incredible.

“You better shower so we can get to the hotel. I promise to tell you if it happens again,” I tell Liam.

He doesn’t move right away, and I’m not going to force him. This moment is too special. A miracle.

Not sure how long we stand there this way. I really don’t care. I miss his hand when he eventually jogs back down to the field and heads for the locker room.

Once he’s out of sight, I link my arm through Danika’s and walk toward my dad and explain how the entire team stays at a hotel even before home games. The purpose being getting the entire team on the same page.

“They’ll go through a final review in a private conference room, eat a healthy dinner, and then it’s lights out early.”

“So, not much of an opportunity to hit on a fine-ass football player tonight?” she asks, quirking a brow as we lean against the wall.

I look over my shoulder, noticing familiar faces from New York that weren’t here before. I wonder if something is going on.

“Absolutely not. You do know you’re talking to the woman more invested in this team than anyone else. Unless you want your ass officially kicked by me, you are on your best behavior.”

“Off season?” she pleads.

I’m doing my best to pay attention to her while watching my dad point in different directions, his hands and mouth moving in sync. Mom stands beside him. Her eyes are glued to mine.

My stalker has suddenly stopped all contact with me. I have a horrible feeling something is going down and they are keeping it from me.

“Promise. You can have all the surveying and mingling time you’d like in the off season.”

My gut clenches when my parents stroll up to us with my bags. I swear with everyone pampering me while I’m pregnant, reality is going to be a real bitch once I have this baby. I’m one spoiled girl.

“What’s going on?” I tilt my head to the side and study them.

“Nothing is going on. You ready?” He’s lying to me, and when we step outside, I know for a fact he is when Alex joins us and they act like we are one big happy family, which we are.

Danika and Alex have always enjoyed ribbing each other. It’s their thing. It would normally soothe my soul to hear them banter back and forth.

“Are you guys keeping something from me?” I blurt out.

A light chuckle escapes me at how insane and yet perfect my life is right now. It’s too perfect. Things are too quiet.

“If something were happening, I’d tell you.” Dad gives me a sideways stare.

“That’s not true. You wouldn’t tell me.”

I climb into the back of the SUV, and even though I want to smile when I see Alex sitting in the middle, I can’t.

“Like old days, but the backseat version.” Danika leans forward with a smile. “It was always Justice driving, Alex in the middle or backseat, and me riding bitch.”

“Jesus, when are you going to grow up?” Alex wipes his face.

Mom laughs lightly, I’m sure recalling the good old days when we were young, wild, and up to no good. Too many memories to count. Dad pulls out of the parking lot, weaving his way through traffic. He turns up the radio, which so happens to be playing Elvis Presley’s Fools Rush In, and I don’t miss Dad putting his hand on the console, covering Mom’s.

They are still so in love. A true testament to the life they’ve endured. They are perfect role models. A love story any little girl would die to live out. As I’m studying them, I notice Dad check the rearview mirror. He goes to open his mouth, but doesn’t have a chance to get a word out before the back of the SUV is jolted forward.

Confusion strikes. My seatbelt locks with my chest thrusting forward and neck snapping back in a rush. The car spins out of control. When it comes to a stop, I’m still drowning in chaos, wondering what in the hell just happened. Everyone is safe, and Dad is hollering for us not to get out.

I glance to my left just in time to see a bright flash of white before the sound of metal grinding against metal envelops me in the racket that ensues. I slam into Alex’s body next to me, and then we are spinning out of control.

All my senses are lost at the smell of smoke, and the paranoia assaults me.

Once the vehicle comes to a stop, I’m barely able to focus on one thing, let alone anything at all. There are voices screaming. I reach up to wipe something wet and warm from my face the same time the same sensation crawls up the back of my throat. I can’t get oxygen. My chest is heavy, as are my eyelids. I let them flutter shut and see Liam’s bright, dazzling smile reflecting back at me. He’s standing before me with his arms wide open.

Someone splutters in a choking cough. I struggle to find where the noise is coming from, but there’s too much smoke. Then I realize it’s me at the same time a hand wraps around my biceps and tugs me.

“No.” Alex’s fist flies in front of my face.

I fight to inhale one more long pull of oxygen before my world goes completely raven black. Liam isn’t waiting behind my eyelids this time. No one is.