I stand motionless, my palms pressed against my jeans while I watch Liam throw the ball one last time before he and the team jog back to the locker room. They look strong and confident warming up on the field.

I’m a nervous wreck. It wouldn’t have made a difference to my scattered brain if I’d slept all night or stayed wide awake tossing and turning as I did. I would still be freaking the hell out, and it has nothing to do with his injury.

It’s all that comes with the first preseason game. It sets the tone for the entire season. We go out there and flop, and it will be plastered all over ESPN that the Idaho Diamonds are a joke. And on the other hand, if we play our starters too long, we are gambling injuring one of them before the official season even begins.

Confidence. I repeat the one word over and over in my head until it begins to be my mantra. My team and I have done everything we can. Laid a solid foundation. And now the rest is up to hard work, sweat, and destiny. Jesus, I’m going to stroke out today.

I’ve hardly seen Liam this past week. Between all of my interviews, meetings, and everything else, I haven’t had much time. Just a few stolen moments in my office after he was done with practice. And damn, that hike was brutal but so worth it. The view once we stood on top of Table Rock stunned me into silence. Liam too. All that could be heard was the pounding of hearts and deep gulps for air. We stood side by side taking in the majestic scenery. He linked his pinky to mine without saying a word. The entire moment was symbolic and one I’ll hold on to forever. It was the two of us facing the world, standing tall and proud.   

I took the time to sit in the bleachers the other day during a drills practice. My complete attention glued to Liam. Cringing every single time he was tackled. If I thought that was bad, it will be nothing like game day. Liam’s teammates never full-out tackle him in practice, but it didn’t matter. I hated watching it.

Not to mention the constant ache between my legs, which had me overheating the entire damn time. Seeing him up close in those tight pants showing off his ass did not help the situation at all. I was toast when he pulled off his pads and tight shirt after practice. He used the shirt to wipe the sweat from his forehead, and I needed a damn cold shower in the middle of the day.

I cooled down the minute Roan and Alina sat next to me. With him being the man behind the money, it was only fitting he come out before everyone else and share the spotlight alongside my mom by doing their parts with the press.

At first, it was hard for me to stand by their side. Not because I was afraid of the questions they might ask, but because I had to face him head-on with my feelings about our family.

Roan Diamond is one of the most level-headed men you will ever meet. He’s fair, kind, and above all, he’s loyal to his family. That is until you cross him. Then he goes from mild to wild in a blink of an eye.

I stood tall when I told him. Looked him square in the eye. One thing I learned from growing up is when you speak to Roan, you look him in the eye. It’s the way of their world.

And, not to my surprise, he knew how I felt, as did Alina. They both sat with me for hours and told me a story I remembered overhearing as a child. Didn’t quite grasp the meaning until I heard her tell me she felt the same way at one time about her family, too. I felt so much better about myself, about them, and about my future.

My stomach shifts uneasily when a sharp pang hits my fingers. That’s when I look down and see my palms are no longer gliding up and down my thighs. They are now digging into my skin. I can’t figure out what to do with them. I’ve tried running them down my jeans, twisting them together. I even sat on them while chatting with my brother and Alex when they arrived before everyone else. The only thing keeping me from going completely crazy is the beautiful Idaho weather. You couldn’t ask for a better day. Not too hot with a light breeze and the sun lighting everything up. The glass windows open on the skybox.

“You going to stand there and block my view?” my brother asks, sarcasm clinging to his tone.

“Sorry,” I respond, and the next thing I know, I’m being tugged down by the collar of my light blue Idaho Diamonds T-shirt.

“Mom is going to be pissed if she knows you ruined the manicure she paid for. Now sit down so everyone can watch my brother help this team get their first win.” I can’t help but smile when I look over at Rowe. Her hair is pulled back in a light blue team headband. Team earrings dangle from her ears, peel-off tattoos adorn her cheeks, and she’s wearing a cheerleading uniform she told me she wanted the day my mom and I picked her and Liam’s mom up for a girls’ day. Liam told me Rowe got her team spirit from his old college coach’s wife. Momma Pete, she bathed in their college colors.

“You think they will win, huh?” I nudge her shoulder. Rowe has more love inside of her than any person I have ever met. Including her brother. She’s forgiving and understands a lot more than people realize.

I wasn’t as nervous as I am now when I called to see if they wanted to get together. To be quite honest, I was excited to see them. To be able to talk to both of them. Apologize and move on. It was a hell of a lot easier to do with them than it was with Liam. I have yet to tell his dad how sorry I am. You would think I would have with as many times as I’ve seen him. Things and people always seem to get in the way of us being alone.

“Hell yes, they will. I told the coach if they didn’t, I was going to put dickhead down on one of the plays, and every time Liam called it out, the entire team would know it was meant for him.”

I start laughing so hard I nearly pee my pants.

“I love you, Rowe. You are the best medicine a girl could ask for.” I loop my arm around her shoulder.

“I know.”

“What’s so funny down here?” I glance up when my dad and Roan shuffle past us and take their seats on the other side of me.

“Your daughter is nervous. I had to put her in her place. I’m Rowe, by the way. Liam is my brother, and you”—she points to Roan—“are handsome for an old man.”

“I’ll take that compliment any day. Especially from a beautiful cheerleader.” Roan bends to kiss her cheek, and for the first time since I’ve met Rowe, I see her blush.

I turn my attention to Baylor walking in. She has her arms full of bags and a crimson color covering her face. She heard her daughter and shakes her head.

“How are your nerves, Baylor?” I help her get the duffle bags situated and then hug her.

“Not gonna lie, Justice. I’ve never been this nervous.” She shrugs. “You’d think after being married to a three-time MVP of the NFL and standing by his side through the ups and downs, this would be cake, but it’s not.”

“He’s your baby,” I whisper and hug her again.

“Yes, he is.”

“Where’s State?” I ask as we take a seat.

“Girl, you really have to ask?” She shakes her head. “He’s down on the sidelines just like he has been at every single game of Liam’s. Guarantee he’s gone through bags of sunflower seeds by now and pacing the sidelines. Lives to be there for his son.”

“Has State ever thought about coaching?” I ask, watching Rowe fix herself a hotdog with all the condiments.

“No.” Baylor shakes her head. “My husband has lived his dreams when it comes to football. Now, all he wants to be is a dad. Both of us had nothing growing up. It was hell, and now we can give everything to our kids, and that’s a blessing we will never take for granted.”

I smile, loving Baylor is opening up to me. “Liam has told me all about it. He loves you guys so much and is super proud of you.”

Something cracks in my chest. It’s not painful, but foreign. It takes me a few beats to understand it, and when I comprehend, tears threaten. One day, Liam will be an amazing dad just like his, and I can only hope to be a part of all of it even though it’s years down the road.

I sit there and listen to her banter with my family while I watch the clock wind down to zero. My nerves are picking up to an all-time high after we lose the coin toss, stand for the anthem, and the defense takes their place on the field.

“You did good, Justice. Take a look at the crowd. It’s only preseason, and the stadium is packed. This wouldn’t be happening if it weren’t for you,” Roan acknowledges.

“Thank you, and thank you for trusting me.”

I appreciate the compliment, but right now I can’t fully comprehend anything. Even though our defense is on the field, I’m still studying Liam, who has laminated papers in his hands, going over plays with the offensive coach. He has his helmet gripped in one hand and a serious look on his face. He has to come out with nothing but perfection to shut the nation the fuck up.

His dad, State, stands back, not interfering in the game or trying to coach his son. His face mirrors the same dead-serious expression as Liam. The roar of the crowd causes me to startle, and when I look out to the field, our defense is jogging to the sidelines.

“Three and out!  How do you like that shit, Tampa!” Rowe jumps up and down, screaming at the top of her lungs.

Jesus, she takes this sport seriously. The wheels in my mind begin to turn. I’d love to involve Rowe somehow with this team. Baylor stands when number eleven trots out on the field. She grabs my arm, pulling me up with her. The tension wafting off her is palpable. She turns to me with tears brimming in her eyes.

“Thank you for loving him and talking it out with him.”

I don’t have a chance to respond before the Diamonds’ huddle breaks and they take the line. Liam points to each side. I wish I could hear what he is saying; I’m assuming he’s hollering out different names to try and confuse the defense.

“It’s the Longhorn Tahoe play,” Rowe announces to no one particular. “Bubba, you better hit your receiver.”

It all plays out in slow motion. The center hikes the ball to Liam, the line blocks, Liam scrambles a bit before he hitches his arm back and lets it fly. My vision darts down the field to see the receiver wide open. He flies in the air, the ball wobbling in his hands before he secures it and runs faster than anything I’ve ever seen. He doesn’t stop until he’s in the end zone.

“Hell yeah! We just scored our first touchdown. Bring it on, boys!” my brother hollers.

I’m elated. First play. Touchdown. Take that, you haters. My man is back better and stronger.

“That’s my boy!” Baylor jumps up and down.

The excitement in the skybox is unreal. For the first time today, my nerves begin to dissipate.

Our level of cheering and excitement doesn’t diminish when the second-string quarterback is put in. We are all die-hard Diamonds fans and cheer our team on until the last second of the game.

Baylor tried to fight me on it, but I send a security guard with her when she takes off. Rowe was completely on my side, declaring the guard was a hottie. I watch as they disappear making their way down to State. Once the skybox is empty and Roan and I have talked to the press, I finally head to my office to grab a few things. I take the elevator down to the lobby and decide it’s best to dodge the media circus outside of the locker room and stride down the long hallway to the parking garage. A door slams, startling the shit out of me. I slap my hand over my chest and peer around to come up empty.

Two more steps, and a figure steps out of a side door. A figure I’d recognize in the dark with my eyes closed. Liam smiles and tucks his hands into his back pockets, his hair wet from a shower, and eyes piercing holes through my chest. I don’t think. I go. Dropping my bag and sprinting toward him. I don’t stop until I’m up in his arms and wrapping my legs around his waist. I kiss the hell out of him.

“We won, Liam. We did it.”