Reagan

My stomach was in a turmoil of emotions. Nerves, excitement, fear… almost every damn emotion possible swirled in my stomach, all because I was at Carter’s game. Football wasn’t my thing, but it was Carter’s, and I kind of did want to see him play and hoped I understood enough to be interested in it for him.

Yes, I wanted to like a sport because of a man.

Where had my smarts gone? Down the drain along with my rational thoughts when it came to Carter, apparently.

“Ree, these are damn good seats,” Brooke said as we made our way to the spot Carter gave us tickets for. “Holy crap, we’re sitting in the new boxed in area at the front. I’ve only recently read about these spots, how they’re testing them for important people instead of the glass booths way up the back.” She continued to rattle on and on about how she thought people would like it better, but I tuned out. Thank God she’d been willing to come with me since I didn’t know the first thing about the stadium or reading a map.

Words, grammar, books, and teaching I could handle. Throw a map at me and tell me there was free coffee and chocolate for a year at the end, I’d try my best to find it, but I wouldn’t be able to. I’d get lost and lose my mind, and no doubt end up crying in a corner somewhere for missing out on free goodness.

“That’s good,” I said, but unsure if it was in fact good. If they were close, close enough that Carter could see me, I was worried he’d see a bored look upon my face… or even find me asleep.

“It is good, Ree.” She grinned. “Come on, down this way.”

Nodding, I then followed her into the seating area. She led me way, way down the steps.

“See,” Brooke exclaimed, as she opened the door after giving the attendant our tickets to mark off. “They said it was the two left in the front row,” Brooke told me. She must have read on my face that I wasn’t absorbing anything in my panicked state, so she took my hand in hers. We passed the other two rows, with a few people already sitting in some of them, to the front where three men sat to the far wall of the boxed area. Brooke sat me in the vacant seat next to an older man, and she took the one on the end. Maybe she was scared I’d make a run for it.

I had been thinking it.

Honestly, I was sort of annoyed at myself for thinking how it was important for me to like this game, but I couldn’t seem to stop myself from doing it.

Damn Carter Anthony.

“This is awesome. We’ll see all the action.” Brooke clapped.

“Yes.” I nodded. “Awesome.” My lack of enthusiasm caught the attention of the man next to me. He glanced down at me and raised his brows. “Sorry,” I muttered, and moved my gaze out onto the field.

It was just in time to hear announced, “And here come the Wolves.” People everywhere cheered loudly. My heart perked up and skipped a beat. I shifted forward on my seat to see Carter’s team jog onto the field.

Oh. My. God.

“Do you want wine? Snacks?” Brooke asked, but I didn’t answer because I was too busy.

Around me, people still cheered a variety of chants. Some even cried they wanted to have some players’ babies, and I could finally understand why they’d offer it up so easily.

In the background, I heard Brooke say something, and then the man on the other side of me reply. But my attention and eyes were glued to the glorious sight before me.

I should have asked Carter what number he was.

Not that I minded the trouble of looking for him.

Holy… there he was, and he looked so dang fine.

Tight white pants were burned into my eyes.

Tight.

White.

Pants.

Praise the lord for the football uniform. He was already bulky on top, but the padding helped him look tougher and sexier. His jersey read 32 along with a logo of his team. Under one arm he held a helmet.

The whole package was what wet dreams were made of.

“He should have just told me what he wore, and I’d have been at last weekend’s game.” Yes, I’d seen football briefly on the TV, but I’d never studied their uniform… until then.

“Reagan,” Brooke scolded in a snappy tone.

“What?” I asked, glancing at her. “You can’t tell me gear like that doesn’t make you hot.”

She paled and then palmed her forehead.

I heard a manly chuckle at my back and turned to find an older man glancing at us. A blush touched my cheeks. “Oh, sorry again. I’m not into sports really, but I wanted to try.”

“And the uniform helps?” he asked, his lips twitching.

“Well, yes.” I nodded. I didn’t know the man, so I didn’t mind being honest in front of him. The younger man beside the other guffawed.

“Reagan—”

“It’s all right,” the man said.

I frowned at the strange reply. “What’s all right?” I asked, glancing away from the man to my friend and back again.

“Nothing,” he replied. “Want me to tell you a few things as the game goes on?”

That was so nice.

Grinning, I nodded. “Yes, please. Even though the uniforms will keep my attention, I could waver halfway through so maybe if I have you talk to me about it, it will help.” All three men in the row laughed heartily.

Didn’t bother me. Besides, I may actually learn something since it wasn’t my father trying to teach me. It would be different. With Dad, I got my back up and enjoyed torturing him too much to learn a thing.

“It’d be a pleasure.” He smiled, and he had a really nice smile, so I grinned back.

“By the way, I’m Reagan.”

“Patty,” he said, but he said it in a way he thought I should recognize the name. I didn’t. He smirked, his eyes lit with humor. “My boys, Casper and Calvin.”

“Hey.” I waved. Casper winked, and Calvin smiled, giving me a chin lift.

“Oi, I need a drink or ten,” Brooke said from beside me.

“Sorry, this is—”

“We’ve already met,” Brooke said. “When you were in a daze.”

“Right.” I laughed, my cheeks heating once again. I sank back in the seat and adjusted my tee. Carter and his team started putting on their helmets and walked out into the middle of the field. The game was about to start.

Out the corner of my eye, I saw a man step up to Brooke’s side with a tray of items. She passed me a plastic cup. Beer.

“I thought we had to get these things from the concession stand,” I commented.

“Not in here, sweetheart,” Patty said.

I glanced to him. “Cool.”

Casper leaned around him. “Who are you rooting for?”

“The Wolves.” I grinned.

“Yeah, but anyone on the team?”

Patty sent him a look I didn’t understand. Brooke coughed on something and Calvin was smirking.

“Ah… Carter Anthony, I guess.”

“You guess?” Calvin asked.

“Well, no. I mean I am rooting for Carter.”

“How do you know him?” Casper asked, causing another irritated scowl from his dad.

“He visited the school I teach at.”

“And he asked you to come to the game?”

Why did I suddenly feel like I was in the hot seat?

“Yes.”

“He also gave her tickets,” Calvin put in.

“Boys, enough,” Patty warned for some reason. Did they know Carter?

“Do you all know Carter?” I asked.

Casper and Calvin laughed. Patty shook his head at them. A horn blasted.

“The game’s started,” Patty said, pointing out. I shifted my attention there.

Football was an amazing sport. Though at times, it was scary with how rough it was. My pulse didn’t stop racing until the very end, worried Carter would end up hurt in some way. He would have bruises with a couple of tackles he took, but he would be okay. Patty reassured me each time he caught me gripping my armrests with white knuckles.

Brooke was just as interested in the game as I was and with Patty’s help, we understood it a lot more before it finished.

Heck, I even sprang to my feet a few times and yelled things like, “Make them eat dirt.” Or “Take them out.” At the end of that one, I added, “Not to dinner, just the game.” Which had the men laughing around us. Throughout it, I learned the guys in the rows behind us were a part of Patty’s friends and family. How they got such a sweet deal with the box area, I didn’t know, but Patty told me every game in town the Wolves had they were there in support.

They were die-hard fans, and I was glad I got to meet them.

“Did you like it, Reagan?” Casper asked after we all stood.

“Loved it. I’ll have to come to another one.”

“So we’ve converted you into a fan?” Patty smiled.

“Definitely.”

“Sure it’s not just the uniforms talking to you?” Casper teased.

Laughing, I shook my head. “No. I honestly enjoyed it. Thank you all for putting up with us newbies.”

“It was a pleasure,” Patty said.

“Yeah, it was fun.” Henry, Patty’s brother, said from behind me. “Especially when you nearly face-planted falling from the seat after cheering.”

I giggled. At that time, the Wolves had just got a touchdown, their final one to win the game, and I was so excited I climbed up and started screaming like so many others. Unfortunately, I slid, and if it wasn’t for Patty and Casper, I would have kissed the floor.

Turning to Brooke, I was about to ask if she was ready to go, but I saw she had her mouth dropped open and wide eyes. I glanced where she was looking and spotted Carter, with his helmet off, jogging our way.

Smiling, I waved.

“We should go,” Brooke whispered.

“Why?” I asked. “Carter’s coming over.”

“Exactly,” she mumbled, but I caught it. I gave her a puzzled looked.

“Reagan,” Carter called. “Did you like the game?”

Nodding, I went to the edge, leaning my hands on it, and said. “I actually did. Congrats on winning.”

“Thanks.” He grinned. “Did you understand any of it?”

“Actually, I had help.” I thumbed behind me. “Patty was amazing at telling me what was going on.”

He glanced behind me. His hand came out, and as Patty stepped up, they shook hands.

“Good game,” Patty said.

“Thanks, Dad.”

Dad.

Dad?

Dad!

Patty was Carter’s father?

No, no, no.

“Reagan?” Carter said.

“Give her a moment,” Brooke replied.

Dad.

Carter was the son of Patty.

Oh God. Casper and Calvin.

Both started with C, and I should have connected it all since they all went to the same damn high school, but didn’t.

They’re brothers.

I’m so damn stupid.

But I’d been nervous. Out of sorts.

Wait… Carter’s family heard me say how I loved Carter’s uniform.

Oh, dear hell on earth.

Kill me now.

I came back from my thoughts to hear Carter bark, “You didn’t tell her who you were?”

“You didn’t tell us you had someone else coming in the family box,” Casper said.

Family box?

The family box.

As in the Anthonys’ family box.

“We didn’t want to scare Reagan off,” Patty said, which was nice. But now he knew I liked Carter in his uniform, a lot. Heck, so did his brothers, uncles, and probably cousins.

Great. Just great.

“I didn’t have time to tell you Reagan and her friend were joining you all—”

That was it!

That one word could save me.

“Friend! That’s right, I’m Carter’s friend.”

Shit. All eyes turned to me.

Casper snorted. “A friend you like to—”

“Friend,” I cut in with a glare. He shut his mouth, but his lips twitched, as did Patty’s, Calvin’s, and hell, everyone’s.

“She likes to what?” Carter asked.

“Nothing!” I shouted. Then laughed and slugged Carter in the arm. “Anyway, good game, bucko. Really ate them out—up. You ate them up.” I ignored the chuckles around me and Brooke’s groan.

I backed up. “I should get going. Um, great to meet everyone.”

“Reagan, you should come by the house. We like to celebrate after a game,” Patty offered.

“I really can’t, ah, maybe next time.”

When I wasn’t dying.

“Reagan,” Carter shouted, but then we all heard his name being called. Reporters were on their way over to him.

It was definitely my time to bolt.

Reaching out, I grabbed Brooke’s hand.

“Wrong person to take on your escape,” Henry said from beside me, and then he chuckled.

My eyes widened. I dropped his hand with a “Sorry,” and then moved closer to Brooke. The witch was grinning like a fool.

“Thanks for everything.” I waved, turned, and shoved Brooke out the gate.

“Reagan,” Carter called, but I pretended I didn’t hear him and kept going.

It was halfway to the car when a still smiling Brooke said, “Well, I think the family likes you.”