Page 58 of All's Fair in Love and Pizza
The judges’ table sat in between and another fifteen tables belonging to a variety of local businesses lined the perimeter of the field. We’d collectively decided that it was in our best interests to extend the invitations to other small businesses in the area to participate—Seaside Donuts, Whole Goods Bakery, and Marina Gifts to name a few. After all, Haverton didn’t run on bagels and pizza alone and with a few thousand people in attendance and millions viewing online, the bake-off had become a golden advertisement opportunity.
Seriously. The stadium was buzzing with cheer and goodwill. There were games and prizes for kids, balloon arches, and geez…Amber had even hired a deejay. It was impossible not to get caught up in the festivities.
I could almost forget that this had all started as a war with my neighbor that we’d expected to settle on neutral territory with fewer than thirty witnesses to stand in as peacekeepers just in case that hot-headed Italian chose violence.
But now…everything had changed.
Ihad changed.
“A football player bake-off has to be new one,” Marissa exclaimed, smiling wide for the cameraman to my left. “Last year you were considered one of the toughest linebackers in the league. Were you planning a bagel enterprise even then?”
“Yes. I didn’t think of it as an enterprise, necessarily. Just something I wanted to do.” I gave my spiel about my grandfather’s bagel shop in Pennsylvania, my college experience at Haverton that had made it possible for me to play pro football,and my desire to give back to the community. “But the bake-off idea was my partner’s. Amber’s a genius.”
“And what about Mateo Cavaretti? Are you still feuding? Hang on! I’ll ask him myself.” Marissa clasped Mateo’s elbow and dragged him into the frame…as if magically pulling a rabbit out of a hat rather than literally reaching for the guy who’d been waiting off camera for his cue. “Mateo! Hi, it’s great to finally meet you in person. I’ve been following this bake-off journey, along with the rest of the world, for weeks. I had my first slice of Boardwalk pepperoni pizza and it was delicious.”
A lazy, sexy, lopsided smile transformed my boyfriend’s handsome features into something godlike. “Thanks.”
Marissa might have been a professional, but she wasn’t immune. She fluttered her lashes and licked her top lip. “You were quarterback on the same team as Rob in college. Were you two friendly?”
“No, but I respected his work on the field and followed his career after college.”
“You played in the pros too. Did you ever run up against Rob in the NFL?”
He shook his head. “Just on the pizza-bagel front.”
Marissa twittered appreciatively. “Boardwalk Pizza has been around for decades, but I understand that pizza bagels are new on your menu. Is that right?”
“Yeah.”
“How do you think you’re going to do today?” she asked, leaning closer to him than necessary.
“We’re gonna crush ’em,” Mateo deadpanned.
Marissa giggled as she spun toward me. “And what do you have to say about that, Rob?”
“Bagels are too well-rounded to panic.”
Mateo snorted. “Is that a bagel joke?”
“Yeah.” I grinned.
“It was terrible.”
“Oh, really. Do you know any pizza jokes?”
Mateo looked straight into the camera. “Don’t get saucy with me, Vilmer. In crust we trust.”
Marissa burst into laughter and held her hand up to Mateo for a high five. “Love it! Good luck to you guys. And thanks for bringing a piz-za, well-rounded joy to the world. You’re both winners in my book. This is Marissa Martin. Back to you in the studio, Chet.”
I shook her hand and stepped aside to speak to Bill while Marissa gushed all over Mateo.
I didn’t realize Bill and his wife were chatting with Amber until I approached. I set a hand on her shoulder and greeted the group.
Amber beamed and hugged me, standing on tiptoe to kiss my cheek. “This is a home run, Robbie.”
I nodded in agreement and opened my mouth to respond just as I overheard Marissa say, “Yes. Get a shot of her too. I think she’s Rob’s girlfriend. Or are they married?”
Bill was speaking now. Something about how impressed he was. “This town is a gem.”
