Page 144 of Off Limits
‘I don’t believe it.’
She reaches out and squeezes my hand. ‘Believe it. Tonight, every single squad member has your back.’
I swallow down the lump in my throat. I’m nervous, but excited to see how tonight pans out. Jewel starts the engine and backs out of the driveway.
‘And you promise you’re cool with me seeing him?’ I ask her.
‘Honey, the way he talks about you… man, I just hope I get to meet a guy like that one day. And I am cool as a refrigerator about it.’
I grin at her.
‘Will you stay with me?’ I ask her.
‘Don’t worry. We called in some recruits. My job is to stay with you.’
I think I can guess what she might be referring to. My heart beats faster at the thought.
We cross town quickly, but traffic builds up outside the stadium. When we’re close, Jewel makes a phone call, then slides into the VIP lane like it’s nothing at all. When she pulls out outside the Danube south VIP entrance, a valet is already waiting to take the car. I get out, pull my cap down further around my ears and glance from left to right.
‘Being here feels wrong,’ I say under my breath to Jewel. ‘Samantha Conway made it very clear I wouldn’t be welcomed back here again.’
Jewel flashes me a grin before I hear a woman shriek, ‘Well, there she is!’
I raise my eyes to find a bubbly-looking blonde standing in the doorway. She’s wearing bright red lipstick that matches her shoes.
‘I’m so excited to meet you properly, Serenity. I’m Lemon.’
‘Hi, Lemon,’ I say, as she gives me a firm handshake.
‘We all good?’ Jewel asks.
‘Hold up just one second,’ Lemon says, as a security guard hands her two lanyards with several passes hanging from them. She puts them over each of our heads, like a medal presentation. I glance down at the lettering that reads ‘All Access’, and I’m astounded.
‘Okay,nowwe’re good,’ Lemon says. ‘This here is Bobby. He’s gonna take you to the sideline, near the tunnel, which should give you a great view of the field. My momma’s upstairs still.’
‘Everything still going to plan?’ Jewel asks her.
Lemon looks thrilled. ‘Carlie’s got everything teed up. CMC is all set to shake the Danube to its very foundations.’
Jake told me that Lemon has resumed her relationship with Carlie Kessler, much to her mother’s horror. ‘Thank you,’ I whisper to Lemon, before Jewel ushers me away.
In the next tunnel, following Bobby from security, I can hear the crowd above our heads.
‘I need to know…’ I say, with Jewel holding my hand. ‘Am I gonna get everybody else fired?’
Jewel looks back at me, the same over-confident smile plastered on her lips. ‘Safety in numbers, sweetie. Safety in numbers.’
‘Are you sure about that?’ I ask, the nerves creeping up the inside of my throat.
When we come out, we’re pitch side, under the floodlights at the west end, facing the twenty-yard line. To our left is the entrance to the tunnel from which the CMC and all the players emerge. The Danube is packed to the rafters with fans and spectators.
Jewel and I take in the scene. ‘Maybe keep the hat on,’ she says, the smile on her face evaporating, having witnessed the size of the crowd, the TV cameras, and the fact that people’s faces are being displayed on the jumbotrons at each end of the stadium.
I check the time. It’s a little before eight. There’s a smell of beer and popcorn in the air. It’s about now that the CMC gets announced onto the field.
‘Are y’alright?’ Jewel asks me.
I don’t know exactly what my squad mates are about to do. I know the gist, but I’m yet to see the routine that they’ve been secretly rehearsing all week.
