Page 139 of Playing to Win
“Did you ever hear back from the baseball team?”
I’m grinning and nodding like a fool. “We’re still in negotiations about pay, but pretty sure I’m going to take the job.”
“Oh my God, that’s so great!” Natalie grins, reaching out to squeeze my hand.
Here’s the crazy thing. After word got around that I was let go by the athletic department? Teams from other colleges started reaching out, asking me to come work for them. Considering I want to get my degree first, I had to turn them all down, but when our very own baseball team reached out and asked if they could hire me as a content creator outside of the social media team provided by the athletic department?
That’s when things got interesting.
Nowhere does it state that an individual team can’t hire someone to promote them. They want me to work in tandem with their assigned social media team, and they don’t want me to sign the regular agreement either. I would be freelance. The athletic department put up a stink at first, but eventually had to back down and let it happen.
The best part about this? They’re also hiring Gwen. They want us to put together fun content like we did for the football team because their social media audience is seriously lacking.
I can’t wait to get to work. I know Gwen is excited too. Our boyfriends aren’t too thrilled that we’re going to be hanging out with the baseball team all of the time, but they have nothing to worry about.
We’re not interested in those guys anyway.
When the opposing team gets the ball, Natalie is screaming just like I was, encouraging Derek, who’s out on the field, ultimately sacking their QB. You can feel the satisfaction pouring off of him as he struts across the field, and I can’t help but laugh.
The team doesn’t manage to score. Our boys roll back out there and while another touchdown doesn’t happen, they do get a field goal, pushing our score high enough that with the time left on the clock, they’ll never meet it, let alone rise above it.
We won.
Natalie and I are giddy for the rest of the game. When it’s finally over, we’re on the field as soon as they let us on it, the two of us separating so we can go in search of our favorite players. I find Ace almost immediately, being interviewed by some pretty redhead holding an ESPN microphone in her hand, and I wait, watching him speak to her, my chest swelling with pride.
He looks tired, but happy. His hair is an absolute sweaty disaster and his uniform is a mess. He got sacked during the first quarter, but he didn’t let it get him down. Didn’t let it get into his head.
Ace played a strong game, proving that he’s a strong leader who doesn’t fold under pressure. I’m so proud of him, I feel like I could burst.
He catches sight of me when he’s still talking to the reporter, a slow smile appearing on his face and my heart trips at the sight of it.
Ugh, I love him so much. And he loves me too. We’re a little ridiculous sometimes.
I wouldn’t change a thing.
The reporter wraps up filming but keeps talking to him and he finally pulls away with the best words ever. “Hey, my girlfriend is waiting for me. I gotta go.”
My smile grows as he heads for me, gasping when he picks me up and spins me around. He’s laughing and he sounds so happy, my heart soars. As light and carefree as his mood.
He sets me back on my feet but doesn’t let go of me, his hands on my waist, fingers splayed wide. "We won."
"You won.” I brace my hands on his chest and rise up on tiptoe, meeting him halfway for a far too quick kiss. “You were so good out on the field tonight.”
His expression turns serious. “We all were.”
My smile grows. He always gives his team as much credit as himself and I love that about him.
“You were,” I agree.
“Ace!”
We both turn to see his parents approaching us, walking together hand in hand. I met them for the first time a few days ago, when they arrived in town for the game and I already adore them so much. His mom Wendy clearly dotes on her son and is pleased that Ace has found a girlfriend who dotes on him too. And his dad Scott is obviously so proud of his only child. They’re great people.
No surprise, considering I think their son is pretty great too.
“You were amazing,” his dad says, just before they hug. Wendy and I watch them, and I laugh when Ace grabs his mother and swings her around much like he did to me only a moment ago.
“There you guys are,” says a deep familiar voice and I turn to find my uncle Drew and my dad standing together, matching smiles on their faces. “Ace. Great game.”
