Page 5 of Reckless Love
“We see Elle?” Levi asks.
And damn. My soon-to-be four-year-old isn’t the only one missing Elle. I can’t stop thinking about her.
Last night, before I ran off of Clarity Field, my eyes scanned the crowd for Elle Benton, my best friend in all the world. She was still on the sidelines, looking better than any cheerleader had a right to look, and her dark brown eyes burned into mine.
The anger was still there, glaring back, and it’s killing me.
I thought there was nothing I hated more than losing.
Okay, there are other things that suck too.
Like it’s the worst when Levi is sick. He’s a happy little guy and it takes a lot to get him down, but when he’s sick, those sad eyes make me want to cry.
Or it’s rough when his mother, Carrie, tries to use a new angle of manipulation on me yet again.
When I’m benched with an injury sucks too.
I intensely dislike all those things.
Being on a losing streak after being the first team to ever win three consecutive Super Bowls in a row doesn’t help.
It has me feeling more off-kilter than I have in a long time.
Not fucking good. Butespeciallynot good when everything else is also going wrong.
Henley, another best friend and the most incredible wide receiver I’ve ever had the honor of playing with, was injured this season and most likely won’t be playing again.
We’ve been practicing so hard trying to make up for Henley being out, there’s not even time to get laid.
Well…if we’re going for full disclosure here, I was off my gamelongbefore Henley’s accident.
Normally, I’m the chillest guy I know. I like to have fun,not take anything too seriously, and enjoy life with my son, my guys from the team, and Elle.
But things being weird with Elle…nowthatis more than I can take.
I honestly didn’t know we were capable of a fight anymore. We became best friends during our freshmen year of college and that bond has only gotten stronger over the years.
I wish we could talk all night right now, like we did that very first night.
I barely get a spare minute with her these days.
Clara, my favorite barista and owner of Luminary Coffeehouse, holds up my matcha latte when I walk in, and I kiss her cheek.
“And here’s a chocolate milk for Mr. Levi Archer!” she says, leaning down to give him his drink in a sippy cup.
“You’re the best, Clara. Thank you.” I glance down at Levi and tilt my head toward Clara.
“Thank you, Miss Clara,” Levi says, leaning in to hug her legs.
I grin at Levi and he takes such a long swig of his chocolate milk, he has to take a gasping breath when he’s done.
“Oh, you are so welcome, sweet little man.” Clara beams at my little boy.
“Are we the last ones to get here?” I ask.
“I haven’t seen Henley yet,” she says. She takes another look at me and frowns. “You doing okay? You don’t seem yourself this morning.”
“When are you guys gonna get it together?” Marv calls across the coffee shop.