“Well, we wouldn’t want to let them down, now would we?” Mack wraps his arms around me tight. Our lips find each other, tenderly at first, but like every kiss with Mack, the spark of passion quickly ignites and burns like a sparkler in a child’s hand on July 4th.
Around us, I can hear clapping and whooping for our lip lock. However, above all the commotion I can hear Chris groaning. “Mom! You’re embarrassing me!”
I pull away from Mack and save my son the public humiliation of his parent’s love.
“Thanks for letting us know about the camera, Chelsea,” I look over Mack to her but she doesn’t hear me. Now that the intermission is over, she’s completely immersed back into the game. My sister the super fan. I can’t help but wonder if she would be so invested in the game if Cameron Armstrong wasn’t the quarterback on the field right now.
My money is on no.
“Are you nervous about being the old man on campus?” I nudge Mack in the ribs.
Ever since Mack got a job as an outreach coordinator with the Wounded Warrior Project, he’s been thinking about going back to school. He loves going around to the military hospitals, talking to other veterans, and their families. And they love him. With a story as public as Mack’s has been, they know they’re getting the real deal when he talks to them. Now he’s enrolled here, at the University of Colorado, part time so he can take some psychology courses. I don’t think he’s ever going to chase after a psych degree, but he’s dedicated to learning as much as he can so he can help his men.
“I know you can’t be talking about me,” Mack teases. “Cause this guy,” he points his thumbs at his chest, “is in the prime of his life. Are you worried about your husband being the big man on campus?” He turns my question around on me.
I’m not. It isn’t because Mack isn’t sexy, or funny, or doesn’t still have little bimbos that flirt with him from time to time, because all of that is true. It’s because I know he loves me. Only me. Always me.
“Should I be?” I smile up at him, just because I know I have nothing to worry about doesn’t mean I don’t like to hear it from him, too.
“Of course not! You know that,” he throws his arm around my shoulders and gives me a squeeze.
“Yeah, I do.” I lean my head against his shoulder and breathe him in. Even after sleeping next to this man for two years, I still think there’s no greater aphrodisiac than his scent.
“Did you see that?” Chelsea screams and points to the field. It’s over! They slaughtered that game.” She yells excitedly.
I didn’t really see it, with Mack and my beautiful children distracting me, this game was little more than background noise on a perfect day. Still, I appreciate that Cameron got us these seats. Now that we’ve sat this close to the field twice, it’s spoiled me. I could never sit in the cheap seats for an entire game again.
Mack’s arm slides off my shoulders and he jumps to his feet as the players clear the field. I stand up next to him and take Honor back into my arms, giving her a kiss on her chubby cheek.
People around us start to shuffle around and gather their things to leave, but Mack doesn’t move. I have a feeling I know why.
Sure enough, I see Cameron pull off his helmet and slowly jog over to us. It’s like I’m having a flashback to two years ago, but I have a feeling that this time he’s not coming over to talk to Chris.
I glance over a Chelsea and she’s running her hands over her hair nervously. I swear these two are like a couple of kids admiring each other across the cafeteria at lunch, but never saying ‘hi’ to each other. It’s too bad that king quarterback Armstrong has been too busy indulging in his own fan club for the past two years. I really thought him and Chelsea would’ve at least gone on a date by now. I’m not sure who’s more disappointed that it never happened for them, me or her.
No, I’m kidding. It’s her. Definitely her.
“Hey man, great start to the season! You’re killing it out there,” Mack shakes Cameron’s hand.
“Thanks, gotta shine for all those scouts, right? Apparently college doesn’t go on forever. Eventually they hand you a piece of paper and ask you to leave campus.” He smiles over at Chelsea.
I look at my sister and her grin could stop traffic. Subtle. Real subtle.
“Awesome game, Armstrong,” Chris holds out his hand confidently. My heart swells with pride. He’s quite a bit taller since he got a tour of this stadium a couple years back. I’m so grateful for Mack and Cameron talking to him and helping him get the closure he so desperately needed.