Change of Hart(71)

We made it halfway through the third quarter without a hitch. Their offense was good, but our defense was better. By the time the third quarter was winding down, we were ahead of the 49ers, 14 - 7. And that’s when it happened.

We were getting set up at the line of scrimmage when Brandon Gonzales, the linebacker I was supposed to get around, started talking shit about Addison.

“Did that fine piece of ass make it to the game, Hart?” he taunted as we got in position. “I saw all those pictures in the paper. I bet she’s a really good lay, isn’t she?”

“Shut up and play football, punk ass,” I said through gritted teeth.

“Single moms are the best.” I tried to stay focused on the plays being called around me but almost lost it when he said, “They’re so desperate, they suck cock like a fucking hoover.”

Thankfully, their quarterback yelled “hike” at that exact moment because I lost it. I lunged for that douchebag and threw him to the side like a ragdoll. Then I went after the quarterback in a rage.

He saw me coming and kept moving backwards, trying to find someone who was open. But he waited just a second too long. He launched the ball out of his hands and I reached up.

The rest seemed like slow motion. The ball tipped off my fingers and popped straight up in the air a couple of feet. Somehow, someway, it came down right in my arms. So I ran for the end zone.

The entire stadium erupted as the team cleared the bench and ran down the sidelines next to me. I looked around to make sure I wasn’t about to be tackled, but all I could see were a few of my teammates blocking for me as I ran. Thirty-seven yards later, the ref’s arms went up and I heard him yell, “TOUCHDOWN!”

The stadium erupted once again.

“YEAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH,” I threw my head back and yelled as loud as I could in celebration. I started getting pounded on the back and head by my teammates whooping and hollering in congratulations.

I was a defensive player. I wasn’t ever supposed to touch the ball. But while my girl and my buddy were watching, I made a touchdown. Unreal.

So I did what any good player would do. I locked eyes with Addison, smacked my helmet twice and pointed at her. She pointed back.

As the offensive players made their way onto the field for the extra point, I happened to walk right past Gonzales.

“Talking shit about my girl,” I said, glaring at him as I pulled my helmet off my head. “How’d that work out for you?” I taunted with a smile on my face, turning away and running off the field before he could respond.





“It was so awesome, Jason!” Jaxon was jumping up and down when I got out of the elevator at the restaurant upstairs. “You smacked that ball and caught it and ran so fast and made a touchdown!” Like always, he was imitating all the motions as he said them, eliciting a smirk from the hostess.

“It was awesome,” I agreed. “I’ve never done that before! Can you believe it?”

His eyes widened as he looked at me. “Never?”

“Never.”

He turned to Addison, still bouncing. “Mom, did you hear that? That was Jason’s first touchdown!”

“I heard,” she said, smiling at him and then looking over to smile at me. “It was a really amazing play.”

“Thanks.” I stood there awkwardly. I really wanted to kiss her hello but I couldn’t with Jaxon standing right there. I wasn’t quite sure what do to. She decided for me when she reached up on her toes and kissed me on the cheek.

“It seems those extra workouts overnight did the trick,” she whispered seductively in my ear.

I leaned back to look her in the eyes and smiled. “I’ll have to schedule a few more of those. You know, for football.”

She tried not to grin at me by biting her lip. But I wasn’t fooled. Addison was obviously a lot more relaxed since I left her house yesterday. And she was in a playful mood. I liked seeing this side of her.

“Come on. Let’s go eat. I’m starving,” I said, grabbing her hand. I wasn’t sure how she would react to my touch, but at this point, I was willing to take my chances. I needed my hands on her, Jaxon or no Jaxon.

Once we were seated and the waitress took our drink order, Jaxon took off for the lobster aquarium, just like I knew he would.

“So?” I asked, taking a drink of my water. “What did you think of watching the game from the stands?”

“It’s much more exciting watching it in the stadium than it is watching on TV,” she said with a smile on her face. “There’s so much to see. I had a lot of fun.”

“Now you know why I’ve been bugging you to come. The experience is totally different.”