Fumble Recovery
Page 3
"You actually do have the beer?"
She laughed. "Why wouldn't I?"
"I thought it was a ploy to get me to bed."
"Well, it was. But that doesn't mean I don't have beer. I have food, too, if you're hungry."
"I am a little."
Melanie gently pushed him away and sat up. "We better feed you then. If I'm going to lose a whole day of pay, I want to make sure your strength is up."
Derek sat up as well. "Yes, ma'am. I promise I won't disappoint you."
Melanie touched his cheek gently. "You know, you never have. For whatever that's worth."
He caught her fingers and held them against his face. "It's worth a lot, Melanie."
When they stood, she needed to hold onto his arm, her legs still a little shaky. It might have just been her imagination, but she thought his bruises and cuts were less vivid, less accusatory. Melanie couldn't stop herself from touching one on his back. She paused long enough to kiss the purple mark before following him out of the room.
* * * *
"Derek, one of the bigger stories after the game was that you were nowhere to be found. Where were you?"
Derek laughed. "That was one of the bigger stories? I think the Bulldogs might disagree with that."
"Coach Roberts told ESPN that you had just disappeared until Monday night. Is there going to be any disciplinary action taken?"
"I didn't disappear. I was visiting a friend. And, no, there won't be."
"Your contract is up for negotiation this spring. Do you have any comments on your future in the league?"
"Well, I hope my future is with the Wildcats. It's a great organization. I have a great respect for my coaching staff and teammates. And Wildcat fans are the best in the league."
Melanie smiled, even as her heart fell a little. His position as the Wildcats quarterback was hardly assured at this point. It wouldn't be the end of the world if he played for a different team, but he deserved to wear the green and white jersey as long as he wanted to stay.
Derek left the podium, and she muted the television as Jake Jenkins, his running back, stepped up to answer the flurry of questions about his foot injury. She was happy to see that things were already getting back to business as usual. The media's attention on the fumble had begun to wane, and a few sports pundits were already declaring the Wildcats as the team to watch in the upcoming season. Melanie thought they wouldn't be disappointed. It had been a tough season, but if Derek stayed on as the Wildcats quarterback, they would make it to the championship again.
And Melanie couldn't wait. She had a post-game date with Derek, and she hoped it would be a night of celebration rather than comfort. Especially since she had ten months to learn new plays to keep him on his toes.
Pepper Espinoza
Pepper Espinoza lives in southern California with her husband and her cats. She has spent the last year working as a full time author, and intends to start graduate school in the fall.
You can learn more about Pepper by visiting her web site: http://www.pepperverse.net
* * * *
Don't miss Surrender's Edge, by Pepper Espinoza,
available at Amber-Allure.com!
Geoffrey Kirk has been in love with his best friend, Nash, since almost the moment they met. Convinced that Nash would never return his feelings, he forced himself to move on, and fell for his assistant, Sunny. Despite his strong feelings, he never acted on them, and when he discovered Sunny and Nash together, he thought he lost his chance for happiness forever.
Until Sunny and Nash make it clear that he hasn't lost anything...and he still has a great deal to gain...
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