Player's Princess (A Royal Sports Romance)(44)

As we run out, I sweep the bleachers with my eyes, looking hard for Anastasia. She won't be easy to spot. Most likely she'll have her hood up and sunglasses on, to hide her uniquely recognizable eyes.

I think it'll be hard to spot her, but it isn't. One sweep of the bleachers and there she is. She's taken up a spot up near the announcer's box, and as she sees me she throws her hood back and sits up. The wind catchers her golden hair like a flag flapping in the breeze. She has it in a loose braid, and thick strands of it crowd around her face, as if her own hair can't resist the chance to touch her.

"She's here," Akele says. He sounds hopeful.

As I am not technically the captain, the coin toss does not fall to me. Izzy calls it, and observes the coin toss. He called it, and we have our choice. Coach already went over this, and Izzy announces we'll start by receiving the kickoff.

I shake my shoulders under my pads. They feel heavier today, but it's a weight I bear more easily. They could be gleaming steel, enameled white. With Anastasia watching, I feel like I could move the moon. I can do anything.

Then it starts to rain.





Chapter Nine





Anastasia



I shift uncomfortably in my seat. My stomach is quivering, my nerves as tight as a violin string that's out of tune. Amid all these people, I wonder if Jason will even see me.

There he is. He strides onto the field, his face hidden in his helmet.

"I can't believe we're doing this," Dee says, her voice swallowed by the cheers.

Fidgeting nervously, I tug on my hood and fold my sunglasses to hang on my collar. If he can see my eyes, he'll know me. Anyone would know my eyes. I stare down into the field, willing him to look up.

Somehow, even with his helmet, I manage to spot his eyes. He has the handkerchief I embroidered tied around his upper arm, tucked halfway under the sleeve of his jersey. My heart lifts, joy swelling in my chest until Dee puts a hand lightly on my shoulder and pushes me back down into my seat.

With a sigh, she plucks the sunglasses from my chest.

"Cover up those baby-blue-and-greens, Your Majesty."

I tuck them back in place and watch. The Knights will play offense first. I feel like I'm going to float out of my seat as the ball soars across the field, driven far by the Honey Badgers' kickoff.

"It went too far," I whimper.

A Knight catches it at the ten yard line. It's all too fast for me to see who it was. They run hard and fast, crashing into the opposing players with such force that I can feel it through my seat and the soles of my feet. I look for Jason, trying to see if he's hurt.

There he is; he's fine, he's on his feet.

He has to play now though. When the teams take position again, Jason sets up with the others, and my chest tightens, my hear climbing a little higher in my throat with every beat.

"He's going to be okay," Dee promises me, sensing my agitation.

I nod.

The first play is a pass. Jason throws the ball and avoids a tackle from the opposing player. His friend Izzy makes the catch and runs with it.

"He made it," Dee explains. "First down."

"Why is the man in the striped shirt gesturing?"

"Penalty. The Honey Badgers lost another five yards."

"Oh."

She sounds nervous.

By chance, I happen to look down. One of the opposing players is looking our way. Tall, with long, dark hair, imposing in his pads and cleats. I remember him from the bar fight.

Dee grabs my arm. "Don't look at him. He'll know your face."

I look away abruptly, turning back to the field itself.

"That's Ransom Kaye. The Honey Badger quarterback. We can't let him see you. He has a thing with Jason."

"A thing?"

"Yeah, a thing, Princess."

"What is 'a thing'?"

"I can't really talk about it. You'd need to ask Jason."

"I will."

She grabs my arm again. "Princess. It's not a light conversation topic, know what I mean?"

"I'm not sure I understand."

"There's something really bad between them. You need to ask at the right time. Maybe it's better if he decides to tell you when he's ready. I mean if he is. I shouldn't have said anything. Just stay away from Ransom. He's bad news."

"I will," I assure her.



Jason



The last person I need to see is Ransom Kaye.

The arrogant f*ck takes the field, carrying his helmet like a crown. Here he gets cheers and not jeers, and he plays it up to the hilt, mugging for his home crowd. The cheers shake the turf under my feet as I watch our defense line up.

Football teams like to shit-talk each other, but the truth is, Ransom is one of the better quarterbacks in our division and he'll probably go pro someday. The thought of it just grinds on me, like two big hands twisting my spine together.

Before the snap, I catch his gaze as he stares into the crowd. It's hard to make anyone out in the rain. Ana shines like a light, a beacon to a safe harbor. I spot her with only a glance, and she looks right at me. The world folds up, the distance closing between us until I feel like I could reach out and scoop her up in my arms.

Ransom is looking her way, the son of a bitch.