Love on the Highlight Reel (Connecticut Kings Book 2) (40 page)

I gasped as the screen filled with pictures of Jordan and I in college, looking young as hell, and
so
in love.

“Jordan, what is this? When did you—”

“
Shhhh,
” he interrupted, raising a finger to his lips. “This sounds good, and I’m trying to hear. Why you always talking when I’m trying to watch TV?”

I turned away from the smirk playing on his mouth to see him and Kendra on the screen. He was in his sling, and I remembered him wearing that shirt…
earlier this week
. The day he’d had his meeting with Chloe, and took forever to get back with my pastries.

And now I know why
.

“So Jordan,”
Kendra said, grinning harder than she needed to at my man.
“Let’s just get right to it. I’m sure you’ve seen all the different stories about you and Nicole, seen the nasty backlash she’s taken. Everything from her being a gold digger, to being recruited to keep you on the team, all kinds of things. What’s the
real
deal?”

“All of that stuff is way,
way
off base,”
Jordan said, shaking his head.
“Especially in terms of her being a gold digger – I’m almost positive she has a higher net worth than me, so that’s ridiculous. Anybody trying to frame negative or manipulative intentions around our relationship flat out doesn’t know what they’re talking about. It’s
real
between Nicki and me.”

“Nicki? Everyone else shortens her name to “Cole”, which is what I’ve heard she prefers. Why do you call her Nicki?”

Jordan smiled.
“Because that’s how she introduced herself to me, back when we met in college. Super smart, put together, dang near nerdy. I think she was trying to brand herself as “edgy”,”
Jordan laughed, and I did too. That was
exactly
why I’d gone with Nicki.

“So you met in college –
before
you were in the NFL.”

“That’s correct. I was more in awe of her than she was of me. I mean… she was the daughter of a legend, and she was interested in me.”

“You weren’t concerned she was recruiting you, for her father?”

Jordan scowled.
“Not at all. First of all, Eli was involved with the Kings at the time, but not yet the owner of the team. Besides that, Nicki had very different motivations.”

“Which were?”

He chuckled.
“She was competitive as hell. She wanted me so no one else could have me.”

“Well, who could blame her,”
Kendra said, laughing. One of Jordan’s pictures from college came up on the screen.
“You were gorgeous back then, and you’re gorgeous now.”

Jordan gave her the dimples, and I squirmed in my seat just like millions of others who were probably tuned in
. “I appreciate that,” he responded, then went back to what he was saying, “But yeah, Nicki’s interest wasn’t business related. It was very human. We were together two years, and then like most college relationships, especially with athletes, we fell off.”

“But you reunited. Recently.”

Jordan nodded.
“Yeah. We both got tired of pretending that what we’d shared back then was done. It may not be conventional, and may even be unprofessional, or unethical to some. But that’s the woman I love, and nothing is getting in the way of that.”

Kendra let out a dreamy sigh at the same time I did, and Jordan tightened his arm around me.
“So what about those whispers though, of an ethical violation? Nicole’s executive position with the team makes a relationship with a player improper, at best. Wouldn’t accusations of favoritism and bias, worries about a conflict of interest, be valid?”

“Only for people who don’t know her. The position she’s in is new, but Nicki is proven. She doesn’t play favorites, even with me. In fact… I think she’s harder on me than anybody else.”

“Mmm,”
Kendra nodded
. “When we reached out to other players on the team, they mirrored your sentiments. They were largely supportive of your relationship, but especially of Nicole. Some were obviously upset about the accusations against her work ethic. And some… were disappointed to be able to refute the idea that she was some sort of… plaything for the team.”

Jordan rolled his eyes.
“Because that shi—mess isn’t true, even though I’m sure some wish it was. Nicki is a beautiful woman, but that shouldn’t diminish the fact that she’s also intelligent, driven, competent, and valuable to the Kings’ organization for reasons that have nothing to do with the way she looks. And it’s pissed me off to see the way people have reduced her to that.”

“Understandable. Hopefully, this has helped dissolve some of those misconceptions.”

“Hopefully. It hasn’t been all negative though. I appreciate everybody who has sent well-wishes our way, instead of spewing garbage.”

“Oh that’s right,”
Kendra mused
. “Many celebrities have come forward to share their congratulations… but a few have had not-so positive things to say. Like Cedrick Rochester, from
Zone Report.
He revealed that Nicole was his former fiancée, claimed that she was cold and unemotional, only cared about work. Do you have a response for that?”

I could practically see the anger boiling off of Jordan as he clenched his jaw, then shook his head.
“Not really. Only that there’s a reason she’s his
former
fiancée.”

“I love it when love makes a way back around to where it started,”
Kendra said, with a big smile.
“I was so thrilled when you reached out, and when I heard your story, I was so glad you wanted to come here to tell it. I don’t even feel like stirring the pot with this one. I’m just going to let my viewers bask in this beautiful tale of black love, and call it a day. Thank you for coming, Jordan.”

He grinned back
. “Thank you for having me.”

“So what do you think?” Jordan asked, nudging my side.

I turned to him, practically crawling in his lap. “I think you probably hated doing that… but I love that you did it anyway.”

“You do what you have to do sometimes,” he said, reaching up to cup my face. “Couldn’t have these people talking all reckless about you, and not saying anything.
You
don’t have to respond, but it doesn’t mean I had to let it ride.”

I nodded. “I appreciate that. I
love
you.”

“And I love you. So I had to show you, you not the only one who can show out.”

I wrinkled my nose. “Show out? Huh?”

“Right now,” he grinned, “Am I, or am I not the
best man ever
?”

My face immediately spread into a smile, and I giggled as I pressed my lips to his.

“You absolutely are.”

Blue and gold confetti rains down around me. My teammates smack me on the shoulders. Trent, my fucking
brother
, growls as he crashes into me, bumping chests. He smacks my helmet, hard, then growls again before he turns to growl at something else.

We did it.

We actually did it.

This season hasn’t been easy. I’ve struggled, I’ve worked harder than I knew was possible to not let last season’s injury hold me back. I can’t even smile – my face is still fixed in the same scowl I wore when the ball hit the end zone, securing our victory. One of the coaching assistants walks up to shake my hand, leaving me with something I’ve asked him to deliver, depending on the result of this game.

I drop to my knees, gratefully.

Prayerfully
,
something I’ve picked up from Trent.

“Jordan!”

I look up from the confetti-littered turf to see Nicki running towards me, her face engulfed by a huge smile. She drops to her knees too, helping remove my helmet before throwing her arms around my neck to embrace me.

“I am so,
so
proud of you,” she whispers against my ear, then pulls back to meet my eyes.

She’s crying.

She knows how bad I’ve wanted this – knows I
needed
it. Behind her tears, her eyes are shining with love and pride.

It makes me even more sure of what I’m about to do.

I smile at her, then encourage her to get up, but I remain on my knees in front of her, and grab her hand. That confetti is swirling around us, in her hair, sticking to her face. She’s holding my helmet – carrying part of my load – and the chance to put significance to that isn’t missed on me. 

“Nicki!” I yell, because I have to, over the noise of the crowd, celebrating the Kings as Super Bowl champions. “I have a question for you.”

Her eyes go wide as I hold up my other hand, showing her the ring.

“Jordan…” I see her mouth move to form the word, but don’t hear her speak.

“Marry me.”

“Yes.”

Really?

With Nicki, I expected hesitation, but that isn’t what she gives me. I look her right in the eyes. She’s certain about her answer, and tears are starting to drip down her face as she nods.

Her hands shake as I slide the ring onto her finger, and then finally stand, pulling her into my arms. She wraps her arms around my neck again, the weight of my helmet heavy against my back as she squeezes tight.

“I love you.” Is barely out of my mouth before a cold sensation wraps around me, drenching me – and Nicki – to the bone. I realize then that the crowd has congregated around us, cheering. Instead of dousing the coach in Gatorade in celebration, my teammates have chosen to shower the newly-engaged couple. Suddenly, the smacks to my shoulders, the congratulations, are two-fold.

I help Nicki wipe the Gatorade from her eyes and face, and she grins as someone drapes a blanket around her shoulders. She’s happy. I’m happy. She’s going to be my wife, and we won the damn Super Bowl.

What a glorious fucking day.

Hey! Looking for more? If you haven’t yet,
check out Jade and Trent’s story in Love in the Red Zone, book 1 of the Connecticut Kings Series
!

“Red Zone” is a perfect complement to “Highlight Reel”, and keeps you immersed in the world of the Connecticut Kings for another journey.

Please consider leaving reviews for both books when you’re done, to let us know what you think!
 

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