It was as if the other team was out for vengeance. Probably were. They had a fire in their bellies that couldn’t be contained and unfortunately, no one on the Hawks was feeling the same fire. Except for Nick. He was on fire, angry that the woman he was in love with didn’t feel the same.
“You’re on top of your game, though,” Jared noted, pulling Nick from his thoughts.
“Yeah, well, wish everyone else would cooperate.” Coach Walsh had just finished giving them a speech to end all speeches, trying to get across just how badly they needed this win.
The end of their playoff run was looming, creating a tense atmosphere that caused everyone to feel the pressure, including Nick, who’d spent the first half of the game playing like a crazed mother fucker.
All for nothing.
“I have a plan.” Jared studied him intently, his gaze dark, his jaw tight. “But I need your cooperation.”
Well, well. Nick was certainly intrigued. Anything to get his mind off of his fucked-up love life, if he could even call what he had with Willow a love life. A sex life, oh yeah. But he wanted more.
He wanted it all.
“I’m listening,” Nick said, keeping his voice low. This wasn’t the first time Jared had come to him with a plan, and they usually ended up running the other team ragged and winning the entire game.
“I’m going to need you to be on top of it. I know you’re tired. You’ve been running this entire time and I’ll keep you running in the second half if I have my way. But we can make this work and kick their asses. I feel it. We just need to get into a rhythm.”
“Tell me what you’re thinking,” Nick encouraged, and Jared proceeded to do exactly that. And the more Jared talked, the more Nick came on board. A team’s quarterback was usually their leader, and Jared was no exception. He was by far the best leader any team could ask for. He not only helped them all reach success with intelligent plays, he brought the team together as one cohesive unit.
He was also a nice guy and treated everyone fairly. Had a few lady problems in his past but the love of a good woman—Sheridan—straightened him up right and good. Now the bastard was on top of the world and nothing could keep him down. Not even this damn game they were losing. If he decided they were gonna win it, then damn it, the man could make it happen.
If Nick thought about it too long and hard, he could end up jealous. Jared Quinn had it all. And at this very moment, Nick felt as if he had nothing.
Once they’d gone over their plan and talked with a few other teammates, they went back out to play the second half, where they boldly ran onto that field full of confidence and scored almost immediately. It was as if every member of the Hawks finally grew their balls back and remembered how to play.
Nick reveled in the rush of his team scoring a field goal. Then out of nowhere, in a mighty struggle, they scored a touchdown. By the end of the fourth quarter, they were only one touchdown away, and the Hawks were once again in possession of the ball.
In a no-huddle offense, Jared was giving him that look. The one that said he wanted to pass the ball to Nick in the next play. The subtle nod, the flick of his head, it was all a signal Jared gave that Nick recognized immediately. Sometimes he waited anxiously for it. Other times, his gut twisted, and he worried he wouldn’t be able to catch the miracle throw that would come after Jared shouted the play call.
Well, bring it. Didn’t feel any nerves or worry over that fuckin’ ball today. He was revved up, anxious, ready to play his ass off yet again. Hell, he’d been going at maximum speed the entire game, smiling big for the fans as they cheered him on, nodding in agreement with whatever the coaches told him to do.
Scary how he didn’t have Willow in his life again and he played…better? His personal life was a wreck but his professional life was back on top. And so that meant he played a better game? Made no damn sense.
More than anything, it scared the hell out of him.
“Get your head outta your ass, Hamilton, and get ready!” Jared screamed at him as they got into position.
“Yes boss.” Nick crouched as he got into position, his brain going blank, his focus on this very moment. Jared called his play; everyone shifted and moved, the other team coming at them like they wanted to tear them apart.
Nick ran, turning so he could see Jared. The QB was poised, ready. He searched the field until he spotted Nick and then he reared his arm back, the ball sailing through the air so precisely Nick gained a few feet before he turned, his arms out and cradled, ready to catch that damn ball.
It landed in his hands as if it had a magnet nestled within and his palms were made of steel.
No one was around. Not a single damn soul, and so he took off. Headed straight down the field, the home crowd’s roaring growing louder, the roar of his own blood pounding in his ears. He picked up speed, almost afraid to glance up at the Jumbotron for fear he’d see someone was hot on his tail.
But he heard nothing except his own breaths and the rumble from the stands, and he knew he was gonna score.
Nick ran across the line and did a little victory dance, his other teammates coming at him, all of them jumping up and down in victory, slapping his ass, calling him names. Adrenaline coursed through him as he jogged off the field, high-fiving whoever held out his hand, running into Jared’s embrace, laughing as Jared clutched him close and rapped his knuckles on the side of Nick’s helmet.
“Knew you had that one, man. Fucking amazing,” Jared said, shaking his head as he stepped away.
“You’re the one who threw the ball into my hands like you knew where I was all along. How the hell do you do that shit?” Nick yanked off his helmet and grinned.
Jared shrugged, his usual modest self. “We’re a good team,” he said simply.
Hell yeah, they were.