Fourth Down (Portland Pioneers 1)

After greeting Aiden’s wife, Haley, and Peyton and Noah, Peyton links arms with me, and we follow Noah into the restaurant. He talks to the host and then comes to sit down next to us. “Is it going to rain on Sunday?” he asks.

“Nope,” I say, shaking my head. “I’m going to be there.”

Peyton’s eyes go wide. “You’re coming to the game?”

Her excitement is infectious. My head nods so fast my hair whips me in the face. “Lisette told me earlier that I’m doing the coin toss.”

“Aiden, did you set this up?” Peyton asks him.

“No, it must've come from the team.”

“I’ll make sure you get an on the field media pass,” Noah says. “Normally, they’ll usher you off the field, and that’s it. This way, you can hang with Aiden or Peyton.”

“Yeah, Peyton can teach you all about football,” Haley says.

Everyone laughs, and I somehow missed the inside joke among friends. “Okay, what am I missing?”

Haley waves her hand. “Peyton has tried to teach me, and still to this day, I know nothing. Noah throws the ball, someone—hopefully from the Pioneers—catches it. That’s all I got.”

The host calls our party, and we follow him to our table among hushed whispers. Noah’s name, as well as Aiden’s and mine, are said as we pass by. We’re seated in a corner, far from anyone but not far enough away from the stares.

“Does this get easier?” I ask.

“Nope,” Noah says. “Peyton and I grew up with this because of our fathers. We learned early on to ignore it.”

“Your dad is so hot,” Haley says with a sigh. Aiden elbows her, and she shrugs. “It’s the truth.”

“I hated it when I was younger,” Peyton adds. “I used to get so jealous if someone spoke to my dad or if a little kid came up to him. We used to go to Disneyworld a lot when we were younger, and there was always a crowd. Mostly women, throwing themselves at my dad or my uncles. It was annoying.”

“How did your moms cope?” I ask Peyton and Noah.

“Well, my parents have a long . . .” Noah pauses and looks at Peyton before continuing. “Someday, I’ll tell you about my parents. For right now, let’s just say, my mom didn’t handle it well in the beginning.”

“Okay,” I say, dragging the word out.

Peyton smiles. “These days, my mom doesn’t care. But it wasn’t always this way.” It’s apparent by the way she hangs her head that she doesn’t want to talk about her family. I get it. I’m sure I’d be the same way if my family were uber-famous.

After dinner, Aiden and I head back to the studio for the eleven o’clock set. Lisette finds me in my dressing room changing into my work outfit. She shows me her phone. On it, a picture of the five of us at dinner.

“People are intrusive.”

“Viewers are curious,” she corrects me. “You’re always on, even when you’re not, which is why I tell you to keep your blinds closed at home unless you want someone and their high-powered telescope looking into your bedroom.”

“I didn’t have these problems in Dickinson,” I point out. “No one cared.”

“You’re young and beautiful,” she tells me. “You’re going to attract all sorts. Just be careful.”

“We should be able to use my growing popularity to our advantage, right? Like, fundraisers and such.”

“We can.”

“Let’s do it. I’ll work extra if it means we’re raising money for the children’s wing at the hospital, the science centers, and the museums. This would also allow me to be out, meeting the people of the Rose City.”

“I like the way you think, Autumn. I’ll talk to Leon.”

Leon loved my idea to have Lisette book me for as many social events as possible, and while the coin toss for the Pioneers wasn’t on our list of ideas, I’m happy to be at the stadium. The PR rep for the team sent over a welcome bag, complete with gear for me to wear for the game. I opted for a shirt to go with my jeans and flats and decided to braid my hair into a mermaid tail.

When I arrive at the stadium, the PR team greets me. They give me a tour of the stadium, show me where I can rest, get something to eat if I need some space away, and direct me to Peyton’s office.

“Wow,” I say when I walk in. She smiles and comes over to hug me. “What is it that you do here again?”

“Player analysis. I break down the game, point out the weaknesses, the abilities, and pinpoint where the players and coaching staff need to make adjustments.”

“So, what you’re saying is you’re the boss around here?”

Peyton laughs. “Not even close. The players and coaches don’t have to listen, but normally they do. I spend a lot of time watching game films and comparing our players against the team we’re playing on Sunday. If I can expose a weakness on either side, we’re better for it.”