Only One Chance (Only One 2)

The whole team is staying at the hotel tonight. I walk into the hotel, and there is movement everywhere. People are everywhere, and when I check in, I try to make it out of the lobby before someone sees me.

Three hours later, I’m slipping on a suit jacket and making my way downstairs. The ballroom is decorated in the team colors, and there are hats all around the room. The music is already pumping, and the kids are running around free. I spot a couple of people I know and say hello, then walk over to the bar where I order a water.

“Hey.” I hear from beside me, and see that it’s Becca.

“Hey, yourself,” I say, leaning in and kissing her cheek. “You look nice.”

“Do I?” she says, looking down at her black dress. “It’s a big night.”

“It’s a big week,” I say to her.

“You ready for tomorrow?” she asks, and I nod my head.

“As ready as I’ll ever be,” I tell her, and she smiles.

“Perfect,” she says, grabbing a glass of champagne from a passing waiter. “Now if you will excuse me, I see Nico.” She smirks at me. “I love ruffling his feathers.”

I shake my head. Becca is known to be cutthroat, and she doesn’t care whose balls she has to squeeze in order to get the best contract for her player. It’s why she’s got the best client list around.

I watch her walk away and then see Manning coming my way. “You look like you’re in a great mood.” I laugh when he glares.

He looks around to make sure we are alone. “She booked a room for our son to sleep in by himself.” He shakes his head. “The kid is seven.” He orders a water, and the two of us stand here watching the room get fuller as the minutes go by. “We should mingle,” he says, and I nod, pushing away from the bar and stopping when I see four of the rookies together.

“Are you boys staying out of trouble?” I ask them, and they just smirk at me. I remember what it’s like to be them. They are thinking about the game tomorrow, but they are also thinking about banging most of the girls here. Looking around, I see so many girls all of a sudden when a blonde comes over our way.

“Oh, shit.” I hear Patrick say, then he looks at me. “I’m so sorry.”

I don’t have time to ask him what he means by that because the girl is right beside me. “Miller, this is my sister, Kimberly,” he says to me. “She is your biggest fan.”

I smile at the girl in front of me, and her face lights up. “I am,” she says to me. “I mean, my brother is good and all, but he’s not the best.”

“Kimberly,” Patrick says. “I’m right here.”

I laugh now and hold out my hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Kimberly.”

“I should get a picture,” Patrick says. “Do you mind?”

“No, of course not,” I say, but I really do mind. Suddenly, I want to get out of here, but she puts her hand around my waist, and I don’t move. I pose for the picture, and then she turns to look at me after.

“Thank you so much for the picture,” she says. “You are having a great year.”

“It’s been great so far,” I say. “Now, let’s hope we can beat Nashville tomorrow.”

“I have no doubt you will,” she says. “I’m sorry about my little brother,” she says, and I laugh.

“He thought by telling you that you were my favorite, it would embarrass me.” She laughs now. “I bet him fifty dollars that I would ask you to dance.” I look at her. “I actually bet them all fifty bucks.” She points back at her brother and his four friends.

I laugh now. “You did what?”

She shrugs. “I wasn’t going to let them tease me without egging them on. I know this is totally awkward, and I’m sorry, but would you dance with me? Even if it’s for half a song.” I take a deep breath. “It’s two hundred dollars.”

“Sure,” I say, walking to the dance floor. I put my hand around her waist and look over at the guys with their mouth hanging open. “You boys better pay the lady.” They all groan, and I chuckle.

I feel eyes looking at me as I turn around on the dance floor and listen to Kimberly tell me about her work. My eyes fly up, and I see her just looking at me. My heart fills my whole chest as I take her in. My feet don’t move now as I stand mesmerized by her. She is more beautiful than she is in my dreams. She looks like she lost weight, and I wonder if she’s been sick. Her gold sparkly skirt hugs her hips. The white long-sleeve shirt is tucked into the skirt. She lifts her hand to say hello to me and smiles at me, but the smile doesn’t reach her eyes.