Intercepting Love

18. Kate

18

KATE

Cooper was on fire and the team loved it.

Every single pass he threw to my brother, Evan caught and sprinted down the field, earning us four touch downs. It was amazing and the crowd went wild.

“As much as I hate the guy, he sure can throw a football,” Luke grumbled.

Rolling my eyes, I patted him on the arm but kept my eyes on the field. I couldn’t look away from Cooper for a second. I knew we were going to win, but there was still one minute left on the clock. Anything could happen in that one minute, especially since the score was so close.

“Come on, clock, hurry up.”

When the guys broke away from their huddle, Cooper turned his head my way and kissed his fingers before placing them on the ball and pointing it toward me. Coach Joel looked back at me and raised a curious brow before grinning and shaking his head.

“I don’t know what you’ve done to him,” Joel teased, “but I like it. He hasn’t played this good … ever.”

Luke scoffed beside me and mumbled something under his breath. Things were a little weird between us, but I tried to look past his snide remarks and still have a good time. It was hard, but I was doing it.

Once the play was called, Cooper threw the ball to my brother, who caught it at the forty yard line and rushed it all the way to the end zone, deflecting the other team perfectly. The second he passed over the touchdown line, the crowd roared and got to their feet, their screams making the whole stadium shake all around us.

“I’ll be right back,” I shouted, rushing away from Luke so I could run on to the field toward my brother and Cooper.

Evan got to me first and swung me around in his arms before passing me off to Cooper. “You were amazing,” I shouted as he also swung me around.

“It was all because of you, love. You were all I could think about.”

Not caring if he was sweaty or not, I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him. “I’m so proud of you, Cooper, and I know everyone else is, too. Is your arm okay? Do you need me?”

“Kate, I always need you, but the arm is fine. I would hate for Luke to say I used my arm to take you away. I don’t want any unfair advantage when I know how to play fair.”

Smiling, I hugged him again and let go. I needed to get back to Luke so we could get ready for the party. It sucked because I knew Cooper had agreed to go with Lindsey, and I definitely didn’t trust her to keep her hands to herself. I guess you could say it was my punishment for going on a date with Luke.

“Cooper, I have to go, but I’ll see you tonight, okay? Maybe we could get together after the party?”

“You know I’m not going to pass that up,” he chimed. “Also, I need to ask you something later. It’s kind of important, so make sure you find me.”

He grabbed my hand and kissed it before letting go and getting lost into the screaming crowd. We all had a victory to celebrate.

* * *

After each and every home game, one of the players would host the after party. It just so happened that my brother was the host for the evening. Since the team had won, I knew he would go all out on the party tonight.

“Kate, are you about ready?” Luke called from downstairs.

“Yes, almost! I just have to put on my dress. Do you mind grabbing my purse out of the car? I forgot to bring it in.”

“Okay,” he hollered.

Slipping on my white, strapless sundress, I slid my feet into my white wedge sandals and flat ironed the stray pieces of hair that had turned wavy on me from this afternoon. Luke’s footsteps echoed off the walls as he climbed the stairs and met me out in the hallway.

He whistled and handed me my purse. “Wow, you look amazing in that dress.”

“Thank you,” I said, reaching into my purse to find my lip gloss. “You look mighty dapper yourself.” Wearing a pair of khaki shorts and a striped navy and white polo shirt, he had his blond hair gelled into spikes along with the devilish smirk he always wore. After I put on my lip gloss and placed it back inside my purse, I smiled and grabbed his arm. “All right, I think I’m ready to go. Have you talked to Evan?”

“Yeah, he says he procured a DJ and for us to be prepared to dance. He also asked if I would race a couple of the guys on the track for fun.”

After we got down the stairs, Luke opened up the front door and I followed him out. “What did you tell him?” I asked, locking the door. “Are you going to do it?”

My brother had a whole motocross track built in his backyard. Evan rode for the fun of it, but Luke actually went out there and practiced. “I told him I couldn’t since tonight was the only night I had for our date. I didn’t want to waste it by riding my bike. Don’t you think that would be selfish of me?”

“No,” I laughed. “I think everyone would love to watch you race with the guys. I don’t mind if you want to. I’d be happy to watch.”

He opened the door to his truck and his smile brightened. “Really? If you want me to, I will. You haven’t watched me practice in a while. Before I hurt my leg I had gotten a lot faster. I can show those football players what it’s like to compete in a real sport.”

“Whatever you do, don’t let them hear you say that,” I stated, laughing.

I’d hate to see what happened if he did.