Wyatt answers all the questions lobbed at him with grace.
“Out of these three great players, who would you cut, start, and bench?” one asks.
“Do you think athletes or rappers have better jewelry?” follows the other.
We move through them, trying not to step on any landmines. Most of the reporters ignore me, like I’m just arm candy. Which is fine by me, even though I knew exactly who I would have started, cut, and benched.
Finally,finally,we reach the end of the road—er, the carpet—and are ushered inside to find our seats.
One hurdle cleared, countless more to come.
Chapter Seventeen
WYATT
Every five steps someone stops us to say hello, making it feel like it takes one-million years to get to our seats. My dress shoes are squeezing the life out of my feet, and I’m damn ready to sit down.
We greet player after player, coaches, and wives. The onslaught does not stop until we are literally at the entrance to our row. I guide Nash ahead of me with a hand on her lower back and we collapse into our seats.
“I think the hard part is over,” I whisper to her, so close I can smell the sweet scent of the shampoo she uses. “Now we just have to sit here and listen.”
“Until it’s your turn,” she says.
I nod. “Then it’s show time.”
She crinkles her brow at me, giving me a look. “What’s that supposed to mean.”
I tilt my head like a curious puppy hearing a funny noise. Coming with me to this event was her idea. “The whole reason you’re here—my speech.” I realize how that sounds and sputter, “I mean, I would want you here no matter what. I’mso glad you’re here. I would have thanked you in my speech anyway. It’s just better that you’re with me.”
Everything is better when you’re with me.
A small smile splits her glossy lips, and I have to hold onto the armrest of my chair to keep from launching myself at her and giving us a redo on our kiss. “What are best friends for?” she says, not realizing it’s the lightning bolt needed to kill my inner thoughts. I suck in a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart.
Finally, the lights dim.
The NFL Honors is not like the Emmys or the Grammys. Lady Gaga isn’t here in a meat dress to pump up the party, and no one is going to interrupt the MVP winner’s speech. Overall, the vibe reminds me of trying not to fall asleep in a pew on Sunday morning growing up. Nash and I sit shoulder to shoulder, and I’m hyperaware of her presence. I thought it would go away after a couple weeks of her being permanently home, but it’s not dissipated one bit. I think it’s my new normal.
We listen to variations of the same speech as everyone who wins thanks their wife and their parents and their teams. After we make it through the bulk of the speeches, it’s time to start fully paying attention again.
Unlike MVP, where the winner doesn’t know if they’ve won until their name gets called, the Sack Leader Award automatically goes to whoever had the most sacks on the quarterback during the season—which was me.
“With a total of eighteen-and-a-half sacks and twenty-seven quarterback hits, the winner of this year’s Deacon Jones Sack Leader Award is…” The emcee pulls a card out of a small envelope and reads, “Wyatt Vandergriff, Houston Hurricanes.”
The crowd cheers politely as I rise and move through theaisle toward the stage. I shake hands with the previous year’s winner as he hands me the trophy. It’s heavy and the metal feels cold in my hands. I turn toward the microphone and look out over the crowd as best I can with the stage lights blinding me.
“Thank you,” I clear my throat. “It’s an honor to receive this award. First, I would like to thank my coaches and my team. This would not be possible without the rest of the defense. They make my job easier and my days more fun. I’d like to thank my parents who instilled their farmer’s work ethic in me. And lastly,” my eyes search the audience for Nash, “I would like to thank my girlfriend, Nash. As a fellow athlete, you’re able to support me in a way no one else can, and as a member of the inaugural Houston Moons women’s professional volleyball team, you inspire me. It was brave of you to leave your family and play overseas, and it shows your courage to return and play in an unproven league. I know that you will soar to great heights here, and I think if you wanted to, it would be possible for you to brighten the stars on your way to hang the moon. I look forward to many more years together.” I hoist the trophy over my head in salute. “Thank you.”
When Nash throws her arms around me as I sit back in my seat, I can’t help but feel like that speech felt a little too true.
Chapter Eighteen
NASH
I excuse myself to the ladies’ room so I can check if I accidentally ruined my mascara with the rogue tear that slipped loose during Wyatt’s speech. Something about seeing your best friend in the whole world say such amazing things about you in front of America… It’s got me feeling some type of way. But it’s literally what I asked him to do. Part of our deal was that he go up there and announce that he was my boyfriend. He was just acting the doting partner like he was supposed to. He’s not one to break a promise, either.
I’m washing my hands when a small voice pipes up next to me. “Miss Nash?”
I turn, shaking the water off my hands before reaching for a paper towel, and see a girl, probably around eight, with a sparkly periwinkle dress on and silver Mary Janes. Her hands are clasped nervously in front of her. “That’s me.” My smile is friendly.