“So, is the popstar gonna be here today?” Atlas didn’t look up from his laces as he tightened his cleats, tugging twice to ensure they were perfect before shrugging on his pads.
“No clue. She went to LA for some award show but landed last night. I did get a good luck text,” the rookie offered, though Lamar only huffed.
“Breena got today off, so she’s up in the suites. If you hear screaming, then you know your girl is here.”
“She gonna join us for team night?”
“Nah, we’re gonna head home and order in. We don’t get a lot of time together since it’s her intern year, but I’m thinkin’ it should even out soon enough.” Atlas admired the running back’s optimism and tried to channel his own. Even if Savannah was a no-show, maybe he could still invite her to dinner after the game.
Atlas pulled his jersey over the pads, rolled his shoulders to get comfortable, and followed the boys to the stadium entrance. It was already dark out, the Tennessee air biting with the October chill, but Atlas felt like he could burst into flames with all the energy inside him. He jogged out onto the field in the middle of the pack, echoing their battle cry as the fans greeted them with cheers from the stands.
The receiver hit the sidelines with Lamar and Alex not far behind him and finally looked to the jumbotron. This time, Savannah was waving toward the camera, repping the Lightning colors with a cobalt sweater and dark grey jeans. She signed her signature heart, and the crowd roared as the camera panned.
“Graham, get your head out of your ass and get over here,” Colin barked, dragging the trio’s attention away from the screen. Alex glowered at their quarterback but kept his mouth shut as they joined the first string to watch the kickoff. The Buccaneers elected to receive the ball, so the Lightning’s defense took the field, and the game began.
The Bucs were on a winning streak, and for good reason, they had won two of the last five Super Bowls, after all. The Bucs team consisted of ginormous men, and getting through their linemen was like running into small mountains. Thankfully, Atlas had been studying film and had noticed a fundamental flaw in the New England team that could turn the game in their favor.
Their defense was strong at the line of scrimmage as they essentially created a wall that was hard to break through, but very few of their players had any speed. As long as Atlas or Alex could get downfield, the Lightning had another win for the record. It would help further boost team morale, plus it wouldn’t look bad to win in front of Savannah.
As they lined up, the Lightning offense took the field with no points on the board yet. Atlas glanced to the top of the stands but cleared his mind as the whistle blew. Alex caught a short pass at the 45-yard line and got down to the thirty before being shoved out of bounds. The second play gained the game’s first points thanks to one of the tight ends, and the team returned to the sidelines hollering.
The Bucs did not seem phased by the early lead in the slightest. They continued to fight the Lightning’s defense for every inch but had to settle for a field goal at the twenty-five-yard line. As the first quarter winded down, Atlas realized he had not received the ball on any of their four drives. He didn’t want to assume the worst this early on, so he kept quiet to see how the next quarter would play out.
Unfortunately, Atlas had assumed correctly. Colin was again ignoring him, and Alex caught on after two failed drives. The blond dragged him aside after the Bucs gained possession of the ball and motioned toward their quarterback.
“He’s doing it again, ain’t he?”
“I think so?” Atlas obviously didn’t know for sure.
“You’ve been open on the last three plays. He’s doing it on purpose,” Alex swore, his eyes dark and brows furrowed with irritation that Atlas understood.
In the locker room, Atlas murmured with Alex during half-time, all while eyeing Colin as he conversed casually with some of the coaches like he wasn’t the problem. The rookie bit into a protein bar with more force than necessary, barely tasting it as he mindlessly chewed and swallowed. Atlas hoped that the coaches could talk some sense into the quarterback. Colin didn’t have to like Atlas, but they needed to make it through this season. The veteran quarterback wasn’t just ruining his career but his friends’ as well.
The Lightning were trailing by ten at the start of the second half, and the fans were getting antsy. They weren’t alone as the offense retook the field, each player thrumming with anticipation for the next two quarters. The first drive had Atlas open at the Buc’s thirty-yard line, but Colin waited too long and barely recovered the ball.
Alex was in the quarterback’s face before Atlas could get there. The blond grabbed Colin by his jersey and yanked him close, swearing until the rookie dragged him off with a muttered curse of his own. Atlas pushed his friend away from the others and smacked his helmet until he focused, going as far as snapping his fingers in the older man’s face. Alex struggled in his hold for another minute but eventually settled for glaring.
“You need to keep it together, dude,” Atlas hissed, keeping his hand on the blond’s shoulder. “You’re no good if you’re ridin’ the bench.” Alex’s nostrils flared as he eyed Colin and then visibly deflated.
“He’s no good. He’s sabotaging all of us, Atlas!”
“I get it, but Coach Taylor’s on his ass, so all we can do now is play. You gonna run off if I let you go?” The older man seemed to debate briefly but then shook his head. Atlas removed his hand slowly and then shoved Alex toward his side of the field. The rookie moved toward his position and listened to Colin grudgingly call the next play.
The Bucs’ cornerback was on Atlas after five yards, grabbing the shoulders of his jersey as he tried to rip out of the man’s grasp. He saw Lamar zipping through the open slot he left behind at the same time his defender did, so Atlas leaned back with all his weight until they toppled to the grass. The rookie grunted at the impact and sucked in a grateful breath when the defender clambered off of him. The Lightning were still down by three as they returned to the sidelines, but the boys were in better spirits after a touchdown.
Atlas went to join Lamar and Alex at the first bench, but Coach Taylor stopped him with a wave.
“I’m sorry about Alex, Coach. I’ll try and keep a better eye on him,” the rookie said, hoping the older man wasn’t too upset when he snorted.
“You’re not Daniels’ keeper; I’ll deal with him later.” Atlas prayed for his friend. “I know there’s been issues between you and Colin, but I thought you two came to an understanding after the second game. What’s going on, kid?”
“Honestly, Coach, I don’t know what his problem is. I get that he didn’t like a rookie talking down to him, but I don’t understand why he’d tank our chances at the Super Bowl over it,” the young man said, keeping his voice low enough for only the coach to hear. “I don’t care to apologize if that’s what it takes.” It would be bitter and empty, but Atlas would do it if it meant winning.
“No, you all are meant to hold each other accountable regarding performance. Colin has been warned of the consequences if he keeps up his current behavior, so hopefully, we won’t have any issues from here on,” Coach stated, aiming a sharp look toward the player in question.
“Yes, sir.”
“Good, get ready to hit the field and get us a win, son.” Atlas nodded and returned to his friends to watch the defense keep the Bucs at bay. The D-line kept their opponent near the center of the field, but one of the Lightnings’ cornerbacks dove for an interception at their 45. The rookie roared alongside the crowd as the refs called the turnover and tightened his helmet with a determined grin.
“Good luck,” Landon called out as the defense switched out, and Atlas shot him two thumbs up. Hopefully, he thought, Landon would join us soon, eying Colin as he dropped into position. As the play was called, the receiver took a slow breath and took off at the whistle. Atlas clashed with the defender before him, shoving with all his might until he was free, but Alex had already caught the ball ten yards down.
Atlas clapped for his friend as they moved to the new line of scrimmage, the endzone only 35 yards away, and the next play began. The rookie took off in a straight line, stiff-armed the cornerback until he fell back to the turf, and put on the juice. He looked over his shoulder as he took a sharp turn toward the Lightnings’ sideline and booked it as Colin launched the ball. Atlas’ muscles ached as he hit the fifteen-yard line, but he pushed himself as he twisted his body to catch the football.
The leather landed in his hands with a satisfying slap, and the rookie straightened up to sprint for the endzone. The defenders were close, but Atlas was faster, hitting the paint with a whooping cry. The Lightning fans went crazy as he made his own signature move, and the young man looked up to the jumbotron at Alex’s urging. Savannah was cheering wildly with the other guests in the suites, high-fiving Lamar’s girlfriend, Breena with matching grins. He couldn’t stop the smile from forcing its way to his lips.
“A twenty-yard reception for the Lightning by Atlas Graham, and he took it all the way to the endzone to make the game 21-17,” Tim reported, the grin evident in his voice. “The Lightning have regained the lead ten minutes into the third quarter.”
“The game’s not over yet,” Mark reminded his co-host. “They better not get too comfortable.”
Fortunately, the Lightning had found their stride. Their defense was as sharp as ever, with two sacks in the next drive that had the Bucs’ QB limping off the field. Alex and Atlas had four touchdowns between them by the end of the game, the final score being 48 to 23, a knock-out despite the late start.
The boys were riding a high as they celebrated their third win of the season, and Atlas felt like he was walking on air as they hit the showers. The rookie dressed while waiting for his friends, slipping into a pair of blue jeans and donning a loose white tee. His leather jacket came next to brave the night air, and finally, he opened his phone.
Savannah: Nice catch
Atlas: Which one?
The bubbles popped up almost immediately.
Stolen story; please report.
Savannah: Yeah yeah, you know you’re good
Atlas: Never hurts to hear it :)
Savannah: Well, hear it in person
I’m waiting by the exit
Big security guards, can’t miss ‘em
His heart stopped in his chest, and he barely resisted the urge to sprint out of the locker room. Instead, he anxiously paced by the door while his friends finished in the showers. Atlas yelled for Alex to hurry once Landon and Lamar had exited, the blond coming out a minute later with a glare on his face. It was hard to take seriously when he looked like a wet dog, though.
“Why are you rushing us? The restaurant isn’t going anywhere,” Alex grumbled.
“Savannah’s waiting at the exit.” All three turned to stare at Atlas for a second and then sprung into action. They dressed faster than expected and then hurried him out of the locker room, shoving the rookie receiver down the hall with girlish giggles.
As they rounded the corner, Atlas heard cameras snapping and knew he was close. He looked around the room until he spotted the security guards she had mentioned, and between them was Savannah. She was tapping absently at her phone but looked up as the four neared.
“Hey, guys, great game today,” she greeted, her pink lips quirked upward in a small smile. “Any plans to celebrate another win?”
Alex jumped in before Atlas could find the words.
“Absolutely, and you’re invited, Ms. Summers. My wife would kill me if I didn’t at least offer,” he said, opening his arms with a dramatic half-bow.
“I wish I could, but I don’t really get a lot of privacy when I go out,” Savannah replied quietly, though her eyes remained on Atlas as she spoke.
“Oh, we rent out an entire place since there are so many of us,” Alex explained, still smiling. “It’d be way too much for our team to just show up anywhere, so we always do closed-off dinners. Your security team is also more than welcome to stay with you to make sure nothing happens.” The popstar worried her lip between her teeth and then looked over her shoulder at the largest man guarding her back.
“Would that be okay, George?” The mountain-sized man looked down at the woman and then at Atlas.
“What’s the venue?”
“Uh, Nolan, sir. The Italian restaurant about five minutes from here?” George seemed to converse silently with his two coworkers and then nodded.
“One of us will be with Ms. Summers while the other two will cover the exits to ensure no party crashers get in. Is that agreeable with you, ma’am?”
“Of course, George, thank you,” she said, patting the man’s shoulder with a grateful nod. “Would you guys like a ride?” Everyone but Lamar agreed, who only gave the singer an apologetic shrug.
“My girl and I have plans; otherwise, we’d be joinin’ you guys,” the running back explained. Atlas could have sworn her eyes sparkled with mischief for a second.
“Oh, Breena, right?” Lamar seemed surprised by the star knowing his girlfriend’s name but recovered quick.
“Yeah, that’s her.”
“She was very happy for you tonight; you’re a lucky guy,” Savannah stated simply, and all three watched the young man visibly melt.
“I know,” Lamar agreed, and Atlas met the singer’s eyes for a split second before looking away. “Bree’s a huge fan of yours, by the way, but I’m sure you coulda guessed that. I hope she didn’t talk your ear off.”
“Not at all! In fact, I’m afraid I couldn’t shut up. Breena mentioned being a surgical intern, so of course I had to ask if she’d watched Ray’s Anatomy,” Savannah commented, which gained a low groan from Lamar.
“I’m never gonna hear the end of that show,” he muttered, though the quirk of his lips betrayed his words. “Well, anyways, I appreciate you talkin’ to her. You’re welcome in our stadium anytime.” Atlas could see those words meant something to the woman as she glanced to the side, but he had no time to question it as Alex began herding them outside to the idling cars.
Atlas took the lead with the blond by his side, and they shoved the doors open to be greeted by a barrage of flashes. He knew that no one could possibly get through the three guards and players, but he still looked over his shoulder at her as they walked.
“All good?” The rookie mouthed.
“This is nothing,” Savannah smirked. Atlas chuckled to himself and turned forward again, donning a charming smile as he and the others waved for the paparazzi.
They reached the car, and he pulled the door open like his father taught him and waited while Alex and Landon slid into the third row. George went next, and then Savannah, leaving Atlas to her left. They were shoulder to shoulder, a comforting pressure as the driver eased into the traffic flow. Atlas replied to his parent’s texts for the short ride to Nolan, smiling softly as he read through their praise and congratulations, but blushed when his father mentioned a certain redhead. The rookie shoved his phone into his pocket, face hot, and hoped Savannah hadn’t taken a peek at his screen.
The street was already filled with other cars, and Atlas spotted several of his teammates and their significant others entering the building. The driver pulled up to the curb, and the group waited to disembark until two guards had taken up position and opened the door. Atlas noticed that there were significantly fewer paparazzi outside but knew it wouldn’t last long with Savannah’s unplanned attendance.
The young man stepped to the side, offering his arm to Savannah without a second thought, and looked around cautiously until George joined them. Landon and Alex trailed behind them to wait on the blond’s wife but waved the others to go ahead without them. George remained a few strides behind Savannah as they walked into Nolan, but the other two dispersed to stand by the door and bar.
As they meandered through the restaurant, Atlas greeted his teammates with handshakes and grins. A few people couldn’t hide their awe in front of Savannah, but he was glad everyone kept their cool for the most part. The trio found a quieter spot near the back with room for his friends to join, where George stood a few feet away to give them the illusion of privacy, but he was still close enough if needed. A server was at their table within minutes of them getting settled, an older lady with a kind smile, so the pair ordered their drinks while they waited.
“Do you drink often?” Savannah inquired after the other woman retreated.
“I would say no. I usually only indulge after a game or if I’m going out with a friend. I don’t really like anything that dulls my senses,” Atlas shrugged. “I have a bottle of rum my dad got me on my 21st that I never opened, but I don’t keep anything else in my apartment.”
“I didn’t really have the option of a traditional 21st celebration because of the PR. You know, getting blackout drunk with my friends at some bar, but I had already been drinking long before then,” the singer explained in a conspiratorial whisper. “Most European countries have the liquor age at eighteen or even sixteen, so I’ve been trying different cocktails since my first tour.”
“What were your usual choices?” The redhead tapped her nail against her chin as the server returned, and a familiar martini sat before him. “Espresso martini, right?”
“Mhm, my mom’s favorite, so it was actually the first one I tried when I was seventeen,” Savannah admitted, leaning forward to take a sip. “My palette has expanded since then, though. Sidecars, Cosmos, Amaretto Sours, and Negronis were a popular choice. I do like a good daiquiri if I’m on the beach, though.”
“I typically stick to the same things,” Atlas remarked, counting them off on his fingers. “Rum Old Fashion, Long Island, Jack and Coke, or a Lemon Drop shot if it’s a party setting.”
“I’ll have to expand your palette then,” Savannah joked, her nails clicking against the stem of her glass. “I’ll have you know, I took a bartending class once.” The rookie leaned forward, keeping his elbows off the table, and grinned.
“So, what I’m hearin’ is you’ll make the drinks if I cook?” She seemed to contemplate for a minute but then nodded.
“Sounds like a fair trade to me, Mr. Graham.” His friends chose that moment to join them, Landon awkwardly walking a few paces behind Alex and his wife. Atlas moved to sit beside the popstar after she gestured him over and pushed menus toward the newcomers.
“We already got our drinks, but I’m sure the server will be back in a second,” the rookie said. “I’m definitely gonna grab some food for the table too. I’m starving.”
“Hard to imagine after running around for two hours,” Savannah commented, looking up at him through her lashes as she sipped her drink innocently.
“Careful, or I won’t share,” he warned, but his smile betrayed his words.
“Shut up, Atlas, I gotta make introductions,” Alex stated abruptly, giving an overly dramatic eye roll.
“Be my guest.”
“I’m Alex Daniels, and this is my better half, Kayla,” the senior receiver began, gesturing to his wife. “The gentle giant beside me is Landon Smith, a man of few words.” The kid waved politely to Savannah.
“Nice to meet you all,” the pop star said, her tone sounding genuine, at least to Atlas. Though, he acknowledged he might be a bit biased.
“We’re glad you could join us,” Kayla spoke, a kind smile gracing her lips. “Atlas talks about you all the time.” The young man nearly slammed his head against the wall as his entire body flushed, but a weight on his knee made him pause. Atlas stared down at where Savannah’s hand rested on the denim as she laughed and then looked away only to meet Alex’s eyes. The blond was beaming too arrogantly for the rookie’s taste, so he gave him a gentle kick under the table as their server returned.
With drinks and food ordered, the group began to talk amongst themselves. Savannah had drawn Kayla into a conversation about her necklace while the boys talked about some of the latest video games and movies they were waiting for. Atlas enjoyed the chance to relax after their week of practice, and Savannah beside him was just an added bonus. As they ate, he could see the reporters outside the windows, but he paid them no mind. The popstar didn’t seem to notice them or was adept at ignoring them, so Atlas just focused on the good atmosphere instead.
It was nearing one am when the team began to trickle out of the restaurant in small groups. Atlas muffled a yawn behind his hand and leaned closer to the redhead as she checked her phone for the first time since they arrived.
“I’m ready to go if you are,” he murmured, nodding toward the door.
“I probably should,” Savannah replied, though she didn’t seem too inclined to leave until he slid out of the booth.
“I’ll see you guys on Tuesday,” Atlas said to Jordan and Alex before turning to Kayla. “Great to see you as always. Hope you get to join us at next week’s game.”
“Bye, Atlas; you guys get home safe,” Landon called out as the pair left the table, and they both waved goodbye before hitting the door. Savannah grabbed Atlas to wait for the other two guards to take up their formation, her touch hot through the leather, and pointed to her waiting car.
“Want a ride home?” He debated briefly as he had just planned to walk but then agreed since it meant more time with the singer. Atlas rattled off his address once they were inside the SUV and settled back for the short ride.
“You know,” Savannah broke the silence when they arrived at his building. “I’m glad you invited me tonight; I had a lot of fun.”
“I’m happy you could join,” he stated softly, looking away from the window to stare at her. “I know it’s not easy for you to just go out anywhere, so I’m glad that everything went alright. And that everyone was on their best behavior.”
“Your team has been nothing but polite,” Savannah swore. “Kayla even said I’m welcome to join her next week.”
“So, I’ll be seeing you on Sunday?” He asked, trying not to sound too hopeful even as she grinned playfully.
“I guess we’ll see, Mr. Graham.” Atlas slid out of the car and leaned down to smile at her before he closed the door.
“I look forward to it, Ms. Summers.”