Jaxon had more influence in the US, so he made a few calls and eventually Oliver had just about enough players to make for a decent off-season exhibition match. The big name quarterbacks were more than enough to guarantee a massive attendance, with all the ticket proceeds going to charity.
Football was far too tactical for rugby players to pick up without any training, so in the end they played with a mixture of rugby and football players on both sides, like the soccer game had been. Rugby forwards made a good fit for the offensive and defensive lines, and the backs could run and catch the ball with ease.
Shaun, Maisie, and I all sat in the stands to watch the game. Oliver played the first half, but at half time he was replaced with the kicker from the New Zealand team England had beaten in the World Cup final. The two of them appeared to be on remarkably good terms, all things considered.
Oliver came out to the pitch at half time to hold a prize drawing for a pair of tickets to the next Super Bowl. Most of the crowd applauded politely when Oliver was announced as a World Cup winner, but you could tell most people didn’t have a clue who he was.
I heard wolf-whistles from the crowd when he walked back onto the pitch in his rugby kit, so a certain section of the audience appreciated him at least.
“I’d love to go to a Super Bowl,” Maisie said. “Shaun, hurry up and get really good at football, and then get me tickets.”
“I’ve only ever watched one Super Bowl,” Shaun said. “And that was last month. I think I’m a long way from playing in one.”
“I doubt you’d like it,” I said to Shaun. “They’re incredibly over-commercialized now. It’s more about sponsors than the game these days.”
“In that case,” Maisie said. “Can I take your tickets?”
“What tickets?”
“You just won,” Maisie said, pointing to the seat number displayed on the large screens around the stadium.
I hadn’t even heard the announcement. I pulled out my ticket to make sure, but Maisie was right. I’d won.
“I can’t win,” I said. “It’ll look like it’s rigged. Oliver’s only just got out of one betting scandal. We don’t want another one.”
“Oh who cares,” Maisie replied. “Just go down there, smile, and collect the tickets, then give them to a charity auction or maybe your little sister.”
“They’re going to charity,” I said, standing up and beginning the slow descent down the long stairs.
A decent amount of the seats in the ground were empty while people stocked up on food and drink at the interval, but there were still tens of thousands watching me as I made my way down to the field.
Oliver and a camera crew walked over to my side of the field, so at least I didn’t have to trek across there in heels.
I tried to focus on Oliver’s smiling face, and pretend it was just the two of us. I’d never gotten the hang of all the fame that followed Oliver around, and having the attention focused on me was entirely foreign.
Oliver still had a microphone in his hand from when he had announced the winning number. Please don’t make me speak. Please, anything but speaking in front of all these people.
The crowd sounded a lot louder once I was down on the field, but I just about heard someone from the NFL congratulate me on my win.
Oliver passed me the envelope with the tickets and kissed me on the cheek. A photographer insisted on taking a few photos, so Oliver put his arm around me and I just about managed a smile even though I was terrified.
“Now take the tickets out of the envelope and hold them up,” the photographer ordered.
I just wanted to get this over with now, so I opened the envelope and reached inside. “It’s empty,” I said to the photographer.
“They must be in there,” he said. “Look again.”
I held the envelope open and looked inside. “I’m telling you it’s—” The envelope wasn’t empty. Nestled in the corner was something round and incredibly shiny.
I examined the diamond ring between my fingers as if it were the first ring I’d ever seen. It was certainly the first ring anyone had ever bought me, and this one looked a lot like an engagement ring.
I turned to look at Oliver, but he wasn’t next to me anymore. I looked back to the photographer but just saw Oliver on his knees in front of me.
“I know we’ve only been together eight months,” Oliver said, “but we spent eight years apart, so in my book this is long overdue. Michelle, will you marry me?”
Someone shoved a microphone in front of my face, and it was only then I realized his words had been amplified around the entire stadium. The previously empty seats were now full, and every person was eagerly awaiting my response.
None more so than Oliver. “Yes,” I replied, quietly. The microphone didn’t pick up my response, but I was crying now and couldn’t say it again. I looked into Oliver’s eyes and nodded my head vigorously.
He stood up and pushed the microphone out of the way, before placing his hand on the back of my head and pulling me towards him for a kiss.
Maisie later told me that everyone in the crowd was whistling and cheering, but I couldn’t hear anything. At that moment there was only Oliver and me. No one else.
Eventually we were encouraged to head back up to the stands so that the players could get on with the second half. I have no idea what happened. All I can remember is sitting there holding Oliver’s hand with the slight sensation of weightlessness that made me feel like I was flying.
I didn’t stop smiling for at least a week. Even when Dad tried to get in touch to congratulate me, I just kept smiling and told him he could come to the wedding if he wanted. Nothing was going to spoil my mood.
I never did get my Super Bowl tickets, though.
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The debut stepbrother romance novel from Jessica Ashe
Last week I made the biggest mistake of my life--Caiden Ramsden. He's a cocky, arrogant prick who is sleeping his way around London. I normally stay well clear of bad-boys, but he's ripped, sexy, and impossible to resist.
I'm supposed to be clever. I'm a straight A student going to the University of Cambridge. So why was I attracted to such an arsehole? I should know better.
Sleeping with him was a big mistake, but I had no idea just how big until he showed up at my house with his mom. Caiden is about to be my new stepbrother. I have to forget what happened between us, but I don't know how to get him out of my head. And I'm not sure I want to.