Two Minute Drill (Bases Loaded Jam Series #2)

Ch. 42: Facemask (Brett)

The next few weeks brought out the best of both worlds for myself both on and off the field. On the field, I watched as the team I built clinched both a playoff spot following a 34-3 win over the New York Giants and received a Christmas gift by winning the division title again after beating Jacksonville 30-20. We then barely edged out the Pittsburgh Steelers, who were looking for a spot in the playoffs 16-6 at their place and already were looking like a team destined to win it all.

The only drama that remained for the season was where we would be seeded. All season long, we were battling the Las Vegas Raiders for homefield advantage throughout the playoffs and we were one game behind them. What was at stake for the last game was critical for us. Whoever finished in first place in the conference got a luxorious reward of having a bye week in the wild card round of the playoffs while the other six teams that qualified would play each other. The lowest seeded team to emerge in that round would face the conference top seed in the divisional round.

It all boiled down to the final week of the season. We were scheduled to face our rival Tennessee Titans at home and they were in the playoff hunt as well. All they needed was to beat us and they would be in the playoffs. Las Vegas was hosting Denver, who were also in the playoff hunt and trying to hold off Pittsburgh for the final AFC spot. If Denver defeated Las Vegas  and we defeated the Titans, we would be the top seed in the conference. There was a lot at stake for the final week.

There was also a lot at stake going on off the field as well. While I was enjoying the success of winning on the field, my personal life was becoming a bit hectic. Because of me being the general manager for a winning franchise and because I was becoming more of an inspiration to all future female leaders in the world, I was suddenly becoming more of a celebrity.

I was featured on TV segments for entertainment channels, magazines, and I even had a feature done on me in a business magazine. All of a sudden, my while world was starting to be consumed by the deadly sin I like to call fame. Instead of talking about football, my whole life became about me as a woman in the industry. There's nothing wrong with that, but I don't like to be reminded of this.

On top of that, the Christmas season was nothing but straight on shit. In a building with a lot of people where mostly everyone is treated like family, unless you included the janitor who had been with the franchise since the beginning, I was the only one that didn't have anything as far as romantic. As someone who was a sucker for Hallmark Channel Christmas movies, I never had romance in my life.

Luke was still busy with the Cowboys and he was visiting his family as they were making a trip overseas to Finland. So, I was without anyone. But I didn't complain. I was going to be bringing my parents to my place for Christmas and we would be in each other's company. Still, I was really struggling with missing that special someone for me to be with.

It was also really tough on me seeing Scout feeling happy with Theresa. I should be feeling happy for him, but I wasn't. He was already planning out Christmas with her and from what I was hearing, Scout was giving her some ridiculously expensive gift. Whatever it was, that should be saved for someone you're married to.

Scout seemed to be excited before New Year's eve as he and Theresa were set to attend this gala downtown to celebrate the new year. Also attending was Kendra and her boyfriend Rick. Guess who didn't have a date that night? Yours truly.

I was really upset over not having anyone, certainly not Luke, as a date. I don't know why, but the feeling of being left alone was really starting to take its toll on me. I guess I was in dire need of feeling loved or at least having someone by my side in that stretch. While I was invited to also be at this gala, I was not going to go by myself. So, I decided to bring a date myself and I knew just who to bring.