The Beautiful Truth

** 39

He tried not to do it, but he eventually realized his resistance was futile. One look wouldn't hurt anything. Around him, his team was psyching itself up to return to the field after halftime. He only wanted to catch a glimpse of her in the stands. Anything to distract him from remembering the bullshit Coach John Winter had just spewed at them during the break. Thank God he'd be out of there soon enough.

Wait, he wasn't supposed to think of that right now. Shaking the digressing thoughts out of his mind, he inconspicuously scanned the section on the forty-yard line where his family—and the Fitzgeralds—sat. When he was sure she was there, he let himself take a good long look.

Yeah, giving her those tickets was the best Christmas present he'd ever given himself. Despite his initial inclination to hang on, he'd spent the last month trying to do the exact opposite of Kerry Fitzgerald's advice. That is, he was determined to give up on her—Sawyer was completely in love with someone that wasn't him.

He knew that. He was happy for her. Insanely jealous of that Barton Black guy, but still—happy for her. She was different, and all the better for it.

But he couldn't deny that part of him was lonesome for the old Sawyer. The one only he seemed to know. And Jason Mandrino apparently. The hell is that all about? He'd briefly considered getting Jason a ticket to the game, too, since Oklahoma'd already played their bowl, but then again, jealously got the better of him. He wasn't about to let Mandrino mack on his girl while he was down here, hard at work. He couldn't do anything about Barton, since he was in San Francisco and all, but he sure as hell could keep Jason Mandrino away while they were all three in the same state.

Again, Talyn shook his head, realizing how far his thoughts had digressed from the matter at hand. Competitiveness always got the best of him. In spite of knowing Sawyer was a lost cause, he couldn't see himself giving up any time soon. He wanted to, but he wouldn't. It wasn't in him.

She finally met his eyes and smiled. It was one of those real, unforced, warm smiles that she only gave when she wasn't thinking about it. His favorite kind.

He winked at her. Predictably she rolled her eyes. He turned back to the field, and took his place just before the start of the second half.