Time Is All We Need

Chapter 10

Emily went back into work, still high off the holidays. Every new year, her resolution was the same; have a higher success rate of solving her cases. Granted, it was a couple weeks in of the new year, but she was still peppy and happy to work.

She was a little disappointed that Christmas was officially over. It was her favorite holiday, merely because of the feeling she got during this particular holiday. Christmas always made her feel so warm, and uplifted.

Of course her coworkers were always a little grumpy after coming back from the holidays, but a few joined in on Emily's resolution for the new year. Toby was the main supporter, but a few of his friends also joined in on their little "pact."

She was still feeling sore from their championship game yesterday. Once again they were playing Ravenswood, so James and a few of his teammates were headhunting for the brunette.

"Hey kid, it's gonna be a loooooong night." James snickered, laughing with his teammates.

If anything, this was her least favorite aspect of the game. The trash talk. Sure, James was a mediocre player, but his game wasn't that good. He was just very physical at the line of scrimmage and when he was going for a ball himself. She knew he was too physical, to the point where he should have been flagged, but that's how lots of people played.

She waited for the snap of the ball, her head craned towards the ball. She knew James was playing soft coverage against her, but it was a run play anyway. At the snap she took off and engaged in a block. He jabbed his elbow into Emily's side, pushing off her to tackle the ball carrier.

"Better call something through the air, kid can't block for shit!"

On second down, Toby called a slant and go for Emily. Emily beat James on the double move, she was at a free run to the end zone. Toby threw the ball, high and a little farther than it needed to be. Emily jumped and the ball skimmed the tips of her fingers, still sailing in the air. Emily just landed on the ground when she was met with a firm shoulder meeting with her side.

She fell to the turf with a thud. Every muscle in her body throbbed. She could feel someone standing over her, and she could guess pretty easily who it was. She got up gingerly and walked back to the huddle, not even giving James the time of day.

Now facing a third and long, they were forced to go with another pass. Toby called the play, normally one where Emily didn't get the ball. The tight end ran a post route that was always wide open. Even though she figured she wasn't getting the ball, she still ran her route hard. It was something her dad told her she must do. "Run like you're getting the ball every play, because you never know when you are going to get it," he'd always say.

Emily was running a crossing route, she had good separation on James. She was surprised to see Toby look off the tight end and throw her the ball. She secured it, tucked it into her chest, and turned up field. She was on a short route, no more than four yards, so she needed a little extra push to get the first down. She stuck her left arm out, stiff arming the man running at her, in an attempt to keep James from tackling her short of the sticks.

James tackled her, but she had just enough for the first down.

"Is that little blonde bimbo of yours tiring you out? Man, I'll take her off your hands."

She was still filled with rage at his comments, but she knew he was just doing it to get under her skin. She got the last laugh, and her only laugh of the night, by beating his team. The chief was going to decide what fund they would donate the year's money intake to.