Returning to the chateau after such a beautiful evening with a welcome respite from the noise and the crowd. not that Alexandra didn't have a beautiful and nearly magical time at the stunning Jazz club. However, she wanted to be alone with Jeremy.
They headed to the bedroom amid playful banter and kissing. The evening had been so perfectly romantic that neither wanted it to end.They eased back onto the bed soft laughter claiming their breath. " That was amazing, " Alex said looking up at the ceiling and taking in the soft silence of the room. " I wish I could let you listen to some of my favorite Jazz. I don't want the night to be over just yet. "" You can, " Jeremy replied. " I would love to hear something that you truly love. I've always felt that music says so much about a person. I'd love for you to share that with me. You can connect to my sound system if you want. "She nodded eagerly and pulled out her phone, a few gestures on the touchThe Montana sky was a cathedral of blue and gold, the mountains still crowned with snow. The wedding lodge outside Dillon was alive with energy, laughter, and the kind of nerves that only come when everything is about to change. For one weekend, the Cannibals and Wolves—rivals, friends, family—had gathered to witness a union that felt like the closing of one era and the uncertain, trembling start of another.Jeremy stood on the porch, best man’s boutonniere pinned to his lapel, watching the wind ripple through the wildflowers. His mind spun with the Talons’ offer, the future with Alex, and the weight of promises made and yet to be kept. The sound of the river below, the distant laughter inside, and the sharp mountain air all seemed to sharpen the moment, making everything feel more real—and more fragile.A Wedding in the MountainsThe rehearsal dinner was a riot of stories and toasts, old teammates ribbing each other, and Lloyd—usually the embodiment of calm—fu
The Mississippi dusk was thick with the promise of rain. In the old house on the edge of Oxford, the air was heavy with memories, and the porch light cast a golden haze over the battered swing where Jeremy and Thomas sat, a bottle of bourbon between them. The world outside was alive with the hum of cicadas, but inside, the house was a minefield of old wounds and unspoken truths.Jeremy lifted his glass, the bourbon catching the last rays of sun. Before he could take a sip, Alexandra’s silhouette appeared in the kitchen window. She paused, arms folded, her eyes sharp and unyielding. Jeremy felt the weight of her stare, and for a moment, the glass in his hand felt like a stone.Thomas noticed. He let out a low, knowing chuckle. “She ever get onto you about drinking?”Jeremy nodded, setting his glass down without tasting it. “Yeah. She does. I’m careful, always. Never out of control. But she watches me, like she’s waiting for something to go wrong. I never re
Denver was a city transformed. The Cannibals’ championship parade wound through downtown, confetti raining from office windows, children waving black, purple, and red flags. News vans and camera crews crowded the Coliseum gates. The team was everywhere—on the front page, on every screen, in every conversation.But outside the city, in the rolling hills south of Castle Rock, Jeremy’s world was quiet. His home—a sprawling 1883 French chateau, all gray stone, turrets, and ivy—felt like a sanctuary. The championship trophy sat on a table in the sun-drenched solarium, catching the morning light. Jeremy poured coffee for Alexandra, who sat across from him, tracing the trophy’s engraved letters with her fingertip.He watched her for a long moment. “You haven’t answered me.”She looked up, eyes shadowed with old worries. “Mississippi. My dad. Stephanie. I… I want to try. But I’m scared, Jeremy. I haven’t seen either of them in years. What if it just makes things w
Denver was electric—every window, every car, every face was lit with the hope and hunger of a city on the edge of history. The Cannibals had stormed through the season undefeated, and tonight, the Denver Coliseum was a cathedral of noise and color. The stands shimmered with black, purple, and red. Fans wore war paint, waved banners, and filled the air with a single, thunderous demand: “Bring it home!”On the field, the Cannibals looked like warriors from legend. Their home jerseys were slick black, with deep purple numbers and names outlined in a fierce, electric red. Across from them, the Billings Wolves, as the away team, wore crisp white jerseys slashed with red and black—red numbers, black stripes, and white helmets gleaming under the lights. The contrast was stark, a visual promise that this would be a battle for the ages.A Game for the AgesThe opening kickoff was a thunderclap. Heather, nerves of steel, drilled the ball through the uprights for an Uno,
Denver was alive with anticipation. The Cannibals’ playoff run had become the talk of the nation, but inside the Coliseum, the air was thick with more than just excitement. It was the kind of tension that made every laugh a little too loud, every silence a little too long. Championship Week: Wolves in Town The Billings Wolves arrived on Monday, their buses flanked by police escorts and news vans. For the first time, Alicia—once the heart of the Cannibals’ defense—walked into the Coliseum as an opponent. She wore Wolves black and red, her familiar stride now just a bit more guarded, her smile a little more careful. The city buzzed with excitement and nerves. Sports radio hosts debated matchups and legacies. Bars hung “Welcome Wolves” banners next to “Go Cannibals!” signs. At the first league-mandated joint press conference, the air was electric. Reporters peppered Alicia, Alexandra, and Heather with questions not just about the game, but about
The Denver Coliseum was still humming with the echoes of victory. The Cannibals had just punched their ticket to the WWIF OK Corral Championship, outlasting the Omaha Cattlemen in a bruising, brilliant playoff battle. Fans poured into the streets, blue and silver flags waving, horns blaring. Inside, the team celebrated with laughter and tears, the dream of a title on their home field now just two weeks away. But for Jeremy, the glow of triumph was already shadowed by uncertainty. The Warning from Bill Lombardi As the last of the confetti settled and the locker room began to empty, Jeremy ducked into the hallway for a breath of quiet. He didn’t get far. Bill Lombardi, head coach of the Denver Mustangs, was waiting by the exit, arms folded, jaw set. He wasted no time. “JD, a word?” Lombardi’s tone was heavy with authority. Jeremy nodded, bracing himself. Lombardi leaned in, voice low. “