Barrett's Play

One play will determine the rest of my life.

It’s a long shot.

A Hail Mary pass.

But I have a better chance of my bum knee magically healing itself than at winning back the girl I stupidly gave up.

I made a mistake and let her get away from me once.

I won’t be that careless this time.

When an injury ends my career on the field, I start over as a coach.

Moving to Seattle brings Molly back into my life and I want a new beginning with her, too.

I realize my injury is a blessing in disguise. I was never going to find the missing piece of my soul on the football field, because that missing piece was always her. I was just too young and stupid to see it.

I need her back.

I'm putting everything I have into this one last shot.

It's up to Molly to decide if my Hail Mary turns out to be a fumble or a touchdown…

If you like insta-love romance with a little bit of humor, this over-the-top quick read is perfect for you.

Please note this story was previously published under the title Hail Mary: A Quick Snap: Championship Edition Novella Collection by Loni Ree. The story has been expanded and changed slightly but the overall story outcome remains the same.

“What if they card me?” My cousin Stacy rolls her eyes as I worry for the hundredth time tonight. “My mom and dad will murder me if they have to fly home from Hawaii to bail me out of jail.” I can’t believe my father, a homicide detective, allowed me to stay with my cousin. He must’ve needed this vacation badly.
“Oh my God,” Stacey hisses in my ear. “Barney’s never checks my ID. I have a special relationship with the Monday night bouncer.” She raises her eyebrows and I shudder internally. I don’t want to think about what’s involved in her “special relationship.”
“Just follow me and stop sweating all over my new dress.” She rolls her eyes and pulls me along. Swallowing down my fear, I stumble along behind my older cousin and try to keep up with her much longer legs. After stuffing me into a dress two sizes too small, she forced me to slip on four-inch heels, so I’m liable to break a leg. I pray the dress’s seams are strong enough to withstand the pressure when I sit down, or we could have an unplanned strip show tonight at Barney’s Bar & Grill.
To my relief, we breeze through the front door without any trouble. The bouncer smiles down at my beautiful older cousin and winks. “Hope you ladies have fun.”
“You know it. Call me later.” Stacy rubs his arm and pulls me past him. “See. I told you.” Grabbing my hand, she tugs me through the mass of bodies blocking the main bar. I barely resist cringing at the feeling of all the sweaty bodies rubbing against me as we make our way past. Ick. I’m a homebody, a nerd. This isn’t my scene at all.
After dropping onto a barstool next to my cousin, I turn to check out the crowded room. “I can’t believe this place is this packed on a Monday night.” Loud music blares from speakers scattered throughout the room and suspended from the ceiling, and I feel my eyelids bouncing from the beat.
She shrugs and mouths, “Every night.”
Doubts hit me as I watch her lean over the bar to order us drinks. I’m an eighteen-year-old high school senior. My parents would kill me if they had any idea I’m spending my spring break barhopping in Seattle while they vacation in Hawaii.
“You’re killing the fun,” Stacy snaps, and I sigh. My party-loving older cousin has made it clear since I arrived that she regrets agreeing to this arrangement. Evidently, an eighteen-year-old high school senior hanging around spoils all her fun.
I’m slowly starting to mellow after a couple of drinks when a hand brushes my shoulder. I spin around and find a tall, skinny guy grinning down at me. “Hi. I haven’t seen you here before.” His leer causes discomfort to flow through me.
“Beat it or I’ll get Ryan to kick your ass again,” Stacy leans over me and screams. He glares at my cousin for a second before stepping away from the bar and stomping off. “I ordered you another strawberry daiquiri,” she mouths and pushes the pink slushy concoction across the bar. “You need to loosen up.” Then she reaches over and tugs the front of my dress down, causing my ample boobs to come dangerously close to spilling over. When she turns around, I pull the dress back into place and pray no one got a show from us.