Keeping Score Series by Tawdra Kandle

Football is everything, but love is the only game that matters. This is our backstory. This is how we started. This is what changed our lives forever. How did Leo, Quinn and Nate become best friends? Where did their love stories begin? When did everything change for Gia, for Tate . . . and even for Matt? What was the life-changing heartbreak for Zelda and Tuck? How did Sarah and Gideon become who they are? It's all here.

The Trio. That’s who we’ve been since birth: Nate, Leo . . . and me, Quinn, the token girl. Our mothers met in prenatal yoga and became best friends, which meant that the three of us hit every milestone together, from the first day of school to the very first kiss. We’ve always known that Nate’s a little different. He’s not as strong as Leo or me; he spent a lot of our childhood in various hospitals. Leo and I have been his unofficial bodyguards all our lives... moreThe Trio. That’s who we’ve been since birth: Nate, Leo . . . and me, Quinn, the token girl. Our mothers met in prenatal yoga and became best friends, which meant that the three of us hit every milestone together, from the first day of school to the very first kiss. We’ve always known that Nate’s a little different. He’s not as strong as Leo or me; he spent a lot of our childhood in various hospitals. Leo and I have been his unofficial bodyguards all our lives. I thought that would always be true. But time moves on, and everything shifts. People change, and sometimes friendships fade away. High school pulled us apart: Leo’s suddenly the most popular guy in school, a football star and the subject of every girl’s fantasy. Nate and I are just people he used to know, the ones he left behind. Of course, since I’ve been in love with Leo from the time we were eight, that stings a little. And to complicate matters, I know that Nate is hung up on me. I see the look in his eyes. I wish I could say I felt the same, but I don’t. It's getting harder and harder to keep him in the friend zone, though. Then Leo and I were thrown together again, sticking up for Nate. I was surprised Leo came through for us and even more shocked when he kissed me. Me! Am I finally getting my chance with Leo . . . and will it come at the risk of losing both my best friends? less

Football is everything, but love is the only game that matters.QuinnThe guy who’s been my best friend since we were kids is now the star of the football team. He's dating cheerleaders and hanging out at wild parties. He's leaving me behind, and it's breaking my heart.And then there's Nate . . . my other best friend. I know he's crushing on me. I wish things were different, but for me, it's always been Leo. It's always going to be Leo... moreFootball is everything, but love is the only game that matters.QuinnThe guy who’s been my best friend since we were kids is now the star of the football team. He's dating cheerleaders and hanging out at wild parties. He's leaving me behind, and it's breaking my heart.And then there's Nate . . . my other best friend. I know he's crushing on me. I wish things were different, but for me, it's always been Leo. It's always going to be Leo.When I finally get my shot with him, I'm not going to waste a single moment. I want to be the girl he can never forget.LeoMy life is a friggin’ dream right now. Any girl I want is mine for the asking, and everyone treats me like royalty. What else could I need?Apparently, the answer is . . . the one girl I shouldn’t want. The one who’s been my friend forever. The one who is too good for me. The one I can’t stop desiring, even though I know better.I’m screwed. less

When life shatters, it helps to have friends. I don’t know what I’d have done without Leo and Nate to comfort me, to hold me up and to keep me sane in face of sudden and terrible loss. And if one of those friends happens to be the love of my life, the one guy I thought I’d never be close to again . . . I’m not going to complain. After all, in a vast sea of things that aren’t fair, being with Leo again feels like the only shining beam of hope. I know there aren’t any guarantees for us... moreWhen life shatters, it helps to have friends. I don’t know what I’d have done without Leo and Nate to comfort me, to hold me up and to keep me sane in face of sudden and terrible loss. And if one of those friends happens to be the love of my life, the one guy I thought I’d never be close to again . . . I’m not going to complain. After all, in a vast sea of things that aren’t fair, being with Leo again feels like the only shining beam of hope. I know there aren’t any guarantees for us. Leo’s heading south to play football, rocking a full-ride at one of the top colleges in the nation. Meanwhile, all of my plans have fallen apart, and I have to figure out what comes next. Having Nate by my side is more important I could have imagined. The next four years were supposed to be the most exciting time of my life. Instead, they turn into a rollercoaster of uncertainty, complete with breathtaking highs and lows that threaten to break my heart. In the end, the decisions we make now could change everything for the three of us, forever. less

Football is everything, but love is the only game that matters. Tate Durham, the newest Philadelphia football hottie, has been in love with Gia Capri since the moment he laid eyes on her back in college. Unfortunately, that happened the same night her destructive and doomed relationship with the troubled Matt Lampert began. Tate didn’t stand a chance.  In the year since Matt took his own life, Gia’s been sleep-walking through her days and just barely surviving her nights... moreFootball is everything, but love is the only game that matters. Tate Durham, the newest Philadelphia football hottie, has been in love with Gia Capri since the moment he laid eyes on her back in college. Unfortunately, that happened the same night her destructive and doomed relationship with the troubled Matt Lampert began. Tate didn’t stand a chance.  In the year since Matt took his own life, Gia’s been sleep-walking through her days and just barely surviving her nights. She’s not sure that she’s capable of anything else . . . until Tate finds her sitting on the floor of a grocery store, crying over potato chips. Tate’s patience and honesty begins to heal what’s broken in Gia’s soul. Still, no matter how hard he tries—or how much he loves her—making her whole again might take more than he can give. But love never gives up. And neither will Tate. less

Football is everything, but love is the only game that matters. Tate Durham, the newest Philadelphia football hottie, has been in love with Gia Capri since the moment he laid eyes on her back in college. Unfortunately, that happened the same night her destructive and doomed relationship with the troubled Matt Lampert began. Tate didn’t stand a chance.  In the year since Matt took his own life, Gia’s been sleep-walking through her days and just barely surviving her nights... moreFootball is everything, but love is the only game that matters. Tate Durham, the newest Philadelphia football hottie, has been in love with Gia Capri since the moment he laid eyes on her back in college. Unfortunately, that happened the same night her destructive and doomed relationship with the troubled Matt Lampert began. Tate didn’t stand a chance.  In the year since Matt took his own life, Gia’s been sleep-walking through her days and just barely surviving her nights. She’s not sure that she’s capable of anything else . . . until Tate finds her sitting on the floor of a grocery store, crying over potato chips. Tate’s patience and honesty begins to heal what’s broken in Gia’s soul. Still, no matter how hard he tries—or how much he loves her—making her whole again might take more than he can give. But love never gives up. And neither will Tate.**Previously published as Not Broken Anymore less

Football is everything, but love is the only game that matters. Tate Durham, the newest Philadelphia football hottie, has been in love with Gia Capri since the moment he laid eyes on her back in college. Unfortunately, that happened the same night her destructive and doomed relationship with the troubled Matt Lampert began. Tate didn’t stand a chance.  In the year since Matt took his own life, Gia’s been sleep-walking through her days and just barely surviving her nights... moreFootball is everything, but love is the only game that matters. Tate Durham, the newest Philadelphia football hottie, has been in love with Gia Capri since the moment he laid eyes on her back in college. Unfortunately, that happened the same night her destructive and doomed relationship with the troubled Matt Lampert began. Tate didn’t stand a chance.  In the year since Matt took his own life, Gia’s been sleep-walking through her days and just barely surviving her nights. She’s not sure that she’s capable of anything else . . . until Tate finds her sitting on the floor of a grocery store, crying over potato chips. Tate’s patience and honesty begins to heal what’s broken in Gia’s soul. Still, no matter how hard he tries—or how much he loves her—making her whole again might take more than he can give. But love never gives up. And neither will Tate.**Previously published as Not Broken Anymore less

I don't do love. I don't do relationships. But then Eli Tucker came back into my life. Football is everything, but love is the only game that matters. When Eli Tucker meets Zelda Porter on the first day of their college freshman year, he thinks she's vaguely familiar. But he'd remember a woman like her, wouldn't he? Zelda's blonde, built and beautiful . . . just Tuck's type, back when he had a type. Back when he was a football star... moreI don't do love. I don't do relationships. But then Eli Tucker came back into my life. Football is everything, but love is the only game that matters. When Eli Tucker meets Zelda Porter on the first day of their college freshman year, he thinks she's vaguely familiar. But he'd remember a woman like her, wouldn't he? Zelda's blonde, built and beautiful . . . just Tuck's type, back when he had a type. Back when he was a football star. Back before he snapped his spine and ended up paralyzed. Zelda's memory of her first encounter with Tuck is all too vivid, but that was a long time and many guys ago. She's not interested in long term or love. Men exist to meet a temporary need, and that's all she wants. Even if Eli Tucker still stirs something in her heart, she can't afford the pain that might come from allowing him closer. Still, even though Tuck can't run for touchdowns anymore, he knows what wins the game: Hold on tight to what matters most. Use the element of surprise to your advantage. Fight like hell for every down. And, no matter what, never give up. less

Gideon Maynard is football royalty. Generations of his family have played the game, owned the teams, run the leagues . . . and so it’s no surprise that Gideon is the starting quarterback and star player for the Richmond Rebels. But underneath his aloof yet drool-worthy exterior, he’s nursing a bruised and skittish heart. Sarah Jenkins swore off dating athletes years ago... moreGideon Maynard is football royalty. Generations of his family have played the game, owned the teams, run the leagues . . . and so it’s no surprise that Gideon is the starting quarterback and star player for the Richmond Rebels. But underneath his aloof yet drool-worthy exterior, he’s nursing a bruised and skittish heart. Sarah Jenkins swore off dating athletes years ago. She’s completely committed to her career in politics and public relations and to life as a single woman, and that’s the way she likes it, thank you very much. When the two meet through friends, the attraction is instant and undeniable, but both Gideon and Sarah are smart enough to know that a relationship isn’t in the cards for them. Slowly, though, they find a way to friendship . . . and eventually, to something even deeper. But just as playing football takes more than talent and hard work, a lasting love requires more than steamy nights and passionate kisses. Forever means believing in scary ideas like trust and forgiveness. Is a happily-ever-after possible for two hurting, broken souls who are willing to risk it all for a love that won’t end? less