She Wore the Team Mascot Costume to Pay for College — Then the Star Quarterback Left His Cheerleader Girlfriend for Her
Chapter 13
Months later, Jackson signed with a professional team.
His career exploded.
Advertisements.
Interviews.
Magazine covers.
But whenever he returned to Westbridge, he went straight to Emily.
By then, she had graduated with honors.
She was working at an educational nonprofit that helped students from low-income families.
She no longer wore the buffalo costume.
But she kept the head in a storage box.
One evening, Jackson visited her office.
He placed something on her desk.
A photograph.
It showed Emily inside the mascot costume on the sideline.
Jackson had taken it years earlier.
She laughed.
“You still have this?”
“Of course.”
“You secretly took a picture of me.”
“I was in love with you.”
She looked at him.
“Before you knew me?”
“Exactly.”
He smiled.
Then he became serious.
“I want you to come with me.”
“Where?”
“Anywhere.”
She stared at him.
“I have my own career.”
“I know.”
“I don’t want to give it up.”
“I’d never ask you to.”
She smiled.
“Then what are you asking?”
He took her hand.
“Build a life with me.”
She stared at him.
“Are you proposing?”
“Not yet.”
She laughed.
“Good.”
“I want to do that properly.”
