Vegas Aces: The Playbook

As a pro football player, I'm known for scoring both on and off the field. But all that changes when a tragic accident leaves me as a single dad to a little girl. With our lives flipped upside down, I'm struggling to balance my career with the emotional needs of a girl whose world has been shattered. Despite the long list of women I could turn to, none of them measure up—not when I see the undeniable connection between my daughter and her reading teacher, Victoria… the woman who happens to be my enemy.

As a pro football player, I'm known for scoring both on and off the field. All that changes when a tragic accident leaves me as a single dad to a little girl. With both our lives flipped upside down, I'm scrambling to balance my career while supporting the needs of a girl who just had her life torn apart. My little black book is replaced with pink unicorns, and her peanut allergy means I have to rethink every meal I make. Despite my initial hesitation and uncertainty, I'm determined to do right by her. Then we meet her reading teacher, Victoria, who's everything I'm not.

Football season is fast approaching, and as a single dad, I need help. Even though I claim I have a little black book filled with names of women who could step up to the task, none of them will do... not when I see the bond that's forming between Victoria and my daughter. And not when the attraction between Victoria and I continues to grow despite our constant clashing.

In a moment of panic, I turn to Victoria first. It's what Harper would want, but it's becoming what I need. As our connection deepens, I'm working hard to prove my past no longer defines me. My priorities have changed now that I have a child and I'm falling in love for the first time. And then I discover Victoria told her family she's bringing me as her date to her sister's destination wedding. With her ex as the best man and her as the maid of honor, I agree to go. After all, attending a wedding and pretending I'm in love with her won't really be much of an act for me.

Legal battles, jail time, and league punishments don't faze me as much as losing the two people who are most important to me. I'm still learning how to navigate these relationships, especially as they've started to pay the price for my actions. The fear of losing them grows stronger each day, and I don't know how to fix things between us. I'm determined to make forward progress and rebuild what I've destroyed. I just hope it isn't too late.

As I navigated this new life as a single dad, I thought I was fine. I thought nobody would come between us. But I was wrong. It turns out greedy and selfish people are everywhere, and it's my job to fight them... to protect my daughter even as she hurls hurtful words at me and blames me for everything. I never thought I'd have the sort of unconditional love I found when Harper and Victoria came into my life. Then I somehow managed to lose them both.