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Erica flipped over a few hamburgers on the portable grill, listening to her friends Morgan and Lexi bantering loudly with their tailgating neighbors. The girls had come down to visit her in Florida for the week, surprising her with tickets to the Monday Night Football game. The three of them were Indianapolis Colts fans (although Morgan was also loyal to the New York Giants), hoping to watch their team defeat the Miami Dolphins in their own Landshark Stadium.
She had tailgated countless times before, since football was a main staple in her life, but this was her first time at an NFL game where her team was visiting rather than hosting. Peering out at the sea of excited Fins fans in their green, white and orange jerseys, Erica felt a rush of adrenaline surge through her body.
"Ladies!" she called to Lexi and Morgan. "Your burgers are ready."
Her friends took one each and started dressing them. "Those guys are willing to put some serious money on Miami winning tonight," Morgan said, squirting mustard all over her pattie.
"Too bad I don't gamble," Erica replied, taking a huge bite of her burger. "Mm mmm mm mmmm mmm."
"You should know better than to try to enunciate when there's meat in your mouth," Lexi chided tartly, making them giggle.
"So, Morgan, I believe you have a story to tell? About a sexy woman named Naomi? Don't hold out on us," Erica warned as Lexi's cell phone rang.
"Oh, you'll get the story. I'm going to make you sweat it out a bit first, though," Morgan replied with a wink.
"See you soon!" Lexi chirped, clicking her phone shut. "That was Luke, the guy who got us these tickets. He's in this row already but I can't see him."
Erica took the last swig of her beer, then turned around to put the empty bottle away.
"Look out!" an urgent male voice called out from behind her.
Erica spun around, using her ultra-quick reflexes to catch the approaching football, seconds before it could sail into Morgan's head.
"Whoa!" the guy approved, coming toward her as she looked up at the ball's owner. "Nice catch."
"Thanks," Erica replied, handing it back to him. She admired his blue Peyton Manning jersey, the tan of his skin, and his caramel blond hair. He was almost six feet tall and nicely built, probably a ball player..
"Luke!" Lexi said, giving him a hug.
"It took me fifteen minutes just to walk through the parking lot," he told them, "and it's getting rowdy out there!" Three other men showed up right behind him, one of them carrying a case of twelve beers.
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