Case in point.
Rolling my eyes, I settled my gaze back on the field, searching out Jason. Pride radiated from every bone in my body. Not because he’d led his team to this point; the whole town knew he’d do it, but for the fact he was mine.
For how far we’d come.
Rixon’s complicated, brooding, cruel, star quarterback was changing right before my eyes. He was warmer and more open, no longer afraid to tell me how he felt. Even less afraid to show me. He’d even made an effort to get to know my parents, although that was a work in progress. My dad was taking some warming up to the idea I had a boyfriend, let alone a boyfriend by the name of Jason Ford who I planned to go off to college with next year.
Of course, Jason still liked to talk dirty and make me blush at every opportunity, but I didn’t mind. In fact, I’d grown to love it. He pushed my boundaries and I pushed his right back.
And I couldn’t wait for the next summer when we left for UPenn to start the rest of our lives.
Together.
Jason
“Raiders, gather in,” I yelled like a general commanding his army. My teammates huddled together, waiting for my words of encouragement. For the profound speech to carry them into the fourth quarter.
“Listen up,” it came out breathless. I was running on empty; we all were. “No team ever wants to be in this position; going into the fourth trailing by eight points. But we can do this. I know we can. Forget all the other games, forget what happened last game.” When we’d almost fumbled our comfortable win by giving the opposing team room to score a touchdown with two minutes on the clock. Luckily, we were able to get the conversion before the final whistle, but it had been the most stressful two minutes of my life.
“Four years and it all comes down to this. Whatever happens, I’m proud to call myself a Raider, and you should be too. Hands in, Raiders on three.”
The huddle grew tighter as my teammates dropped their hands on mine. My eyes found Asher on the sideline and before I could think about it, I yelled, “Yo, forty-two, get your ass over here,” giving zero fucks he wasn’t supposed to move from the bench. He deserved this as much as the rest of the guys.
“Feeling the pressure, QB?” he smarted as he jogged over to me.
“You deserve to be here.” I held his eyes, silently telling him everything I’d been too chicken shit to say.
Thank you.
I owe you.
You’re the best friend a guy could ever have.
He gave me a curt nod and then said, “Are we doing this or what?”
“On your word, Ash.”
“Raiders on three. One. Two. Three…” Our battle cry rang out around me for the last time, our six-thousand strong crowd echoing the word at us.
It was something to behold, standing there on Hershey Stadium’s now tarnished field, the blinding Friday night lights blazing down on us. Making us seem larger than life. Worshipped and adored. The next time I did this, my jersey would be Penn Quaker red, white, and blue, and I’d be a rookie. But I was ready. Hungry for it.
College.
Football.
A fresh start with Felicity.
It couldn’t come soon enough. But first, we had a game to win.
Felicity
“Are you sure this is a good idea?” I asked no one in particular as I stared up at the neon sign reading Ink City, nervous energy vibrating through me.
“He’ll love it,” Mya whispered in my ear as the guys jostled one another, the effects of our few celebration drinks showing. “Besides, it’s the last item on your list, you can’t back out now.”
I nodded slowly, watching the guys. They were buzzed, we all were. Still riding the high of the win. The Raiders had done it, in the last minute of play. Cam getting the final touchdown.
“My parents will—”