“Ah. I called it quits with Marcus last night so I forgot.” Emma shrugs. “I won’t have to worry about the football team anymore, I guess.”
“I’m sorry, Em,” Tori says.
“It’s for the best. We aren’t good for each other. More like, he’s not good for me,” Emma says.
We offer up no reply because she’s right. Their relationship was toxic, every time.
“I heard you and Beck are a thing,” Emma says to me.
I nod, smiling like I can’t help myself. “We are.”
“That’s awesome. You two look good together.” She hesitates only for a moment. “I want you to know I’m sorry, Addie. For what I said yesterday. For dumping all of my problems on you lately. It was unfair, and I feel bad.”
Everything within me lightens. That’s all I wanted to hear, and even if it took Tori to remind her that she needed to say something, I don’t care. At least she apologized. “I feel bad too and I want to apologize for what I said. It was rude.” The words gush out of me with relief. “I didn’t mean to fight with you in the van.”
“I did.” Emma laughs, shaking her head. “I was mad and I wanted someone to hurt like I was, so I lashed out. And that sucks because you’re my best friend and you’ve done nothing but be sweet to me and take all my bullshit for years.”
“No kidding,” Tori mutters.
Emma glares at her, but I can tell she’s not too upset. “Again, I’m sorry. To the both of you. Can you guys forgive me?”
“Oh my God, yes,” I say, Tori saying pretty much the same thing.
In seconds, we’re wrapped up in a group hug, squeezing each other before we all pull apart.
“I’m starving,” Emma says. “Can I go to lunch with you guys?”
“Duh! Of course you can,” Tori says as we all hook arms and start heading for the parking lot. We take Tori’s car to go to Raley’s and she cranks the music extra loud as we leave campus, the three of us singing along to a Taylor Swift song from her latest Spotify playlist. The windows are down and our hair is blowing across our faces.
I don’t think I’ve ever felt this happy.
After a few struggles and some bumps along the way, everything has come into place. I can’t complain. School has only just started. I’m on good terms with my best friend, and I’ve gained another one since I’ve gotten closer to Tori. My mom and I are okay. And then there’s Beck…
My boyfriend.
Senior year is going to be epic.
THIRTY-TWO
BECK
Friday night lights and I’m sweatin’.
The team we’re playing has been a challenge since the first quarter, but we’re holding them back, and our offense is scoring. We’re up by ten late in the fourth quarter and the game is almost finished.
I’m out on the field, bent into position, when I hear the female voice call from the stands, “Lookin’ good, Callahan!”
That was definitely Addie.
And I can’t help but grin.
I lunge forward, blocking the opposing player when there’s a whistle from the referee, a yellow flag thrown onto the field. False start against the other team, and the onlookers roar their approval.
Including my girl.
I spot her in the stands, sitting in the student section with her friends, my number not only on her chest, thanks to her wearing my jersey, but she’s also got it painted on her cheek. Her hair is in a high ponytail that bobs as she talks and she’s about the cutest thing I’ve ever seen.
“Stop daydreaming over your girlfriend.” One of my teammates knocks me in the back of my helmet as he walks by me, and I can only laugh.
How can I protest? He caught me. It’s a known problem, me getting caught up watching my girlfriend in the stands, but Adds is never a true distraction.
I just love knowing she’s sitting there, watching me. Supporting me. I do the same for her. I go to every volleyball game I can, rooting her on, wearing her number on my cheek. All the guys made fun of me at first, but at the next game, Dom showed up with Tori’s number on his cheek and the number painted in white on a navy T-shirt and I just shook my head.
Guess I started a trend.
The rest of the quarter goes by quickly and we win, the band playing the fight song as we form into a line in the center of the field and high five the opposing team, as is the ritual after every game. We walk over to the sidelines to face the bleachers, our helmets in our hands as we hold them over our heads and yell together, “Thank you, fans!”
The crowd, as usual, goes wild.
Within minutes, the field is flooded with people. Family members and students. Girlfriends with signs, ready to pose with them while they stand next to their boyfriends.
Like my girlfriend.
Addie’s sign says, “#64 tackled my heart,” with “Go Callahan,” painted below it.
She waves it at me, a giant smile on her face.
I head straight for her, pulling her into me, so I can drop a quick kiss to her lips. “Nice sign.”
“I knew you’d love it.” She rises up to press her mouth to mine before she pulls away and stands next to me. “Tori, take a photo! Quick, before he starts griping.”
I roll my eyes and sling my arm around her shoulders as she holds the sign up in front of us. I never gripe, and she knows it. We pose for a few photos and then she does the same for Tori and Dom. Emma is usually the photographer, but she just got a job and had to work tonight.
Maybe it’s better. Currently Monique and Marcus aren’t too far away from where we’re standing out on the field, and it still stings for Emma, seeing them supposedly happy. It’s only been a month since she broke it off with him, so it makes sense.
From what I can tell, Marcus and Monique argue all the time, but I don’t delve too deep into their business.
It’s easier that way.
Dom and Tori are going strong, just like me and Addie. We hang out together a lot, which I know Addie and Tori love. Dom acts like it’s no big deal, but he’s so gone over Tori, it’s not even funny. They make a good couple. Addie and I do too.
Just as Addie recently told me, our senior year is pretty perfect so far.
“Beck!”
I turn to see my mother walking toward me and when she gets close, I pull her in for a hug, squeezing her tight. She’s come to watch pretty much every single one of my football games over the years. Through the heat and rain and cold weather. That one playoff game in the eighth grade when it was so cold, they worried it might snow. Through my games and Jake’s, she’s always there, smiling and cheering us on.
I’ve got the best mom in the world.
“You played so good tonight,” she says once I release her. “I still can’t believe this is our last high school football season. Every game that goes by reminds me that it’s almost over.”
She’s pretty nostalgic right now, which I guess I can’t blame her. Soon she won’t have to go to any high school football games on Friday nights, and she’s feeling it.
“Thanks, Mom. And you can always come watch me play in college.” I smile at her.
“Oh I will. And speaking of that.” She tips her head toward me. “We have something special planned for your birthday. And Addie’s.”