We head out to the field after the team introduction. The stands are full, and everyone is on their feet. I run to the bench and look up, spotting Reggie, Roxy, and my parents right away. I wave and blow them a kiss before slipping my helmet on. It’s time for the coin toss. My teammates and I go out to the center of the fifty-yard line. Handshakes happen with our opponent, and the head official tosses the coin, with me yelling, “tails.”
“Tails it is.”
“We’ll receive,” I say, and the official makes the catching motion and points to which direction we’ll start. I’m halfway toward the bench when our special teams take the field. Each guy that passes by, I either bump chests with or grab their helmet and tell them to run like the wind. I’d love to start this game off with a run back.
Sadly, the run back doesn’t happen.
Noah and I run out together. In the huddle, he tells us what play we’re starting with. I line up on the left and watch him. As soon as the ball is in his hands, I’m down the field, juking my defender as much as I can until I cut across the field, poised and ready for the pigskin to land in my arms. As soon as I see the perfect spiral, I raise my hands and leap. The ball touches my fingertips, and I curl them to pull the ball into my palms. The moment my foot touches the ground, I’m in stride, running toward the end zone.
I glance over my shoulder to where my defender is. His hands reach for me, but I veer. Not today, I repeat in my head. What I forget to do is look to my right. The safety comes out of nowhere and takes me to the ground. As much as I want that touchdown, we’re on the ten-yard line, and I couldn’t be happier.
The next play goes to the running back. He wiggles through the melee of men and comes out the victor on the other end. I’m happy because we’re on the board but pissed I didn’t get the call.
At half-time, we have a two-touchdown lead, with Noah scoring the second one.
When I come out of the locker room, I spot Autumn at once. She’s standing with Peyton, wearing the Portland Pioneers shirt she wore to her first game. Damn, she’s beautiful. Her long dark hair is in a braid, which I’m learning is her favorite hairstyle when she’s not working, and she’s wearing a Pioneers trucker cap. Autumn looks every bit a fan. As I approach the bench, she sees me and smiles. Instead of going up to her, I pick up a football and lob it to her. I fully expect her to catch it, but she doesn’t. She steps to the side, and Peyton takes it easily out of the air. She sends it back to me, the ball whizzing in the air.
“Damn, Peyton. I’ll never understand why you don’t play football.”
Noah laughs and shakes his head. “She would need to put on about a hundred pounds and grow at least a foot.”
“You’re lucky I don’t have a ball in my hand, Westbury,” she yells back.
“How the hell did she hear you?” I ask him.
He points to his helmet. “Mic’d up.”
“Oh,” I mouth.
We start the second half with the same play we started the game with. This time though, I make it to the end zone for six. After I cross the line, I wait for my teammates to congratulate me and then hand the football to the referee. I’ve never been one to celebrate in any other fashion. Some of my teammates like to dance, while others like to spike the ball. Me—I like to keep things simple.
Twenty-Three
Autumn
This is the first time I pay attention to the game. The last time I was here, I watched occasionally but mostly chatted with Peyton, Aiden, and anyone who stopped to talk to me. I have a purpose this time. He’s on the field, running routes, cutting across the field, and dodging defenders—all terms I pick up from Peyton. I still don’t know much of anything about the game, but by the smile on her face, the roar of the crowd, and the cheering coming from the sidelines, whatever Julius is doing must be good. As I stand next to Peyton, I realize that if Julius and I are going to be a couple or whatever the proper term is these days, I’m going to have to learn about the game of football. He’s asked me a lot of questions about reporting the weather. At first, I thought he did this because he had mocked me, but now I know it’s because he’s genuinely interested in what I do.
After the game, Peyton invites us over. I like that she assumes Julius and I will be together. I sort of love her for that. She shows me to the locker room, pointing to where I can stand and wait for Julius. I hadn’t planned this, but I like the idea of surprising him. She tells me he’s in a press conference but will come out this door after he’s showered. Peyton also warned me that Julius is slow. He likes to take his time and be the last one out.
“Duly noted,” I tell her before she leaves me in the hall. People stroll by, some carrying arms full of equipment and other things. They nod or wave if their hand is free, and I do the same in return. Right now, I feel like a high schooler waiting for her boyfriend to come out of gym class, but I want to be here. From everything Peyton said, Julius had a good game, and I want to be the first non-member of his football world to congratulate him.
Team members come through the door. I smile at each one and chat with Noah when he appears. “Congrats on the win,” I tell him.
“Thanks. Glad you could make it out.”
“Me too. I’m happy Julius invited me.”
“You know,” he says. “You always have a ticket on standby. Say the word, and Peyton will make sure you have a pass.”
“I know, but honestly, it feels awkward. I don’t want to assume.”
Noah lets out a hearty chuckle. “Assume away. Since your arrival, you’ve made my wife smile. You’ve given her a friend who wants nothing but friendship in return. If you want to come to a game, so be it. Hell, if you want to move to our building, I’ll put in a good word with the board.”
“Okay, now that’s pushing it. Have you seen where I live?”
He shakes his head.
“Walk out the main door, and I’m at the water. Granted, the water is the best, but I also love being so close to the park.”
“A couple of the guys live in that complex. They all like it.”
“Oh really? I guess I never assumed more of the team would live there aside from Julius.”
“The owners are good friends with the owner of the Pioneers—they cut the players a deal.” Someone down the corridor calls Noah’s name. He nods and tells me to have a good night and that he hopes to see me at his place later.
It’s getting late, and I start to think Peyton is wrong about Julius. I know there are a lot of men on a football team, but I swear at least a hundred have already come out of the locker room. A few even offered to take me home, while one who I don’t know asked if I wanted him to get Julius. As tempting as his offer was, I passed. But now, I’m second-guessing my decision. I think I’ve held this wall up for at least an hour, if not longer. How long can it take someone to do a press conference and take a shower? What in the hell is he doing in there?
I push away from the wall and step toward the door, only for it to fly open. I startle and jump back. A little “oof’ escapes, and I cover my mouth.
“Hey,” he says, with a grin so wide and bright it could melt the snow. “What are you doing here?”