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A pass more beautiful than the one I caught in the cafeteria sailed deep into the end zone, where Chase was ready. He waited for the perfect second to leap into the air. One finger, then two.. Is he going to catch it? His hand wrapped around the laces of the orb.
With one arm, he cradled the ball into his chest and landed perfectly on his feet.
The ref raised two arms above his head as the buzzer sounded.
“Touchdown!”
The crowd grew wild and crazy.
I made it. I survived facing one of my biggest fears.
If only Chase Knew I was here to watch his game. Not Grey. Not the girl he’s grown to know.
Me.
***
“Meghan. Meghan Grace, is that you?” All of my worst fears were coming true. Chase’s mom spotted me leaving the game.
I let the air fill my lungs and released a giant breath to steel my nerves. I took a smaller breath before turning back to the loving smile I hadn’t received in far too long.
“Oh, my word! Meghan! It is you.” She wrapped her arms around me tighter than she had in my early teens. The hug was warm and soft, and I’m convinced that her hugs have the power to heal all things. Her embraced lasted much longer than normal, but it wasn’t awkward at all. I’d missed her more than I wanted to admit. When she let go minutes later, a few tears covered her smile. She tried to wipe them off and shake away the new happy tears that kept falling. It didn’t work.
“I have to find Chase. He never stopped looking for you.”
Icy darkness instantly overtook the warmth. No. I wanted to turn back the clock. To go back to the moments before when she held me in her arms like a long-lost child.
“Wait. Does he already know you’re here? Have you found each other?” She asked.
“Yes.” I shook my head “No– it’s complicated.”
The crowd swarmed around us. If we weren’t careful, we’d get lost in the sea of people.
Her only reply was a puzzled expression. I could blame her. It was confusing for me too. There was no telling how Chase might react.
“Please don’t mention that you saw me. I’m not ready to have that conversation with him. Not yet.” I couldn’t look her in the eyes to ask such an important, yet pathetic, question.
“Oh! Sweetheart. I’m just so happy to see you. Come here.” She took me in another hug, only to release me quickly at the sound of Chase’s voice.
“Mom?” He called from somewhere in the crowd behind us. I took a step backwards, waving goodbye to Mrs. Harrison.
From a distance, I watched their interaction. I missed watching the way his face lit up when he was with his mother. Their bond was so special. I’d have nothing like that with my mother.
He said something, and she did too. I inched a little closer.
“Grey!” Busted. He shouted over to me. I twisted and turned to pretend like I hadn’t been staring the whole time.
“Grey!” He called again, walking up to me. “Hey! You came. Thank you!” Sweat and grass stained his jersey. His hair was soaking wet. I could think of better ways to get him dirty.
“I have someone I want you to meet. Mom, this is Grey. Grey, this is my mom.” Her jaw dropped open. She glanced from Chase to me and back again. I immediately threw out my hand, hoping to ease the awkwardness.
“Nice to meet you.” She took my hand, slowly.
“I met Grey in my sociology class. Jarod was being a goofball, throwing the ball around. You should have seen it mom. Grey caught the ball better than I could have. Like she’d had a ball in her hands since she was a baby, just like me. It was incredible. People still talk about that pass.” He went on and on… singing my praises.
How could she recognize me right away, and he still hadn’t?
“Sounds impressive. It also sounds like a girl I used to know.” She tilted her head to the side.
