AllFreeNovel
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The entire locker room erupts with cheers and words of encouragement and a whole lot of profanity. “Quiet down,” Coach says, moving to stand on a chair in the middle of the circle to gain our attention. “I’m damn proud of you. All of you. From the freshmen to those of you leaving this year, every single one of you has brought something to this team. I’m damn proud to be your coach. No matter what happens out there on that field tonight, you are winners. Another undefeated season. That’s something to be proud of.” He leans over and holds his hand out. “Tigers on three!” he shouts, and we all pile in. Arms flail around while we all join in the huddle. “One. Two. TIGERS!” The sound is deafening and does the trick to get us all pumped up.
As soon as we make it out on the field, the crowd goes crazy. Like always, I glance up and scan, looking for Reese. This year she’s easier to find. I give her a wave and then go about my business.
Twenty minutes later, I go stand beside Nixon on the sidelines. “What’s up with you? You’re quiet.”
“I’m going to do it.”
“Do what?” I ask, confused.
“I’m going to ask Tessa to marry me.” A slow grin tilts his lips.
“Married, huh?” I don’t know if he expected me to be shocked, but I’m not. They’ve been together for four years, and I know without a doubt how much he loves her. We all do. Hell, all you have to do is watch the two of them together, and you can see it.
“Yep. Picked up the ring yesterday.”
“When are you popping the question?” I ask him.
“After the game. Win or lose, I walk away a winner. That is as long as she says yes.”
“You know she’s going to.”
“Yeah,” he says wistfully. “I know.”
“Big steps, my man.”
“Yep. I already know it’s going to be the best decision I’ve ever made.”
“What about the draft?”
“She’s graduating. I’m hoping she’ll come with me. I mean, we’ve talked about it, so that’s the plan,” he says more confidently.
Leaving. That’s the only downside of this new career I hope to be venturing into. It’s not the moving that bothers me or the traveling for games. No, what bothers me is that my best friend isn’t coming with me. Not that I’ve asked her to, but how could I do that? She already has a job lined up, and I can’t take that away from her. Besides, what’s she going to do in a new city? Sit around and wait for me to have time to hang out with her? It’s going to suck, and I’m going to miss her like crazy. Every time I think about it, my chest aches. I’ve been doing good, keeping it in the back of my mind. But this conversation with Nixon brings it front and center.
I have no choice but to leave her behind.
Sure, we’ll talk and video chat, but that won’t be the same. My biggest fear, which I know is going to be my new reality, is that nothing between us will ever be the same. The thought of Reese not being in my life terrifies me.
“You know if you keep staring at her like that, she’s going to get a complex.”
Pulling out of my thoughts, I turn to look at Nixon. “What?”
“Reese. You were just staring at her with this lost look on your face. From the look on hers, she’s worried.”
I whip my head back around the stands, and sure enough, she’s standing from her seat. Her eyes are locked on me, and her teeth are torturing her bottom lip. “You okay?” she mouths.
I nod and smile, then give her a shrug. “You ready?” I ask, pulling my eyes from my best friend to look at Nixon.
“You know you’re my best friend, right? I mean, aside from Tessa. I don’t want you to take this the wrong way, but you’re an idiot.”
“What?” I ask in confusion. “What the fuck does that mean?”
“Reese.”
My heart pounds just from the sound of her name. “What about Reese?”
“You’re in love with her.”
“Of course I love her. She’s my best friend.”
“That too, but that’s not the kind of love I was talking about.” He gives me a pointed look.
“Nix, we’ve been over this. I feel like it’s a broken record at this point.”
“One day, Reeves… one day you’re going to wake up, and she’s going to be gone. Not gone from your life but gone, and you’re going to regret this ‘she’s just my best friend’ bullshit you’ve been spewing all these years.”
The announcer asks everyone to rise for the national anthem, which saves me from having to reply. I can’t tell him that I think about us being together more each day. I can’t tell him that I’m scared as hell because losing her as a part of my life is not something I’m okay with. I can’t tell him that I already feel like I’m going to lose her, so it’s a moot point. No, I can’t tell him that. Instead, I line up with my team, place my hand over my heart, and stand tall for the anthem. I need to push Reese and what my future looks like without her out of my mind and play this game. I plan to leave it all out on the field. If this is my last game, it’s going to be one for the record books.
