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“Yeah, that was definitely for Big Snoop,”I thought, the gesture causing a single tear to stream down my cheek. But unfortunately, the game wasn’t over just yet, the critical extra point kick coming up being the true determining factor of how this would all play out.
If the kicker made it, then there would only be enough time left on the clock for Tennessee to try and get another touchdown on a kickoff return. But if he missed it, the game would more than likely be going into overtime. And even though the Skyhawks were good either way, the thought of having to endure more of this torture had me goingdeepin my prayer bag as I sent a quick one up to God and then watched with my hands over my mouth as the kicker sent the ball soaring off the tip of his foot right through the middle of the goalposts.
Thank you, Jesus!
Being right on the verge of a victory had every fiber of my being tingling with excitement. But if I’d learned anything this season, it was that this shit wasn’t over until it was over. So with that in mind, I held off on celebrating until I knew for certain that the Skyhawks had won, the sight of the ball being kicked off leading me to hold my breath as I watched Tennessee’s returner catch it out of the air and take off sprinting, only to end up getting tackled within a few steps just as the clock showed that there was no time remaining in the game.
It was officially over.
Kendall had really pulled it off.
And the relief of that was completely overwhelming, turning me into a bawling mess that had Anastasia reaching over to comfort me while also finding room to tease, “Damn, Kiki. If this game has you crying like that, I’m scared to see what you’re gonna look like after the conference championship next weekend.”
Sure, there was more football to be played this postseason. And in terms of the level of competition, I could almost guarantee that next week’s game would be even more intense than this one had been. But on a personal level, the significance of this particular matchup was one that I hoped to never have to experience again, the thought of all it represented making me look over at Anastasia and just shake my head as if to say, “If only you knew.”
She didn’t know.
She’dneverknow.
Hell, Kendall and I hadn’t even talked about it again beyond the initial conversation out of fear of being overheard. But from the emotionally exhausted look on his face when he emerged from the locker room to greet us after the game, I could tell he’d experienced the same overwhelming moment of relief that I had, especially once he rested his heavy head against my shoulder and sighed, “We did it, Shake.”
“No,youdid it,” I told him as I wrapped him in a hug.
“But I couldn’t have done it without you,” Kendall expressed, finding my eyes to explain, “You gave me something to keep fighting for.” And while the sentiment had me grinning from ear-to-ear, I shouldn’t have been surprised when his kind words took a bit of a turn once he added,“Oh,and seeing your bitch ass ex as the only person standing in the way of me getting that touchdown might’ve had a little somethin’ to do with it too.”
Thinking of just how foolish Kendall had made Enzo look when he ran his ass over on his way into the end zone made it impossible for me not to giggle at the memory. But it was what had happened between them once the game was over that really had me intrigued, my lips pulled into a curious grin when I said, “Speaking of him…I saw you two share some words on the field after the game. What was that about?”
Of course, it wasn’t uncommon for players from both teams to display good sportsmanship by showing their competitors a little love. But knowing there was none of that between Kendall and Enzo was enough to raise an eyebrow when I saw the two of them approaching each other after the Skyhawks had won. And while I could only imagine what was actually said during their brief chat, it felt like the cherry on top of an already spectacular day when Kendall answered, “Let’s just say we won’t ever have to worry about that nigga again.”
