AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Liam!”
I glance up to see a green jersey walking toward me. I stand, taking in another surreal moment. My teammates give the opposing quarterback wary looks. A few are also awed.
Wes reaches me and holds out a hand to shake.
I surprise us both by turning it into a hug. “You played well, man,” I say.
“Nah, be a dick about it, Liam,” he tells me, grinning. “You beat our asses.” Wes punches my arm and walks away, back toward his own bench.
I get swallowed by a mass of congratulations.
The crowd is still standing and screaming, and I finally let myself look. I know approximately where the family section is located, but I’ve never let my attention waver from the field during a game. Or even after. I usually head straight to the locker room with the rest of the team.
But this is a moment I want to share. I spot them and start that way. The security guards are busy keeping fans from coming on the field. They’re not worried about me walking off. I hop the short barricade and take the steps up to the third row in few easy strides. My mom is at the far end. She gives me a big hug and then steps aside quickly, so I can reach my dad. She knows what this moment means—to the both of us.
My dad doesn’t say anything at first. He grips the back of my jersey tightly as he embraces me, and we stand like that for a minute. “Proud of you, son,” he finally says, his voice thick with emotion.
“Thanks, Dad.”
He pulls back and smiles. I move on to Maeve. She’s wearing Wes’s home jersey, but despite Lincoln’s loss, there’s a wide smile on her face as she gives me a hug. “Congrats, Liam.”
Finally, I reach Natalie. She wraps her arms around my neck and her legs around my waist, holding me tightly despite the fact I’m sweaty and grass-stained.
“I love you.”
I whisper it back, suddenly grateful that this victory never took place in high school. Because if it had, she wouldn’t be celebrating with me. She’d have gone to Alleghany to commiserate, and I’d have been in Glenmont celebrating.
And all I want is to be in the same place she is.
Forever.
THE END
