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As Nicholas walks away, leaving me with hope that Liam and I could still become the winning couple for the show, I feel somewhat pumped.
The halftime buzzer blares. I steady myself for what comes next. Will Liam seek me out? Will he finally address the elephant in the room, or will he continue to keep his feelings locked away like I used to do?
***
LIAM
Energy pulses through my veins as the halftime buzzer sounds. Sweat drips down my forehead, and my heart races. We’re ahead by three points. The game has been fierce, but nothing prepared me for seeing Trina on the sidelines. I almost approached her earlier, but Cool held me back.
He grabs my arm now and gives me the signal. It’s time. Ours and the opposing team’s cheerleaders already know what’s up. They stand along the sidelines, waving their hands and encouraging the audience to clap with them.
The stadium erupts in cheers as our team takes center stage. Time to shine.
Tandy grabs the microphone. Cool, tonight’s self-proclaimed beatboxer, positions himself on one side of the court, ready to unleash his rhythm. The crowd's roar subsides as Tandy speaks.
As Cool starts up in the background, I realize why he told James to forget about the guy in the sound room. In all our years as a team, I’ve never seen this side of Cool. It’s impressive. Even better than his dancing at mine and Trina’s wedding. From the corner of my eye, I sneak a peek in her direction to make sureshe’s watching.
None of this matters if she’s not listening.
Tandy lifts a hand. "Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, welcome to the show. It's time to witness the flow. But first, let me introduce the man of the hour, our star player, Liam Ashley!"
The spotlight finds me, and I push the weight of the game aside and step forward. The court transforms into our personal playground as I take the microphone from Tandy, ready to unleash my emotions.
I take in a breath. This is for Trina. "Yo, yo, let's bring the heat. We're the champions, it's time to compete. We've come this far, we won't back down, we'll fight till the end, and take the crown."
The crowd's energy intensifies, feeding my adrenaline. My teammates join me, forming a tight-knit circle as we sway to the beat of Cool's contagious rhythm. The crowd follows suit, swaying in unison.
Cool’s beatboxing creates the perfect stomping beat, and the crowd joins in. The entire stadium rumbles. They have no idea where I’m going, but they’re in.
Cool or even Coach, must’ve talked to the other team. They drum along with Cool, and one of their guys jumps in with a beat of his own.
We might be competitors during the game, but right now, it’s like we’re family.
I search for Trina as Cool’s beatboxing drops into the background.
This is it. "Now listen up, Trina, this one's for you. It's time to say the words I've been longing to. We've been through thick and thin, ups and downs, but I want you to know, I'm done messing around."
She wraps one arm around her waist. Her microphone dangles from the tips of her fingers. I hold her gaze, willing her to see me and understand that I’m sorry, and I want to make things right.
A second spotlight zooms in on Trina. She shields her eyes at first, then resumes hugging her middle.
Tandy runs up and down the court alongside my teammates. They dance to the beat. Several of them grab basketballs and run through a few of our more intricate practice drills, turning it into a dance.
The cheerleaders keep the crowd in rhythm. My message of love echoes throughout the stadium.
I pick up the next line, grateful Cool stayed late with me last night to make sure I had the words right. "Trina, I'm sorry for the times I let you down. But standing here today, I'm turning it around. Will you take my hand as my wife? I’ll love you forever. Let’s start our new life."
The lyrics hang in the air. My heart pounds until I think it might burst. The crowd falls silent, holding their breath, as if time itself has paused. Then, a smile creeps across Trina's face. Tears shimmer in her eyes.
She lifts the microphone to her lips, says something to the camera guy, then lowers the mic to her chair. Her smile widens, and she moves toward me.
The entire stadium takes a collective breath. This is the moment I’ve waited for all my life. I fell in love with Trina a long time ago.
Once she’s right in front of me, I see the faintest shimmer of tears in her eyes. She takes my microphone and holds it under her chin. Her voice is steady, her eyes latched on mine like I’m the only person she sees. "Liam, you've always been the one for me. I'll gladly be your wife, for all eternity."
The crowd erupts into thunderous applause. Love does conquer all. It might not ensure we win this game, but as far as I’m concerned, I’ve won something infinitely better.
This moment will forever be etched in my memory.
