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We both laugh and do it anyway, laughing as the ball is kicked across the field to start the game.
Aubree grabs my arm. “Mommy, can I be a cheerleader someday?”
My eyes water as I turn to Heather to see if she heard her. Heather is beaming from ear to ear.
I wrap my arm around Aubree. “Of course you can! I think there are programs you can start in just a few years.”
“Yes, Mommy! I want to do it!” She jumps up and down in her seat.
My eyes roam to my husband, who’s sitting on the other side of us, and he laughs.
“So, I guess, after all, we will make this our life again at some point,” he says.
“You have to!” Heather pipes in. “It’s tradition, and we don’t mess with tradition—you know that.”
He closes his eyes and shakes his head, laughing. “We. Never. Mess. With. Tradition.”
CHAPTERFIFTEEN
Sophomore Year
Tonight, we won against our rivals from the next town over in insane fashion with a last-minute Hail Mary, thrown by Aaron to Beau as he crossed into the end zone. My throat still burns from screaming so loud, but it was totally worth it. The entire game was a nail-biter, and just when I thought my heart couldn’t take it anymore, we won!
I’d never seen the crowd go as crazy as it did tonight. Everyone rushed the field, and the referees had to clear them off since there was technically still two seconds on the clock. It was so chaotic that I thought for a minute that they would just throw in the towel, but my dad put his foot down, saying we had to finish the game the right way.
Every single person moved off the field, but stood there on the sideline as we made the extra point. The other team tried for a Hail Mary themselves, only to get blocked by the defensive line, which just made the crowd go insane one more time.
A group of the guys carry Aaron around as others walk around, slapping high fives with each other and the opposing players.
Once they get control over the crowd, Dad is able to form his circle, like he does at the end of every game, to go over the game and hand out the player awards.
This circle is just as much of a tradition as every other aspect of the game, so it is to no surprise; it just took a little longer to make it happen.
Every player takes a knee around my father, who stands in the middle. All the parents, cheerleaders, drill team members, and people who are just fans of the game stand around to hear what my dad has to say for tonight.
“Well,” he starts off, pulling on his belt, the way he always does as he thinks of how to start the big speech, “that was a tough game, but you guys pulled it off. I’m proud of you all.”
I look around at all the players and people around us who watch him intensely, giving him their full attention, as if he’s some kind of god. I guess, around here, he kind of is. The thought makes me laugh. To me, he’ll always just be my dad, but to so many people here right now, he’s so much more.
He talks about the big plays, saying what was good and what they could improve on.
When he holds up a penny, I watch as everyone’s eyes light up.
“Tonight, I have two pennies to give out because I feel they both deserve the high honor. Beau and Aaron, you guys proved why you’re the only sophomores on this team, and tonight, these pennies go to you.”
He throws a penny to each of them, and everyone cheers.
The team stands and gives them high fives and pats on the back before everyone exits the field.
I grab my stuff and start to leave when I hear my name being called.
“Hey, Sadie, wait up.”
I turn around and see Beau running toward me, so I stop and wait for him.
The night we got in the accident changed us all. Even though Sam is out of the hospital, we’ve all been keeping things low-key for a while. I would have thought after our kiss that night, we were instantly together, but none of us really felt okay, going on with our lives like the accident hadn’t happened.
I’m okay with that too. We could have lost a lot more that night, and we all need to let that sink in. For right now, we just talk here and there, but that’s about it. If anything is going to happen between us, it will take time to figure it out, and I’m in no rush.
