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For as long as it took that woman to find her balance, logic tells me that ball is hitting the ground. But I hope—and Coco says there’s power in hope.
Maybe there is. Because somehow, Meredith’s hands clasp around that leather ball. She hugs it to her chest, her blue eyes shining and her chin dropping—she’s every bit as surprised as I am.
“Run!” Jude tells her from the ground.
She does, slipping into their designated end zone with ease.
I drop Owen with Meredith’s hoots of joy. That look on her face—that bliss—that’s why I’m here, why I’m mentally remembering every single item on her list.
Excitement spills out from her. She comes running, and I am ready to rejoice with her. This was my idea and this is her moment. And that look on her face is so worth it.
A smack to the head would have been less staggering when she runs past me and leaps at my brother, wrapping him into a hug.
“Nice going, team!” Owen tells her.
Of course, she’s hugginghim—Owen is her teammate.
The embrace is short and chaste and it pisses me off beyond belief.
“Our ball!” Cooper calls, picking up the football Meredith dropped back in the end zone.
I charge past Owen, toward Coop and Miles, ramming my shoulder into Owen’s as I go.
Owen rubs his neck though, not his shoulder. “Really, Levi, a headlock?”
“Just doing my job,” I say, smacking the shoulder I just rammed into—sure it’s a little harder than a brotherly tap, but he’s tough. He can handle it.
“I would like to catch the ball,” Alice announces in our huddle. “I liked that dance Meredith did back there.”
“Umm…” Coop looks from Alice to me.
But I have a plan, one that’s quickly forming. “Don’t look at me,” I say. “She’s team captain.”
My ever-competitive brother sighs. “Got it.”
We break and I tap Coop’s shoulder, whispering my plan into his ear.
We stand in formation until Coop hollers, “Hike!” Then, we’re off.
Meredith covers me. “This is fun,” she says, looking at me and not at Cooper.
I give her a small wink and juke around her, passing her by for Alice. Who has just been tossed the football, exactly one foot away from where Cooper stands. The end zone is far away for her tiny, little legs. But then, who wants to tackle the seven-year-old?
Only Alice doesn’t run. She holds the ball to her chest and starts to spin. Her victory dance—except we haven’t made a touchdown yet. I’m prepared to block for her. But the girl is going nowhere.
So, I scoop her up, set her on my shoulders, and jog her all the way down the field. Apparently, no one will tackle a guy carrying a seven-year-old either.
24
Meredith
Our game lasts a solid hour and by the end of it, I am exhausted. I love yoga and football! Who would have guessed? And while I’m not planning to go pro anytime soon, by the end of the game I understand my role better. I’ve enjoyed myself. Even if my team lost—horribly.
Nobody wanted to take the stardom away from Alice. Jude tackled her once—and his daughter was extremely offended. None of us attempted again.
I can officially check off number eighteen. And I’ll play again. That’s part of this list too. Yes—experience. But also, I’m realizing, it’s helping me discover things I might love, things I might even be good at.
We all head back to Levi’s house for breakfast—but I’m the only non-family member here, and that has me a little on edge. Not afraid. I am not afraid of being the odd man out. But I can’t deny the nerves I feel skyrocketing inside my skin as we walk into Levi and Lucy’s home.
