Page 2 of Forever

As it turns out, destiny and I don’t get along well. I had to switch planes in two different airports and the plane was late because of a storm. Now we are all really, really, really late to the most important game of my boyfriend’s life. Which makes me one extremely shitty girlfriend. I can only hope we make it there before it’s over.

Sienna takes a step back and looks down at me. Of course, she has her high heels on, even though we are going to a football game. She’s paired them up with dark skinny jeans and J.D.’s jersey—a Mrs. J.D. Shelton jersey he specifically made for her when they married less than a year ago.

Sometimes I still can’t believe it. Two people that were so skeptical about love fell hard and fast, and now they are married.

“It’s good to have you home.”

We smile at each other knowingly. If anybody knows and understands what all this cost me, and I’m not talking in the monetary sense, it’s Sienna. The bond we formed two years ago is strong and unbreakable and something simply ours.

“I hate to interrupt this mushy reunion, but we have a game to go to and we are way too late, so move it.”

Turning around, we look at Grace, J.D.’s little sister, who is standing behind Sienna waiting for us. Her piercing green eyes, just like her brother’s, are narrowed and she’s pouting. I don’t know her well, but she seems like a sweet kid. When she isn’t a cranky teenager, that is. And I know Sienna loves her like her own kid.

Grace’s crankiness is forgotten when I see what she’s holding in her hands.

“Is this for me?” Without actually waiting for an answer, I take one cup from the holder and bring it to my lips. The strong smell of coffee and its bittersweet taste overcome all my senses. I drink almost half of it in one go before I’m ready to admit my body also needs to breathe.

“I thought you may need it.” Sienna smiles at me, putting one hand around my shoulders. “The other one’s also for you. Now let’s go. We have a game to win.”

“Finally!” Grace grumbles and starts marching in front of us.

Sienna and I share a look behind her back and laugh quietly at her perkiness but follow behind.

“What do you need a suitcase for anyway?” Sienna asks and opens the back door so I can put it in the trunk of her car. “I thought William bought you enough clothes to last you a lifetime.”

“These are books, not clothes.” I put the heavy thing in the trunk and close the door behind me.

“Why do you need the books?”

We get in the car, and Sienna pulls out of the parking space and starts driving toward the Steel Stadium. Not only did the guys get all the way to the finals, but the Super Bowl game is played in their own stadium.

“I’m here just a couple of short days, and I have to study because the day after I return back to Croatia I have an exam and then another one a few days later.”

Sienna sighs loudly. “I don’t envy you at all.”

“Hurry up, Si!” Grace leans between the seats. “We are going to miss it, and J.D. will kill us.”

Sienna looks at Grace’s reflection in the rearview mirror and rolls her eyes. “They are concentrated on the game. They won’t even know we are not there.”

But that doesn’t stop her from pushing down on the gas.

Streets are packed. The closer we move to the stadium there are more cars and more people. Bars and shops are all decorated in Knights’ colors—greys, red, and white.

Under the coat I’m wearing, I have on the hoodie William gave me that first game. Every time we are together I make him wear it just before he leaves so I have a little piece of him even when he’s gone. I have to wash it eventually, but I put it off as long as possible so I can inhale his clean, manly scent even when he’s miles away.

When we finally, finally, come to the stadium, Sienna goes straight to the players’ parking lot. She barely has enough time to stop the car, and we are all out, running toward the VIP entrance. The guy that stands at the entrance notices us running and opens the door without asking any questions.

From our conversations, I know that Sienna and Grace go to every home game to watch J.D. play, and sometimes they even travel to away games, so everybody around here knows the two of them.

The roar of the crowd is deafening when we enter the stadium. If it’s so loud back here I’m afraid of how it’ll be once we get out there.

“There are less than two minutes left on the clock, people. Both teams are even, so this last play is make or break. Knights have the ball, but is that enough to make them the next champion?”

We stand still, listening to the commentator. We look at each other in silence and start running toward the exit.

To the bleachers.

To the men we love.

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