Page 125 of The Way We Collide

Every down is a battle. I’ve got big guys forming a wall to keep me from getting open. A rookie cornerback is on Rogers, and he’s a fast one. Tyler’s forced to throw the ball many times, resulting in dumb penalties and turnovers that should’ve been first downs or scores.

At halftime, Coach hands us our asses for being sloppy. He lets me have it for not breaking out and running down the field. He’s right.

We didn’t get here because of luck, and we can play better than this. We have played better than this all season.

Tyler grabs my pads and gives me a shake. “Get clear. I need you.”

Nodding, I study the guys holding me back. It’s two big guys, and they’ve got my routine memorized.

“It’s time to mix it up,” I say, and he nods.

“Keep your eyes on me.”

Tyler and I’ve been playing together long enough that we can read each other’s minds, but their defensive end has come close to sacking him twice.

I do my best to keep him away while dodging the linebackercoming at me, but we don’t make much progress through the next series of downs.

My jaw is tight, and it’s a low-scoring game. We’re at six and three after failing to get the extra point in the last half. Seattle’s kicker is better than ours, and standing on the sidelines watching our D-line work, my mind flashes to Zane. He never missed a point.

Just then the unthinkable happens. Their running back breaks free and makes a thirty-yard break to score. Then their kicker gets the extra point.

Their fans go crazy, and my chest sinks. We only have a few minutes left on the clock, and if we don’t get this, it’s all over. My throat is dry, and Tyler gets in my face.

“It doesn’t end here!” he yells, going from player to player.

We stand behind him, yellingyeah, then we head onto the field. I think of my ladies at home watching us play. I picture Raven chewing on the side of her fingernail, and I’m doing this for her.

Down after down, we slowly make our way closer to the goal. Less than a minute is left, and Tyler runs up, getting in my face.

“See if you can get clear,” he says, and I nod.

I only need a few feet, and I can take it over the corner. Lining up, I just touch turf when the snap happens. My guy heads straight at me, but at the last moment, I dig in with my toes, zagging in the opposite direction.

For once, I’m open, and I turn back to see that fucking DE headed straight for Tyler. Our eyes lock, and he manages to get the pass off just before he goes down.

It’s not a great throw. It’s too high, and it wobbles. The safety is coming at me, but I’m not looking at him. My eyes are on the ball.

I jump, reaching out with both hands as hard as I can while stretching my feet to stay in the zone. We fall together, goingall the way down in the end zone, but I’m holding on with everything I’ve got.

This one’s for the win, and every muscle in my body flexes as I hold the ball tight against my chest. We hit the grass with a loudoof. Our arms are tangled, but I turn onto my side with only half my body outside the goal line.

It’s good, and the stadium explodes. Vince gets to me first, pulling me up, and I stagger to where Tyler is running straight at me.

“We’re going all the way!” he yells, jumping and pulling me into a hug.

The fans go wild, and everybody’s flooding onto the field. It’s chaos, and I wish the girls were here in the box. They’ll be with me for the big win. It’s time to start packing.

31

Raven

I’m hoarse from screaming and jumping around Hendrix’s bedroom.

Haddy conked out at halftime, and I carried her to her crib, grabbing a monitor and taking it to the other side of the house.

I started the game on FaceTime with the family, but after a while, we switched to texting with the girls’ group.

That big guy is not letting Hendrix do anything!!!

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