Page 20 of Remember Me

“I'm glad you'll be there. You know, for both things.”

“Wouldn’t miss it for the world. I love you, Tan Tan. You’re the best.” Her smile was genuine and she pushed onto her tiptoes, giving me another hug. Only this time, it was tighter. “Now go win a Super Bowl and get engaged. Preferably in that order.” She looked up to the ceiling. “Wait, maybe I shouldn’t say that because if you don’t win, we might be waiting another five years for a proposal.”

“Pyro,” Jackson warned. He clapped his hands on her shoulder and started to steer her in the other direction. “Good luck, man. I believe in you.”

And with that, she stepped back and looped her arm through Jackson’s, letting him tug her away while she talked to him about camera angles.

I stood there for a moment. My heart was thudding because before that conversation, I’d managed to let myself believe this was like any other game. Now, the true weight of what came after was lying heavy on me.

Would she say yes? Of course she would. She all but admitted she would five years ago when she accidentally found my grandmother’s ring in my bag. It resulted in me being an idiot and running away before we could talk it through. I was embarrassed; she was mortified because I left her with her parents to pick up the pieces.

We were in a different place now. Not only were we older, but I’d already finished my rookie contract and was now going to be a Crossbill for another seven years, at least. Aster had finished her masters and I would be working within the charitable division of my team. She focused on the kids at work and how to help them make the best out of whatever challenges they may face.

Of course she went for something to help others. That was so Aster. Selfless. Focused, and always ready to help.

I could feel myself smiling in this empty hallway as I thought about my girlfriend. I had it bad, but I knew that the minute I stood up to her against that idiot Connor back in college. She was everything then, and she’s everything now.

I reached into my pocket for what must have been the twentieth time that morning and ran my hand over the small velvet box tucked safely inside. The ring had been burning a hole in my pocket for weeks now… years even. My grandmother’s ring. I already knew she loved it.

I turned on my heels, darting down the hallway because I was already late. “Pull it together, man,” I muttered to myself.

My phone buzzed, cutting through my spiral of doubt. It was a text from Devin:You still coming?

I texted back a quick thumbs up and headed straight to the conference room.

The game first, then the proposal. One life-changing event at a time.

When I got to the room the door opened and Dean Reeves, one of the newest defensive ends, came walking out with his five-year-old son, Levi asleep in his arms.

“Hey, Tanner,” he said, quietly as not to disturb his son. He’d only been on our team for a couple of months after the Crossbills claimed him off of waivers before the play-offs, which meant he hadn’t been part of any of the team building throughout the season. It was a hard adjustment for him, since he was also going through a messy divorce, but Devin was adamant he was an asset to the team.

“Hey. Is Devin in there?”

He nodded and made his way down the hall.

I stepped into the room and found Devin leaning over a whiteboard, arms crossed, eyes narrowed as he studied one of the formations we’d been practicing all week. He didn’t look up when I entered.

“Took you long enough,” he muttered.

“I got held up by my sister, her boyfriend, and my girlfriend who keeps watching me as though she knows I’m up to something.”

“Ah,” he said, finally turning around with a smirk. “So, the usual.”

Devin Walker was the heart of our defense, the most focused and brutal player I’d ever shared a field with—and also one of my closest friends. We’d captained this team together through the worst of rebuild seasons and into the best playoff run in franchise history. I’d trust him with my life.

“What’s the plan?” I asked, stepping up beside him.

He tapped the board. “The Snakes are gonna try to blitz early and often. I told Coach to expect heavy pressure in the first quarter. They’re going to want to rattle you.”

I nodded, already flipping through scenarios in my head. “Screen left to Reeves, then deep right to Mathers on the second drive.”

“Exactly what I was thinking.” Devin gave me a quick side glance. “And if they go into nickel early?”

“Delay the release and have Jones chip the weak side.”

Devin nodded, his approval wordless but obvious. “You’re ready.”

“Yeah,” I said, but my voice lacked conviction.

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