Page 106 of Hello Quarterback

I looked at my friends, realizing this might be the last game I ever played with them, depending on what Trent decided to do with my contract. “I need to say something.”

They both turned their gazes toward me, and I had to take a breath to keep my voice from shaking. “The last five years, playing with you two, have been the best of my life. Thank you for being my teammates, and thank you for being my friends.” Despite my effort, my voice broke with emotion.

They hugged me back, the three of us together. I knew no matter what happened with my contract, we’d be friends for life, talking about the good old days playing for the Diamonds long after we hung up our gear for the last time.

“Let’s do this,” Krew said.

I nodded, getting my energy up.

Then I went to the bench and got a football from one of the assistants. The second-string quarterback, Krew, and I took tothe side of the field, passing the ball back and forth to warm up. I’d pass the ball to Krew, he’d toss it to Josh, and then Josh would throw it back.

The sound of seventy thousand voices faded into the background, giving way to my breath and the slap of leather falling into my hands, until it was time for the game to begin.

The national anthem was a fever dream, separating warmup from the game. A game that felt so much more like life. There would be plays made today. Good ones, bad ones, fumbles. Ones that set you back and ones that put you ahead.

But in life, I knew I couldn’t lose. Not with Mia by my side.

The offense took to the field for the first play, and Milo looked over his shoulder at me. “You ready for this?”

I glanced to the crowd, to the section where I knew my dad and Mia were sitting. I saw her in my purple jersey, and I smiled. “Let’s fucking go.”

59

MIA

The next four hours—watchingthe game, not knowing how it would unfold, whether Ford would win or lose, whether he would get hurt—were pure torture.

Every time he got knocked down, my heart froze until he stood back up. Every time the other team scored a point, my stomach sank. And when the Diamonds scored a point, adrenaline pounded through my system as I rose to my feet and cheered like a woman possessed.

It was a roller coaster unlike any other game I'd attended before. The score was too close to tell who would win.

But in the last two minutes, Ford ran the ball into the end zone and scored the winning point.

Time seemed to freeze until Gray breathed beside me, “They won.” Then his voice grew louder. “They won!”

It took me a second to realize it, for the words to process, but soon Gray and I were cheering and dancing with everyone in the stands while the clock ran down to zero. The crowd was louder than a thousand thunder crashes as the announcer said that the Diamonds were the official winners of the Super Bowl.

Purple and white confetti rained from the sky, and Gray grabbed my hand. “Let's go to the field. He'll want to see you.”

Ford may have just played the game, but my heart was racing as I followed Gray down the steps and onto the field, running toward the man who held my heart. I jumped into his arms, and he caught me easily, holding me close as confetti continued falling all around us.

“I love you,” I said into his ear. “I love you,” I repeated, tears streaming down my cheeks. This was everything he’d worked so hard for. And now it was finally here.

He held me tighter before setting me on the ground in front of him. I placed my hands on his chest pads while his arms circled around my waist. His eyes were gleaming, tearful with pride, with joy. “I missed you,” he whispered.

I let out a laugh. “It’s just been a day.”

“Promise we won't do that again?” he asked.

I had to smile. “I'm not going anywhere, and I know you won't either.”

He held me again and then lowered his lips to mine.

The world faded away while he held me, while he publicly claimed me on the most important night of his life. The happiest night of mine. And when we broke apart, I wiped away tears as his dad held and congratulated him.

Then the team’s publicist grabbed Ford and said, “It's time for your speech.”

60

---