Page 60 of Hard Count
I finally spot an opening with Lucas. I launch the ball just as I’m being taken down. Everything that could go wrong does all at once. I get knocked on my ass, the ball gets picked off, and the clock runs out.Fuck!
“I’m sorry. He came out of nowhere,” Lucas says as we can congratulate the other team on the field.
“It wasn’t your fault. Nothing to be sorry about.” I slap Lucas on the back and run up to Bowman, Texas’s quarterback.
“Good game, Pierce,” Bowman says.
“Shouldn’t I be the one telling you that?”
“I have a feeling we’ll be seeing you again before the season ends.” He slaps my back and runs off with his team.
I jog back to our sideline, congratulating more of the Texas team as I go. This is our first loss of the year and it’s leaving a sour feeling in my stomach. We should have won. We should have had it. If it weren’t for my mistakes…
“Don’t beat yourself up,” Coach says. “You fought hard. The media is going to try and focus on the first half of the game but don’t let them. You remind them of how you came back. You didn't quit working for the win and that's what's important.”
“I ended the game with an interception.”
“Your throw was not the problem. You were on target. It was out of your control.” He clasps a hand on the top of my shoulder.
He might be right but it doesn’t eliminate the anxiety thrumming through my body.I need Drew. My eyes find hers looking back at me with concern. I step toward the stands.
“Interviews first,” Coach says. I give him a nod but I don’t plan on making her wait long. I need to feel her in my arms the second I’m done talking to the press.
“Eli, wait up,” I shout. He’s on his way to see Frankie. “Can you get Drew for me? I have to get ready for interviews but I want her there.”
“Yeah, man. I’ll bring her to see you.”
“Thanks.” We shake hands and hug one-handed. Drew’s brows bend in confusion when I back away from Eli and catch up to where Coach Prescott is waiting for me. Hopefully she understands why I’m not able to see her first like I usually do. When we win, the press allows us a little more time to celebrate. As the quarterback of the losing team, I’m expected to explain where everything went wrong and how we plan on coming back.
I take off my pads and head straight to our press room. I answer their questions the best I can without showing how on edge I actually feel. I focus on the positive aspects of the game and avoid dwelling on my mistakes like Coach said. We've lost games before but this one feels different.
The past few weeks I’ve been playing like I used to in high school. I’ve had my confidence back. The mental exercises I’vebeen practicing with Drew have been working. And now, it feels like I’m spiraling back to where I was before the season started.
Leaving the press room, I’m immediately searching for Drew. “Where is she?” I ask Eli when I spot him in the locker room. His face falls. “Where is she?” I ask again, a little more aggressively than I should be toward my best friend.
“Frankie took her home.”
“What? Why? What happened?”
“I don’t know. Frankie sent me a text from her car and said she was taking Drew home and would meet me at our house.” He shrugs. “Sorry. That’s all I have.”
I change, shower, and make it to her apartment in record time. I don’t understand what happened to make her leave without me. My skin is itchy below the surface. I won't be able to calm down until I have eyes on her.
Knocking a few times, I rest my head on the door while I wait for her to answer. There’s a sense of desperation swimming in my veins. The door opens and my eyes lock with hers. I don’t hesitate. I sweep her into my arms and bury my face in her neck.
“Why didn’t you wait for me?” I ask, brushing her hair off her face.
“You walked off with my dad. I thought you wanted—needed—space after a loss. I didn’t think you wanted me around.”
I set her down on her couch. Then I close and lock her front door. “Is Frankie still here?” I ask. She shakes her head. “Baby.” I get on my knees in front of her. “I need you. You are thefirst person—the only person—I want to be around whether I win orlose. I don’t just want you around when things are going well. I need you for the tough shit too.” I run my hands up her bare thighs and give them a squeeze.
“I didn’t know. I’m sorry.” She exhales a shaky breath. I change positions and sit beside her. She climbs into my lap and pulls my head against her chest. Minutes pass as she holds me and everything fades into the background. All I hear is the steady thrum of her heart beating in her chest.
“This is exactly what I needed,” I mumble. “Thank you, baby.” I tighten my hold on her.
“You played really well.” Her fingers skim the back of my head, calming my frayed nerves. “You stayed composed and in charge the whole game. You were sharp and made smart decisions.”
“And we still lost because of an interception.”
