Page 130 of Catching Kyle
Chapter 44
Kyle Weaver
It’ssnowingatthePortland stadium today, which would be momentous on its own. But it’s also Championship Game Sunday, and the day I prove my love to Michael. The crowd quiets as the two teams huddle around the camera on center field. Ezekiel, our team captain, steps forward and faces the Vanguards’ team captain, the referees to our side. Since they’re the visiting team, they get to do the coin toss. One of their sponsors comes forward as the head referee says a few words. The Vanguards call tails. The sponsor flips the coin. The coin lands tails up, and the crowd goes wild. That means we’re receiving this half.
Ezekiel and I walk next to each other. Since I’m defense, I gotta sit this one out. I pat his back, wishing him luck. He grabs me by the shoulder pads and looks right in my eyes, then offers a solemn nod. A wish of luck. And I know this wish isn’t just for the game but for our plan that’s been weeks in the making.
Our team lined up, waiting for the kickoff, I can feel my heart pound everywhere in my body. But I don’t know which has me more nervous: the fact that this is the most important game that I’m playing for myself rather than my daddy, or the plan to win Michael back for good. I’ve been too preoccupied to check the suites before the game, so I don’t know if he’s actually come. I really, really hope he’s here. Or else I’ll do all this for nothing.
The Vanguards kick the ball, and the game begins. And already, it’s like two titans battling it out. The Tigers know how to run a ball, but the Vanguards know how to stop it. I truly don’t know who’s gonna win this.
Having some time out, I search the suites around the stadium for any hint of Kyle, Amani, Jessica, or any of his friends. In all the commotion of the Championship Game, I’ve completely forgotten where I sat them. But even if I did remember where I put them, the snow is falling too much now for me to see clearly. I blink the snow out of my eyes, trying to get a better look, but it doesn’t matter anymore. Because the Vanguards have already taken possession of the ball, and it’s time for me to get out there.
Ezekiel stops me on the field as we swap places. “Give ‘em hell,” he says.
“One last time,” I say, patting him on the shoulder.
Chapter 45
Michael Cunningham
SoI’mhere.Atthe Championship Game. And I can’t fucking believe it. On the jumbotron, I’ve seen like fifteen celebrities. And they’re all in private suites just like me. This is insane. Amani, her new girlfriend Angie, Skye, Josue and I all sit together, the snow falling outside making us squeeze together for warmth. I thought Ricardo or some other reporters would give Amani shit for showing up to the game as Kyle’s ex, but we’ve not been bothered.
We all watch Kyle, cheering him on. It’s 0 – 6, the Vanguards already having scored a touchdown. I’m trying to send as much love to the Tigers as I can. Even as someone who’s just recently gotten into football, this is intense.
Jessica, Kyle’s girlfriend, is here too. She’s sitting separate from us, though, with some other people I don’t recognize. I know she and Amani get along, but for obvious reasons, I want nothing to do with her.
As we watch the game, I can’t help but think why Kyle wanted me here. Susan mentioned this could be his way of showing his love rather than just saying it, but I’m unsure how. Because what will happen after the game is over? He’ll probably be interviewed, regardless of who wins. And then he’ll go home with Jessica.
A wave of dread crashes over me. Why the hell did I go through all the trouble of being here?
Amani tugs on my arm. “What’s wrong?” she asks. “You got that look.”
I shake my head. “I’m just—you know.”
“I’m glad you’re here,” she says. “Kyle really wanted you here too.”
“That’s what I’ve been told,” I say. “But I don’t know why, really.”
“Does there need to be a reason?”
I look at her like she called me a slur. “Of course there does. After what’s happened to us?”
“I thought you guys talked.”
“Yeah,” I say. “And not much came of it.”
The entire room around us tenses as the Vanguards reach their last down, and Amani and I look down at the field. Tension sucks the noise right out of our room as the Vanguards snap the ball. Their quarterback throws it out to their wide receiver, someone already saw it coming. Kyle, already having broken past their players, jumps up. And he successfully intercepts the ball.
Our suite gets so loud that I want to cover my ears. The stadium is going ballistic. The first Weaver interception of the game.
He’s eventually tackled, but he got some yards back to the Tigers, and the ball is now in their possession.
The Vanguards call a timeout, and this is the one thing I hate. Somehow these two minutes turn into something way longer. I’m just surprised that the Vanguards are using theirs so early.
Somebody taps me on the shoulder. I turn and almost recoil when I see Jessica, her perfect blonde hair cascading down from her Tigers beanie. I hate to admit it, but she’s even more pretty up close. To think that this woman has slept with Kyle…
“I know how weird this might be,” she says.
