Page 78 of Dump Tackle My Heart
I smash him mid-sprint, chest to chest, shoulder to ribs, momentum wrecked, breath stolen.
He hits the turf so hard it echoes. Crowd goes nuts.
And I don’t stop.
Every scrum, I’m in his face.
Every ruck, I hit harder.
He tries to talk shit again, but I just smile as I drop him. Again. And again.
Because, other players? They get rattled. They let their tempers run wild.
But not me.
I channel it.
I become steel.
I become fury with rules.
I becomea Rover.
When I finally drive the ball into the zone for the winning try—when the whistle blows and the announcer screams our victory—it’s not the roar of the crowd I’m listening for.
It’s the gasp I hear from the sidelines.
The camera snapping.
Her smile.
Dani’s already rushing toward the field.
And as I lift my mud-slicked arms in triumph, blood on my lip, pride in my chest, I know exactly where I’m going next.
To her.
Because this win?
It’s for the team.
Buteverything else?
It’s forher.
CHAPTER 26-DANIELA
The final whistle blows,and the stadiumerupts.
The Rovers just took the win, but more than that?
Hudsonearnedhis nickname tonight.
“Wow! They sure call himTankfor a reason!” Finley shouts, clapping and whistling next to me.
“Damn right they do,” I reply proudly.
I mean, the manobliteratedthe field tonight.
