Page 133 of Stealing for Keeps
This time, when I take my spot along the sideline where the team is back on the field preparing for the start of the second half, Austin looks up, and we make eye contact. I will all my feelings to him telepathically. And when he doesn’t seem to understand that, I smile and lift a hand in a wave. He grins back. The rain makeshis dark hair stick to his forehead. My breath catches in my throat.
He has no idea how I feel, and it’s physically painful stopping myself from running out onto the field and telling him right now. I want him to know that I want to be one of the people in his life who always shows up. He has this great family and friends that he can count on, so he doesn’t need me to have his own personal fan club, but I want to be a member of it anyway. Even if it’s too late to be more than friends.
The second half starts with the same intensity as the first. Ralley has a renewed energy and determination. Not two minutes in, they score.
“Goal. One-one, Ralley,” the announcer says.
The crowd groans as the red jerseys on the field celebrate.
The minutes that follow are painful to watch. The other team looks stronger and more rested as our guys make silly mistakes and turnovers that have Coach Collins looking angrier by the second.
Both teams are unable to score, as it’s back and forth with close calls several times. Barrett and the Ralley goalie are ready and working hard to defend their goals.
With two minutes left to play, a Ralley player trips Eli behind the play. Rowan, always ready to stand up for his teammates, gets in the guy’s face. Unfortunately, the ref sees only Rowan’s actions and not what led to them. The ref pulls a yellow card and the crowd gets to their feet to show their support for Rowan. All day, Ralley has been pushing us around, so it’s hard to blame Rowan for losing his cool.
Hunter is subbed in for him. Austin’s jaw is clenched as he walks with Rowan toward the sideline. The twoexchange words, and then Austin holds out his hand in a fist bump. Whatever he said, I know he’s trying to reassure Rowan that he didn’t make a massive mistake.
There’s a hum of excitement as we watch the guys pull themselves together and see a new determination take hold of them. Losing Rowan is a huge loss, but it’s fired them up. They want this so badly.
Lacey and I hold hands, squeezing each other’s fingers tight as the seconds tick down. The score is still tied, and the rain is coming harder. Extra time in these conditions isn’t a guarantee, and there’s a chance they’ll reschedule if they think it’s too risky.
Hunter kicks the ball into play from the corner. Austin dribbles by players, scanning for his teammates. Less than a minute to go now.
Ralley has two guys flanking Vaughn. I can see the irritation all over his face. But even two defenders aren’t enough to keep him from breaking free. In a pass that seems impossible, Austin kicks it up into the air to Vaughn. Ralley immediately shifts toward our best player. Everyone is expecting him to take the shot, so when he jumps up and headbutts the ball, sending it back to Austin, who’s moved to the wing, the other team isn’t ready for it.
I hold my breath as Austin kicks the ball toward the goal. Silence falls over the crowd, the only sound is the steady patter of rain. Time ticks by slowly as the ball soars through the air, cutting through the downpour, before finally slamming into the back of the net seconds before the buzzer sounds.
My heart lurches in my chest and then chaos erupts like I’ve never seen. People are hugging and yelling and jumpingaround. The team is one big huddle on the ground. Even the players from the bench have joined in.
My pulse races with the excitement of it all. They did it! They won!
I bounce up and down with the rest of the Frost Lake fans. The celebration on the field is broken up only long enough for the two teams to shake hands. As soon as the Ralley players leave the field, the bleachers empty and the crowd walks out to congratulate the boys.
“Come on. Let’s go.” Lacey pulls me, but I’m just as giddy and eager to get to Austin. It’s not easy. He has quite the fan club.
Lacey and I hug Rowan and the others while Austin’s family showers him with love. Torrance looks proudly toward her brother and Wyatt beams with excitement. When Austin and his dad hug, I can almost feel his happiness. His dad finally got to see him play.
Rain falls like endless confetti. Water seeps into my shoes as I stand there waiting for him. I lose Lacey as she gets swept up in the crowd. A group of girls from the soccer team runs past me toward Austin. Their excitement is palpable.
I stand on my toes and lean to either side for any small glimpse of him, but they crowd around him in droves. I want to push all of them out of the way and go to him, but there’s a part of me that feels like I’ve lost some of that right.
I ended things so he could have this, and showing up now to tell him that I miss him and I don’t want to go another day without being with him suddenly feels selfish.
I back away and then turn to leave. My steps are slow as I wonder if I’ve made the right decision. Waiting one moreday won’t kill me, although it feels that way with every step I put between us.
“Claire!”
I turn at Austin’s voice. He’s running toward me. The rain is coming down so hard it’s difficult to make out his facial expressions. The crowd parts for him, and a few people reach forward and pat him on the shoulder or back as he goes by. I stop and turn as he comes to a halt in front of me.
There are so many things I want to say to him, but the only thing that comes out is “Congratulations!”
“Where are you going?” he shouts back over the rain. His smile is so big, like a guy who has just secured a conference title.
“You were celebrating with your family and the guys and everyone. I was going to text you later. You were unbelievable. I’m so proud of you.”
“That’s because my favorite cheerleader was here.” Drops of water cling to his dark lashes.
My stomach dips. I have spent a lot of time over the past several months trying to decide what I want. I don’t have all of it figured out, but I know I want Austin.
