Page 38 of Comeback
“No, I’m with Brogan’s fiancée, London.” The concourse is starting to clear out and the National Anthem is playing.
“I better go,” I say quietly into the phone.
“All right, honey. Have fun.”
“I will.” I pause. “Love you guys.”
“We love you too,” Mom says, and I wait until she hangs up before I pull the phone away from my ear.
I take a deep breath, relaxing in a way I haven’t in days. Being back here away from them has been hard, but talking to them always makes me feel better.
My mood has lifted significantly by the time I make it back to my seat. The teams are both on the field and a few seconds have ticked down on the clock.
London smiles big. There’s a hint of concern as she takes me in, but she doesn’t question me and I’m grateful.
Seeing a football game in person is exciting. The atmosphere is like a big party and every time the Mavericks are on offense, the stadium cheers so loudly that it’s impossible not to get caught up in it all.
London brings both hands up to cup her mouth and yells, “Let’s go, Six!” as Brogan gets set at the line of scrimmage. Instinctively I find number six and then immediately look for number eighteen.
I finally locate him on the sideline. His helmet is on, and his back is to me, but I can practically feel the adrenaline coming off him in waves. Archer shifts his weight from side to side, holding the neck of his jersey with both hands.
I’m still watching him when the crowd around me gets to their feet, including London.
I glance to the field where the Mavericks have gained twenty yards. Brogan’s teammates are hitting him on the helmet and London is yelling for him.
I clap along with the home crowd, but my gaze goes back to Archer. His profile is to me now and his body language is all pride and adoration. My insides go soft. The friendship they share is beautiful. I doubt they’d love me calling it that, but I can think of no better word.
London turns to me, breaking my focus from the field.
“I knew it was going to be a good game,” she says. “Brogan wants to show off for his little sister.”
That thought never occurred to me, but it makes me smile anyway.
But no matter how much I try to focus on Brogan, my gaze keeps going back to Archer. He finally takes the field halfway through the first quarter. His every movement is powerful and athletic. He doesn’t get the ball, but I watch him just the same.
Last night he was a calming force when I was anxious and scared. It’s the first attack I’ve had in a while. My asthma is generally under control. When I get really stressed it’s the worst. And I guess moving, adjusting to three new roommates, undertaking a new career, mixed with the hundreds of layers of dust that I was surrounded by yesterday was too much for my lungs to handle.
As I watch Archer, I notice a lot of things. Like how his teammates and coaches are thoughtful of his hearing loss. It’s subtle things that other people might not notice. Like how Brogan elbows him gently to get his attention or the quarterback speaks in the huddle looking directly at Archer. At one point, I even catch Tripp signing on the sideline with him.
By the end of the game, the Mavericks have extended their lead by twenty-one points and the crowd can’t get enough.
“I forgot how exciting it is to be here in person!” I’m clapping along with everyone else as the Mavericks celebrate the win. Reporters and cameras flood the field to interview the players and capture photos.
Our phones buzz at the same time and a heartwarming smile pulls at my lips as I read it, then glance up at London.
Brogan sent a group text to Archer, London, and me. Two words.Let’s party!
The atmosphere at the bar is similar to the stadium. Lots of Mavericks players are here and people huddle around them. Most give them space, but they hover close enough to watch and feel the excitement that radiates off them.
“What’d you think?” Brogan asks me as he leans one hip against the bar. Someone thrust a beer in his hand the moment he walked in, and he lifts it now to his lips, taking a generous drink.
“It was so much fun. It’s been years since I saw a game in person. And you were on fire tonight.”
His crooked smile pulls high, making him look almost boyish in his glee. “I’m so glad you came. It was the coolest looking over and seeing you and London in the crowd together.”
“And this one actually knows the game.” London slips in between me and Brogan. He wraps an arm around her and pulls her close.
“You do too. All those lessons with Merrick paid off.”
