“We just want you to know the team are behind you one hundred and ten percent. Whatever you decide, we’ve got your back,” Ash said.
“Always,” Jase added and I don’t know who was more shocked. Asher, me, or Hailee.
“Yeah, yeah,” he grumbled. “Don’t get too used to it. I’m still the cold-hearted bastard you all love to hate.” His hard gaze skirted over to Felicity who pretended not to notice.
But I noticed.
I only hoped Hailee didn’t because I didn’t want tonight to end in drama. I wanted to enjoy the moment—my friends, my team, and my girlfriend co-existing in one of my favorite places.
After weeks of uncertainty, of feeling pulled in different directions, I finally felt like I could breathe. And I knew it was largely down to Hailee. She made all the other shit disappear. She kept me sane in the quiet moments, the moments where my thoughts turned dark and went to places I didn’t want to be.
And although it was early days, I knew I didn’t want to be anywhere she wasn’t.
Without thinking, I jumped up on the nearest empty booth and waited for the place to go silent. Hailee stared up at me as if I’d lost my mind. And maybe I had, but if life had taught me anything over the last couple of weeks, it was that you never knew what was around the corner.
“I just want to say a few words.”
My teammates all made a ruckus, stamping on the floor and banging on tables.
“Show the guy some respect,” Jerry yelled from his position behind the bar, and I gave him an appreciative nod.
When everyone hushed, I continued, “At the beginning of this week, I’ll be honest, I didn’t know if I’d ever put on my jersey again. Football is important to me, but it’s not everything. Family is what matters.” My eyes found my best friends. “Friendship, having each other’s backs, being there when things hit rock bottom, that’s what makes being a Raider special. Is the thrill of the win, addictive? Hell yeah, it is. But it’s knowing that if you lose, if your dreams go up in flames in front of your eyes, that you’ll still have a team, a family, there to shoulder the burden with you.
“By now, you all probably know my family had some bad news recently. And it made me question everything I thought I knew. But regardless of what the next few weeks bring, one thing’s for certain, I’ll always be a Raider. And I couldn’t think of a better team to win State with.”
“Does that mean you’re sticking around?” Grady yelled and I fought a smile.
“Well, you’ll be needing your star wide receiver, won’t you?”
“Hells yeah.” He grinned and the place erupted.
Jase and Ash were on me the second I leaped down off the bench. Jase grabbed the back of my neck and pressed his head to mine, his eyes saying everything I knew he never would. And then Ash joined us, his arms looped around both our necks, pulling us close. “Thank fuck, I don’t have to lose any more sleep over whose side I’m on.”
A moment of understanding passed between the three of us. We were on the precipice of something, we could all feel it. All we had was this moment before everything changed.
“Do you think you’ll commit when the scouts come out next week?” Ash asked and my eyes found Hailee standing with Felicity by the bar.
“Yeah, I’m going to commit.”
Football was a part of me, a part of who I was. And I owed it to myself, to my family to see where it took me.
“Well don’t keep us hanging. Where’s it going to be?”
“Michigan,” I said without hesitation. “I’m going to commit to Michigan.”
It was a rash decision, one I knew I’d need to talk to my parents about, not to mention Hailee. But life was precious, and I didn’t want to spend a minute wasting it. If things went south with Mom, I’d cross that bridge when it came. We still had nine months before college. A lot could change between now and then.
But here, in this moment, I wanted the dream.
I wanted football.
And the girl.
Hailee
“Oh my god, it’s so big.”
“I know something that’s big,” Asher turned around and flashed Flick a wicked grin.