We line up for the familiar handshake, and as soon as Clayville’s team departs, our spectators pour on the field. My mom is the first to reach me.
“Congratulations, Maeve! I’m so proud of you!” she tells me as she gives me a big hug.
“Thanks, Mom,” I reply, hugging her tightly.
Sarah and Brooke reach me next, both vibrating with excitement. Sarah grabs me first. I’m hugging Brooke when Maggie comes bounding over.
“Maeve! I’m so sorry I missed the game. Practice ran long, or else I would have been here sooner. Congratulations!” She gives me a big hug.
“Practice ran long?” Brooke asks when we pull apart. “You must miss the Glenmont squad. We didn’t even have practice this week.”
Maggie groans. “You have no idea. We were supposed to coordinate with the football team to prepare for tonight, but apparently their captain’s meeting got moved and no one told us. Natalie made us stay late to make sure we’re ready. I swear, if the season wasn’t almost over, I’d be tempted to quit.”
I wasn’t sure if Brooke and Sarah saw Wes here, but the glances they both give me following Maggie’s words confirm they did.
Because we all know who the captain of Alleghany’s football team is.
“What? What did I miss?” Maggie asks, tracking the direction of their stares.
My father and brother chose to watch football film instead of coming to my game. My mother was fifteen minutes late thanks to her “quick stop” at the office. And Wes moved the Alleghany football team’s meeting on the day they’re playing Glenmont so he could be here. For me.
I’m not sure whether to laugh at the irony or start crying.
“Not what. Who,” Brooke replies. “A certain quarterback who apparently moved his entire team’s pre-game meeting so he could watch Maeve kick some ass.”
Maggie gasps. “Weston Cole was here?”
“You just missed him,” Sarah adds.
All three of them look at me. I shrug. “I have no idea why he was here. He dumped me last night. Again. Still. We’re done.”
Brooke scoffs. “Yeah, right.”
“What? You’re the one who said he’s a player, and I was stupid to get involved with him.”
“That was before I saw you two together. Weston Cole is seriously smitten with you. He came to a Glenmont party to help you because you sent him a drunk text. Do you know how many guys I’ve sent drunk texts to? A lot. I don’t even know. How many do you think have shown up to see if I’m okay? That I do know. Zero.”
“He knows I don’t usually drink. I’m sure he just felt obligated. It’s not like he could text you or Sarah and check.”
“It seemed a lot more like love than obligation. I was doubtful when you told us he said it. Because it means a lot more to act like it. I hadn’t had a chance to see it. But he does act like it, Maeve.”
One of my teammates rushes over to grab me for a group picture, and I say goodbye to my best friends. Honestly, I’m grateful for the interruption. I thought I’d finally settled where Wes and I stand.
Him coming here? Brooke’s words? Sends things back into a disarray I’m not sure if I’m equipped for.
An hour later, I sit on my front porch stairs, sipping on a mug of steaming tea. The door opens and closes behind me.
“You want to tell me what’s wrong, Maeve?” My mother takes a seat next to me on the top step and gives me a searching look. “You should be thrilled after winning that game. You were incredible.”
I sigh. High school students aren’t the only gossips in this town. She’ll likely hear it eventually.
“I have feelings for someone… inconvenient.”
My mother nods once. “Weston Cole.”
I look over at her, surprised. “How do you know that?”
“Call it a mother’s intuition.” I raise my eyebrows. “And I may have found an Alleghany jersey with his name on it under your bed a couple weeks ago.”