Sienna grins wildly. “Awesome. Now be a good sport and put this on.” And my roommate shoves a Broncos t-shirt at me. “Hurry up, we’re gonna be late if you dawdle any longer. And I need some snacks and other provisions. I really have to pee too.” She pinches her knees together and does a little dance in the parking lot.
“Have you always been this pushy and I’ve just never noticed?” I narrow my eyes at her as I pull the t-shirt over my black Henley. It’s freezing outside, so what’s another layer? No one will see it under my jacket, and if putting this on will get her to shut up, I’ll do it. Besides, with tens of thousands of fans, it’s not like Rider’s going to notice me.
I close my eyes against the tsunami of emotion that comes whenever I think about him.
It’s one game, Gabriela. You’ll go, you’ll cheer because you’re not a big baby. You’ll enjoy time with Sienna. Afterward you’ll slink off with your tail between your legs and visit Kat and Tori. Then you’ll have time to get your act together.
It all makes sense in my head.
I can be a good sport.
As much as I want to grumble about being dragged to the game, it’s hard to ignore the infectious energy of the crowd as we make our way to our seats. But my wariness grows as we make our way down the stadium steps. Farther and farther we go.
“Where are our seats exactly?”
Sienna mumbles something I can’t quite make out.
“What did you say?”
“They’re in the friends and family section.”
Oh, hell’s bells. “You’re kidding me.” I stop so fast the guy behind me bumps into me and almost sends me sprawling down a flight of concrete stairs.
Sienna turns around and trots up to grab my hand and yanks me along. “I can’t leave you anywhere. Come on. This is awesome.”
When we reach the freakingfront rowand stop in front of the fifty-yard line, I think I might hurl. “So this is the Broncos side? The guys will sit there?” I point to the row of benchesrightin front of us.
“Yuppers. Isn’t it great?” With a hard elbow to my side, she asks, “Aren’t ya glad I made you get decked out?”
I glance around. Everyone, and I mean everyone, is wearing school colors and face paint.
“I… yeah… I mean…” I’m so overwhelmed, I don’t have words.
She hugs me so tightly, I squeak. “Thanks for coming with me today!” Then she starts jumping up and down with me in her arms, so I’m forced to jump like a moron. “I’m psyched to see my guy play.”
“How’s it going?” I ask when she releases me. She hasn’t brought up her mystery man lately, and I didn’t want to pry.
“Awesome.”
“So did my brother give you these tickets or did you get them from your dude?” I had some nosebleed seats my freshman year, but these are insane. I’m not sure Ben can swing seats like these.
She doesn’t get a chance to respond because the announcer comes over the loudspeaker, and yells, “Let’s hear it, Charming! Help us welcome the undefeated Lone Star State Broncos!”
Paradise Cityby Guns N’ Roses blares through the stadium, and eighty thousand fans lose their minds as the guys charge through the smoke-filled tunnel.
I clap and scream too. Sing all the words. I can’t help it.
Bree joins us, and the three of us cheer on the guys. I immediately search for Rider. He’s talking to his coach and looking cool as a cucumber.
God, he’s gorgeous in his football uniform. Those white pants should be outlawed, they’re so sexy on him.
Some girl behind me screams, “I love you, Rider!”
And the man freaking looks my way.
I’m standing in a sea of people, but it feels like he and I are the only two people here. Everything slows down. My heart. The air around me. The earth pauses its rotation around the sun as we stare at each other.
I consider Sienna’s words earlier today about these players being my friends, and I decide I want to be here for Rider. No matter what happens between us, I want to support him. Today is one of the biggest days of his career, and after everything we’ve been through together, the least I can do is cheer for him against his biggest rivals.
