I’m slow to stand, mostly because this is the moment I’ve feared since I was injured.
The first hit.
But when I’m upright and take a step back toward the line of scrimmage, my knee feels great.
Fuck yeah. Let’s do this.
It’s a tight game. Thomas gets his bell rung once, but bounces back after the sack. I get possession several times and ring up some decent yardage. Except I’m not aiming for decent.
After halftime, we get a lead but lose it on the next possession. By the fourth quarter, we’re still down. Coach is screaming on the sidelines, but the crowd is so loud, I have no idea what he’s saying.
We’re behind by one TD and have the ball at the forty-yard line.
On the next snap, Thomas finds me about eight yards away. Diesel sets a screen for me, and I blast around a defenseman, break two tackles, and slip downfield for a touchdown. The whole stadium chants my name when the megatron throws up a photo of me.
We make the field goal, and the win is in the books.
When the game’s over, I take a second to soak it in—my family and girlfriend being in attendance, the awesome crowd, how good it feels to be a part of a team like this one.
Thomas is grinning from ear to ear, and we bro-hug. “You made that look easy, dude,” I say. “I’m gonna start calling you that. Easy.” Easy Thomas has a nice ring to it.
“Back at ya, man.”
I couldn’t have asked for a better return to the game. Everyone congratulates me, and I’m riding a high like I’ve never experienced. I’m so damn proud of myself, I feel like a bantam rooster with my chest puffed out. My phone blows up with congratulations from friends and former teammates. Johnny, Ben, Rider, Sienna, and even Amelia—they all watched my game.
I’m walking on water.
Until I get home that night.
56
OLLY
It’s early, only seven in the evening, but the lights in the house are all off, which is weird because Maggie always leaves a few on for me and the guys.
“Babe,” I call out.
I suppose it’s possible she’s not here, but her car is in the driveway, and she didn’t come to dinner with my parents because she didn’t want to overdo it. I can’t envision why she’d go anywhere else after the game.
When she doesn’t respond, the hairs on the back of my neck prickle. I race up the stairs and fling open her bedroom door. The lights are out, but the blinds are open, and I can see her curled up under the covers. She’s so still, it makes my heart stop.
In that moment, I don’t give a damn about the game or today’s win. The whole world shrinks down to this woman.
With my heart in my throat, I kneel at the side of the bed. Her swollen eyes open.
“Maggie, what’s wrong? What happened?”
She sniffles and shakes her head. “I think I overdid it today. Those contractions are back. My OB is squeezing me in for an appointment at eight a.m. on Monday.”
Fuck. “Should I take you to the hospital?”
“Dr. Perkins said if they get worse before my appointment, I should go to the ER, but I’m hoping it won’t come to that. I don’t know how I’ll afford another trip there.”
“Forget the money. We’ll figure it out.” I keep reminding her we’re in this together, that I’ll do everything I can to help her with the medical bills and the house, but I swear it’s like she doesn’t hear me. “The most important thing is keeping you healthy. I’ll bail on weightlifting and take you Monday.”
She grabs my hand. “No, you can’t miss anything. I’ll be fine. I’ve been chugging water for the last two hours, and it’s gotten better.” Four empty water bottles crowd the nightstand.
“I don’t know, Magnolia,” I say uneasily. “I feel like I’m in over my head here. Taking you to an appointment seems like the least of what I should be doing.” I pace the length of the bedroom and rub the back of my head. “We should call my mom or yours and get some advice. They’ve had kids. They’ll know what to do.”
