He regarded me with his blue gaze, studying me hard. “Look, if you’re not, I understand.”
“He’s good, Coach,” Lucas said. “If he weren’t, he wouldn’t play.”
In part, Lucas was right. I prayed, though, that once I was out on the field, I would forget everything except football.
Coach nodded, still studying me. “See the trainer. He’ll loosen you up.” His lips thinned out. “We need a win today, Ryker.”
I rose and gave him one of my cocky grins. “We’ll win. I’m ready. The team is ready.” I had to be confident.
He raised a bushy eyebrow. “You’ve been through hell. So I’ll understand if you’re not feeling the game.”
I hated seeing the worry on his face. “I’ve got this.”
Hopefully, Lucas was right, and football would be good for me.
18
Haven
The football stadium was overflowing with fans of all ages and sizes, but mainly the students of Lakemont University—the marching band, those with painted faces, and everyone decked out in the school colors of rose and gold. The atmosphere was crazy, electric, and exciting.
“Come on. They’ve got to win,” Vicki said at my side, biting her nail.
I was a little nervous as well, more for Ryker than anything. I wasn’t a big fan of football. I’d been to an NFL game with my mom and dad many years ago. I didn’t remember much of the Cowboys game except that my father had lost five thousand dollars betting against the Cowboys.
Nevertheless, I wanted to see Ryker do well.
“Come on, Ryker,” Zack said on the other side of me. “You’ve got to get this touchdown.”
I chewed on my lip, almost holding my breath along with every other fan. We were losing by five points. With one minute to go in the game and the ball on the ten-yard line, Ryker needed to throw a touchdown.
He’d been shaky a good majority of the game. My heart went out to him. I couldn’t imagine what had been going through his head on the field, but it was evident he hadn’t been concentrating.
“He’s rusty,” a guy behind me had said.
“Wow,” another man had said. “Ryker has never been sacked until today.”
I didn’t know Ryker’s football history, but listening to the fans around me, I’d learned that Ryker James had been number one in passing and touchdowns and had hardly thrown an interception until last year when he’d thrown three in one game.
Still, the entire stadium was pulling for him. I would even bet the rival fans were too. I would imagine that this game wasn’t so much about getting a win as it was seeing Ryker do well after what he’d been through.
Lakemont took a time-out, and both teams huddled around their coach.
The fans began chanting Ryker’s name.
Both teams jogged out onto the field.
Ryker huddled with his men one last time before getting into position.
The fans jumped to their feet, still chanting Ryker’s name. I even joined in.
Vicki took my hand. “He’s going to do it.”
Before I could even blink, the center snapped the ball to Ryker. He barely had the ball in his hands before he threw it to Lucas, who was in the end zone.
The stadium went quiet.
Lucas jumped up just as a Regal defenseman dove in front of him. The ball hit the tips of the Regal defenseman’s fingers before Lucas grabbed the ball and tucked it into him for a touchdown.
