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“He’s unhinged. He took a swing at me at practice today when I told him he better do right by you.”
I let out a clipped laugh. “Nice try, but I was there. I saw what happened, and I know you’re the one who shoved him first and took a swing at him. You and I haven’t been together in two years, and the only time you speak to me is when you want something. For too long I’ve tried to be nice, and I even felt sorry for you. But I’m done. I don’t want to talk to you ever again.”
“Autumn, babe, you don’t mean that. You’re just being dramatic as usual.”
“Brett,babe, you’re gaslighting won’t work on me any longer. Look at me. I’m completely calm, so hear me when I say, stay away from me and Rogan. Don’t even look my way. I don’t want anything to do with you. Find a new sucker to manipulate because I’ve finally seen the light, and your dumb games won’t work on me any longer. So kindly fuck off and get away from my car.”
With the way his dark eyes have grown rounder, I can tell he’s taken aback by my words. He holds up his hands and opens his mouth, as if he still wants to plead his case.
“Don’t!” I shout. “Leave now.”
He gives a curt nod, then walks off. I watch him until I’m satisfied he’s not going to change his mind and come back over, then I slip behind my wheel. I get the engine started and my seat belt on before the enormity of what I just did hits me. My smile starts off small, growing until I’m full-on beaming. Brett has been an area of self-contempt for years. I finally put an end to the cycle of manipulation, and I feel amazing.
The stadium isabuzz with energy as the clock ticks down to the final two minutes of the game. I’m perched on the edge of my seat, as is Scarlett, who’s sitting next to me.
“Oh my God, my heart is racing so fast,” she says.
“Tell me about it. My knee is bouncing at a ridiculous pace, it feels like an electric current is running through my body.”
Everywhere I look brings a sea of fans decked out in red and black, and cheering wildly for our guys. The scoreboard at theend of the field shows us down by three points, and it’s up to Rogan to overcome that deficit.
I grip Scarlett’s hand as Rogan stands in the huddle. When they clap and break apart, he glances over in my direction, and I notice a brief smile but it’s gone in a blink as he gets down to the task at hand.
“How can you stand this? I don’t think I could take it if my boyfriend was out there playing. I’m a nervous fucking wreck and I don’t even like football.”
“Ha! I think you like it more than you expected.”
“I do like the way they look in those tight pants. Is it me or do they make their asses look amazing?”
“It’s not just you.”
Rogan takes the snap, and I’m tempted to cover my face so I don’t have to watch. But that wouldn’t be fair to him. The defense closes in as his eyes scan the field. He scrambles forward, dodging one tackle, then jukes to avoid a second while I softly chant, “You can do this, Rogan.” He drops to the turf and slides a few feet on the side of his leg before he can get sacked, making the first down.
On the next play, he launches the ball in a perfect spiral that slices through the air sharp as a knife. Cooper runs down the field and snatches it right before the defender can. He gains another ten yards after the catch for another first down.
“Wow. That was awesome. He’s so fast,” Scarlett comments.
“That was a nice play. Let’s hope they can do it again.” They’re making their way toward the end zone but the clock is quickly running down. If they don’t make this next play, they’ll have to kick a field goal and the game could go into overtime.
On the next snap, Rogan looks for an open receiver, and when he doesn’t find one, he takes off with the ball in his hand. His face is a study in extreme concentration as he sprints downthe field. And when he dives into the end zone, the crowd erupts all around us.
“Touchdown!” I shout, jumping to my feet and tugging Scarlett with me. “He did it. He did it.” I clap my hands.
“He sure did,” she says.
Rogan is dragged to his feet by his teammates as they celebrate the win. He throws his fist in the air, and the fans cheer louder. My heart swells with pride as I watch. He’s worked so hard for this, and to see him getting the results he deserves is amazing.
“I might need to come to another game soon. What a great time.”
“Football is the best sport in the world,” I state, but I’m not biased at all. Rogan points up at me and smiles as he jogs from the field, and I’m overcome with an emotion that feels a lot like love.
The crowd begins to make their way toward the exits while Scarlett and I head down to see Rogan. We still have to weave through the crowds of exultant fans. He pulls me into his arms, spinning us around.
“Congratulations! You were awesome. Completely amazing.”
“Thank you, but it takes an entire team to win,” he says modestly.
“I thought you were badass out there,” Scarlett says, high fiving him.
