Page 145 of Game Plan

Jules linked her arm with mine. “Seriously, Mel, it’s like a train wreck.”

“I was thinking the same thing.” I tightened my hold around her arm, not brave enough to let go just yet.

Bowman swayed on his feet, spun to the right, and lost his balance.

The football flew out of his grasp.

The word Nooo was on everyone’s lips.

Bowman’s eyes flashed with horror as he followed the ball with his gaze. This had to be the longest twenty seconds in football history.

As he fell face-first onto the turf, he threw his arms up, trying to catch the pigskin once more. When it grazed his fingertips, it sent the ball flying further away.

In a commotion of tackles, the opposing player captured the ball and tucked it away. Without wasting any time, he pivoted toward his team’s end zone, Phoenix’s players hot on his heels.

He was crossing the thirty-yard line when the referee blew his whistle.

Time was up. My heart sank in my chest.

Could our team still intercept the ball and score a touchdown?

Instead of ending the game by tossing the ball down, the opposing player kept running.

Two players from Crestwood University’s Phoenix closed in on him and stopped his run, tackling him to the ground. The ball slipped from his grip as he tumbled to his side.

“Oh no.” Jules stood rigid next to me. “That was intense.”

I finally released the oxygen locked in my lungs. “Yeah. I can’t believe they lost. They were ahead the whole game, right up until the last quarter.”

From where I stood, I could see the crestfallen expressions on Mason’s and his teammates’ faces.

I pried Jules’s fingers from my arm. “I’ll go down there and talk to him.”

“Are you meeting us for a snack afterward?” she asked, gesturing to some friends from her support group sitting one row behind us.

“I don’t know. Can I call you once I find out? I’ll see if Mase is okay first.”

“No problem. Tell him I’m sorry for their loss, but that he did good.”

I waved at her. “I will. Bye.”

From afar, I spotted my boyfriend talking with Rutherford. He removed his helmet and raked his fingers through his tousled mass of dark hair. The sight of him stole my breath away. How did I end up dating the most handsome guy I’d ever laid eyes on? Even though he tried to hide it, I could tell today’s loss hit him hard. I quickened my pace, eager to be near him and ease the weight of his crushing blow.

His brother walked over to him, pulling him into a tight hug.

I was happy that, no matter what, the Pierce brothers had each other’s backs through thick and thin. I smiled as I watched them, and right now, I wished Paige were here too. Her absence in our lives was felt the most on game days.

Craig let go of his brother when I marched toward them, shaking his hand in that familiar way I’d seen the team do a few times before.

“True,” Mason replied to whatever Craig said before the latter jogged away.

“Mase.” As if my voice had the power to reach his ears despite the ruckus surrounding us, he turned toward me, a sad smile tugging at his lips.

Without a word, he opened his arms, and I buried myself in his warm embrace. He planted a kiss on the crown of my head and relaxed against me.

I tightened my arms around his hard body, the sharp scent of sweat and aftershave hitting my nostrils. “I love you.” My voice sounded like a murmur, muffled by his chest. “It was still a good game. I’m sorry about the last pass.”

“It’s fine. We’ll get over it.” With his palms pressed against my shoulders, he leaned back, locking eyes with me. My heart skipped a beat as we got lost in each other’s contemplation. “Are you waiting for me, or are you doing something with Jules?”