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“They don’t need me,” I mutter.

“Ah, we’ve reached the self-pity stage, huh? Of course, they need you. You’re one of the star players. You and Trevor lead. If you go down, your team feels it. So, get your ass up. Shake off that dusty-ass knee and win that damn game. Got it?”

A real laugh escapes me for the first time in days. God, I love her. “Got it, JJ.”

“Good. I’ll be watching.” Then, she clicks off.

Her belief in me is like magic. Her words are my medicine. The pain level I once felt decreases to a bearable amount after a single phone call with her.

Tossing off the ice pack, I run out of the locker room, through the tunnel, and towards the sidelines to my coach. The roar of the fans is almost deafening at the sight of me.

“Put me in, coach. I got this.”

He pauses. “You sure?”

“Absolutely.”

My coach calls our one and only time out, then says, “Then get out there and win us this game.”

With a nod, I run into the field, replacing my backup. Trevor glances at me with concerned eyes. I wink at him, his face relaxing at my composure.

He knows I got this.

Twenty yards from the endzone with only one minute left. In football, one minute is everything. One more minute.

We get positioned, and Trevor lifts a finger at me. I know what that means.

Finish us off.

With everything I got left in me, I run down the field and turn just in time to catch the ball Trevor passes to me. Ducking and weaving through all the players trying to take me out, I make it through unscathed.

Fifteen yards.

Ten yards.

Five yards.

And just like that, I make it to the endzone, and we win with two seconds to spare. I throw the ball out of my hand and run across the grass, screaming alongside the fans, my team running with me as we celebrate a tough win.

I point to my heart and mouth JJ, hoping she sees it so she knows that touchdown was for her. That everything is for her. Always.

Trevor runs up to me and shoves my shoulder. “Why are you still here?”

I blow out a frustrated breath. “What if I go there and she doesn’t want me anymore? What if I fucked this up too badly?”

He points to one of the newscasters talking to other players. “Then, make sure she will hear you one way or another.”

I grin. “You’re fucking brilliant, man.”

He shrugs. “I try.”

I run over to a woman speaking into her mic, and she turns to me with irritation on her face until she realizes who I am.

Excitingly, she starts to question, “Cross! How did you feel about—”

I grab the mic, careful not to be too rough, and look directly into the camera.

“JJ baby, I don’t know if you’re watching this, but I’m so sorry. I got stuck in my own fear and tried to ignore how I feel for you.” I pause and take a deep breath. “To have my best friend and the love of my life be one person is a blessing. You are my blessing, JJ. You came into my life with love, family, and patience. All things football and money can’t buy me.”