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My father’s gaze slid to me, crinkles gathering at the corners of his eyes. “Remember when that was you out there?”
“How could I forget?” I said wistfully. “Seems like yesterday I was under those Friday night lights with little Alex cheering me on from the stands.” I smiled at the memory, though my high school glory days paled compared to Alex’s raw talent. “I wasn’t half as good as he is. That boy’s gonna play college ball if he wants.”
As the halftime show continued, the sharp notes of the trumpet solo from the marching band pierced the air. I scanned the crowds, checking my phone again for any word from Ben. His flight should have landed a couple of hours ago, though Friday traffic could easily have delayed his arrival.
Max turned his attention to me, noticing my distraction. “When’s Ben getting back from the job interview?” he asked.
I tore my eyes away from the crowds to glance at my brother. “We talked this morning. He said that if the meeting ended early enough, he’d try to catch a flight back today. But if it went late, he’d have to spend the night and come back tomorrow morning.” I tried to keep the worry out of my tone, but Max saw right through me.
“Ah, I see,” he nodded, his gaze softening. “And how do you feel about Ben moving if he gets the job?”
The question seemed to hang in the air between us. I took a deep breath before responding. “I want him to be happy. This role could be huge for his career. We’ll figure the rest out. As long as we’re together, we can make it work.”
Max grinned. “So, you’ve started looking for jobs out there. Is that what you’re telling me?”
I shrugged, but the smile on my face must have given it away. “I will neither confirm nor deny that I've been investigating marketing positions in the greater Phoenix area.”
Max smiled warmly and squeezed my shoulder. “I had a feeling you’d say that. You two have something special. And Phoenix isn’t so far. We’ll all come visit whenever we can.”
His reassuring words lifted my spirits and I laughed softly because he was right. “I’ve probably already browsed a dozen apartment listings out there.” Whether or not Ben knew it, this was happening.
The third quarter kicked off with renewed vigor, the energy in the stadium surging like an electric current. Just as the crowd’s cheers reached a crescendo, a familiar face appeared at the end of our row—Ben, slightly disheveled from his travels but beaming with excitement.
My heart leapt at the sight of him.
He made his way down, shaking hands and giving quick hugs. When he reached me, he pulled me into a warm embrace. “Flew straight back,” he said, breathless. “Couldn’t miss Alex’s big game.”
As we nestled close, I noticed a few curious glances our way, no doubt thanks to the rumors swirling after the Mangle scandal. But with Ben by my side, the gossip didn’t faze me one bit. “So?” I asked, barely able to contain my anticipation. “How did it go?”
Ben’s eyes sparkled, and he leaned in close. “Mehmet offered me the job. It comes with a fancy title and pay raise.”
Yes! “He’d be daft not to bring you onto his team.” There were too many people around for me to do what I wanted, which was give Ben a sloppy kiss on the mouth. But his hand discreetly tucked into mine, and for now, that was enough.
Glancing down the row, I noticed my dad watching us, a thoughtful smile on his face as Ben’s voice lifted, cheering on the home team as they made another spectacular tackle.
The game ended with a win, and the sight of the students running onto the football field in celebration nearly brought tears to my eyes. Their joy and excitement was contagious, and everyone ran together as one giant mass, arms wide open, ready to embrace whatever new adventure lay ahead.
Like Ben and me.
After the game ended, I worked up the courage to approach my dad by the parking lot. “Dad, can we talk for a minute?”
He nodded and gestured for me to continue.
I took a deep breath before speaking. “I know you don’t approve of me and Ben, and I’m not sure exactly why. But we decided that we’re not gonna let any of that Mangle business keep us from being happy.”
Dad scratched the back of his neck, a gesture he usually made when he was troubled. “Sounds like you made up your minds,” he answered.
“Yes, sir,” I told him, hating that my happiness was somehow bringing him pain.
Dad shrugged. “Then you don’t need my approval.”
“I know.” I took a step closer. “But I’d appreciate your support. Both of us.”
Dad glanced over to where Ben stood, chatting with Max and Sasha. “Can’t say that I completely understand, but I guess a person gets old and forgets what it was like to be young and in love.” Dad hesitated, then asked, “You do love him?”
My face broke out into a smile that I couldn’t have hidden if I wanted to. “I do, yeah.”
“Well, that’s all that matters.” My father’s eyes caught mine. “You know, when I look at you boys, especially here tonight, I miss your mother. She’d have loved seeing Alex play ball.”
