Page 47 of Game Day

The other guys shift as we all process that.

"James wants us to be bigger," Jay says. "We're not only doing this for us and Denver—we're doing it for everyone in Colorado. Every person who's been part of this organization."

"This is our home now," I say. "It's an honor, if you think about it.”

This place has been good for me, good to me. The city, the team. My life has had its ups and downs, but I’ve got a woman I can’t live without, a team of guys who make magic together, and the support of an entire state.

A text comes in from my realtor.

Just confirming that you’re passing on the house from yesterday. They’re taking offers today, and I know it checked most of your boxes.

Yeah, but it wasn’t right.

Bitter defeat chases through me.

I wanted to do this for Nova, and now I’m going to let her down.

"Losing teams have got to swim in the cold lake." Jay interrupts my thoughts.

Miles hollers. “Naked!”

We take off toward the lake.Rookie and I might’ve won, but it’s no fun standing alone on the shore.

I strip off my shirt and toss it to the side.Ahead of me, Miles is already working on his shorts.

"Toughen up," Miles calls over his shoulder.

What the hell.

I strip everything off, and the other guys do too.We splash into the water, Rookie hollering at the frigid temperature.

"You'll wake the campers," I grunt.

“They’re kids. They run on candy and basketball, same as you and me did,” Miles tosses back.

“Some of us still do. That’s right, I saw you sneak PopTarts from the kitchen.” Rookie smirks.

Miles dunks him.

My lips twitch despite myself.

For a moment, we’re kids again. It's the best feeling. I forget sometimes that we don't have to be grownups.That the goals we set for ourselves are made up, and sometimes, joy comes from living in the moment.

A sound in the bushes near shore draws my gaze, and I swear I see a light glint twice. But the longer I look, the more I decide I made it up.

"Well, well, what have we here?"

Miles’ attention snaps up over my shoulder, and I turn to see what, or rather who, is on shore.

The girls are standing on the sand. Nova and Brooke are in the middle, plus Mari. Kat's on one side, Chloe on the other.

But it's Brooke who has a beach bag dangling from one hand.

"What's in the bag?" Miles usually sounds assured, but there’s a wary edge to his voice now.

Brooke plants a hand on her hip. "Wouldn't you like to know."

Could be my camper intuition, but something feels off, even before the first drop of rain hits my face.

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