Page 32 of For Emery

Our offense huddled around Flip. They clapped in unison before taking their positions. Jordan lined up to Flip’s right. Flip called out something up and down his line before taking the snap. He reeled back with the ball in his hands, his eyes scanning the field for his wide receivers. A player from the other team steamrolled through the offensive line coming for Flip.

Jordan kept one hand on the player he blocked and reached over and pressed his other hand into the steamroller’s chest, holding him back. Flip made a nice spiral pass down the right sideline that hung in the air. Every breath was held as the receiver, tailed by the defense, reached up with one hand and nabbed the ball over his defender’s head. He was pummeled as soon as his feet hit the ground, but he’d gained thirty yards. The stadium went wild.

Ten yards at a time, Flip moved the ball down the field, with Jordan blocking for him like his life depended on it. On the seven-yard line, Flip called out a play without a huddle. On the snap, the running back crossed behind him for a handoff and took off running. Jordan ran in front of him knocking everyone in his path out of the way.

The running back dove into the end zone to score the touchdown. The stadium roared. The concrete beneath our feet rumbled as he jumped up with the ball clasped in his hand and ran toward Jordan, leaping into his arms in celebration.

The rest of the players on the field joined Jordan and his running back to celebrate the moment. Once they disengaged and ran to the sideline, Jordan’s eyes searched the crowd. It’s what he always did when we were kids. He looked for confirmation that he’d done well out there.

Butterflies swarmed my belly as his eyes found me standing amongst the crowd. He smiled. And the same sense of satisfaction I felt back when we were younger, back when I was the envy of so many girls, flooded my body. I returned his smile and once I did, Jordan turned away, grabbed a water bottle, and joined some teammates on the bench.

I searched for Flip. He pointed to the crowd. His eyes never found me. But then again, why would they? We were just friends. He had an entire cheering section of family and friends from back home in Oklahoma around us cheering him on.

Flip sealed our fate in the last quarter with a quarterback sneak that had him following Jordan into the end zone, leading us to a twenty-one to seven victory over Arkansas.

As the fans filed out of the stadium after the game, my feet remained in place.

Raquel followed our row out to the aisle. She glanced back, finding me still in the same spot. “You coming?” she called.

I shook my head. “I need a few minutes.”

“Want me to wait?”

“Nah, you go ahead. I’ll meet you at the room.”

She nodded before making her way up the stairs and out of our section.

I looked back out at the field. Television cameras and a sideline reporter waited on the sideline to interview players. Flip stopped, waiting for the reporter to approach him. She didn’t. She hurried over to the real star of the game. The player who made it possible for Flip to make all his passes and score his final touchdown. Jordan Grady.

I watched Jordan remove his helmet so he could speak into the reporter’s microphone. His smile was so damn big and his cheeks were flushed as he answered her questions. This was his moment and everyone knew it. Flip only looked good because of him.

Something had changed in Jordan. I’d watched his first three seasons, and today was the first time I could tell he was determined to shine. It was obvious in every play. And now, that determination was there in the look in his eyes as he answered the reporter’s questions.

Once the camera switched off and the reporter lowered the microphone, she thanked Jordan and turned to Flip, holding the microphone up to him.

Jordan moved away from them and his eyes found me once again, one of the few people still in the seats. He smiled and jogged over, stopping in front of me down on the sideline.

I mirrored his smile. “Awesome game.”

“Obviously.”

I rolled my eyes. “Flip might not realize you’re the reason he looked so good today, but that reporter and the majority of the stadium knew.”

He shrugged coyly and a glimpse of the old Jordan appeared.

“Oh, now you’re gonna get all humble?”

He laughed.

“I’m serious. You looked amazing out there.”

“Thanks to my good luck charm.”

I laughed when I realized he was referring to me. “Oh, no pressure or anything.”

“All you’ve gotta do is show up at my games.”

Though I already knew I’d be there, my lips twisted in contemplation. “I may need some persuading.”

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