Page 135 of Against the Clock

“You came,” he says simply.

The doctor smiles at me, and his eyes are tired. I brush past him, crawling up onto the exam table next to Daniel.

He hugs me close with one arm, and he smells like sweat and grass and hard work.

He smells like Daniel.

“Are you okay?” I ask, and a tear falls onto his bicep.

“Are we okay?” he says, and the door closes as the doctor leaves.

“I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry. I should have stayed last night. I wasn’t being fair to you, or what you do, or to us. I was upset, and I shouldn’t have left. I don’t want to leave again.”

“No,” he says slowly, his good hand finding my chin and tilting it up so I have to look at him. “Kelsey, you were right. I wasn’t ready to hear it. I might never have been ready to hear it, but I am now because of you. I’m sorry. I lied to you about my shoulder. I lied to you about being fine, and you were right to worry.”

“I just didn’t want you to get hurt.”

“I know, babe. I know.” He kisses one cheek, and then the other.

“I love you too much to let you go, Daniel,” I force myself to say. “I love you too much to walk away from you, even if it means watching you get hurt. I love you, football or not.”

“Kelsey,” he whispers, “I love you.” Then he kisses me, fervent and laced with the copper tang of blood. “We’re okay. I’m going to be okay.”

Daniel’s lips meet mine once again, and I sigh into his mouth, so relieved and grateful.

He pulls away, and he regards me for a long time.

“I have to do the post-game presser,” he says. “Are you going to be there?”

I nod, biting my lip as I eye his shoulder, so swollen under the icepacks.

“Do you want me there?”

“I want you by my side. Always.”

“Then I’ll be there.”

CHAPTER 54

POST-GAME PRESS CONFERENCE WITH QB DANIEL HARRISON: BEAVERS V. SERPENTS

Daniel Harrison sits in front of a crowd of microphones, the Beavers navy and gold logo stretched behind him.

Interviewer 1: Daniel, congrats on a great game today—

Daniel Harrison: Ladies and gents, this press conference is going to go slightly differently than it has before.

Interviewer 2: Is this because of your injury? Do you have plans to retire?

Daniel: Was there something about going differently that you didn’t get, Steve?

Daniel: Today’s game was unlike any other game I’ve played in my life. I’m proud of the men that I work with, proud of the choices we made out there today and the choices we’ve made all season long. Watching these guys come together and meld as a team is truly incredible, and something that even as I’ve gotten older still manages to inspire me every day.

Interviewer 2: Why was it unlike any other game?

Daniel: Steve, would you let me talk?

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