Page 84 of Against The Rules

CHAPTER 35

TYLER

There is absolutely nothing better than the roar of the crowd in a packed stadium, even if they are screaming for the other team. This is the big leagues. This is the real deal.

And I get to fucking play on this field.

My breath clouds in front of my mouth, the air crisp and cool, signaling the fact fall’s right around the corner.

“Huddle, huddle, huddle,” Daniel yells, and I focus on the task at hand.

Winning.

Or, at the very least, closing the gap between the New York team and us.

“Stay in the moment,” Daniel roars. “Every second counts. Stay in the play.”

I nod, along with the rest of the offensive line, and Daniel rattles off the play.

“Unicorn sprinkle fifty-six laminated sunglasses,” he yells, and we all nod. It’s a good idea, considering the way defense is playing zone instead of man-to-man. There’s no time for doubt.

“Beavers!” we say simultaneously, running to the twenty-two-yard line. The guards and tackles sit tight, Jacob’s familiar form in front of me.

The center snaps the ball, and I take off, zooming towards Harrison and then zig-zagging back towards the sideline, gaining yards all the time.

A perfect spiral jets towards me, and I grit my teeth. I’m going to be short. I put on the speed, keeping an eye on New York’s outside linebacker gaining on me.

Fuck. I don’t have time. I don’t have time to think about him.

I race towards the end zone, white dashes disappearing under me as the ball arcs down. My feet leave the ground as I leap for it, the world narrowing to the ball in the air and my palms. My hands make contact.

The linebacker’s closer now.

So is the end zone.

I land and I’m moving, running like my life depends on it. Based on the way the linebacker is barreling for me, it fucking might.

Jacob’s there, though, leaping for his legs. The linebacker goes down hard in a white and red heap, and I jump over him, making it into the end zone.

Touchdown.

My brother’s on me the next instant, slamming his hands into my helmet and screaming my name.

“That’s how you do it!” he yells.

“ALL DAY,” I yell back.

My big brother’s hugging the hell out of me, and it feels damn good.

In the back of my mind, though, I wonder if Savannah’s watching. I wonder if she saw that.

CHAPTER 36

SAVANNAH

Another Beaver loss. Will they replace Daniel Harrison? He threw five interceptions.

It’s all anyone can talk about at practice on Monday night. That, and the expectation that we put on a last-minute dance clinic for little kids during the annual Beavers football clinic in a couple weeks. Almost all of us had plans already that weekend, but Rebecca tells us we have to go, that we’re expected to represent the organization, and that we should be proud to have been asked to be a part of the annual goodwill event.

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