Page 108 of Bull Rush

There’s a loud roar from the crowd.

“Oops. That’s our cue.” Madison sets her food down and walks to the front of the box, and Bea and I follow. The tunnel is set up and the cheerleaders line up on either side with the smoke machines going at full force, billowing into the wind on this late fall day.

As they start to announce the defense coming out onto the field a few minutes later, they get to the last name, and I feel my heart swell as they introduce him.

“And last but certainly not least, our hometown hero. You know him. You love him. Ramsey Stockton!” the announcer bellows out, and the crowd loses their minds, screaming at the top of their lungs, and everyone in the box claps as he runs out onto the field. He holds his helmet up in the air, and around of fireworks go off on one side of the field. I see him turn and point up to where we’re sitting and pat his chest over his heart, and I press my palm to my own and blow a kiss down even though I know he can’t see me.

I haven’t seen him look this happy since we were kids, and nothing in the world could match how proud of him I am.

FIFTY-FOUR

Ramsey

When the game’s over,we head to West Field. The sports bar’s owned by one of the guys on the team, and there’s a private room where we’re all able to celebrate our win. And I can finally bask in the fact that I got the second chance I’d barely even hoped for.

Hazel takes my hand as we walk into the room, her eyes darting around as she takes in the raucous scene. We needed this win tonight against our divisional rival to help clear a path to the playoffs, and everyone and their mom—quite literally in some cases—is here tonight to celebrate.

I squeeze her hand in mine and give her a reassuring smile as we make our way to the far corner where Cooper and Bea are waving us over.

“We saved you guys a couple of seats at our table.” Bea grins and pats the seat at her side for Hazel to sit in. I’m real fucking thankful the two of them get along as well as they dobecause I’m fairly certain Bea’s half the reason Hazel doesn’t go home more often. She promises me regularly that she loves being here with me, but I know she’s homesick for her friends in Purgatory Falls.

“The man of the hour!” Cooper hollers when he sees me, throwing his hands up.

“Can we give it up for this fucking badass right here?” Quentin yells out from the other end of the table. I’d sacked the opposing quarterback on fourth down with three seconds to go, killing their chances at a comeback. The crowd had lost their minds, and I felt like myself again for the first time in a year.

I take a dramatic bow as my teammates’ cheering hits a fever pitch, and then I pull Hazel’s seat out for her so she can sit down. The flash of awe in her face that fades to a proud smile has something twisting in my chest, but I just grin. I look to Cooper, and he nods.

“Hey, Westfield!” Cooper calls to our tight end and the owner of the bar. Westfield nods to both of us and then jumps on his chair.

“All right, everyone. Can I get some quiet in here? Please?” Some of the roar dies down, but there’s still a group in the far corner being loud. “Breaker! Knox! Shut the fuck up, will you?”

“Language!” Westfield’s wife calls as she puts her hands over their daughter’s ears.

“Sorry!” Westfield looks down at his daughter. “Sorry, baby girl. Daddy didn’t mean it.”

The crowd dies down to a few murmurs and a few cooing sounds as the wives remark on the baby’s dress. But I have the quiet I need.

“I just wanted to say a huge thank you to all of you. I know many of you lobbied on my behalf to the media and supported me through my extended vacation. Your letters and words of encouragement got me through one of the darkest parts of mylife. I never thought I’d get to play ball again, and stepping out on that field tonight felt like a dream come true. It was like my first pro game all over again. So I want to thank all of you—and especially Cooper and Bea here for everything you’ve done to support me.” I look at them, and there’s a small round of applause. I try to hold back the tears of anticipation I’m feeling as I turn to Hazel. “And last, but definitely not least, I want to thank the love of my life. I wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for her. She’s my true north and the center of my universe, and the second chance she’s given me is the only thing that’s better than being out on that field again.”

Hazel presses her hand to her heart, tears slowly rolling down her cheeks as she looks up at me.

“So while we’re here tonight celebrating second chances, I figured we might be able to put one more on the list. That is if she says yes.” I reach into my pocket and pull out the new engagement ring I purchased for her. It’s a bigger, better version of the one I’d gotten her when we were in college, and I kneel down in front of her.

“Ramsey!” Her jaw drops, and she shakes her head. I’ve managed to actually surprise her. “Yes. Of course, yes.” She holds out her hand, and I slip the ring on gently as she presses her free hand to her mouth. She’s shaking by the time I hug her, racked with happy little sobs, and I squeeze her tight.

“I love you to the ends of the earth, sugar,” I whisper against her ear so she can hear me over the cheers.

“I love you too.” She hugs me tighter and turns her face up to kiss me.

Somehow I’m lucky enough to get everything back together again in my life, not exactly the way it was, but the kind of well-worn patchwork that I might love even more after the work of having to put it all back together again.

EPILOGUE

Ramsey

When I getout to my car from practice, my phone rings, and I see Grant’s number. He rarely calls to chat, so I’m hoping we might finally have an answer to some of our questions. It’s been weeks since the courier had started shopping the item, and I’d hoped we’d have a bite on it by now.

“Hey,” I answer.

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