Page 106 of End Game

With Everleigh.

I just haven’t told her yet.

“Guess what,” Gav says, pulling me out of my Ever-filled thoughts.

“What?”

“Dollar’s starting today.”

“No shit?” I glance over my shoulder at the rest of our team filling the tunnel, ready to run out. “That’s great.”

“I know, right? It was a last-minute decision, and I think it was the right one.” Gav nods.

“I’m happy for him. I told him he’d get to play during the regular season,” I say, scratching the side of my neck. I’m beginning to feel anxious, which means I get a little jumpy. I wish we’d just get this party started and get on the field.

My gaze catches on Dollar, noting the faint smile on his face, which I haven’t seen in a while. The dude has been down in the dumps the last few weeks, which is another reason why Ever and I keep ourselves locked up in one of our bedrooms. We don’t want to rub it in his face that we’re seeing each other, especially since he’s still single. Portia ghosted him after the party at our house, and while he keeps saying he’s glad she’s gone and that he dodged a bullet, I know deep down he’s upset. His pride is hurt.

He deserves a good woman. Someone who’ll appreciate him for who he is because he’s a stand-up guy.

“And now, ladies and gentlemen, let’s give a big, rowdy welcome to our Santa Mira Dolphins football team!” the announcer screams.

Gavin gives his usual signal—a single nod—and we run out onto the field, our roars sounding like a bunch of gladiators filling the coliseum, ready to take on wild animals with our bare hands.

That’s what it always feels like to me.

Everyone in the stands is screaming and yelling and cheering. I hear some shouts of my last name along with Gavin’s. There are lots of faces painted with the school colors and jersey numbers on cheeks. Women and men alike are wearing our jerseys, and alumni too. One of my biggest fans is an eighty-year-old woman who dyes her hair jetblack and paints my number on her cheeks every home game. I make sure to take photos with her when I can because that woman is cool as fuck. She calls herself my adopted grandma.

We get into formation and start stretching on the fifty-yard line. Every chance I get, I’m scanning the crowd, looking for that familiar face that makes me smile the most.

Ah, there she is, seated in the friends-and-family section, which is also on the fifty-yard line. My mom is on one side of her and Sienna is on the other, and while the other women are chatting away, my girl is watching me, her eyes glowing with pride when our gazes meet.

Ever.

I give her a quick little salute, and she does the same, her smile big. She’s wearing an oversize Dolphins hoodie that I recently gave her, and her hair is pulled into my favorite style—a high ponytail.

Pretty sure I’m gonna grab hold of it tonight. Might not let it go for a while either.

If somebody had told me a month ago that Ever would be my girlfriend and sitting with my mom while watching me play, I would’ve called bullshit.

“Your mama is sitting with Ever,” Coop says minutes later as we move over to the sidelines in preparation for the game to start.

“I know,” I say with a nod.

“You’re not worried about that?” Coop’s brows shoot up.

“Nah. They seem to get along okay.”

Coop watches me with a narrowed gaze, slowly shaking his head. “You’ve changed.”

“I know.”

“For the better.”

“Hey, thanks.”

“I mean it. She’s good for you.” Coop inclines his head in Ever’s direction. “I never thought I’d see the day Nico Valente becomes domesticated.”

“Here I am, fully domesticated.” I spread my arms, grinning. “Just wait. It’ll happen to you someday.”

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