Page 40 of End Game

One of our defense players’ hands.

He catches it, looking stunned for a brief second before he launches into action. He tucks the ball close to him and takes off in a run.

The crowd is going wild. So are our guys on the sideline, yelling their encouragement at their teammate as he makes it into the end zone with the other team far behind him. He made that touchdown look easy.

And just like that, we win.

“Is this normal?” I ask Sienna as we linger outside the team’s locker room. There aren’t very many people out here, which is odd, but Sienna knew the guards blocking the path that led to the building, so I’m guessing we’re just some of the select few who can wait for the team out here.

“Is what normal?”

“You waiting here for the team.” We’re leaning against a brick wall, Sienna scrolling through all the photos she took as she tries to make a social media post.

“Definitely. I’m here pretty much every home game.”

“Who did you used to go to the games with?” I’m assuming she has other friends she went to games with. No way did she go to them alone.

Did she?

“Well, last season I always went with this one guy’s wife.”

“Wife?”

Sienna glances up at me with a nod. “Yeah, they got married when they were twenty. Wild, right? I think she wanted to lock that guy down because now he’s a second-string lineman for the Broncos. Got picked up in the draft.”

“Wow. That’s amazing.”

“Like I told you when I first met you, Gav and Coop and Nico—they all have the potential to get drafted and play professionally.”

“I can’t imagine it.” I’m shaking my head, not because I don’t think they can do it. More like I’m in awe of the fact that they most likelywilldo it.

And I know these guys. I live with two of them. It’s crazy.

“Well, start imagining because I’m fairly certain it will happen for one of them. Or all of them. They’re that good.”

I glance around the courtyard, where people are standing around. There are a couple of reporter-looking types waiting not too far from where we’re standing, as well as a group of older men and women who are giving off strong parental vibes. There are a couple of little kids rocking Dolphins T-shirts with autograph books clutched in their hands, and I find that completely adorable.

Guys start exiting the locker room, a few trickling out at a time. All of them with big ol’ smiles on their faces and decked out from head to toe in brand-new Dolphins gear. I’m sure they wear this stuff and get photographed in it, only for it to sell out everywhere.

Smart move on the school’s part.

We spot Frank exiting the locker room, and Sienna calls him over. He approaches us with a smile on his face and hugs Sienna first, and then me.

“Sorry you didn’t get to play today,” I tell him once he releases me.

He shrugs, then winces. “It’s fine. I didn’t want to mess up my shoulder any more than it already is. I might end up benched for the season again.”

“Oh, that sucks, Frank.” Sienna reaches out and pats him on the arm. “I’m so sorry.”

“We can work on it during our next yoga session,” I suggest. Frank’s gaze swings to mine, his expression hopeful. “I can’t promise miracles, but I know some stretching exercises that might help.”

“That would be great. I hate missing out on this season. It’s my last one.” Oh, he sounds so sad.

“We’ll definitely work on it Monday night,” I tell him.

“You’re the best, Everleigh. Seriously.” He lunges for me, picking me up in his arms and swinging me around so fast, my legs swing out behind me.

I’m smacking his chest lightly. “Put me down! What if you hurt yourself?”

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