Page 99 of A Quarterback for Christmas

“You can’t, and if you were together, you’d know that. He’s already gone.”

“Gone? What are you talking about?”

“He’s catching a flight to California today.”

“He’s leaving?” My voice is laced with desperation. Drew’s leaving already? But that can’t be possible. It’s too quick.

“Yes, Bella. That’s what I’ve been telling you this whole time. Drew’s already taken the fall for this whole thing. He claimed he didn’t remember the girl's name in the video. Now I know why, but he’s never coming back to St. Michael’s.”

Standing, I rush to the door. “I’ve got to go.”

Before he can say anything or stop me, I’m out of the room and ordering an Uber.

Dave, please don’t fail me now.

He’s always given me three stars, but after our last intense showdown, he gave me one star, and I’m hoping I can redeem myself this time since he’s probably the only driver willing to take on a passenger with such a terrible rating.

“Come on. Come on. Come on,” I mumble to myself as I stomp out of the house, watching the little cars on the screen and waiting for one of them to accept me.

I know it will be Dave again. I just know it.

When the familiar car and license plate pop up on the screen, I yell, “yes!” and throw my fist in the air.

Dave’s car rolls up a few minutes later, and when I jump in, I’m met with his cold, stony face.

“Hey,” he drawls out miserably.

“I don’t have time for pleasantries, Dave. I’ve got a flight to catch.” Which one? I don’t know, but there can’t be many leaving for Los Angeles today.

Dave drives slower than my grandma, but I don’t complain because I don’t want him to drop me off on the highway like he did that one time I ticked him off. I’d have no chance of catching Drew then.

When we finally get to the airport, my feet pound against the floor as I look for the nearest departure screen. My heel is aching, but I know my heart will ache more if I don’t find him. I need to speak to him before he leaves. I should be the one to lose my reputation, not him.

When I finally find a screen with the departures, I scan until I see the glorious letters ‘LAX’ next to ‘Now Boarding.’ He’s still here. I still have a chance to explain myself. I run to the gate as fast as possible, knowing that it will halt my recovery, but not caring one bit. I never cared about track, anyway. I only did it to impress my dad, and what a terrible waste of time that turned out to be.

By the time I purchased a ticket to Mexico to get through security, the LAX flight had changed to ‘Final Boarding,’and I ran as fast as possible to the gate.

“Drew!” I call out his name to the crowd of passengers. I can’t see him because the line is so busy. My only hope is he recognizes my voice. “Drew.” I keep calling his name, to the dismay of the other passengers.

The hairs on the back of my neck rise because I can see him. His tall and muscular back with a black shirt on is right in front of me.

A smile breaks across my lips because it’s like one of those stupid Christmas movies Drew made me watch. He’s here, and I’m going to get my redemption. He doesn’t turn when I call his name because he must not hear me. Maybe he has his earbuds in.

“Drew,” I call one more time before resting my hand on his shoulder.

I rip my hand away, immediately frowning, because this doesn’t feel right. When he turns, disappointment curdles in my stomach.

“Can I help you with something?” the man asks.

“Sorry, I thought you were someone else.” I take a few paces back, my heart now pounding inside my chest.

Of course it’s not Drew. This isn’t a movie. This is my life, and I screwed up.

Is this what it will be like for me now? Constantly thinking I see Drew everywhere. This guy had a similar back, but I should have known better. I was just too eager to believe it was him.

Watching the final passenger board the plane, I don’t know what to do. He’s not here. He’s gone.

“Are you boarding the flight, ma'am?” a flight attendant asks me.

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