Page 126 of The Forever Play

Scanning the haters opposite me, I prep for Play 29, then suddenly notice one of the Titans shift position at the end of the line. They’ve figured out our play.

Shit.

“Add one! Add one!” I shout down the line, and my boys quickly scramble, resetting for Play 30 as I yell, “Hut! Hut!” and collect the ball.

Our last-minute change confuses the Titans for a second, and I’m able to set up the next play perfectly, launching the ball downfield to Carson, who’s sprinting into position. He’s covered by Grady and two other players and easily snatches the ball out of the air, hugging it to his body and charging for the end zone.

“Yes! Yes! Yes!” I shout, running after him and jumping in the air when he crosses the line and slams the ball down.

Starting the second half with such a sweet touchdown is giving the Titans the proverbial finger, and I relish every second of it.

I get shoved and jostled by the opposing team as werun off the field, but I ignore their sneering insults and walk past Coach with a grin.

“Attaboy.” He slaps me on the butt as I pass him, and I take a jittery seat on the bench.

This is far from over, but it’s a fucking good start.

“We’re gonna win.” Grady takes a seat beside me.

“Fuck yeah, we are.” I nod and slap his hand with a grin.

He doesn’t smile back, just nods, keeping himself centered like he does in every game, and starts talking about our next play. Coach probably has it lined up already, but Grady’s a strategy guy and I indulge him, nodding as he runs through the next scenario.

And as usual, he’s right on the money.

We’re up next, and Coach is instructing us with the play Grady predicted. We run onto the field fired up and ready to go.

And damn if we don’t execute the shit out of that play.

By the end of the game, the Titans are walking off the field with an eighteen-point defeat. It’s fucking satisfying, but judging by the looks I’m getting, they’d rather shoot me dead than shake my hand.

“Fucking traitor,” Morales mutters as I pass him on the field.

I clench my jaw and keep walking, refusing to engage with that asshole.

He doesn’t know shit.

He wasn’t there that night.

And all I can hope is that he didn’t get caught up in that sick game Hodgkins and Williams were playing when I was at Kelsey U.

But I guess he was a freshman at the same time I was,so there’s no way he didn’t know what the fuck was going on.

Shit, he was probably part of it too.

CHAPTER 47

SIENNA

Wow. That game was intense.

Thank God Zander made it out in one piece.

I stood in those stands, sick with worry as I watched the aggression on the field. The Titans were brutal, but the Cougars fought hard, and I couldn’t be prouder.

Checking my watch, I know I should probably go and pick up Zoey, but I want to see Zander first, so I pace outside the stadium, rubbing my arms and trying to stay warm as I wait for my man.

Teah and her sorority girls have gone to Offside—the local sports bar—to celebrate with the team there, but I can’t do that, so I’ll kiss and hug my man now, then take his car and head off to collect our daughter. He can catch a ride with his buddies, and I’ll be waiting at Football Frat when he gets there.

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