Page 93 of The Forever Play

“Fuck!” I yell as Wily and another guard haul ass to bring him down.

They manage to tackle him, but the ball now belongs to the Kings.

I have not fucked up that badly in a game before, and holy shit!

I can’t even look at the stands as I run to the sidelines and get bawled out by my offensive coach.

“I’m sorry,” I mutter, whipping off my helmet and cringing at Coach Jones.

He just shakes his head, sending out the defensive team, then turning back to me and barking, “Shake it off, Donohue. We’ll need you when we get the ball back.”

I nod and bury my head in my hands as the humiliation rides through me.

What the actual fuck!

Tyrell plunks down beside me. “What the hell was that, man?” He leans his elbows on his knees.

“It was a mistake.” Grady stands up for me. “They happen. Get over it.”

“Zander doesn’t make mistakes like that,” Tyrell argues. “He was distracted.”

“Probably wanting to blow more kisses into the stands,” Carson mutters darkly.

I tense, refusing to admit how fucking right he is.

Shit! I so want my girls here, but itisdistracting. Fuck, if I can’t play with Sienna around, then this is never going to work.

Get your head in the game, you asshole. Win it for them.

Clenching my jaw, I bob my leg and give myself one final look. Turning around, I scan the stands and notice Teah sitting by herself.

What?

My eyes dart around the area as I try to spot Sienna and Zoey. I manage to catch a glimpse of them as she heads up the stairs… toward the exit.

With a sinking gut, I turn back to face the field.

Fuck. She’s leaving already? One fumbled play and she can’t watch anymore.

Shit, shit, shit!

We have to win this game. I have to play the best football I ever have and demolish the Kings.

Which is exactly what we do.

Fired up and ready to rectify my dismal start, I pace the sidelines, waiting for our turn on offense, and then I have my best game all season. I’ve never wanted a win more. Every time Sienna tries to sneak into my brain space, I block her out. Zoey’s adorable smiles will have to wait until later.

I zone in on the game and play like the quarterback Coach Jones believes I am.

Perfect passes, a flea-flicker that sends the crowd wild, and three touchdowns that are fucking textbook quality. I manage to call last-minute changes that are spot-on, and all I wish as our team celebrates a dominating win is that Sienna had been here to see it.

I don’t know why she left.

Maybe it was because of me, I’m not sure, but it got me fired up. I wanted to play well for her. I just wish I could have done that when she was actually here to see it.

As soon as we’re back in the locker room and Coach has given us his final words, I pull out my phone and notice a text from Sienna.

Hey. It’s Sienna here. Yay! You won! Sorry I couldn’t see it in person. Two plays in and Zoey was already losing it. I had to get her out of there before she ruined the game for everyone around us. I think the crowd was a little too much for her. Anyway, she’s down for a nap, and I got to watch the last quarter of the game. So proud of you.

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