Page 64 of Home Field Advantage

It’s still hard to believe this part is real, especially since the only people I’ve talked to since the game are Amber and my family. “I did.”

“And?”

“And he said he’ll be back next year to check me out for real for UWF, and we’ll stay in touch, but it’s looking good.”

“Holy shit!” Miguel engulfs me in a huge hug, and Malcolm and Amber join in, and soon we’re laughing and dancing and truthfully if Sanchez and Devlin are even still in the room, I have no idea.

Thisisa goddamn Pride parade, and I am proud as hell to be here.

People who’ve never spoken a word to me before come up all night to congratulate me on the game, to compliment my hair or my suit, and to tell Amber and me that we make a cute couple. It’s all a little surreal from a school that’s hated on me so hard, but if this is my chance at a fresh start, I’m gonna take it.

My phone beeps with a text, and I pull it out to see a message from my mom with a picture of my family—my whole family, minus me—blowing kisses, our white clapboard house in the background. We had a long family night after the game, all of us squeezing in at the breakfast bar in theapartment and pounding on-the-house takeout from Maggie’s while we talked about where we’re gonna go from here. We agreed to try having my mom spend a few days there and Dad and the twins spend a weekend here every month, and tonight marks my first night on my own.

Well, I don’t really plan on spending it on my own, but.

Sage and Morgan are still on the road; they texted from a rest stop halfway home, begging for pictures, mostly so Morgan could brag endlessly about their impeccable eye. It was awesome to get to spend the day with them, and not just because they took me shopping and convinced me to buy this suit. I still can’t believe Amber reached out to everyone to get them over here, but the truth is, I should’ve done it myself. Sage and Morgan would have dropped everything if they’d known I needed them, which is part of why I refused to tell them. Needless to say, they were not thrilled about that.

There’s been a lot of pride swallowing this weekend, that’s for damn sure.

“Can I have everyone’s attention?” Principal Seacord is tapping on the mic, and ohGod, I forgot about this stupid king and queen shit. Judging by Amber’s quiet groan in my ear and Miguel’s not so quiet “kill me,” they weren’t thinking about it either. Which is slightly more problematic for them, seeing as they’re nominated. “It’s time to name your homecoming king and queen. But first, let’s get the whole court up here.”

“Yes, let’s!” I say sunnily to Amber and Miguel, both of whom shoot me death stares.

“If you step more than a foot away from me while he’s up there, I’ll end you,” Malcolm warns me.

“Sweet deal.”

The potential kings go up first, and Miguel gives Malcolm’s hand a quick squeeze before taking his place with Matt Devlin—who steps aside like Miguel’s very presence might turn him gay—Austin Barrett, Aidan Manos, and Mason Blackfoot. Then it’s my turn to lose Amber to the stage, and Malcolm and I immediately reach for each other as we watch her go up.

For those who somehow haven’t caught on to the recoupling, there aren’t any questions raised by Amber and Miguel moving to the ends of their lines so they’re standing as close to each other as possible. But it’s clear Seacord knows what’s up, because when he announces, “Your homecoming king is… Miguel Santiago!” it’s immediately followed by a muttered “Oh boy” he definitely did not mean for the mic to pick up.

“Congrats,” I murmur to Malcolm. “Your boyfriend is homecoming king. Not many people can say that.”

“Just me and your girlfriend,” he shoots back, and we both snicker while we wait for the announcement of queen.

“And your queen is…”

“You just announced the queen!” a voice yells out that almost definitely belongs to Dan Sanchez.

Miguel grabs the mic from Seacord and yells back, “Yeah, and my first royal order is to shove my foot up your—”

Seacord grabs it back and helplessly declares “AmberMcCloud!” which gets an enormous holler from me and Malcolm, but we’re not alone. It’s not thewholesquad that’s lining up and cheering, but it’s Crystal and Nia and Ella and Virany and it’s enough. Everyone spreads out to give Amber and Miguel room for their spotlight dance, and somewhere in the distance I imagine Seacord has run off to his office for a drink.

Malcolm and I go ahead and dance next to them, and when the song is over, we take our partners back. “So,” I say to Amber, playfully adjusting the shiny tiara on her head. “Homecoming queen. That feels like potential future captain material.”

“Pretty sure the captain dream is fairly dead,” she says, winding her arms around my neck. “But that’s okay. The odds of winning a scholarship are, like, one in a bajillion anyway. I think I just wanted…something, you know? Something of my own. Something that maybe certain family members couldn’t ignore.”

“And you’re over that now?”

“I am. Turns out, there are people who actually like me just as I am and don’t require I win any special prizes for their affection.”

“Like who? I’m only in this for the crown, baby.”

She smirks. “You were that confident I’d win, huh?”

“I voted for you at least twice.”

“I really hope you play football more honestly than you vote for homecoming queen.”

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