Page 38 of Heart of Gold
The ball is snapped and the next ten seconds is slow motion. Grayson gets the ball and I swear it's like he floats. Just add some ballet music.
It’s basically the same thing. Tight pants and all.
Most of the players are already down the field and I watch as Grayson lofts the ball into the air. The whole crowd sucks in a deep breath and the screams are deafening.
It is caught in the endzone! It is caught! Gavin Richardson! Touchdown Eagles!
I listen as the announcer echoes through the stadium and the crowd jumps and high fives all around me. I don’t take my eyes off the ball as the guy in the endzone is nearly trampled by hiscongratulating teammates. He takes his helmet off as he nears the sideline and my heart plummets. His dark, sweaty hair hangs down against his forehead and when he tilts his chin up, my breath hitches.
Phoenix.
“Oh my god,” Ava squeals. “Did you see that catch!?”
I nod my head frantically trying to reel my thoughts in, but keeping my eyes glued to him. He’s here. In this town. At Ridge U.
The crowd continues to go crazy around me and I instantly break my stare when the screams turn into whispers. I turn my attention to the other side of the field where Grayson is jogging off through the gate and up the stands.
During. The. Game.
My heart beats faster as I glance at Phoenix and then back to Grayson, who is currently standing directly in front of me.
“Quinn, I should’ve done this a long time ago,” he exclaims, holding his hands out motioning around to the crowd. “All of this, it means nothing without you. I realize that now.”
I stare at him, completely dumbfounded. This is the exact moment I just wished for twenty minutes ago. The grand gesture I thought would change everything, you know? My boombox moment.
The crowd cheers around me, and I look to the field whereGavin Richardsonis now looking up at me. At us.
Suddenly, I realize something. The only way I’m going to heal from all of the trauma with what happened with my mom, is to let Grayson go.
I push past Grayson to get the hell out of this stadium, leaving him standing there like a fool.
chapter sixteen
Gavin
I had to dive to catch that ball since it was thrown a little ahead of my route but I still made the play. Standing up, I flip the ball off my fingertips and instantly feel pats on my back and tugging on my shoulder pads.
“That’s right, Richardson!” Brennan Vance, our tight end, yells as he bangs his helmet against mine.
My first ever offensive touchdown also happens to be my first college touchdown. I gotta admit, it feels better than I thought it would.
I make my way to the sideline and yank my helmet off. Coach instantly covers me in compliments and Levi has the biggest smirk on his face.
“Don’t even say it,” I warn. “I really don’t want aLevi is always right speechright in the middle of my five minutes of fame.”
He scoffs, “It’s gonna be a lot longer than five minutes, bro. You're gonna be doing that shit all night.”
I laugh and then look over where everyone is looking into the stands. Collins is running up the bleachers.
What the fuck is he doing? Coach is gonna kill him.
About halfway up the student section, he stops and my eyes land on a blonde girl. I have to shut my eyes and reopen them to make sure I’m not seeing things. I’m not. It’sherand she’s staring right back at me.
Suddenly, it all clicks into place.
Collins’ bobcat football t-shirt matches the one she was wearing on the cruise. The blonde girl Remi has class with, Collins’ ex, is Daisy.
She breaks eye contact with me and turns to Collins before disappearing underneath the stadium. Whatever he said to her didn’t make her happy. I watch as he stomps back down the bleachers to the sideline, obviously frustrated, and turn to Levi.
