Page 136 of Home Town Advantage
“I can’t believe it’s been nearly a year since we were there.” I pout. “It won’t be the same without you this time.”
She sighs. “I suppose.” She looks around the suite. “Is Maddie here yet? I’m dying to meet this woman.”
I shake my head. “They didn’t end up coming. Francesca got the flu, but they created a signal for him to give her on camera. She’s still the talk of the town after he mentioned her by name in his post-game interview on Christmas Day.”
Vance’s shoutout to Francesca after their big Christmas Day victory seemingly turned her into a star in their town. She was adorably over the moon about it. He sent signed McCaffrey jerseys to her entire class, much to the delight of every one of them. She’s so proud that her uncle is a huge star.
No matter what he has going on, he doesn’t miss their weekly call. I join most of those calls now. Vance has accepted her as an extension of Finn, so I’ve decided to put my animosity toward Maddie aside and do the same for the sake of Francesca, Vance, and Finn. I have to admit, she’s a breath of fresh air. She’s such a joyful, happy kid. We’re going to visit her in a few weeks, and I’m going to do my best not to strangle Maddie.
“Bummer.” She rubs her belly. “Let’s get the show on the road. I don’t want to go into labor during the fucking Super Bowl.” She looks down at her belly and speaks to it. “Though your crazy daddy thinks it would be hysterical if I do.”
VANCE
We’re at the edge of the tunnel, about to be announced onto the field on the sport’s biggest stage. I feel like I’ve been waiting for this moment my whole life. I’m so glad it didn’t happen before. It needed to be now, when everything in mylife is finally falling into place. When I don’t feel any outside pressure or stress. I get to soak it all in.
I stand with Daylen as we both find the suite containing our families. I can see everyone looking on with excitement written all over their faces.
He elbows me and asks, “You know what I realized this morning?”
“What?”
“That before women, life is like a penis. It’s soft, simple, straight, and relaxed. Then a woman comes along and makes it hard.”
I chuckle. “You’re quite the philosopher.”
He nods. “I know, right?”
I shake my head as Sulley’s face pops into my mind. “Not me. Just the opposite. She makes everything easier.”
With his eyes on the suite, he notices Sulley waving at me. I smile and wave back at my beautiful girl. He sighs, “When are you putting a ring on that?”
“We leave for Bora Bora next week. I’ve got a whole romantic thing on the beach planned out with the hotel’s event coordinator. I want it to be special for her.”
“What about you?”
“If it were up to me, it would already be a done deal. I’d fucking do it right here and now.”
“Are you going to get on one knee?” he asks.
“Of course.”
“Do you know why men get down on one knee to propose to women?”
I shrug. “I don’t know. I assume it has something to do with begging?”
He shakes his head. “Nope. Think about where your head is. You’re not proposing to thewoman, you’re proposing to her?—”
I smack his arm. “Cut it out. You’re going to ruin it for me. Fucking pervert,” I mumble.
He lets out one of his big laughs.
After a bit more bizarre chitchat with my best friend, we’re announced onto the field. It’s surreal to be here. I want to take it all in. I don’t know if I’ll ever be here again.
After burning our last timeout,the other team’s offense sets up for a big third-down play. They’re on our thirty-yard line. If they get a first down, they’ll be able to run out the clock and secure their three-point victory. If they don’t, they’ll kick a field goal, giving them a six-point lead, and we’ll get the ball back with less than a minute to drive the full length of the field. Either way, the odds aren’t in our favor.
It's been a back-and-forth battle for the entire game. One team is going to run out of time, and it looks like it will be us. I’m trying not to lose faith, but it’s hard to see the seconds of the clock tick down as if in slow motion. I can only watch from the sidelines, and there’s nothing I can do about it.
They’re most likely going to hand it off to the running back, wanting to burn more time off the clock. I silently pray for a miracle.
