Page 101 of Fair Catch
I’d lost Riley when we funneled inside, and I searched the crowd, laughing when a couple of our defensive linemen lifted her up and put her inside the trophy cup.
That made the team roar louder, and a group of guys picked up the trophy with her in it and paraded her around as she laughed so hard her face turned beet red.
“Alright, alright,” Coach finally said, but his smile was wide, and I knew he was enjoying the revelry as much as we were. “I just need a minute here and then you’re all free to go celebrate.”
That earned a cheer, and reluctantly, the guys set the trophy down, helping Riley crawl out of it.
Her eyes were on me instantly, and she skipped right over, looping her arm through mine and leaning her head on my shoulder.
The guys who hadn’t already seen our very public displays of affection on the field made various remarks of surprise, although most of them teased in a way that told me no one was surprised.
Riley blushed, sinking her face into my jersey before peering up at me.
And I swore my whole fucking heart seized at the sight, making me wonder if the last five hours had been some sort of fever dream that I was bound to wake up from.
When we both turned our attention back to Coach, he was watching us with his brows in his hairline, his eyes dropping to where Riley gripped me and back up to our faces before he shook his head with a knowing smile and addressed the team.
“I don’t have to tell you that I’m proud of you, that you worked hard all season long and even harder tonight to secure this win,” he said. “But I’m going to say it, anyway. I’m proud of you.”
He beamed, holding his head high, and I noticed he still hadn’t changed out of his soaked polo and jacket from having the Gatorade dumped on him after the game.
He was soaking it all up, too.
“North Boston University has been under the radar for far too long. They’ve been sleeping on us since the nineties, thinking that was our only era, that we’ve been washed up ever since. But after tonight?” He grinned. “They won’t be ignoring us anymore.”
The team cheered, our chant breaking out before Coach held out his hands to quiet us once more.
“We showed the nation tonight that we’re here to fight, that we have the power, the potential, the grit to take that National Championship title next season.”
More cheers, some guys beating on the lockers with vigor.
“But let me be the first to tell you — having eyes on you means pressure. It means just as many fans rooting for you to fail as there are wanting you to succeed.”
We all nodded, leaning in, eating up every word as Coach nodded to the Defensive Coordinator, who threw him the game ball.
“Every single one of you deserves this,” he said, holding it up high. “But I think we can all agree on who deserves it most.”
Slowly, one by one, every pair of eyes turned to stare directly at Riley.
She balked, cheeks blushing furiously as she tried to hide behind me, but I pushed her forward.
“I have two sisters, Novo,” Coach said, his eyes right on her. “And a mom I’d go to war for. I know how hard it is to be a young woman, period. But to be the only young woman on a team of young men, to face the pressure and scrutiny that you have, and to have handled it with the poise you did?” He shook his head. “That took real guts. And real grit. And it’s been an honor to be your coach this season.”
Riley’s smile wobbled, her cheeks turning even more red.
“This game ball is yours,” he said, but then he addressed the rest of the team. “And we, team, are a family. I want you to look around right now, at every guy and girl in this room, and remember that. Fight to protect that. Always.”
“If anyone messes with Novo, they’ll have all of us to answer to, Coach, I promise you that!” Leo hollered out, and all the guys roared their agreement, which only made Riley laugh and hide her blushing face again.
Coach smirked, and then tossed the ball back to Clay, who passed it to Holden, who handed it right to Riley as we all clapped.
“I want you to celebrate!” Coach screamed over the noise, and the room went even more wild. “I want you to reap every reward you’ve rightfully earned this season.”
Riley thrust the game ball into the air at that, and Coach watched with an appreciative smile until the room quieted down again.
“And I want you to rest,” he added. “Because in March, we’re right back at it with spring training,” he said, waggling his brows. “Next year, we get cleaner. Next year, we get stronger. Next year, we get better. And next year…” He paused, letting those words hang in the air before he finished with, “We don’t just take a trophy home. We take the trophy home.”
