Page 56 of #Lovestrong

Declan

This entire week of school has been overshadowed by the girls’ first soccer game. And it's been one hell of a game. I never knew soccer could be so interesting or brutal. Lena and Candice are like little sprinting savages on the field. Their entire team is a machine, and she almost got in a fight with the goalie of the opposing team.

I'm hoarse from all the screaming we've done from the sidelines. Jackson and I didn't know Candice's family and Lena's grandparents were coming. Then my parents showed up three minutes before the game started. We've got lawn chairs set up on the side of the field, though Jackson and I spend most of the time on our feet.

Mr. Gary let a string of cuss words fly earlier when the goalie stepped out of her zone and elbowed Lena in the face. Then he cheered when Lena knocked the goalie down and called her a bitch before the referee ran downfield to break it up.

I've never laughed so hard in my life. I had no idea my girlfriend was such a badass. Last weekend was so bad, I'm praying this weekend will make up for it. The girls don't know it yet, but Jackson and I are taking them shopping tomorrow morning for Homecoming dresses.

It was my mom's idea and she's footing the bill for all four of us, so I'm not complaining. Every time my parents mention Lena, it makes me smile. Neither of them ever put any effort into getting to know the other girls I briefly dated, but they've put so much effort into Lena. It's awesome.

"Go, baby!" Lena has the ball with the closest player at least three feet behind her. "Go! Go! Go!"

It's just Lena and the goalie, and just as she kicks the ball, so hard her other foot slides out from under her and she hits the ground, the buzzer sounds to end the game and the ball goes in the goal at the top corner, just grazing the goalie's fingers as she jumps and dives to try and block it.

The stands on our side of the field erupt in screams and cheers as Candice slides across the ground and hugs Lena, the two of them rolling across the grass until the rest of the team converges on them in a dog pile. Mrs. Hallstetter, the Varsity coach and school Physical Education teacher, hollers for the team to line up. As the girls get up, Candice holds her hand out and helps Lena off the ground.

She's smiling ear-to-ear as she jogs over to join her team, lining up opposite the other team to shake hands. As everyone starts packing up, I inch toward the field. Mrs. Hallstetter puts her arm around Lena's shoulders and talks to her with very enthusiastic hand motions. Lena never stops smiling. She scored nine of her team's fifteen goals tonight.

I'm so unbelievably proud of her.

I whistle loudly and Lena's eyes snap up to meet mine. My smile matches hers. She's helping at the shop tomorrow, so we've decided not to hang out tonight. I can't complain. I monopolize more of her time than I should. But I want a moment with her before my folks and I head home.

She says something to Mrs. Hallstetter, who looks up at me and waves. When Lena breaks into a run toward me, I brace myself, bend my knees, and open my arms. Two feet in front of me, she launches into the air and I catch her as she wraps her arms around my neck and brings her eager lips down to mine. Her tongue invades my mouth and I squeeze her ass as she wraps her legs around me.

"Hey," Jackson yells across the space. "There are parents present."

Lena lifts her head and looks over mine, her face going red. I don't even care. I turn around and find my parents and her grandparents all laughing as they fold up their chairs. Feeling carefree for once, I spin quickly in a circle several times. Lena tightens her arms, squealing and giggling the whole time.

When I finally stop and adjust my arms to better hold her up, she leans down and kisses me sweetly.

"You were amazing out there, baby. I'm so proud of you."

She blushes and kisses me again. "Thank you."

I set her on her feet and she takes my hand as we walk over to the team's area to grab her bag. I carry it to the parking lot where everyone is waiting by the cars. After another kiss, she gets in her grandpa's car and promises to text me when she's off tomorrow.

My parents and I stand by my car, chatting. "You guys have been together since high school, right?"

They both nod.

"We started dating a month before the end of our Senior year." My dad puts his arm around my mom's shoulders and she smiles up at him.

"Would you think I was crazy if I said I want to marry Lena?"

Both their eyes go wide and my mom's mouth hangs open slightly. "Declan, honey, I get that you love her but—"

"Not right now, Mom," I say before she can get all worked up. "But after college. She's the girl I want to marry. She's it for me."

My parents look at each other and grin, like they're having some telepathic conversation. It's kinda creepy and makes me both confused and uneasy.

"Meet us at home, honey." My mom reaches over to pat my cheek. "I want to show you something."

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