Page 89 of Hey, Stepbro

"Go, Justin, go!" I shout, jumping to my feet as the stadium erupts around me.

Justin stretches out his arms, his fingers grasping for the ball as it sails toward him. My heart skips erratically, a frantic drumbeat that mirrors the intensity of the moment.

Can he... Will he...?

With a triumphant cry, Justin snatches the ball from the air, securing it against his chest as he crosses into the end zone. Touchdown!

The stadium explodes into a frenzy of celebration. People leap to their feet, shouting themselves hoarse and tossing scarves and mittens into the air like confetti. I do the same, screaming for Brock at the top of my lungs until my voice is nothing more than a raspy whisper.

"FUCK YES!" I scream, my voice joining the cacophony of cheers that fill the stadium. Stella and Waxley hug me tight, our bodies swaying with joy.

"We did it! We won!" Stella exclaims, her face flushed with excitement.

"Unbelievable!" Waxley adds, his eyes wide with disbelief.

As the Rawdogs swarm the field, they hoist Brock onto their shoulders like a hero. He grins down at his teammates, clearly reveling in the moment, and then his gaze locks onto mine.

As Brock's luminous blue eyes catch the moonlight, they shimmer like the sea, and for a moment, time seems to stand still. The connection between us is strong and undeniable, despite the thousands of people surrounding us. An invisible thread links our hearts together, drawing us closer even as we're physically apart.

"Wow," Stella breathes, clearly awestruck by the sight before us. "I mean, seriously—how lucky are you?"

"Tell me about it," Waxley chimes in, shaking his head in disbelief. "You've got the star quarterback of the Rawdogs as your boyfriend. Everybody wants him. That’s like hitting the jackpot."

My cheeks flush with warmth, but I can't argue with their assessment. Instead, I nod in agreement, my eyes never leaving Brock's face. "Yeah. I'm really lucky."

"He’s fucking gorgeous." Stella adds, giving me a playful nudge. "And did you see that throw? I swear, the entire stadium held its breath when he let go of the ball. Talk about a heart-stopping moment."

"Absolutely incredible," Waxley agrees, his voice filled with admiration. "You two make quite the power couple, you know."

"Power couple?" I repeat, surprised at the thought.

But as I watch Brock bask in the adoration of his teammates and the crowd, it’s hard not to accept this as truth—together, we make an amazing team. And I wouldn't trade what we have for anything in the world.

"Definitely," Stella confirms, her eyes twinkling as she grins at me. "Think about it: the star athlete and the brilliant bookworm. It's like something out of a novel."

"A Hallmark movie," Waxley quips, earning a laugh from both Stella and me.

"I wouldn't have it any other way."

CHAPTER28

BROCK

Ican't believe it.

I was so worried I wouldn't be able to give my all on the field today.

Somehow, I managed to pull through.

My heart races as my teammates hoist me in the air, their cheers echoing around me. The focus I showed during the game not only helped me, but it carried the Rawdogs to victory.

"Way to go, Brock!" Justin yells, patting me on the back with a grin as wide as the football field.

"Thanks, man," I reply, still riding the high of our win.

As I walk off the field, sweat dripping down my face, a sense of triumph lays claim to me. Today's victory proves that I can balance my relationship with Blakely and still play football at my best. Coach's warning about having to choose between the two feels like a distant memory now.

"Man, you really kicked some ass out there today," my teammate Mark says, slapping me on the back as we head towards the locker room.

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