I glanced at the sideline. Wren glued his gaze to me.
The Duke quarterback made his calls, and the center snapped the ball. He drew back, his head swiveling.
I jumped toward him, tossing the offensive linemen from me, growling with each one. This was my last college game, and I’d make it the best one yet.
Slipping the ball to the Duke running back, the quarterback went down as Penny nabbed him.
“Fuck.” I pivoted, racing toward the running back, whose head was down as he barreled down the field.
Coming at him from the side, I lowered and slammed my shoulder against his waist.
“Damn it!” He fell sideways, the ball freeing from under his arm and flying into the air.
With my eyes widening, I nabbed it, tucked, took a few steps and rolled to the ground. “Holy fuck, holy fuck, holy fuck,” I muttered as I lay in the grass, my gaze catching the afternoon sunlight and clear-blue sky. I’d intercepted. The game would be over once Carter possessed the ball.
The stadium erupted in cheers, and over the loudspeakers, the announcer said, “Interception, ASU.”
Our defensive line swarmed me with Penny stretching his hand down. “You okay? Damn good catch, Dawson.”
“I’m great.” Snatching his hand, I rose from the field while everyone patted me on the back and slapped my ass. After handing the ball to a ref, I jogged toward Wren and blew him a kiss.
His face lit, and a broad smile swept his mouth. “Love you!” he shouted while all the cheerleaders shook their pom-poms and started a routine.
A few months later,the combine was over, and we held a draft party for me. Casey had gone to Ryker’s house to watch the draft with Ryker’s family. After this, only two of us would remain at ASU—Malik and Tex. I’d had two teams interested in me, San Francisco and Seattle. If I got to play in Seattle, I’d be playing with my old buddy Cooper. If not, then Wren could be close to his father, and we’d move to the Bay Area.
I sat on the couch next to Wren with a bowl of popcorn while Tex and Malik grabbed a round of beers for everyone. “Babe, when is your dad supposed to be here?” Their therapy sessions were progressing well, and that Darren would soon arrive to watch the draft with us was nothing short of a miracle.
“Any minute.” He drank from a water bottle.
The doorbell chimed.
“That’s him.” Wren jumped from the couch and bounded to the door. After swinging it open, he said, “Dad, come on in.”
“Thanks.” His father stepped inside, gave Wren a quick, one-armed hug and held up a twelve-pack of Fort Point Beer. “Anyone in the mood for a great San Francisco beer?” With a chuckle, he strolled into the kitchen. “I hoped that if we all drank a San Fran beer, it would swing the tables of fate for Eli to be signed by the Niners.”
“Oh, hell yes.” Tex stuffed the beers he’d taken out back into the refrigerator and grabbed one of Darren’s beers.
“I’ll drink to that.” Wren snatched two beers and headed toward me. “Hurry, Dad, Las Vegas has already picked Casey.”
“Oh, my old Raiders?” Darren snicked a beer can open and slurped it as he strolled toward the couch.
He’d been a Raiders fan? My knowledge of Wren’s father was so limited. “Yep. Casey will be happy there. I think he’s planning on living part time in Arizona still, for Ryker’s family.”
As Wren plopped down next to me, he handed me a beer can. “Here you go, babe.”
Wren was a different man now. It had been amazing to watch him navigate his way back to his father and to hear about them working together on their future. “Thanks, babe.” I opened my beer and drank some.
Tex and Malik sat on the opposite side of the sectional while Wren’s father dropped in by us, saying, “Wren, I hope we all end up close to each other, but if not, I want you to know it won’t be like before.” His gaze locked on Wren.
“I know, Dad.” He flashed a smile at his father. “What did you decide about the house here?”
“I’m transferring the title to Karen. I know Stuart’s not mine, but I can’t leave him with nothing.” He twisted his beer in his lap.
“That’s the right thing to do.” Wren patted his father’s knee.
“How’s the divorce coming along?” I peeked at Darren. There’d been a stark change in him too. He still drank, but not every day like before.
“I think we’ve gotten most of it settled. We had a meeting with a moderator last week and agreed on the details. We should file our final paperwork soon.” He sipped his beer as his gaze swept toward the television. “Hey, Seattle’s up next.”
