And then I see it: the flash of an orange jersey diving,desperate.
INTERCEPTION.
The stadium explodes. The noise hits me like a tsunami. Our safety catches the ball and immediately takes a knee, spiking the ball softly just past the fifty-yard line.
The referee whistles the play dead. 0:43 on the clock. The turnover is complete. The ball is ours.
We won.
My hands fly to my hair. Shock and relief flooding my system.
Coach screams in triumph, his icy facade replaced by fiery passion.
I see Cam sprinting off the field, ripping his helmet off and screaming into the sky.
Ty charges toward me, engulfing me in a crushing bear hug. I clutch my best friend, afraid if I let go this whole thing will be a wild dream.
“We fucking did it! We did the damn thing!”
I feel fat wet tears escape my eyes. I don’t bother wiping them, they blend in with the sweat anyway.
Confetti rains down around us.
The cheers of our fans reverberate across the stadium.
Ty and I are dogpiled by the rest of the team. Backs, helmets and asses are slapped in euphoric joy.
Once I’m finally free, I spot them. My family and Elle. They’re in the designated family area.
I take off.
I crash into Elle, arms around her waist, hoisting her into the air and spinning her. My lips colliding with hers. I pour everything into this kiss, the joy, the exhaustion, the pure sweet gratitude. Her arms are around my neck pulling me close. For a moment it’s just us.
Our moment is fleeting and short lived before I’m ushered to the main stage, cameras shoved into my face.
The sweet reporter who wanted to murder Kirk Williams at Opening Night on my behalf asks, “Looking out at this stadium, surrounded by all this confetti and your teammates, after all the work, all the sacrifices—what does this moment feel like?”
“It feels surreal, like I’m going to wake up in my childhood bedroom, and it all just be a vivid dream.” I answer.
I’m pushed to the center stage where I’m named MVP, I give a short speech where I scramble to ensure I give everyone the credit they deserve. “I’m beyond grateful for my teammates, coaches and support system that got us here today!” My voice cracking with emotion at the end of my speech.
The Lombardi Trophy is presented to the team,
Coach gives me the honor of lifting high into the air for everyone to see. The dull droning of the crowd surges back to life the minute thetrophy is in the air.
I pass the trophy off to DJ, our defensive captain, ensuring that everyone gets their moment to shine.
The locker room is a rowdy champagne-soaked event, where Coach delivers his most emotional speech yet. Seriously, someone give this man an award for his speeches.
Elle and my parents are allowed in the locker room for a quick photo op with the trophy.
They’re ushered out and we are separated for what is hopefully the final time of the night.
I shower quickly; towel wrapped around me as I open my locker to see the suit Jason styled for me. Midnight Navy, with subtle charcoal that only catches the light when I move. Jason out did himself with this look. I slide into the black turtleneck and pull the jacket over my shoulders. I sit down and put on my socks. Jason must have had these custom made; they have little wolves sporting crowns on their little fuzzy heads.
The small gold pin on the lapel, my number, is the only flash. My watch, my Christmas gift from Ellie, clasped on my wrist. I smile at myself. I’m gonna knock Ellie’s socks off. I look good.
The locker room mayhem bleeds into the after party. When the venue’s elevator doors finally open, the bass hits me, and then I see her.
