I know how bad he wants this. How hard he’s worked. How he’s climbed each and every step to get back to this place. It’s not finished, but he’s so close to the top. Nearly there.
When I realize that all the families are headed down to the field, led by a team attendant, I motion to Molly, and we gather our things to follow. Paisley and I hold hands as we traipsedown the stadium steps and run out onto the field, chaos among the cameras and reporters descending on the players.
I stay close to Molly as she spots Erik first. After our spat Christmas Day, he texted to apologize about jumping to conclusions, and I accepted. Even though he jumped to the correct conclusion. I just didn’t appreciate the way he acted as if Camden were below him or me, when my brother, of all people, knows Camden’s real character. I won’t stand for him talking shit about his best friend.
I will happily be the last line of defense against any and all who want to come at Camden Long.
Molly hugs Erik, and he kisses her a few times then bends to kiss Kai. When he spots me, he holds his arm out for a hug.
“Good work,” I shout into his ear so he can hear me above the commotion. “You deserve it!”
“Thanks, Nan.” He releases me and offers a hug to Paisley as well. Then suddenly, Camden is there, hauling his sister into his arms. She shrieks and frowns, obviously hating how he’s drenched in sweat, his uniform covered with patches of green and brown.
He sets her down so they can have a short conversation in sign, during which she congratulates him before he turns to me. His dark eyes spark with excitement, his grin wide, and I don’t hesitate to hug him, though I am careful of how it looks, so I pat his back once. Completely platonic.
“Congratulations. You did it.”
“We did it,” he agrees with a smile and leans in as if to kiss me, but I immediately step back, slapping his shoulder pad.
“Way to go!”
He shakes his head with a laugh then holds his hand up for a high five, which I meet with a giggle at the situation.
Dorian Green, a wide receiver, jumps onto Camden’s back, yelling something indiscernible, and our small group becomes bigger as more and more players join Erik and Camden. Molly,Paisley, and I take pictures and videos of them laughing and dancing then clear the field with everyone else twenty minutes later.
The Founders team heads toward the locker room, shouts and whistles echoing in their wake as they celebrate their road to conference play-offs, while some family members hang out in the tunnel, chatting while they wait for the players. They have a bye week coming up while the wild card games take place, and I’m sure they’re going to enjoy a few days off to recharge.
I assumed Camden would take forever to shower and change, but I feel a tug on my parka while my attention is on my phone screen, double-checking Paisley’s upcoming therapy appointment on my calendar. “Riv. Don’t turn around. Just step back.”
Following his orders, I act like Homer Simpson in that meme, fading into the bushes, and find myself up against a concrete wall with Camden caging me in. “Just a quick…”
He bends down, capturing my mouth in a kiss. As he said, it’s quick, barely more than a brush of his lips against mine.
“You played so well.” I skim my hand down his shirt. “That catch in the second?” I blow out a breath like it makes me hot, and his hands find my waist.
“I love knowing you’re in the stands for me.”
“Coulda shown it with a touchdown.”
He cocks his head. “I had my highest average yards this game. That not good enough for you?”
I shrug like it’s not, and he huffs, lowering his head, speaking his words against my lips. “Let’s see if I can’t change your attitude tonight. I?—”
“What the hell are you doing?”
Camden is shoved sideways, and I realize the huge body in front of me belongs to my brother. I touch his shoulder. “Erik.”
He whips his head to me. “No.
“What do you mean, no?”
“Just shut up!” he shouts, gaining the interest of the small crowd of WAGs and players in the tunnel, and Camden approaches my brother with his hands up, like he wants to push Erik. I step in front of him so he can’t.
“Don’t yell at her like that,” Camden seethes, gently setting me aside, all of his focus on my brother.
“Don’t yell? You both fucking lied to me! I have every right to yell after the bullshit you two fed to me.”
Erik pivots to face me, but I’m so shocked by the last few seconds that I can’t form words, even if I wanted to. “It’s not…”
