“Glad you’re back!” one kid shouts. He’s probably around twelve, if I had to guess. He’s wearing my jersey and has a small boy under his arm, pulling him close.
“Thanks, man,” I say, and I point to the smaller kid next to him also wearing my jersey with eye black under his eyes and a Tampa Knights hat on his head. His glasses nearly fall off his face when he lunges towards me as I reach my hand out to give him a high five.
This is the part that matters.
I sign the kid’s hat among a plethora of other items that a bunch of people hand to me and take pictures with any of the kids who ask me. Once I’m done and about to head onto the field to get in at least a few warm-up reps, I glance into the stands quickly. Noticing a small brunette with a red jersey and a high ponytail staring at me. Mia’s smile beams down towards me and I blow a kiss in her direction before I walk backwards onto the field. Her hands go up into a heart shape and I mimic the gesture, not giving a fuck if anyone sees. Because I’m in love with my best friend and I don’t care who knows it.
“Look at her,” Liam says as we walk back into the tunnel after a few throws. He tilts his head over at Demi Sanchez standing on the sidelines. “When’s your interview with her?”
“Next week.”
“Need me there? You know, for moral support or anything?”
I tilt my head down, raising an eyebrow at him. “Demi can’t stand you, champ. Just leave her alone.”
“She loves me, what are you talking about?”
“Uh huh. She’s also married, which should be your first reason to leave her the hell alone,” I say, pushing the door open as we enter the locker room.
“Not married. Engaged. There’s a difference.” Liam’s gloved hand points to me as we part ways and he takes a seat on the chair next to his locker.
When I agreed to do an interview discussing my absence and the reason behind it, Bex said that a few reporters had approached her. I didn’t want to do a story with someone who just wanted to spin it and ask me questions that didn’t really matter. Demi Sanchez is smart. And she’s feisty. She always asks questions that really tell a story and make a difference, so I knew if I actually planned on publicly talking about it, I’d be doing it with her.
“Let’s go do our job and come out with the win,” Liam says.
The guys lost two of the three games I was absent for and while I know it isn’t my fault, I still kick myself for not being able to be here for them.
Running out onto the field, there’s a very noticeable difference in how I feel today versus how I felt my last game. I’m still quieting the voices and the insecurities, but instead of balling them up and shoving them into a corner in my mind, trying to ignore that they even exist, I’m talking back to them. I’m reassuring myself that I do belong on this field and my will to overcome this is stronger than anything or anyone that tells me I can’t.
“Campbell to the twenty, to the fifteen, five, four, three, two… touchdown Tampa Bay! Welcome back, Nate Campbell!” the announcer’s voice yells through the stadium.
I’ve heard him call out my plays for years over the speakers, the same high energy, excited voice tracking all of my home games for the last six years. The screams from the crowd erupt around me and I jog over to the sidelines right as Ford and Liam come up slapping the sides of my helmet.
“Didn’t miss a beat,” Ford says as he takes off his helmet.
I’m playing more than I expected to, but I can tell Coach is still treading lightly on putting me in for too many plays. I get the impression he doesn’t want to overwhelm me and hell, right now I’ll take what I can get.
“Get in there, Campbell.” I hear as I’m already standing when I see Liam on the field pointing at me and motioning for me to get in the huddle.
Liam snaps the ball and fakes like he’s handing it to me. I sell it well against the defensive line, making more than half of them falter left to follow me. When in reality, Liam throws the ball down the field to a wide open receiver and another six points ends up on the board for us.
It’s a well fought game, one where I felt really fucking good during every quarter. I was happy to be on the field today, happy to be suited up on one of the best teams, with the best people surrounding me. Our team wins 27-17, and even though I didn’t play half as many snaps as I normally would, I’m calling it a personal win too.
“Happy Friendsgiving!” Mia shouts as we walk through the doors of Ford and Abby’s house. The whole house smells amazing as we make our way from the foyer into the kitchen where everyone is sitting and munching on the buffet of appetizers Abby has laid out.
I set the green bean casserole down on the counter, taking another look under the foil just to check my craftsmanship one final time.Fucking perfection.It’s pretty hard to screw up a casserole, though.
“Hi, sweet baby,” Mia says as she reaches towards Chase while he’s holding his baby girl against his chest. He hands her to Mia and she walks into the living room with Summer and Abby as I take a seat next to Chase at the bar. Ford walks in with four beer bottles and places them down in front of us.
“Is Kristen coming?” Liam asks Chase once he pops the top from his beer bottle.
“Kristen left,” Chase answers with absolutely no emotion behind his words. As if he still can’t believe it. Before any of us can respond to him, a loud thud causes all of us to turn our heads.
“She what?” Summer’s standing in the archway of the kitchen and dining room as an empty bottle falls from her hands.
“I think she wants daddy,” Abby interrupts as she walks in with a screaming baby in her arms. Chase gets up and takes her from Abby. He pats her back and whispers in her ear as he walks into another room, Summer on his heels with steam practically shooting from her ears.
My eyes go wide as Mia walks in, and puts her arms around my waist from behind. My hand instinctively reaches behind us both and rubs the small of her back.
