Tears burned in the back of my eyes, and I swallowed hard before nodding. “I’d love that.”
I watched my brother settle in front of the mirror as I picked a variation from The Sleeping Beauty. Something upbeat and happy to contrast the tsunami of emotions rushing through me.
And then for the first time in a very long time, I danced as Aaron watched.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
DEREK
The championship final against Northridge United felt different from any game I'd played before.
Not because of the stakes, though they were high. Not because of the crowd, though it was the biggest turnout of the season. But because for the first time since my injury, I felt completely ready.
No phantom pains. No paralyzing fear. Just focus and determination.
Northridge was undefeated this season, known for their aggressive playing style and trash talk. Their captain, Marcus Chen, had a reputation for getting under opponents' skin. But after everything I'd been through, the injury, the PTSD, the panic attacks, coming out about my relationship, a few insults seemed manageable.
The locker room buzzed with pre-game energy. I went through my usual routine: taping ankles, checking cleats, stretching the knee, and taking deep breaths. But I added something new, I pulled up theplaylist Rosie had made for today. She'd titled it simply: "You've Got This."
The first song was an acoustic cover of "Hall of Fame." I smiled, knowing she'd picked it deliberately.
"Listening to your girlfriend's playlist?" Maddox teased, dropping onto the bench beside me. "That's adorable."
"It's good music," I defended. "Better than your pump-up metal garbage."
"My 'garbage' has gotten us through two championships."
"And Rosie's playlists got me through recovery. I'll take her track record."
Maddox grinned. "Fair point. How are you feeling?”
"Good. Really good, actually."
"No anxiety?"
"Some. But the normal kind. Pre-game jitters, not panic." I pocketed my phone. "I'm ready."
"Hell yeah, you are." Maddox clapped my shoulder. "Let's win this thing."
Max called us to the center of the locker room. As captain, he commanded attention without effort, his presence alone enough to quiet the chaos.
"Listen up," Max started, his voice calm but authoritative. "Northridge thinks they're going to roll over us. They think because they're undefeated, they've already won. They're wrong."
He looked around at each of us. "This team has been through hell this season. Injuries, personal struggles, and conflicts that could have torn us apart. But we're still here. Still standing. Still fighting."
His eyes landed on me. "Derek came back from an injury that would have ended most careers. He faced his demons and came out stronger. That's the kind of heart we have on this team."
The room murmured in agreement.
"Aaron has been the glue holding us together when things got messy," Max continued, nodding at my best friend. "Maddox has been our engine in the midfield. Liam, our wall in defense. And every single one of you has contributed something essential."
Max's voice strengthened. "So when we go out there today, I want Northridge to see exactly what we're made of. I want them to understand that being undefeated means nothing if you haven't faced real adversity. We have. And we're better for it."
"Titans on three," Max commanded. "One, two, three.."
"TITANS!" we roared in unison.
As we filed toward the tunnel, Aaron fell into step beside me. "You good?"
