Since the second half started, I’ve been a ball of nerves. I can’t say I’ve played well, but I haven’t played like crap like I did during the Greenville game.
Coach takes a timeout. “Adam, what is wrong with you?! Did you not see Carter wide open for the pass?”
“Sorry, I’m not feeling well.” Not a lie. The nausea has been eating at my stomach lining since Ray threatened me and my family. “I’ll get it together.”
“You better.” Coach glares at me. “Two minutes left in the game. We’re up by a field goal, and we have the ball. So, the game is ours to lose.”
What he means is don’t throw an interception or fumble the ball.
“Get your asses out there, and show me how proud I am of all of you,” Coach shouts.
He won’t be proud of me anymore when he finds out why I’m so distracted. I plan on telling him at some point after I know Ray isn’t going to follow through on his threat.
I steal a look in the stands behind our benches. Phoebe waves excitedly. Mom smiles, and I notice Sam and Mom have switched seats. Sam is sitting next to Ray now.
Sam bows his head, his lips moving, as Ray listens to him.
“Miller,” Coach barks.
I snap to and jog onto the field. The crowd is electric, clapping and whistling and shouting and stomping their feet.
I feel their energy as we get into position. Unless I deliberately screw up, we’ll win.Then what?Ray has full reign to do his worst on my family.I want to trust Sam, but what can he do?He can’t stop Ray. Sam’s a computer genius. Ray’s a thug. And in this situation, Ray has more power and strength over Sam.
I call out, “Set. Red twenty. Red twenty. Hike.”
Once the ball is snapped, I seek out Carter who’s ready to receive the pass on this play, and he’s wide-open. I’m ready to release the ball when one of the linebackers rushes me, knocking me to the ground, and the ball falls out of my hand.
The linebacker picks up the ball and starts running for the end zone.
I want him to score that touchdown. And silently I egg him on. The play was clean, and I did nothing deliberate to fuck it up. If we lose, and I’ve done nothing illegal, then Ray gets what he wants and he’ll leave my loved ones alone.
But my relief is short-lived when one of our guys tackles the linebacker.
One minute to go with the ball on the forty-yard line. Our opponents can run the play or attempt a field goal, which is three points, to tie the game.
I leave the field as our defensive line goes in.
Coach sends me a glare, but I ignore him as I drop down on the bench. All I can do now is wait. If our opponents score a touchdown and win the game, then I’m off the hook, knowing I didn’t get sacked intentionally. Still, I feel like a loser.
But the minute proves to be nail-biting when the team decides to go for the touchdown, and just as the clock ticks down to zero, the quarterback launches the ball.
The entire stadium is on pins and needles, watching, waiting, and not breathing.
Our bench of guys is on their feet as the quarterback throws, the ball spiraling down toward the end zone where their wide receiver is open.
As the ball starts to drop, one of our guys comes out of nowhere and dives for the wide receiver and tackles him before he can catch the ball.
The crowd lets out an audible sigh before the Cypress U fans start cheering and shouting.
I drop my head in my hands, and it’s the first time in my life I’m gutted we won a game.
28
Emily
Ikeep my smile plastered on my face as I watch my father cross the visitor’s room toward me, hiding my disappointment. We are only allowed one monthly visit, and as this is my first one, I was hoping Adam would come too. But Dad is alone, and I’m trying not to read too much into that.
Shutting off the outside world is part of my recovery plan, so my cell was taken the minute I stepped foot in the facility, and I haven’t spoken to Adam since the day I left. I have no clue what’s going on with him.He promised me he’d wait, but what if he’s already decided I’m too much trouble? What if he’s already found someone else?Thoughts of his strong arms around me is the only thing keeping me going some days, and the notion I might lose him eats away at me on lonely nights.
