Six minutes had ticked down so far. Fourteen left in the game. If they could get a touchdown on this drive, they’d be right in it.
Right before Griff snapped the ball, Trevor pulled up and went in motion, switching to the opposite side of the line, and then before his coverage could follow him, Aidan gave the count and the ball was in his hands.
Then it was in Trevor’s hands.
For a heart-stopping second, Lane thought maybe he’d bobbled it, but no,no, he pulled it in close, and then he was gaining speed around the mostly empty side of the field.
One guy between him and a wide-open expanse on the flat. Mo reached the guy before Lane could and with a stiff-arm that almost felt certainly pointed in Aidan’s direction, he sent theguy sprawling, setting Trevor free to run fifty yards down the sideline and into the end zone.
Lane wasn’t as fast as Trevor, but that had never mattered as little as it did now. Even though he should be preserving his energy for the remaining drive, nothing on earth was going to keep Lane from keeping up as much as he could, sprinting two and a half steps behind Trevor, and being the one there, to grab him and lift him up, right after he crossed the goal line.
He’dknown. He’d just known, and the joy shining in Trevor’s eyes, out of every pore, told Lane that nowTrevorknew, too. And that was even bigger than any touchdown could ever be.
But the touchdown was pretty freaking cool, too.
Aidan and Levi and then the rest of the offensive line showed up a minute later, and Lane had to relinquish him—even if he really didn’t want to.
“That’s it! That’s fucking it!” Aidan yelled, fist-pumping as he embraced Trevor with the other arm.
“Let’s do it again,” Levi echoed behind him.
Because they had to. First they needed to get the ball back—which, actually, Jordan did, because on Pax Kelly’s second pass of the next drive, he crossed over into the soft spot of the field and leaped up, picking it off.
Just under three minutes left in the game.
The Thunder could rely on Dalton’s leg and kick a field goal to tie it up and go into overtime.
But in the huddle as they got ready for the first play of their drive, Aidan met the eyes of each and every guy, all that endless determination and confidence overflowing out of him. “We could tie—we’re already within reach of Dawson’s leg—but I’m not settling for a field goal and overtime. We’re gonna go out and win this thing,” he said.
Because Aidan said it and believed it, theyallbelieved it.
Trevor’s touchdown was the spark that lit the flame, and it just feltright, everything slotting into place, as they ran a rush play and then another and then, with thirty seconds left on the clock and on the thirteen-yard line, Aidan tossed a gorgeous little screen to Mo, who took it right into the end zone.
The Thunder were going to the AFC Championship.
“Thisis the place you two hang out in all the time?” Delia looked around the bar room at Vault, her jaw dropped a little. “I didn’t realize it was so . . . socool.”
“Told you it was like an old-fashioned speakeasy,” Lane said, setting her glass of wine down in front of her. They’d claimed one of the side booths, hoping it might be quieter, but the bar was already rocking, full of Thunder players and their partners and families, celebrating the big win and next week’s AFC Championship.
“We’ll have to ask Ramsey if anyone’s reserved the vault, and if they haven’t, show them,” Trevor said, not even hesitating for a moment before he slid right to the seat next to Lane, hip to hip, barely even a breath between them.
Lane thought maybe Tom noticed, but Delia was still waxing rhapsodic about the interior design and the colors and all the different side rooms.
“It’s very cool and everything,” Tom finally said, shooting his mom a little smile, “but what I want to know is how you knew to run that play that scored the first touchdown.”
Trevor looked over at him, eyes still brimming with joy. “That was actually all Lane,” he said.
Lane might have argued, but Trevor looked so happy, and honestly,hewas so happy. Thrilled, really, that it had not only worked out and they’d won the game, but that it had been Trevorwho’d ended up benefiting from all his weeks and months and really,years, of film study.
“Yeah,” he agreed. “I thought, we needed a little extra something to move the ball. Had no idea that it was going to work so well, or that Trev would be able to take it all the way in for a touchdown.”
Trevor nudged him. “But youknewI could pull it off. You told me—believed in me so much it made it even easier for me to believe, too.”
Warmth surged through Lane. Affection, fondness, and that feeling he’d always associated withlike, but now realized was actuallylove.
“It sounds like you two are a great team,” his mom said.
God, she had no idea. But really, she should. Sheshouldknow just how great they were together, and not just on the football field. For the first time, Lane thought that maybe that desire was stronger than the fear of telling her the truth.
