Page 124 of Love, Literature, and the Linebacker

For a second, I don’t move.

Disciplined.

The word echoes strangely in my head.

I set the water bottle down and walk toward the stage, applause filling the room. Coach shakes my hand, then hands me the trophy.

“Proud of you,” he says.

I nod.

If he only knew.

Because nothing about the last few months has felt controlled. Or steady. Or predictable.

I stand there under the lights, holding a trophy while the one thing I wanted most walked away.

There’s a roar of applause, but it barely reaches me. My name echoes through the auditorium, distorted, like it belongs to someone else. I move on autopilot, crossing the stage, shaking the other coaches’ hands.

“Great work this season,” one of them says.

“Thanks,” I say, forcing a smile.

I turn toward the crowd, lifting the trophy for the photo, and that’s when I see her.

Lucy.

She’s near the back, wearing her catering uniform, clearing plates and wiping down tables like she’s trying to stay invisible. Her hair is pulled back, her shoulders slightly rounded, her focus fixed on the table in front of her. The sight of her steals the air from my lungs.

She’s here.

Suddenly, the award means nothing.

I step off the stage before I fully realize what I’m doing, weaving through the crowd, my eyes locked on her. I just need to know she’s okay.

Then I see Meredith and Greg.

They move in close, boxing her in. Lucy straightens immediately, like she senses the shift in the air. Meredith’s mouth curls into that familiar, smug smile. Greg folds his arms, leaning in like he owns the space.

My pulse spikes.

I push through the crowd faster, close enough now to hear them.

“It was never going to work,” Meredith says.

“Thanks for your input,” Lucy returns coolly.

Greg snorts. “Dylan is going places and he knew you were only holding him back.”

“I think Dylan can speak for himself,” Lucy says.

“She’s right,” I say from behind them. “Now, leave her alone.”

Meredith opens her mouth, thinks better of it. Greg mutters something under his breath, but one look at me is enough. They back off, melting into the crowd.

I turn to Lucy.

“Are you okay?”