Ty elbows me, and I look around, realizing they’ve announced the winners for everyone except the seniors. I look across the field and see Hannah standing in a sparkly red dress. She has stars and tattoos covering her legs and arms. Her braid almost looks like a mohawk down her head. I didn’t have time to look at her earlier. She’s breathtaking. She doesn’t know it, but she’s about to win Homecoming Queen. It pays to know the student body president. Tyler has had access to the results in real time. Each vote was scanned electronically by Mrs. Waverly, the school secretary. And because Ty’s the president, he could view the results. Mr. Higbee announces my name, I walk to the center of the fifty-yard line and smile and wave. I’ve gotta fake it till I make it. Hannah isn’t even paying attention when they call her name. When she realizes Mr. Higbee said her name and not someone else’s, her eyes widen, her mouth drops open, and she just stands there. Mrs. Bouchard comes over, ushering her across the field to stand next to me.
The senior class president Willow Taylor places a crown on Hannah’s head and hands her a bouquet of flowers. “What the hell just happened?” she whispers.
“You became Queen.” I smirk. We smile and wave. They have all the winners scoot together for a picture.
“Everybody look here and smile,” Mason Bergeson says, holding his hand above his head. He glances at me, and I wink at him. His face is pure shock. That’s right, buddy, I know who you are.
“I’m sorry I can’t stay,” I say, kissing Hannah’s cheek. “We’ll talk after the game.”
“I love you. Keep your head up.” Hannah smiles at me.
“Always.”
It’s the fourth quarter, there are 52 seconds left on the clock, and the score is ten to seven. It’s third down. We need twenty-two yards for a touchdown and four yards for a first down. If we don’t make the first down, we’ll try for a field goal tying the game and taking us to overtime. Everyone’s exhausted mentally and physically, one wants that to play another quarter. We’re on our last time out.
“Coach says a 32 blast.” Ty huffs, joining the huddle.
I just shake my head. We’ve been running this play all night, and it’s gotten us nowhere. I don’t know why he thinks it will help us now. I make a split decision that will either make or break me. “Screw it. We’re running a 32 red blast,” I say. I turn to Jack. He looks drained. He’s been pushed and shoved all night by Central Valley’s defense, and it shows. “Can you give me one more?”
“Absolutely,” he says without hesitation.
“Then let’s do this. Bring it in.” We all yell Titans on three.
Ty lines up behind me like we’re going to run just another 32 blast, but Jack lines up to my left. He’s usually on my right because it’s my weaker side, but we’re putting everything we’ve got left into this play. “Ready…Set…Hike!” Spencer pitches me the ball. I hold my right hand out with the ball in it, and Ty runs up the center like he’s going to grab it. At the last second, I pull my hand back and tuck the ball under my arm. I follow Jack down the left side of the field. He pushes a lineman away. I spin away from another and then run. As I cross the end zone, one of Central Valley’s safety catches up, clipping me in the side, and I go down with a thud. But I don’t stay down. I scramble to my feet just in time to be picked up by Cam. We won—we won. I breathe a sigh of relief and look around the field for Hannah.
It’s almost midnight before me, and the guys leave the stadium. Coaches, colleges, and media outlets all wanted to talk to us. When Hannah started swaying on her feet. I had Leah take her home, and the rest of the girls left with them. We can celebrate our win tomorrow at the dance.
“Can we talk?” Jack asks, sitting down next to me in the locker room.
“Yeah, of course. What’s going on?”
“Something is going on with my mom and Jim?”
“Like marriage problems?”
“No, sorry, nothing like that. I’m tired.”
“I overheard them talking last night. They always talk seriously in Jim’s office, which is downstairs next to my room. They don’t think anyone can overhear them there, but I hear them plain as day through the vent. Anyhow, they were talking about you and Hannah. I think they’re going to try to split you two up.”
My heart sinks. I knew this was coming.
“Tell me what you know.”
49. A Night to Remember
It’s almost one in the morning when I hear the garage door open. I walk into the kitchen, hoping Ford is with Jack, but when I see Jack, he just shakes his head. I didn’t think he would come home with him, but I was hoping. “Okay, goodnight.”
“Hannah.”
I freeze and spin on my heel to face him. “Yeah?”
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m great. It’s just been a long week. Good, but long. I’m excited for tomorrow. Are you?”
“Yes, I’m really excited.”
“Good. I know I already told you, but good game tonight. That last tackle you made was awesome.” I yawn.
