Page 36 of Off Sides

Dasher

I’m dripping in sweat as we make our way to the locker room for halftime. No one is speaking a word. The locker room is quiet until Coach Hart starts talking, “I know this is a rough team. I know you want to give up. We can’t do that. We play until the end. Get a drink and think about how we’re going to make a comeback.”

Tyler sits on one side of the bench, Victor on the other, all I can hear from them is their breathing. Jester hands me a cup of water, “you good?”

I pat my head, “I’m good.” I’m not good. My head hurts, Raine is here with a woman. We’re getting slaughtered.

But hey I’m great at lying.

The halftime ends and we make our way back out to the field. We’re set to receive, and I run out to the field, ready to go.

I look over to the stands. My parents wave, but it’s Raine I’m looking at. Without a word, I take off. My teammates are calling after me. No one knows where I’m going. I jump up and over the railing and keep heading up to the fifth row. Everyone in that row scrambles out of my way as I grab Raine, kissing him hard—in front of the world.

The crowd is cheering as I pull away, “I miss you.” He pats my cheek, “come home.” Home. He is my home.

I nod at the woman, knowing I’ll hear all about it later. Raine points back at the field, “you have a game to win.”

I snicker, “I hope I can.”

He knocks on my helmet, “you can, and you will. Now go.”

I put my helmet back on and rush back to the field. Everyone is staring at me, though my teammates are cheering for me. I got a penalty for being off sides, but that’s because they didn’t have a name for what I did.

I glance back over at Raine and then call my play.

53

Chapter 53

Raine

Isobel looks at me as I sit back down, “you are meant for each other.”

Dasher is mine.

“I want to introduce you to him,” I tell her as we watch Dasher launch a perfect spiral to Dane who scores.

It seems like we’re finally getting our shit together. Soon the score is tied and a few seconds on the clock to kick a twenty-yard field goal.

Time seems to stop when Roden, the kicker lines up for his kick. The ball is snapped, he runs toward it, kicking it high and SCORE!

Fortune win. I hug Isobel, we high five others around us. We head toward his parents, who greet me warmly, “we knewyou two were meant for each other.” Susan pats my arm, and I introduce Isobel.

She’s warm and friendly to Dasher’s parents which means a lot.

“Shall we go wait for your son? We can go to a celebration dinner,” I suggest. I’ll even have Dasher’s friends come, they deserve recognition as well.

The reporters have mics out, ready to get a statement from the players as they walk out.

Dasher emerges, gives his statement and then bear hugs his mom who laughs. I let him have his moment with his parents, he cares for them deeply. He then turns to me, “I’m sure we have a lot to talk about, but I’m really hungry.”

I laugh, “I’m sure we can find you something to eat. How about I order a bunch of food, enough for the whole team?”

His eyes widen, “the whole team? They won’t fit in the penthouse.” Isobel giggles, “he moved.”

Dasher looks at me and blinks, “you moved?”

I jerk my head toward the door, “text this address to the team, tell them to bring suits.” He does as I say, and I drive all of us to my new place. He walks into the huge home in awe.