Page 57 of The False Start (Off the Bench)

The players return to their locker rooms as the stadium begins to fill up and celebrity after celebrity flashes up on the Jumbotron. I stifle a laugh at the outfits that some of the social media influencers are wearing.

Maggie slaps my arm when I snort at one Instagram model wearing head-to-toe denim like she’s Britney Spears circa 2001. But as iconic as Britney is, it was still hard to pull off on her.

“Stop, at least she didn’t make her boyfriend match.”

“What are you girls laughing at?” Mrs. Meadows asks.

“Nothing, just caught the giggles.” Maggie sobers instantly.

“Can I get you another drink?” I ask, gesturing to Mrs. Meadows’s nearly empty glass of white wine.

“Please.” She hands me her glass, before turning to Maggie. “Now tell me about you, sweetie. A pretty young thing like you must have a vibrant life.”

I laugh as I head to refill her wine, chatting with some of the other family members now packing the box full with excited energy.

“Hey,” Colton says, pulling me to the side on my way back to my seat.

“What?”

“Thanks for inviting me. I know we haven’t always been on great terms.”

I level him with a look.

“Okay, I know I was kind of a dick to you for a long time. So, I appreciate the olive branch, and I know you’re leaving the firm, but if you ever need anything.” He holds out his hand, and I roll my eyes, pulling him in for a hug.

“Just don’t be a dick to any of the other women in the office, and we’ll call it even.”

He grimaces. “Deal.”

“And let me know if James passes you up for another promotion. We might have room for one more.” He grins at me.

“Deal,” he echoes.

I get back to my seat right as the team runs out onto the field, the crowd cheering wildly and me right along with them as I spot Cal in the middle of the pack.

The national anthem is sung by an up-and-coming country artist named Bryan Campbell. Baltimore wins the coin toss, and the clock starts its first countdown of the night.

The box erupts in cheers when our defense holds them to only a single field goal on the first drive of the game.

“They have one of the best quarterbacks in the league,” my dad says knowingly. “Cutting off their momentum early on is key if we want a win tonight.”

I can only nod as the offense takes the field, Cal lining up at the far side.

Theo has the first catch for the Avalanche, a near-perfect pass from Blaze that picks up an easy six yards.

The rest of the drive doesn’t go as well since we can’t make it within field goal range, giving Baltimore the ball back.

They make quick work of their next opportunity, scoring off a beautiful thirty-yard pass straight into the end zone and leaving us in a ten-point deficit in only the first quarter.

The energy on the field matches the energy in the box when the offense jogs back onto the field. Tension lines the players’ faces as the Jumbotron zooms in on Blaze and a few of the key players, Cal included.

They manage to make it within field-goal range this time, bringing us within one score as the first quarter comes to a close.

“Damn,” Alex says quietly checking his phone.

“They’ll get it back. It’s only one score behind.”

“No, that’s not it.”

“Kayla?” My head snaps up at him.

“No, sorry, it’s just the guys. We have a squares bet going on.”

I roll my eyes, focusing back on the game in front of me as Baltimore drives down the field once more, their running back nearly unstoppable against our linebackers. They get another field goal, bringing us back to a two-score game.

Theo makes a superb one-handed catch to start the next drive off, immediately gaining the first down. Cal makes a great block on the next play, letting the running back through a gap and gaining us another four yards.

“Yes!” I cheer, as they set up along the line for the next down, moving methodically down the field and into field-goal range.

Cal snags the ball out of the air on second down, bringing us into the red zone.

I swear the entire box holds its breath as Theo brings in the catch, both sets of toes touching the ground before he falls out of bounds.

Maggie screams as her brother gets his first Super Bowl touchdown, and I join in while the Jumbotron moves from his celebration to our box.

Baltimore gets the ball back and drives down the field, bringing in another touchdown, and with only thirty seconds on the clock yet, we only get one down and a Hail Mary that goes wide before halftime is called.

While we might still be down by ten points, everyone is excited for the halftime show, which is featuring a popular K-pop boy band that must have been the choice of one of the commissioners’ granddaughters.

Regardless of who chose the group, they bring the energy, and the crowd sings along to their most popular hit, “Game Day,” which spent entirely too long on the radio last summer.

We start with the ball going into the second half, and they come out on fire, moving down the field as a trained unit with Blaze sliding into the end zone like he was built for it.

“Praise the Lord!” Mrs. Meadows shouts clutching a rosary I didn’t even realize she was wearing, as Maggie’s cheers echo the loudest throughout the box.

Our defense comes out strong too, forcing a field goal once again but keeping it within a one-score game in the second half. The third quarter passes quickly with neither team able to get anything on the scoreboard.

We start with the ball going into the fourth quarter. Fifteen minutes, and the Super Bowl will be over. Well fifteen football minutes, so more like an hour.

We use seven of those precious minutes on our first drive but can’t convert the third down at the thirty-yard line.

We’ll likely only get one more drive, and it won’t be very long, but Chicago’s coach calls a time-out.

After thirty seconds, instead of sending in special teams, the offense takes the field again, going for fourth and three in the most important game of their careers.

Theo snatches it out of the air but is hit mid-air and knocked out of bounds.

The yellow flag is thrown, and fans are screaming at the dirty hit as he slowly gets to his feet, cringing, only to go straight to the sidelines. A receiver I don’t recognize comes on the field as Baltimore takes a penalty, giving us the first down.

I grip Maggie’s hand. “He’s okay, he’ll be okay.” She only nods, her eyes glued to the front of the blue medical tent.

The new receiver makes the catch, tying the game up. Once more, special teams stays on the sidelines as we choose to go for two. I groan, hiding my face in my hands, while peeking through my fingers as the ball sails through the air and onto the ground.

“Why would they go for two? We were already tied,” my dad grumbles.

Baltimore takes the ball back with seven minutes left. We all watch with bated breath as they slowly work their way down the field, intentionally taking up as much time as possible on each drive, nearly running out the clock each down so we can’t get the ball back.

Every Chicago fan is screaming their support for our defense as time and time again Baltimore gets their first downs.

My stomach sinks like a lead weight when they finally make it to field goal range, nearly at the final two-minute mark.

They keep lining up, because why would they chance a field goal further than they need to.

They call a time-out once they reach the twenty-five, their coach and quarterback nearly yelling at each other on the sidelines, and it doesn’t take a genius to understand why when their special teams unit jogs onto the field. Their kicker bounces on his toes.

“We won’t have enough time,” Alex says tightly.

I can’t tear my eyes from the field as the kick is good, bringing Baltimore back in the lead by a measly three points.

“One more Hail Mary throw. Blaze can do it.”

Theo limps onto the field, throwing a towel at the trainer on his way and sending the other receiver off the field.

“Can he do that?” Maggie asks.

“Uhm, well, I think he just did.” I nearly laugh as the entire coaching staff crosses their arms in disapproval, though they leave him on the field.

The ball finds a second receiver first, then the running back. It looks like we might have a chance, even as we hit the final two minutes.

I don’t even notice I’m standing until Mrs. Meadows yanks me back.

“Sit. We’re all nervous, but you don’t need your face pressed against the glass.”

I sit on the very edge of my seat, my knee bouncing as I keep one eye on the game clock and one on the play happening on the field below me. Cal makes a fantastic catch, gaining another twelve yards before he’s pulled down.

We’re down to less than a minute with thirty yards to go until we’re in field goal range, and that’s just for a tie. Blaze sends a long pass, which flies wide past the second receiver, still held up with the cornerback tailing him.

We only have time for one, maybe two more quick plays with a lot of yards to cover. I hold my breath and squeeze Maggie’s hand.

Blaze goes for a short pass this time, straight to the running back, who’s brought down quickly.

They line up for potentially the last time, Blaze sending it long to where Theo’s waiting hands should be, but the Baltimore cornerback gets there first, snatching the ball from just in front of Theo and bringing it down.

The cheer from the Baltimore end of the field is deafening, even as their offense takes the field, lining up in victory formation.

I have eyes only for one player, who is currently making his way down to the end of the bench on our sideline, finding an empty spot toward the end and hanging his head.

My heart hurts for him, especially as the cheers for Baltimore swell to a decibel yet unknown to humankind when the purple confetti rains down on the field.

Cal gets up after only a few moments, congratulating his opponents, the new Super Bowl champions, and then helping Theo off the field and onto the cart which takes them out of sight into the locker room.

“I need to see him.” I stand, as if I can run right this second.

A field employee opens the door just then to announce we can wait here or follow him to the family waiting area downstairs. I bolt toward him, dragging Maggie behind me, our hands still clasped together.

I don’t realize we have an entourage following us until Colton calls for us to slow down.

We only need to wait a few minutes before the players start trickling into the room, many un-showered and still in their uniforms. Several reporters follow us into the room, which feels more than a little predatory.

Theo is the first one out, clutching at his ribs. Maggie rushes him but stops short as she sees the pain etched across his face.

“Shouldn’t you be getting medical attention somewhere?” she asks, smacking his free arm.

“Well, maybe if you’d stop hitting me.” He glances around at the small group of us,—his sister, my brother and dad, Colton, and Mrs. Meadows.

“Blaze will be out soon I think, he had to talk to Coach first.” He tells the older woman.

“Thank you.”

His eyes take on a strange glint when he takes in Colton. “I don’t think we’ve met, how did you get down here?”

“I—uh.” Colton looks at me for help.

I laugh. “Katie couldn’t make it, so I invited Colton. Colton Varga, Theo McClane.”

“How’d you like the game?”

“You played great. That hit looked bad.”

Theo shrugs. “Want to see the bruise?”

Before anyone can answer, he lifts his shirt, flashing his impressive set of abdominal muscles one side of his ribs already covered in a molted purple bruise.

“Ouch.” I wince. “Hey, did you see Cal in there?”

“He should’ve been right behind me.” He turns toward the doors, and I peer around him.

I spot a blonde head and beeline for Cal. He catches me as I throw myself into him.

“I love you, you played so well,” I whisper to him, clutching him to me.

His answering sigh doesn’t instill much confidence.

“Basset,” one of the reporters starts, and I turn to them with murder in my eyes. “Uhm, I’ll wait over here for you, shall I?” He laughs nervously but backs up several paces.

I turn us so his back is to the room, reporter included.

“Are you okay?”

“Lila,” his voice cracks. “We just lost the Super Bowl.”

“I know. But it’s not your fault.”

“You sure you still want me?” He laughs nervously, but I know it’s not really a joke to him.

“I’m not going anywhere, Cal. I’m right here.”

He takes a deep breath, hugging me tightly, before pulling back and turning to face the reporter, lacing our fingers tightly together.

“Tough game out there, Basset.”

He waits silently for a question.

“Do you think you could’ve made that catch?”

“I don’t know.”

“Do you think McClane could’ve made that catch if he wasn’t injured?”

“I don’t know.”

“Well at least tell me what’s next for you.”

“Tonight? I’m going to spend some time with my girl.” He looks down at me and smiles. “And then we’ll get back to work. And we’ll be back.”