Page 115 of Touchdown, Tennessee

I had someone to believe in.

Someone I wanted to root for.

I’d stayed so detached from everyone for so long that I’d forgotten what it could feel like.

“Rip them to shreds, Peach. I’ll be watching.”

CHAPTER 19

ANDREW

It’s a game.

Just a football game, like any other.

Like the ones I played in elementary school, alongside my friends.

Or the ones from high school, where going pro was still just a far-flung dream.

It was easy to think these things before the crowd poured into the stands. When it was just me and the boys in the locker room, goofing off like we always did, pretending that this game might not be seen by plenty of important people.

But now it was halftime.

The cheerleaders had been doing their thing out on the field for halftime, and people in the stands were getting rowdier and rowdier.

The game was 7 to 7, and it had been since the first quarter.

“You know what we’re going to do for the second half?” Luke said as we all made our way back out under the bright lights.

“Make the Hyenas intodogs.”

“We’re going tobring it,” Luke said, slapping me on the back. “Let’s do this.”

Coach Ennick gave me a hard stare. “Peachel, you’re the quickest motherfucker in college football. Let’s put that to good use.”

I gave him a nod.

He’s right.

You are faster than any of them.

You have the edge; always have.

Pull it the fuck out, tonight.

The crowd started chanting as we got into position for the start of the third quarter out on the field.

So far, I’d been good aboutnotlooking over to the edge to search for Gray, but the thought kept pulling at the corner of my mind anyway.

I knew he was there.

Knew that he wanted to see me win, and if I could make it happen, I’d make him proud.

Myboyfriend.

How the fuck is that even possible?

I finally broke down, looking over at him before we began.