Page 111 of Who's Loving You
“Yeah. It feels like a dream.”
“It was a dream. Now it’s just life. Love you, man.”
“Love you, too.”
We separate with a deep inhale and hands still clasped. This is a moment we will never forget. It would have been better if we were on the same side of the line, but it doesn’t make it any less special. It’s the fruition of a pact we made long ago. Just three little boys, making wishes and building on a dream. Only one person is missing, and it’s bittersweet.
We spin around, seeking out Papas and find him in the suite. He presses his hands to the glass, and Soba and I feel a relief at finding our brother. We’re locked in, that sixth sense running strong, and raise our arms, pointing them to the sky. Three fingers are thrown up, and we pause, knowing what comes next. Our outstretched fingers close, coming together as one.
Just like us.
Three paths, one dream, but most importantly, forever family.
Epilogue
15 YEARS LATER
The stadium is packed with fans dressed in red and gold and roaring for their favorite players. After fifteen years of being a part of the NFL family, I can definitively say there are no fans like Drillers fans. They are on a whole other level.
The cheerleaders are lined up as they always are, arms high in the sky and bright red pom poms shaking and shimmering in the bright afternoon sun. The Drillers mascot, Oil Derrick, runs around the field with his hard hat and “oil” stained face, hyping up the crowd as if they need encouragement.
I stand on the sidelines, waiting for Nico to come walking out of the tunnel. My heart pounds and my hands shake. I’m so nervous for him. It’s silly, I know, because he’s the one putting himself in the line of fire every week. But watching him with fingers crossed and prayers always on the tip of my tongue has never eased over the many years.
I look to my left and see Nick and Scottie and Nik and Noelle, lined up with their brood. They smile andtears build in my eyes, so grateful that Nic has had such wonderful men he calls brothers to walk this journey with him. A warm hand rests on my shoulder and I look over to see Nico’s parents with equal emotion building.
Mark and Elena hold hands, always ready to be their son’s number one fans, and Greer bounces on her toes next to them with a little Greer right next to her. The girl looks so much like her mom, you’d think she spit her out. Her husband never had a chance.
Behind me I feel the close presence of my parents who are constantly competing with Mark and Elena for the number one fan title. It didn’t take long for Papá to fall in love with Nico. He probably fell for him before I did. Mamá took a little more convincing, but not much. Her biggest issue with him was his age. And honestly, that was quite a hangup for me too. He was younger than Alba, and it was difficult for Mamá to comprehend how a “young man” could really understand love.
But once again, Nic blew everyone’s assumptions away and he quickly became her favorite son-in-law…eventually.
The deafening level at which the fans yell begins to increase and I wince at the surround sound. I turn to look at the tunnel and there he is.
My husband.
He swaggers out, his gold helmet hanging in one hand, and waving to the stadium with the other.
“Wooo! Love Machine. Love Machine.” Soba begins chanting and I throw him a look that has him zipping his lips.
Nico looks out into the crowd with amazement, then sees us all waving excitedly. He gives us his legendary smile and wink and all the women of Houston melt.
“Daddy!” My arm is jerked as the little one attachedto it jumps up and down. “Daddy!” She says again, then tugs her hand free.
“Mazzy, no. Come back here.” She slips right past the security and bolts straight for her dad.
Her little red and gold jersey dress with her favorite players name and number, twirls as her legs pump to get to him quicker. The long pigtails wave behind her like victory flags.
“Mazzy,” I yell again, but to no avail.
Instead of sending her back, Nic drops his helmet and picks her up, swinging Mazzy and tossing her up in the air like a doll. She wraps her arms around his neck and he abandons his original destination and sets a new course.
My other hand gets a tight squeeze and I look down to my handsome son standing anxiously next to me.
“Go ahead, Leo. Go join your sister.” He smiles that same charming smile that matches his dad’s, then takes off in Nic and Mazzy’s direction.
He pushes his glasses up the bridge of his nose, and I just love it when he remembers he’s a kid and acts as one.
Where Leo may look much like Nico, he definitely leans in my direction when it comes to his personality. He’s ten and the kid already has his college and major picked out. To his dad’s dismay, he does not plan to be a football player.