Chapter Thirty-Five EVERLEIGH

Chapter Thirty-Five

EVERLEIGH

My throat is sore from all the yelling and screaming I’ve been doing throughout this game.

It’s been a total nail-biter. Feels like our team’s opponents are getting tougher and tougher as we get through the season, and as someone who’s never really been into football before, I don’t know how they can stand it. The players. My player.

Nico.

But he’s currently out on that field playing like an absolute champ. I’m so proud of him. We’re leading by a touchdown, and there’s less than two minutes left in the fourth quarter. We currently have the ball and are looking to score, but as Sienna explained, our boys are also managing the clock and trying to waste as much time as possible so we don’t give the other team enough time to do anything.

I’ve learned a lot about this game this season, mostly thanks to Sienna, who’s lived and breathed football with the rest of her family her entire life.

The game isn’t the only thing leaving me on edge. Sitting with Nico’s mom also makes me nervous, but she’s proved to be a lot of fun. She’s easy to talk to and laughs a lot, making me feel comfortable, as if she knows what a nerve-racking experience this is. I see where Nico gets his personality from. And his smile.

Though his is better in my opinion, but I’m biased.

“Ah, look at him.” Claudia Valente sighs, her dark eyes flashing with pride. “He’s so fast!”

Nico is currently scrambling on the field, dodging every defensive block coming his way. Gav just threw the ball, and Nico holds up his hands without even looking too closely. Just a quick glance over his shoulder and somehow that ball finds his open palms.

The moment he catches it, he’s clutching the ball close to his chest, running his ass off and gaining plenty of yardage before a team member for the defense lunges toward him, grabbing Nico around the calves and bringing him to the ground, where he rolls over onto his back.

Claudia gasps, her hand flying to her mouth. Her reaction makes my stomach twist with nerves, and both Sienna and I go quiet along with the rest of the stadium when we realize that Nico isn’t moving.

My heart drops into the vicinity of my toes when the other guy rises but Nico doesn’t.

“Oh my God,” I whisper, pressing both my hands to my mouth, sharing a look with Sienna. She appears just as worried as I am.

“Get up, honey. Please get up,” Claudia encourages in a raspy whisper, her attention never straying from where he lies on the field, still not really moving. A few teammates go to him, including Gav. We’re all waiting, my legs getting weak, when a couple of the coaches run out onto the field to tend to Nico.

Sienna clutches my arm, her voice determined. “He’ll be fine. I’m sure he’s okay.”

“Right. He’s fine,” I say weakly. Everything about me is weak. My heart. My head. My legs feel like they could give out at any second. Nico is hurt.

Hurt.

I wish I could run out onto the field, but they’d just kick me out of the game if I even tried that, so of course I don’t. I remain where I’m at, my focus fixed on the field. I curl my other arm through Claudia’s, and we all stand there, hoping against hope that Nico will be okay. The panic racing through my veins makes me breathe faster. Harder. The same words rattle through my brain, getting me through it.

He’s just fine. He’s just fine.

Is he, though? Really? Tears threaten, and I squeeze my eyes shut, fighting them off. I need to be strong. Nico is okay.

He has to be.

Eventually he sits up, and the entire stadium erupts in earsplitting cheers. We’re screaming, too, the relief flooding my senses at seeing him being helped to his feet making me clutch Sienna and Claudia even harder.

“He’s going to be all right,” Claudia says with a steely determination that reminds me of Nico. “Look at him. He’s walking off the field.”

Assisted, but I don’t say that. I send a look to Sienna, who still appears vaguely worried, but she smiles at me, nodding her encouragement.

“I’m sure he’s fine. Might’ve got knocked around a little bit, but don’t worry,” she says.

Her words aren’t a comfort. And it doesn’t help when they lead him to the medical tent on the sidelines, where he remains for the rest of the fourth quarter.

I worry, distracted, as the clock ticks away. I’m not even paying attention to what’s happening when the crowd suddenly roars, and I jerk my attention to the field, leaping to my feet when I see that a Dolphin has the ball in his hands when he most certainly shouldn’t.

“Interception!” screams one of the announcers.

Sienna and I are hopping up and down, my gaze going to the back of the guy’s jersey. It says DOLLAR.

“Oh my God, it’s Frank!” I’m screaming. Sienna is too.

He runs the ball all the way into the end zone, scoring a touchdown, and we freaking lose it. Half the stadium is cheering so loudly it’s almost deafening, and I swear once Frank runs over to the sidelines, the entire team surrounds him, congratulating him. Supporting him.

Ah man, I have tears in my eyes.

“Are you crying?” Sienna screeches. “’Cause I am!” She points at her face.

We’re laughing and blubbering, clutching each other, and I realize in that moment that the team is going to win. With the time still left on the clock and how many points we have compared to the other team, there’s no way they can catch up to us.

We’ve won.

Everyone is screaming their happiness, and while I’m clapping, my gaze never strays from the makeshift medical tent. Nico still hasn’t emerged, and I hope he’s not seriously hurt.

But what if he is? God, seeing him lying there unmoving on the field was terrifying. It made me realize something.

I love him. I’m in love with Nico. I think I’ve known this for a while, but I always brushed it off because no way could it happen that quickly, but it’s true.

I’m in love with him.

I want to tell him, but will that freak him out? He’s not big on serious relationships, yet he somehow has ended up in one with me. Sort of.

Ugh, now I feel unsure and frazzled, and I hate that. I need to see him. Talk to him. Just staring into his eyes is a reassurance.

Pandemonium reigns once the game is over, and we slowly make our way out onto the field along with Claudia, who is practically vibrating with excitement or nerves, I can’t tell. Maybe it’s a combination of both. She’s swiveling her head left and right, her hair swinging with the movement, and at one point, she stops on the forty-yard line and tilts her head back, watching the people slowly empty the stands.

“This stadium is huge.” Her wide eyes meet mine. “It still amazes me that this many people come here to cheer on my son and his team.”

“They’re really good, Mrs. Valente,” Sienna reminds her, sending me an amused look.

“Sienna, I don’t know how many times I’ve told you this over the years, but please, call me Claudia.”

“Right. Okay, Claudia.” Sienna nods and smiles, her gaze then zeroing in on someone to the right and just behind Nico’s mom. Her smile fades, and panic flashes in her eyes. “I need to go find my brother.”

Before we can say anything, Sienna is gone. Seconds later I realize why.

“Hey, Nico’s mom” is how Gavin greets Claudia with a big smile on his handsome face, pulling her into a crushing hug.

This is the new way of things. Anytime Gavin is in the vicinity, Sienna makes herself scarce. She still won’t tell me exactly everything that happened the night she left our house in a huff and Gavin eventually went after her, but I know it wasn’t great.

He must’ve said or done something that sent her so far over the edge that she doesn’t even want to talk about it, and she pretty much tells me everything.

“Oh, Gav, it’s been too long. It’s so nice to see you.” Claudia hugs him in return before she pulls away, smiling up at him. “You played so well this afternoon!”

“Thank you. So did Nico.” His expression turns serious. “By the way, he’s all right. He’s just being checked out thoroughly by the medical staff before being released.”

“Was it a concussion?” Claudia asks, her voice full of concern. “He’s had a few in the past. They always worry me. I’ve told him before it’s not good to get knocked in the head all the time.”

“I’m not sure yet, but he seems like he’s in good shape.” Gav glances over in my direction. “You’ll be able to see him soon.”

“Thanks, Gav.” I offer him a smile. He’s aware of how close I am to Sienna, but I consider Gavin a friend as well. He may be dead to her, and I can still be his friend .?.?. but I will always be on Sienna’s side.

This type of situation is confusing. I actually really like Gavin, but I also know he’s been a complete shit to Sienna. Is his behavior on purpose, or is he really that oblivious?

I don’t know.

“Can you take us to him, please?” Claudia asks Gav. “I’d like to see my son with my own eyes.”

“Of course.”

We head over to the sidelines, where Nico is already out of the tent. He’s chatting with the offensive coach, his expression grave, his gaze lifting to search around him every few seconds. The moment he spots me, a smile appears and he says something to his coach before he breaks away from him, heading straight for me.

I don’t even think. I run toward him, our gazes locking, my heart in free fall. Only when I feel his strong arms clamp around me and hold me close does it settle back into place.

“I was so worried.” My voice is muffled against his chest. He’s still in his full uniform, and when I pull away so I can look at his too-gorgeous face, I see something in his eyes I’ve never noticed before. An unfamiliar emotion that has my stomach fluttering with nerves.

“I’m okay.” He brushes the hair away from my forehead, his fingers going to his number written in paint on my cheek. “Don’t worry.”

“Are you sure?” I run my hands over his chest and stomach, but I can’t actually feel him, thanks to all the equipment he’s still wearing.

“I’m positive.” His focus drops to my chest, lingering there. “You’re wearing my jersey.”

“I always wear your jersey,” I remind him, frowning. He knows this.

“You were wearing the hoodie earlier.”

I’m surprised that he noticed, but then again, not. He notices everything about me.

Just like I notice everything about him.

“With the jersey on underneath.” I smile, rising on tiptoe. “You’re being silly.”

“Hey, I can’t help it that I like seeing you in my jersey. And for some reason, it looks especially good on you right now.” He dips his head, his mouth finding mine for a too-brief second before he ends it, turning his attention to his mother. “Ma, you look ready to cry.”

“Oh, my Nico.” Claudia’s face crumples, and he wraps her up in a comforting hug, kissing the top of her head.

“I’m fine,” he reassures her, his gaze finding mine once more. “They think it might be a slight concussion.”

My heart trips over itself at his revelation. “What does that mean?”

“I’ll need to take it easy for the rest of the weekend. They’ll monitor me, but I’ll probably be back to normal come Monday afternoon.” He smiles. “I’m fine. Really.”

“What happened out there?” Claudia asks.

“Not quite sure. That dude took me down, and it felt like my head rattled around in my helmet. I think I hit the ground just right, and I even blacked out for a few seconds.”

My God, this game is dangerous. Seeing him laid out on the field unmoving scared the crap out of me, and now he’s acting like it was no big deal.

“Oh my goodness, Nico. You blacked out?” His mother’s level of distress is at about a ten, which is where mine is after his explanations.

“I’m fine. It’s okay.” He gives her a one-armed hug before he lets her go and comes back to .?.?.

Me.

My heart soars when he pulls me into his arms again, his mouth at my ear when he whispers, “Want to go to dinner with me and my mom?”

I pull away slightly to stare into his dark eyes. “I don’t want to impose. I’m sure your mom wants you all to herself.”

“It was her idea. She wants to get to know you better. You were all too preoccupied by the game.”

“Right, and then you got hurt.” I shove at him a little, unable to help myself, and I immediately regret it. “Are you okay?”

He puffs out his chest. “I’m fine. I promise.”

“You scared me.”

“If you’re going to be with me, Ever, prepare yourself. I’m going to scare you on a regular basis, especially if I keep playing football.” His hopeful gaze touches something deep in me, and I realize that I have all the faith in this man.

He’s going pro. I just know he is.

“Are you sure it’s okay if I go to dinner with you two?” I seriously don’t want to interfere. They don’t see each other as much as they used to—Claudia told me this before the game started. He’s so busy with school and football, and she’s been busy with work. They’re very close, and she misses him terribly.

Direct quote.

“I want you there. She wants you there. You’re the two most important women in my life. What you two think about each other matters to me.” The sincerity in his eyes makes me swallow hard, and I’m mentally battling the emotions swirling within me.

“Okay. I’ll go,” I agree, blinking away the tears at his words.

I mean something to this man. And he means something to me.

I swear I’m the luckiest girl in the world.