Chapter 33

Chapter Thirty-Three

Caleb

A chilly September wind whipped against my face and neck, making me pull my new Mount Hope Football hoodie closer as I scanned the crowd for Tony. I was one of dozens wearing the same hoodie Angel and the parent club had sold to brisk business before the start of the first home game of the season.

"We won!" A random dude with a red plastic cup attempted to give me a high-five. The collective disbelief and relief in the town of Mount Hope following the first win of the season was almost palpable. Energy sizzled through the stands and into the parking lot, and spirits remained sky-high at the after-party and bonfire hosted by Elliot Stern's family.

"This has to be the safest bonfire ever with all these first responders here." Next to me, Scotty bounced around like he hadn't recently finished playing a full game, throwing three touchdowns and rushing for two on the way to a decisive win over a nearby town's team. And more importantly, he hadn't suffered a single sack in the process. Mom had come for the game, and her happiness was more for Scotty's health than the win. But Scotty was all about the adrenaline high of victory.

"There are a bunch of us, aren't there?" I swept my gaze over the crowd again. Eric was there, of course, celebrating John, who'd run for two of the touchdowns. Sean and Denver had come along with the rest of the house, including the other kids. Maren was in town for the weekend, and Jonas had a rare night off from the hospital and was there with his dog Oz on a glow-in-the-dark leash.

"We should make a firepit like this." Scotty nodded at the carefully constructed brick structure surrounded by a concrete patio and benches.

"With what yard?" I shook my head. "Aren't you the one complaining about how tiny the rental house is?"

"Someday. When you and Tony buy a house. I'll help build you a fire pit," Scotty said archly as my jaw dropped. "And I don't hate the house. It and the town might be growing on me."

"Good." I turned my attention away from scanning for Tony to smile at Scotty. "Thanks."

"No, thank you ." Scotty kicked a line of dirt where the patio met the yard. "I suck at this, but… John says you gotta tell people shit while you can. So thanks for everything."

"No problem." I risked an awkward hug that, for once, he didn't dodge. "It's been a privilege." As I said the words, I realized how true that was. This time with Scotty might be hard and challenging, but it was also special. Scotty blushed, so I added a tease. "And it's my big-brother right to meddle."

"I'm glad you did." Scotty gave me a one-armed hug before running after Cosmo and John, who were carrying trays with the fixings for s'mores. "Dudes. Who wants to bet how many Elliot can eat?"

"This I want to see." Sean wandered over to stand near me. Across from us, Denver sat on a bench, deep in conversation with Wren and Rowan. "Want a beer or cider? There are some hidden coolers for the adults."

"I'm good, thanks." I kept looking around for Tony, but Sean placed a hand on my arm.

"Listen. I know I'm your captain, and you'll say that limits our friendship. However, I have to say I'm really happy for you and Tony. You seem content now. You're a better leader and crew member these days. More focused. And Tony seems happier and more settled too. I'm sorry I didn't see earlier how good you are for each other."

"We are," I agreed before softening my tone. "Thanks. Don't be too hard on yourself. You were doing your job. Rules and guidelines are there for a reason."

"Yeah, well, rules aside, I'm happy you guys worked out. Truly." He offered me a crooked grin. "And current rumor mill about how you got started notwithstanding, thank you both for sparing us the dating-a-coworker conundrum."

"Hopefully someone else will come along to earn all the town's gossip soon, and Tony and I will be old news."

"And the rumor mill can't do much anyway." Sean shrugged pragmatically. "You're both so obviously happy."

"You think so?"

"Look at Tony over there in his element." Sean turned to point behind us where Tony was talking with Elliot's dad and some other parents closer to the Stern's large farmhouse. "He's having a great time talking about the game and his team, but he also keeps looking at you. You guys are the real deal."

"Hope so."

That uncertain feeling lingered long after Sean wandered away. I stood there in my team hoodie, feeling very much like the nerd with a crush on the quarterback, when Tony walked up behind me. "Finally free."

"Finally." I turned to smile at him. "You're the man of the hour."

Tony waved a hand dismissively. "That's Scotty. Your brother has real talent. We'll have rows of scouts in the stands by the end of the season."

"Here's hoping a lot of the kids get scholarship offers, but you're the one everyone wanted to congratulate, which is kind of cool."

"It is." He slung an easy arm around my shoulders, apparently not caring who else might be around. "Maybe this coaching thing will work out."

"It will. You've got a lot of people in your corner. Coach Willard, most of the parent club, your family, Sean, Eric, Jonas, and all the rest of your friends."

"You've got them too. You're one of us now." Tony gave me a mock-stern glare before smiling again. "They're not simply rooting for me. They're rooting for us . And you personally, and what you're doing with Scotty. You have a lot of fans."

"Fans, huh?" My skin heated from the praise, and my brain went so mushy I couldn't even turn the compliment into a joke.

"Yeah, and I'm your biggest fan." Tony leaned into brush a fast kiss on my temple.

"Whoa. Think PDA is smart, Coach?"

"No one's looking, and if they were, all they'd see is us happy over here." Tony squeezed me closer. "Not like I'm dragging you off to the woods to make out."

"You could," I said a little too hopefully.

"I could." Tony's tone was thoughtful. "But this right here is pretty perfect."

"It is." I breathed his nearness in, trying to absorb how special it was to stand here like this with him. We had such a good thing going, and I had no clue what I'd done to deserve him. Gratitude for this moment washed over me. "Thank you."

"You don't have to thank me, Caleb." Tony gave a fond chuckle, firelight making his dark eyes glow.

"I'm not sure how else to tell you I'm so thankful to have you in my life," I whispered.

"All you have to do is love me."

I sucked in a breath. "Say what?"

Surely, I'd misheard him, but he kissed the top of my head. "I love you. I'm not sure how, why, or when, but I do. It crept up on me until now it's all I can think about sometimes."

"Me too." I exhaled so hard that it was a wonder the bonfire stayed lit. Tony nudged me, clearly seeking more than a ditto. "I love you too. I do."

"Then that's all we have to do. Love each other."

"I think we can do that." I shivered against him. Loving him was the most ridiculously easy thing in the world. Everything else—family, school, jobs, friends—could get complicated, but not us. We stood near the bonfire's glow, a whole town's worth of chaos swirling around us, but this thing we were building was the one constant, as reliable and sturdy as the mountain itself.