Epilogue

“Okay, one, your girlfriend’s a badass. And two, she could totally replace Callum,” Mila says, with a note of admiration to her tone that keeps her eyes glued to the pitch.

Callum grunts.

“Do you watch our games this closely?” Hudson asks Mila.

“Only Grey’s ass,” she admits.

Grey chuckles and sets a hand between Mila’s shoulders, clearly pleased with the response.

It’s Sunday, the last day before we start hell month, which will have us living at the field and facility, and we’re spending it watching Fallon kick ass in the women’s soccer team’s first game of the season.

“Go, Fallon!” Lexie yells, clapping as Fallon rubs her shorts between her fingertips. I’ve realized she does this when in deep focus. I don’t think she hears any of us yelling for her. I’m not even sure she hears her coach who’s currently calling out to her from the sideline.

The game is currently tied at two. Fallon scored both goals, but Westfield has been relentless, cutting her off and moving with her like a second shadow. She expected it. Knew it was coming. Still, I’m frustrated for her, knowing how hard she’s worked for this match.

“Go, Fal. Press!” Charlie yells from where he’s sitting farther down on the bleachers along with the rest of Fallon’s family. I’ve met her parents and brothers a handful of times, and today, I was introduced to her grandparents and Lexie’s parents.

“Easy.” Lexie chuckles as she pats my shoulder, recognizing that the comments, despite coming from Fallon’s brother, rattle every protective instinct inside me. “Fallon’s driven by competition. Besides, I don’t think she hears any of us,” she says, confirming my previous thought.

Westfield steals the ball from Becca, and Fallon doesn’t miss a single beat as she sprints to catch up to the Westfield player, so fast, Palmer curses.

“The way she can turn and explode like that is insane.” He shakes his head in disbelief.

“That’s Chrissy,” is all Lexie says as she sits up a little straighter.

“Who’s Chrissy?” Mila asks.

Lexie glances at her and then at me for only a second before her attention returns to the game. “They were friends, and then Chrissy slept with Fallon’s ex while they were still together. She was a total bitch afterward and told Fallon that Westfield is better without her.”

“Hale!” Coach Mackenzie yells as Fallon passes the line she usually stops at when they switch to defense.

Fallon’s gaze slices to her, proving she hears us just fine, but she doesn’t slow down, and before Westfield’s offense can yell a warning, she steals the ball from her old teammate, and though I think we’re all wishing she’d slide tackle her, Fallon turns and dribbles up the pitch, each move so effortless and smooth that watching her has me mesmerized.

“Go! Go! Go!” Charlie chants as he gets out of his seat at the same time that I stand, hands on my head as the clock ticks down.

Fallon barely slows as she kicks the ball with such speed and accuracy that Westfield’s goalie has no time to react. Fallon scores, and we break into cheers along with the rest of the stands.

To my surprise—or maybe relief—Becca is the first of Fallon’s teammates to reach her. I can’t hear what the captain says from where we are, but watch as Becca points at something, her expression serious as she waits for Fallon to respond.

Fallon wipes her face with the sleeve of her jersey as she answers, and then Becca’s grinning and shaking her head before patting Fallon’s shoulder.

“What’s she saying?” Hadley asks.

“I’m guessing Becca was telling her she wasn’t supposed to do that, and Fallon probably told her it was personal.” Lexie smiles as she turns to us. “You guys are going to be playing her ex in a few weeks. I’m expecting the same level of dedication when it comes to kicking Westfield’s ass.”

Grey cracks his knuckles. “Is he here?”

Lexie shakes her head. “He never watched Fallon’s games either.”

“Just give us a jersey number, and we’ll deliver,” Palmer assures her.

Lexie beams until Palmer turns to her, and then she quickly looks away.

Westfield loses the next possession, but the clock runs out before Camden can score again.

Fallon pulls to a stop. It feels like it’s the first time I’ve seen her stand still all afternoon. She blows out a long breath and glances toward the stands. She combs through the crowd, stopping at me. She flashes a smile that makes my heart beat both faster and harder, before her coach calls them to circle around.

“That was intense,” Nolan says, stretching in his seat before wrapping his arm tighter around Hadley’s waist. “I’m glad everything worked out like it did.”

Hadley nods. “And that Becca proved to not be completely heartless.”

Mila scoffs. “Jury’s still out. But if she or any of the rest of them mess with our girl, at least we’re prepared.”

I wish Fallon were sitting beside me to hear this conversation, but as my gaze shifts to Lexie, I realize with confidence that she’s going to hear every detail.

When the soccer teams are dismissed, Fallon jogs across the field to greet us.

“You’re amazing and I want to be you when I grow up,” Mila says, passing Fallon a water bottle.

Fallon grins, her cheeks and chest still flushed from the game.

“She gets her speed from me,” her dad says, before getting buried in heckles and jokes from her brothers.

Before I can move to embrace Fallon, Lexie barrels into her with a bruising hug. “Proud of you.” The two hug for several long seconds before Fallon turns to me, and without saying anything, I wrap my arms around her so I can lift her off her feet and kiss her.

Fallon’s warm palm presses against my cheek as she kisses me back, her adrenaline and victory both contagious as desire pulses through my veins.

Someone whistles, and others cheer, reminding me we’re in the middle of a goddamn soccer field with her entire family paying witness.

I slowly and regretfully set her back on her feet.

Fallon smiles sheepishly. “I have to go,” she points toward her team as they begin filing into the facility. “But I’ll be done in thirty minutes or so. I’ll meet you at the dorms.”

“We might need more locks,” Gunnar jokes. But their mom silences him with a stare.

Fallon rolls her eyes and distributes a quick round of good-byes to us and her family before dashing back across the field. I turn to Fallon’s mom, and Hudson and the others turn to Fallon’s family as well, caring to make good impressions as much as I do, proving that they will be another extension of our group.

“Next Sunday, we might need to tailgate,” Palmer says as he and the rest of our group turn to head back to the dorms. “I’m hungry after watching all that hard work.” He pats his stomach, eliciting snickers and jeers from the others.

Mila glances at me. “You coming?”

I shake my head. ”I”m going to wait for Fallon.”

She grins as she takes Grey’s hand. “We’ll see you both at the restaurant.”

My phone vibrates with a text as I sit back down.

Anna: How was the game? Is it still going?

Me: She dominated.

Anna: I knew she would! Give her my love!!

Anna: I have more good news. Tomorrow is my last day of chemo.

I read her text twice before my heart beats with a new rhythm—one of relief and gratefulness that has me leaning back farther in my seat.

Me: That’s incredible, sis.

Anna: It is. It really is. I unfortunately have to cut this short because I’m meeting Dad for lunch. I just wanted to see how the game went and let you know the good news. Give Fallon a big hug for me. Love you, Core.

Me: Love you, too.

I sigh with a sense of contentment that feels nearly foreign. I have my friend group, who are an extension of my family. An opportunity to have one hell of a final season of football without the drama of our previous head coach. Fallon, who makes me feel complete in ways I didn”t realize I was hollow. And now, the security of Anna”s health.

It”s a damn good day.

I”m distracted thinking about this upcoming year when Fallon appears. She’s showered and wearing a pair of shorts and a tank top. Her movements are a little slower as she clutches a sports drink.

I stand to greet her, and she gifts me with a wide smile before wrapping her arms around me. “Thanks for coming today. It means a lot.” Her voice is soft and vulnerable, catching me by surprise.

I lean back so I can see her face and tuck a lock of her hair behind an ear. “I will be here for every game that I can,” I pledge. “I love watching you out there.”

Her smile is as shy as her words had been.

“Anna sends her love and congratulations on your victory.”

”That was thoughtful of her. How”s she doing?”

”Tired but good. Tomorrow”s her last day of chemo.”

Fallon”s arms constrict around my waist. ”That”s the best news.”

I hold her tighter. ”How are you feeling? Relieved? Exhausted?”

She melts into me. ”I”m so relieved we won. I wasn”t sure we would. Their defense shut us down more than once.”

”They didn”t stand a chance. You guys kicked their ass.”

She scoffs. ”We barely won.”

”Two or twenty, it doesn”t matter. You won. Come on. I got you something.”

She tilts her head back and lifts her brows. “Do I get a hint?”

I kiss her forehead, then turn so I can staple her to my side. “You’ll have to see it.”

When we reach the dorm, I steer us toward the elevator, recognizing the exhaustion she doesn’t want to voice. We ride up to the fourth floor and head to my room.

Fallon kicks off her shoes and recognizes the addition of the dart board almost immediately.

I grin, retrieving all six darts.

She starts to reach for the red ones, and I close my fist around them. “First, I have a proposition for you.”

She laughs out loud. “Oh yeah?”

I nod.

“Let’s hear it.”

“I want all your nights. All your truths. I want it all, Fallon. I want you. Forever.”

She slides her arms around me, kissing me as she nods. “Forever.”

Thank you so much for reading The One-Night Scrimmage!