45. Chapter 45

Chapter 45

Tripp

Being tired before the game kicks off is a bad sign. I couldn't sleep last night. Thankfully, I was anxious but didn't have any full-blown panic attacks. The only positive.

We're in California and I don't think I could ever live here. The traffic makes no sense. I don't know how anything the city offers could make up for the fucking traffic. I hate sitting in a car going nowhere.

Between the time zone and my overactive brain, I didn't get much quality sleep.

Today is going to suck.

"Earth to Tripp," Zack says, waving an arm at me in the locker room.

"Sorry, just beat."

"Well, get un-beat. We need you today!" Zack says, trying to get me hyped up.

"You need me every day," I shoot back.

"Exactly. Get it together." He claps his hand and reaches for his jersey and pulls it on over his pads.

I do the same thing just as Fritz comes up to me.

"Tripp, there's a hole in this one." He points to my jersey.

I look. There are no holes. Fritz seems a little jumpy. Definitely nervous.

"What are you talking about? This jersey is fine." I stand with my arms out, inspecting the front .

Fritz has a small pair of scissors and reaches for the bottom of the fabric and cuts it with one swift snip.

"What the fuck, Fritz? Have you lost it?" I ask and look down at the jersey that will certainly not get me through a game. The thing about a hole or a cut is that it will fray with a few tackles.

I'm too tired for this shit. If this is some prank, I'm not into it.

"Today isn't the day for this," I say to him as he hands me an envelope and a new jersey. It must have been on the chair behind him.

"You'll thank me later," he claps me on the back and immediately turns to leave the locker-room. I watch him leave in disbelief.

The card has a small T on the front. It looks like Willow's handwriting.

Tripp --

Consider this jersey a special edition. Maybe put it on inside out.

Your eyes only.

Wish I was there with you today. This will have to do.

Xoxo – Willow

What the fuck? I put the note in my locker and take off my current jersey. The one Fritz cut. I look around to see most of the guys are heading out to the field and anyone else isn't paying attention to me. I turn the new jersey inside out.

Oh my god. On the side of the jersey, is a small patch, a ‘W' with a little heart connected to it. It's sewn into the side, so it will be touching my left ribcage when it's on. Like it's close to my heart.

Willow somehow got her hands on a jersey and pulled this off.

I rub my fingers over the hand-stitched ‘W' and my heart feels like it could break out of my chest. I wipe a tear from my eyes because this is one of the nicest things anyone has ever done for me. Ever .

For the first time today, I'm excited to go out and play. The exhaustion that pressed on my bones feels lighter than it did a few minutes ago.

The quarterback reads the coverage, and I act like I've given up on the play. The defensive back bites which gives me the second I need to sprint, get open, and for my quarterback to drop a perfect pass, right in the end zone. It might be one of the easiest balls I catch all year.

A cameraman gets close to me and I use this as my shot.

I put my hand on my side, where the patch is, before touching my heart and making a "W" with my hands for the camera. I know I'll get shit for this later. People will say I'm whipped, unfocused, or embarrassing. And they'll be wrong.

I'm falling in love.