Page 94 of Broken

Me: Okay, how about Daphne?

Izzy: No.

Me: Darla

Izzy: Are you high?

I belted out a laugh, and several people around us looked at me like I was crazy. Movement down below caught my attention with the start of the next play, and I watched as the center snapped the ball to Jet from the twenty-yard line. He stepped back, dodging a player that slipped through, and sent the ball flying in a perfect spiral down the length of the field. Liam hauled ass, pushing another player out of the way just in time tocatch the ball, and he ran the last ten yards for the touchdown. Again, the crowd roared.

I looked over at Izzy, watching her jump up to cheer with the rest of the dance team, a sea of black and red pom poms shimmying in the air. Casey and Dinah bumped shoulders with her, the three of them talking and laughing, and I was suddenly never more glad that I’d always kept those two off limits.

Dad nudged me to point out something in the game, pulling my attention back, and sometime during the last quarter, Annie switched rows with my sisters. “Isn’t he amazing?” she asked, her eyes tracking Jet on the field.

“He’s definitely on his game tonight,” I agreed.

“Hehasto get a scholarship after this. Oh!” Her nails dug in my arm as Kyle made a desperate wild pass to Jet as he was tackled, and Jet took off in a run to dodge as more of the opposing team swooped in. “Oh, my God! Go! Go! Go!” Annie screamed as he bolted down the field, most of his teammates blocked. Everyone stood, screaming, cheering, our entire side of the stadium losing it as Jet raced the entire way down the field, spinning away from a tackle in the last five yards to make the touchdown.

Chaos. Ensued.

The stands erupted.

Annie leapt up, and I caught her against my side, the two of us yelling and jumping with the crowd.

Jet was on fire, and the close game we’d had the whole night finally had a clear lead.

ANNIE

I was on pins and needles, pacing the hall as we waited for Jet and Izzy to come back out. We’d won the game, that last play sealing the deal, and even if Jetdidn’twalk out of here with a scholarship offer tonight, I was ready to jump his bones.

“Annie, enough. Be still,” Mom fussed, but I literally couldn’t. Tucker smirked from where he was talking to the dads, and I shot him a look. Mom was chatting with Helen while Jenna had taken all the younger siblings for a last look at the souvenirs and concessions.Iwas just going nuts.

Izzy came out first, and it was basically a relief to my sanity, her presence an anchor I could use until Jet came out and I knew if there was news.

I felt rather than saw when he was finally coming out from the locker rooms. How I didn’t know. It was just like a sixth sense, and I ran through the gathered crowd to leap in his arms. He spun me around, hugging me tight before setting me back down.

“Hey, sweetheart.” And I knew just from the look on his face that he’d gotten one.

His mom and dad swarmed in before I could ask, wrapping him in their own hugs and congratulations.

“Hey, it’s nice to see y’all again. I’m Coach Donahue from Ridgeside U. We met at the beginning of the season.” A tall man with broad shoulders and a bald head stuck out his hand, coming up from behind Jet, and Stefano and Helen took turns shaking hands and saying hello. I just wrapped myself around Jet’s arm, never wanting to let go.

“This kid’s a hell of a player,” the coach continued. “I would’ve offered him a spot months ago if I hadn’t already filled myquarterback position, but as luck would have it, my guy from El Paso just fell through, and when I heard Jet here was going to be playing in the state championship, I knew I had to get out here to see him again. He’s phenomenal. Stepped up his game even from the last time I saw him. I’d love to talk scholarships with y’all when you get back home.”

“Absolutely.” Stef was beaming, his hand going proudly to Jet’s shoulder. “We look forward to hearing from you.”

“Yes, thank you so much.” Helen stepped up behind Stef, her hands wrapping around his arm like mine had Jet’s.

I listened, excitement blaring through me that was just waiting to get out as they wrapped up conversation and details, and as soon as the coach walked off and his parents had their turn, I pulled Jet in for a kiss.

“Don’t hog him, sis,” Izzy teased when I finally pulled back, and Jet let go of me to give her a hug while Tucker clapped him on the back of the shoulder.

“This is awesome, man. Congrats.”

“Thanks.”

“Are y’all ready to head back to the hotel?” Chuck asked as Jenna came back with the kids. Everyone looked jazzed but tired, especially the younger ones.

“Actually, Mateo wanted to know if we wanted to go grab a burger or something before heading back. His family is staying at the same hotel.” Jet looked around at us then the parents.