Page 117 of Hey, Stepbro
The Cedar Rapids' quarterback tosses the ball high into the air, straight toward their wide receiver, who's sprinting downfield. Time seems to slow, and I hold my breath, praying the Rawdogs can intercept the pass.
I grip the edges of my seat. "You can do it."
The seconds on the clock tick away, and my stomach churns with anticipation. The Rawdogs are so close to victory—but so are Cedar Rapids.
"Looks like Cedar Rapids might actually have a shot at catching up." Stella raises an eyebrow. "Didn't think they'd put up this much of a fight."
Brock takes the snap and drops back, scanning the field for an open receiver. His eyes lock onto one of his teammates, and he launches the ball with precision and power. It soars through the air like a comet, and I hold my breath, praying it'll find its mark.
"Get it, get it," I yell, my voice blending with the cacophony of cheers around us.
The ball spirals downward, and at the last possible moment, the Rawdogs' wide receiver leaps into the air, stretching his arms out to make the catch. For a moment, time seems to freeze as everyone watches, waiting to see if he'll secure the game-winning touchdown.
He does.
The moment the ball lands securely in his hands, the entire stadium erupts into a frenzy of screams and cheers. I'm on my feet, jumping up and down, hardly able to contain my excitement. Confetti shoots everywhere as scarves and Rawdogs jerseys fly onto the field, creating a kaleidoscope of colors in celebration.
"YES. They pulled through." Stella high-fives me, her face lit up with joy.
My eyes never leave Brock, who's surrounded by his teammates, their faces filled with pride and exhilaration. Soon enough, they lift him onto their shoulders, parading him around the field. My heart swells with love and admiration as I watch him, his blue eyes sparkling with happiness.
"Look at him," I whisper, unable to tear my gaze away. "He's amazing."
"Your man really pulled it off, didn't he?"
I nod, warmth spreading through my chest that has nothing to do with the excitement of the game and everything to do with the incredible man I have the privilege of calling my boyfriend. As they carry Brock around the field, I know that this victory is only the beginning—for both of us.
"Here's to many more wins." I raise an imaginary glass to toast our future together.
"Couldn't agree more." Stella clinks her own invisible glass against mine.
And as we watch Brock revel in his well-earned moment of glory, I can't help but think that life is about to get even better than I ever could've imagined.
The Rawdogs, still hoisting Brock up high, rush toward Coach with mischievous grins. A large cooler of ice water appears in the hands of a couple players, and my breath hitches, anticipating the chaos about to unfold. Without warning, they drench Coach in a torrent of icy water, sending shivers down my spine just watching it.
Coach is caught off guard, but he laughs along with the rest of the team. His soaked clothes cling to his body, and he playfully swats at the nearest players, their camaraderie infectious.
That’s when it happens.
Brock’s gaze shifts toward me in the stands, blue eyes locking onto mine like magnets. The connection feels electric, as if an invisible current flows between us. My breath hitches. I wonder what he's thinking.
Brock takes a microphone from one of the staff members on the sidelines. He clears his throat, and the crowd quiets down, all eyes on him.
"Hey, Riverside," he begins, his voice booming through the stadium speakers. "I wanna say, we couldn't have done this without all of your support, so thank you." The crowd responds with thunderous applause, and I clap along, a surge of pride for my boyfriend inside me.
"Also," he continues, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "There's someone special in the audience tonight who's been there for me since day one. Blakely, you're my rock, and I love you more than words can say."
My jaw drops, not expecting such a public declaration of love. Heat rises to my cheeks, and I glance around to see if anyone notices my embarrassment. Stella nudges me with her elbow, a wide grin spreading across her face.
"Aw, that's so sweet." she gushes, squeezing my arm.
"Shut up."
I try to hide my blush. But deep down, I can't deny the warmth flooding through me.
"Brock’s got a way with words." She wiggles her eyebrows suggestively.
"Can we focus on literally anything else right now?"