Page 40 of Until Now

“Nick.”

“That means I’m with you, baby!” Teagan jumps up and down, but Lee doesn’t share her excitement stalking away from her.

“Sorry, babe,” Kai fake pouts before kissing Eileen’s cheek. “You know, I might let you score just to make up for it.”

“Oh, please, I don’t need your pity point, Villa.” Eileen flips him off.

Kai laughs and joins us at the line of scrimmage. When everyone has settled into position, he explains the rules one more time. With the tension radiating between Lee and Nick, I can’t blame him. Not a bad idea to remind at least one of them this is not meant to put anyone in the hospital. This is supposed to be fun and one wrong hit could send someone flying into a tree or split their head open on a rock.

“Hut-hut!” Kai runs backward looking for an opening. Nick runs towards the steps, but Lee blocks him. Eileen and Teagan both run toward Kai.

“Teagan, block Nina!” Lee yells, but Kai has already thrown the ball to me in the end zone. “Teagan, you need to block,” Lee continues. “Eileen was already blocking Kai, so what does that mean? You block the open person.”

“Sorry, I just thought—”

“Just do what I say!”

I almost feel bad for Teagan as she stalks back to the middle of the yard. She always hated sports. She did the bare minimum in gym class and refused to play whenever she came to Haven in the past. Why should we expect her to do anything more now? “Better luck next time,” I say, tossing the ball to Lee and adding a quick smirk if only to irritate him further.

After we line up, I share an eye roll with Nick when Lee calls out, “Red 42!” trying to act like the quarterbacks he has seen in movies. “Hut!”

I block Eileen and Kai takes Lee, which leaves Nick wide open. From across the field, I can see Teagan’s eyes light up stalking her prey.

“Poor Nick,” Eileen giggles as we watch him raise his hands trying to keep as much distance between them as possible while still blocking her. With Teagan distracted, Lee has no choice but to toss the ball to Eileen. Kai picks her up, spinning her around so I can intercept the ball running into the end zone.

Nick kisses my forehead and takes the ball, “Nice job, babe.”

I stare after him for a brief moment. Did he just… Did he say babe? The word bounces around my brain as we line up again.

Kai sets everyone in motion — Eileen runs towards me, Lee towards Nick. Teagan tries to block Kai, but he throws the ball over her head to Nick. The ball brushes Lee’s hands before Nick catches it. Lee tries to grab Nick, but he is already in the end zone.

“What were you saying, Madigan?” Kai antagonizes him.

“It’s okay, baby. We’ll get it this time,” Teagan says, but he ignores her. Lee hates losing. Hates it. He mumbles to himself walking back to the line and I have a bad feeling this is about to get ugly.

When Lee yells, “Hut-hut!” I block Teagan and Kai blocks Lee. Lee tosses the ball to Teagan, there’s no chance Eileen will be able to get it behind Nick’s block. Teagan catches the ball, but I grab it from her hands when she stops to celebrate. I quickly toss the ball to Nick who takes off towards the steps.

The world seems to slow down after that. Nick runs towards the end zone, Lee hot on his heels. I already know what is about to happen. I can see it in Lee’s features. He’s going to break the one rule. But, I can’t get the words out. Lee tackles Nick just before they reach the end zone. Both tumbling towards the house, towards the stairs…

Chapter Twenty-Five

What happened tothe one rule? ONE.

It happened so fast, none of us could have been ready. No way Nick could have stopped it. He tumbles toward the end zone. I hear the impact — his head colliding with one of the rock steps. Not good. I don’t even realize my legs have carried me to him until I’m already there. His eyes still closed as he sits up, but there is a trail of blood falling down the side of his face.

“Lee, dude, what the fuck?” I hear Kai shout. I agree. What. The. Fuck. “You know we don’t do that shit here. Someone’s gonna get hurt!”

I push Nick’s hair aside accidentally grazing the wound. “Merda,” I whisper between clenched teeth. Finally, he opens his eyes. “Stai bene?”

“English, please.”

“Eileen, get my keys. Devo portarlo all'ospedale.”

He pushes me away, “I’m fine, Nina. I’m not going to the hospital.”

“You’re not fine!”

“I’ve been hit worse on the field.”