Mini Ertz///USWNT/NWSL

Learned To Love

I subbed in the next match for the USWNT and gave Alex an assist. So this camp, my first, I tallied 1 goal and 1 assist. Not bad. 

When we went back to Chicago, we made it to the finals with the Red Stars. 

Mace came to every single game despite it being freezing cold. 

I finally realized that I love him when he sat there alone in the front row with a sign with my name on it when it was 20 degrees and windy. He stayed for all 90 minutes. Even after I was subbed off. 

And then he even flew to D.C. to see us in the final vs the Portland Thorns. A tough team. 

A lot of things flash in my head as we go into the final minute of regulation. I know there's almost no stoppage because there were no long pauses in the game this half. 

We're tied 1-1. Our goal by Mallory, and theirs by Sophia Smith. 

Mal is over the ball getting ready to take the corner. 

I'm in the box. Even Alyssa Naeher, our goalie, was in the box to put an extra body in the box. 

I saw Mal take a deep breath, I felt Tatumn heavily breathing on the back of my neck, I saw a flash of something in Julie's eye when I turned around to see her. 

"You got this." Tatumn breathed behind me. 

"What?" 

"I have a feeling." 

Mal took the kick then, and the ball bounced off a few heads, but I tracked it down and tried to finish off the half volley. 

And I did it. 

When the ball crossed over the goal line, the crowd and my teammates went absolutely insane. 

I ran out of the box and then straight to Julie. I jumped into her arms and our teammates crowded around us. 

I got the same chills I got when I scored for the USWNT, but this time even more. 

I realized I was crying when Tatumn wiped a tear from my cheek. 

"I told you!" 

"You told me!" 

I hugged her, and then Mal. 

We didn't play much more of a game after that, and everybody flooded the field at the final whistle. 

"Britney Johnston you're insane!" Sarah Griffith said. 

"You're the hero, Britt!" Said Kealia. 

"My favorite teammate for real." Ella laughed. 

"I love you guys." I said, and everybody cheered. 

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The first thing I did after getting out medals and the trophy was find Mace. 

"Britney, you are phenomenal!" He said over the cheers I was getting from the section. 

"I'm so glad you could be here." I said, reaching up to hug him as best as I could. "I love you." 

"I love you too." He smiled. "I'm proud of you." 

"Thank you for being here." I climbed up the side of the stands a little bit so I could give him a kiss. 

I didn't realize Julie was right behind me. 

"Hey Julie." Mace said. 

"Hey Mace. Glad you came!" 

"Good job out there today. Always a pleasure to watch you play." 

"You are the real winner today." She laughed. 

"Huh?" 

"Britney doesn't just throw around that 'L' word." 

"Well I'm glad to be on the receiving end of it." He smiled. "She really means it." 

I nodded. "I really really do." 

Thanks for the support on this story! I wanted to just let you all know that I'm going away for the weekend starting tomorrow so I will update one of my stories first thing when I get home! I wanted to get in one last update of something before I left. Thanks all!