Camryn Quinn is finally getting what she wants...sort of. Moving into a dorm and away from her not so supportive father is a good first step, but like everything with him-it comes with strings. She must attend the college of his choosing for at leas...
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My body is the first to react after the sound of Nine's hike. The call moves me involuntarily, pure instinct, as if running the route is an extension of my necessary bodily functions. My legs carry me faster and faster, picking up more speed by the second. My torso navigates me northwest up and through two defenders. I reach out an arm, stiffening them away from me to avoid their attempted tackle. The yards add up quickly, ten...twenty...thirty...forty... Finally at about fifty five yards I turn my upper body. I extend my arms over my head and feel the weight of the ball slide in between them. I shift my body to face the end zone once more and continue to run the last twenty five yards, only slightly turning my head every few steps to ensure no further defenders are near me.
I follow my path all the way to the end zone, only then do I slow to a jog, which then turns into a complete stop. I raise the ball in my hand high above my head before spiking it straight into the turf. I turn and face the stands to my right purposefully. They are the ones that contain the suites on the second level. I point in their direction before forming a heart with my hands. The crowd erupts even louder around me. It's a series of motions that I would normally do directly into the camera if I knew my family was watching from home. It feels so damn good to know they aren't.
🏈🏈🏈
I barely make it out of my post game shower before I am being fed booze. I know I told Camryn that I wanted to stay sober, to focus on my recovery, but now that I'm back and have been playing some of the best ball of my life I feel like I deserve it. I gladly take the beer from Anderson and notice it already has a hole poked into the side. I lean my head to the right, resting the cold opening against my lips. Cracking the tab, I chug it down in a few big gulps.
It was the second game in a row where I had near recording breaking numbers. Coach actually smiled when we got back to the locker room and only had positive things to say in his post game speech. I've only seen him do that once before as he held the Championship trophy after our final game last season. But that was when I got hurt. I couldn't enjoy the celebration then, but now I can't wait.
"Hurry your ass up! We've got some celebrating to do!" Cal slaps a hand on my back. He cheers the new beer in my hand before retreating to his own locker.
I stayed in the locker room a little longer than usual to enjoy my postgame beers with the boys solely so I could spend a quiet evening with my family and squeeze out every last second we have together because they fly home late tomorrow night. My mom didn't request a quiet night, but I think I'm the one who needs it. Especially knowing that our next visit isn't planned and probably won't be until the season is over when I can go home. She begins another round of treatment next week, so even if we make it to the playoffs again, I don't think she will be able to travel. I shake those thoughts from my head. I need to try and focus on the good. She's here now. All three of my favorite women are here and waiting for me.
But a different plan had been cooked up while those women watched the game. Which is why I'm now sitting in my truck with Nora nestled between Camryn and I. I didn't want Nora to come, but my mother all but pushed her into Camryn's arms. Telling her and I to make sure she has fun, and that she wouldn't wait up for her.
