A Summer To Remember // A Spot Conlon au

Epilogue

It had been months since they said goodbye at camp, and Charlie had kept herself busy with life back in the city. New York was as chaotic as ever, but every now and then, she'd catch herself thinking back to the lake, to the firelight, to Spot's easy grin and the way his presence had made everything feel like it was meant to be.

She had missed him. The distance between Brooklyn and wherever she was at the time had felt like more than just miles—it had felt like an ocean. And yet, their texts, the late-night calls, and the occasional surprise care packages made it easier. They were figuring it out, even if it didn't feel easy most days.

But this? This felt like the right time.

It was late September, and she had gotten a text from Spot the night before. It was brief, a simple invite: "Big game tomorrow. You should come. Could use the support."

Charlie had been waiting for the perfect excuse to see him again, and she wasn't about to let this opportunity slip by. So, she packed a small bag, grabbed her jacket, and made the trip across the bridge, heading straight for his high school's football field.

She hadn't told him she was coming. It would be a surprise.

When she arrived, the stands were packed, the energy electric as the game was already in full swing. The crisp autumn air bit at her cheeks, but the excitement in the crowd made it feel like summer all over again. Charlie stood on the sidelines, her eyes scanning the players on the field, looking for that familiar figure in a number 33 jersey.

It didn't take long to find him. Spot stood out like he always did, tall, with his confident stance and eyes focused ahead, his helmet tucked under his arm as he chatted with his teammates.

Charlie smiled, heart pounding a little faster. She had seen him on the field before, back when they were at camp, joking about playing football together, but this? This was different. This was real, this was his world—one she hadn't yet seen, but one she was eager to be a part of.

She walked toward the bleachers, her footsteps light, trying not to draw attention to herself. A few people glanced her way, but she barely noticed. All that mattered was getting to him.

When Spot finally saw her, she watched his entire expression shift in an instant. His eyes widened in surprise, then softened into something more... something that made her heart skip. He didn't even hesitate before he broke away from the group, walking toward her with a quick pace.

"Charlie," he said, his voice full of disbelief and amusement. "What are you doing here?"

"I thought I'd surprise you," she said, smiling up at him as he stopped in front of her, still catching his breath from the game.

He grinned that familiar, cocky grin that she had missed. "I should've known you wouldn't just sit back and let me have all the fun."

"Well," Charlie said, shrugging playfully, "I like to keep you on your toes."

Without thinking, Spot pulled her into a hug, lifting her off her feet for a second before setting her back down. It felt natural—just like they'd never been apart. She leaned against him for a moment, feeling the comfort of his embrace, the warmth of it grounding her.

"What are you doing here though?" he asked, pulling back to look at her. "I mean, it's crazy you showed up, but I'm not complaining."

Charlie laughed, running a hand through her hair. "I figured I could use a little taste of Brooklyn, you know? And besides, I needed to see you kick some ass on the field."

Spot chuckled, looking back toward the field where his teammates were already getting ready to take the next snap. "Well, if you stick around, I'll give you a real show. But you're gonna have to deal with me being way too focused to talk much."

"I can handle it," she replied. "You just go do your thing. I'll be cheering for you."

The game carried on, with Charlie finding a spot near the sidelines to watch. Her eyes never left Spot as he played—there was something exhilarating about seeing him in his element. The way he moved with such natural ease, the way his team relied on him. It was clear to her that this was where he felt most alive, and for the first time, she truly understood why.

The game was intense, the tension thick in the air as the clock wound down to the final minutes. Spot had been playing hard, and every time he made a play, Charlie's heart swelled with pride. There was no denying how good he was—he wasn't just playing for the win, he was playing with everything he had.

As the final whistle blew, the crowd erupted in cheers. His team had won, and Spot was quickly swarmed by his teammates, celebrating their victory.

Charlie waited for him, standing back a little, letting the excitement of the moment settle before stepping forward.

When Spot finally made his way toward her, sweaty and winded but grinning from ear to ear, she couldn't help but laugh. "That was incredible," she said, her voice full of admiration.

Spot shrugged, though his smile didn't fade. "It's all in a day's work."

"Don't be modest," she teased. "You were amazing out there. I'm not sure I'd want to be on the receiving end of one of your tackles."

"Oh, trust me, you don't," Spot replied, his voice low and playful. "I'd crush you."

She raised an eyebrow. "Is that a challenge?"

Spot laughed, stepping closer to her. "Maybe. But for now, I'll settle for a hug. I'm pretty sure I deserve that."

Charlie laughed too, feeling a sense of ease between them, like nothing had changed at all. She wrapped her arms around him, pulling him close, inhaling the familiar scent of his cologne mixed with the smell of sweat and grass. It felt right. It felt like home.

"I'm proud of you," she whispered into his ear.

He pulled back slightly, looking down at her, his eyes softening. "Thanks, Charlie. That means a lot."

"I meant it," she said, smiling up at him. "And you're welcome."

For a long moment, neither of them said anything, simply enjoying the closeness and the calm after the chaos of the game. There was still uncertainty ahead—they both knew that—but right now, in this moment, nothing else mattered.

"So," Spot said, breaking the silence, "what's next?"

Charlie grinned, her fingers gently brushing against his. "Well, I heard there's a post-game celebration. You think I can join in?"

"I think you're already part of the celebration," Spot said, his voice soft but filled with affection.

And as they walked off the field, hand in hand, it felt like the beginning of something more than just the summer they'd shared—a beginning of something real, something worth fighting for, even if they didn't have all the answers yet.

But in that moment, with Brooklyn beside them and the future uncertain, all they needed was right here, right now. And that was enough.

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