Page 82 of Well Aware

Instead I focused on the field and saw the moment that I needed to steal the ball for a second time.

This time, though, I kicked a longball to the left front part of the field, watching as Sarena crossed the best cross of the game.

The ball went from the left side of the field to just outside the six-yard box, where Nettie was able to just tap it in.

The scream that left my mouth was hoarse and broke several times.

“Yes!” I cried, meeting Nettie in the middle of the field as we set up for the kickoff. “That was freakin’ amazing.”

I said the same to Sarena, then hustled back to my position.

“Now,” I said to the teammates that were on the left and right of me. “Get ready for an assault. Because they’re pissed now.”

And they were.

Really pissed.

For three more minutes, they hammered us hard, giving it everything that they had.

Poor Kaylee was on the ground more than she was on her feet, and everyone was wild in the back field.

My head was also hurting like a mother, because I’d taken an elbow to the forehead somewhere in that three minutes.

The best sound in the world was the buzzer sounding.

Then everyone was screaming as we dog piled Nettie.

Nettie laughed under the pile of sweaty bodies on top of her.

Sarena bent down and smacked a kiss straight onto Nettie’s mouth, “Yes!”

I was an exhausted mess by the time that I met up with my girl and Beau after the game.

Luckily, the game was home.

“We did it!” I squealed.

Beau caught me, laughing as he hauled me into his chest and twirled me around like a child. “You did it.”

“So loud.”

Beau put me down with a laugh and I dropped down to my haunches and said to my girl, “I’m sorry. I was excited.”

She touched the tip of my nose. “I’ll allow it. This one time.”

She’d done more talking than signing today, and I was excited to see that hadn’t changed during the game.

“Y’all want to head to dinner with us?” Nettie asked, stopping by our group.

“Sure! Where?” I asked.

“Hopps.” Boone slung his arm around Nettie’s shoulder. “We deserve a beer after that game. It was anxiety-inducing to watch.”

I snorted. “Try playing.”

He tapped me on the arm with a closed fist and said, “See y’all there.”

Iris walked between Beau and me as we made our way back to Beau’s truck.