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Groans echoed from the crowd behind me.

“What the hell was that?” Hale barked. Yeah, I hadn’t told him my plan. It was the smart thing to do. I didn’t need to have a full-blown argument on the sidelines.

I didn’t answer. I was already looking forward to the next play—the one guaranteed to make or break this entire plan.

I signaled the next call. One play. That was all I needed.

Theo glanced toward me, and I gave him a small nod before he jogged into position. Despite whatever was happening between us, I was grateful he trusted me without hesitation.

Vaughn snapped the ball. The pocket collapsed almost immediately, exactly as I hoped it would. Jude drifted backward, buying another heartbeat or two as defenders closed in, before he let the ball fly.

It climbed impossibly high, soaring over the field.

Fifty thousand people collectively held their breath.

Time slowed.

Theo broke free, quickly regaining his footing.

He darted down the field.

A defender closed in and narrowly missed him as he pushed faster.

The ball began to fall.

I froze.

Lower.

Every muscle in my body tensed with anticipation.

Lower.

Theo closed the distance.

The ball dropped the last stretch.

My heart lodged in my throat as the ball touched his fingertips.

CHAPTER 37

Theo

There was a moment when the world faded away. It happened the instant the ball touched my fingers. Everything else ceased to exist. It was just me and the stretch of field ahead of me.

The laces fit snugly in my glove as I pulled the ball tight against my chest. My cleats hit the turf hard, but I never slowed.

I ran.

The roar of the crowd became nothing more than a dull rush in my ears as instinct and training took over. Muscle memory carried me forward.

One defender dove, and I cut outside.

I kept running.

Another closed in on my left, and a stiff arm bought me another few yards before he tumbled out of sight.

The only thought on my mind: don’t stop, just run.