Merit (Treasure State Wildcats Book 4)
Merit: Chapter 24

“It’s good to see your mom here,” Rush said.

We both glanced behind us to the stands, to my family and the Adairs.

Mom smiled and gave me a little finger wave. Dad had his arm around her shoulders as he talked to Bodhi. Mabel was taking a video on her phone. Elle and Declan were talking to each other, and between them was Stevie, her attention on the field, watching the play.

She looked beautiful today, her hair long and loose. Her Wildcats tee paired with my favorite frayed denim shorts.

I should have stayed at her place last night. I should have slept with my face buried in that hair and been there to watch her pull on those shorts this morning. Instead, I’d slept like shit, alone in my own bed.

She deserved better. I was a fucking asshole.

It had to stop. Tonight. After the game, I’d go to her place, and whether I liked it or not, it was time to talk. About us. About Mom. Everything.

It was time to stop being a fucking coward and tell her how I felt.

“It makes the game more fun when they’re here to watch, doesn’t it,” Rush asked, stealing my attention.

“Yeah, it does.” I followed his gaze toward the next section over, to where Faye had Rally strapped to her chest in a baby carrier, blue earmuffs on his ears.

Faye was with his parents, who’d come to town for the game. When she spotted us watching, she picked up Rally’s hand in a wave.

Rush’s smile widened before we both returned our focus to the game.

“Third and eight.” Rush pulled his helmet over his face, then he rolled his shoulders.

“Ramsey.” Coach Parks O’Haire, the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, came to stand beside Rush. “I’ll let you play through the third quarter. But unless this game gets away from us, I’m putting in second string.”

“You got it,” Rush said.

They wouldn’t risk injuring their star quarterback when we were kicking the other team’s ass.

“Same for you, Houston,” O’Haire said. “Let’s give the younger guys some playing time.”

“Sure thing.” I nodded.

All I cared about today was that Mom was here. She’d asked if there was any way she could get a ticket for today’s game. I’d gone to Coach Ellis’s office first thing Monday morning and begged for the best tickets he could replace.

Coach hadn’t let me down. First two rows, forty-yard line.

I owed him for this, big time.

The defense stopped the other team on third down. They went for it on fourth and came up short, so Rush and the offense jogged onto the field.

We’d run the ball the rest of today. We’d bleed the clock down. Rush handed the ball to a running back who took off down the field, zigzagging through a hole in the line. He broke past the defenders, and, with legs pumping, tore off toward the end zone, not stopping until he scored another touchdown and the stadium went wild.

I laughed, pulling on my helmet, giving Rush a fist bump as he came off the field. “So much for running down the clock.”

“Hey, it’s not my fault their defense sucks.”

I jogged past him, grinning, and got into position to kick the extra point.

Straight down the middle. “Hell yes.”

I pumped a fist at my side as a few of the guys clapped me on the back. Then I got the nod from Coach as he sent the second-string punter to the field in my stead.

“Guess that’s it for us today,” Rush said when I joined him on the sideline again.

“Guess so. You guys going to dinner at Dolly’s after the game?”

“That’s the plan.” He nodded. “You guys want to join us?”

“Maybe.” I shrugged. “I’ll see what Stevie wants to do tonight.”

I turned to the stands, seeking her out again. Except the seats where everyone had been only minutes ago were empty. Everyone was gone.

Where was Dad? Where was Mom?

My stomach dropped.

No. Not yet.

An ambulance’s siren broke through the noise of the crowd.

I tore off my helmet, searching for a familiar face. Maybe they’d just gone to grab some food. Gone to the bathroom.

A swish of dark hair caught my attention. Stevie stood at the rail, eyes wide.

Tears streaking down her face.