Page 104 of Center Sneak

Calvin

Under the biggest stage and brightest lights, we knew tonight would be difficult. There’s a reason why there are only two teams left, and both teams deserve to be here.

We just need to fight a little harder to show why we deserve it more, why the Boston Revolutionaries are, in fact, number one.

Seattle is not making it easy on us, though. The game has been tight the entire duration, with the score switching back and forth. Neither team has been up more than ten points at any given time, but now we are tied at twenty-four with two minutes left.

Thankfully, we received the ball right before the two-minute warning, but we have eighty yards to go, and I snap to the best quarterback in the league. There’s no one else I’d rather be snapping the ball to right now. We’ve won tougher games than this one.

Quinn passes to the slot receiver for a quick seven before he’s pushed out of bounds, which stops the clock. Our offensive coordinator gives the same call to the same player, and he gains eight more yards. All plays are short gains, but we move up the field each time, careful to step out of bounds so we don’t burn too much time off the clock. Thirty seconds left. Plenty of time to score.

I look down the field and do quick math in my head. We need roughly ten more yards to get into range for Bryce to get the ball through the uprights.

Just one more first down.

I bend down and clasp the ball in my hands before snapping it through my legs to the QB.

Quinn Banks goes for the deep ball, but the wide receiver misreads the pass, and it’s an incompletion. We huddle up and break for the second down. The receivers are all covered downfield, so he’s not liking his options. He flips the ball to a running back where there are two linemen close. The running back breaks the tackle and gains the first down before stepping out to stop the clock once again.

There are eight seconds left, and we have one timeout remaining. We have one play left to get Bryce the best field position possible if we don’t score on this drive.

I’m expecting a blitz from the defense, but I’m not sure how much I have left. I’m running on pure adrenaline at this point.

I bend down and snap the ball back, possibly for the last time ever.

Shit, don’t think about that right now.

The ball is out of my hands and cleanly into Quinn’s. Seattle’s defense charges Quinn, but it’s a screen play to Myles Jones, and he has the ball a quick second later, picking up six yards with three seconds left.

Special teams charge the field, setting up for the last play of the game. Bryce lines up and kicks the ball soaring right through the middle of the uprights.

“WE DID IT!” Ant yells in my ear, picking me up on my feet, probably one of the only guys on the team able to do so.

We pile in together, slapping, hugging, celebrating.

Fuck.

Twenty-seven to twenty-four.

We did it.

Chapter Fifty-Two

Scarlett

My eyes are glued to Calvin’s ass as he does an impromptu dance on the field after the win. His smile is the largest I’ve ever seen: light and full of glee.

I’m itching to run into his arms right now and hold on tight. I want to live underneath his jersey right now and into his skin. I don’t care that it’s probably a sweaty mess. I just want to be close.

But I can’t.

I hate that I had to hide my feelings for Calvin tonight on his biggest night. I have no one to blame but myself. He’d tell everyone if he could, but I’ve been hesitant.

I’m regretting that decision now.

Calvin was so amazing tonight, and I just want to celebrate with him as his girlfriend and not my brother’s friend.

The man I love just won a Super Bowl, and I’m not wrapped up in his arms right now.