December 31st #3
I point to the big screen at midfield. “See that screen? Look down to that first level of balcony seats.”
“Okay,” he says.
“See the center suite? We’re in the one right next to it. See the person with the binoculars? I think that’s your dad.”
“Oh, I do see it.” He waves at his dad. His dad puts down the binoculars and waves back. “You’re basically on the forty-five-yard line. That will be easy to remember.”
“Are you going to look for someone up there?” I ask him with a smile.
“Yeah, you. When I score, I want to be able to find you in the crowd. You and Summer are my everything.”
To that, I melt. “I literally don’t know how I got so lucky,” I tell him.
“You got lucky all right,” he says with a grin. “On the golf course.”
“I think you’d better get back out there and practice,” I say, slapping him on the butt.
He grins at me and takes off running.
A few moments later, Chase jogs toward us, gives Dani a quick kiss, whispers something to her that makes her blush, and goes back out there.
“He made you blush,” I tease her.
She rolls her eyes. “We have a little wager now, I guess. I told him last night that he’ll need a lot of passing yards in order to win the game. Like, just in conversation. He just asked me what he gets if he does.”
“Oh, so, like, something sexy?”
“Knowing Chase, he’ll want to do something nice for me. We recently looked up our love languages. His is acts of service.”
“And he wants to service you?” I hoot.
“Ohmigosh, that’s not what it means.”
“I couldn’t resist,” I say with a laugh.
“It sucks, not getting to be with them tonight after the game. It’s New Year’s Eve!”
“I know. I really want a kiss at midnight,” I tell her.
“Me too, but it won’t happen. Maybe next year, we’ll get a New Year’s Day bowl instead.”
When we get back to the suite, the seafood is gone, and in its place is a massive spread of food.
And it smells really good. I take a peek to see what all is there and find bacon-wrapped chicken bites, tater tots that are stuffed with bacon and cheese, ribs, brisket, jalapeno smoked sausage, chicken, baked beans with chorizo, cheesy corn, roasted fingerling potatoes, truffled macaroni and cheese, coleslaw, cornbread, and rolls.
Needless to say, I fill my plate up, mostly with the macaroni and cheese. I had a light lunch at the spa, but it’s long gone. And although there are a lot of people coming in and out of the suite and I should probably try to talk to them, I know I need to sit down and eat.
When I do, I notice the players aren’t on the field anymore. They must have gone back to their locker rooms to get dressed and ready for the game.
I know that I’m very ready for the game to start already.
I clean my plate and go back for seconds, this time choosing my favorites—the brisket, mac and cheese, and baked beans.
Sammy comes to sit down next to me a few minutes later.
“Oh my gosh. Did you know that your uncle invited famous people to join us tonight?”
“I did not,” I say, then fill my mouth with decadent mac and cheese. It’s so good that I want to take it home with me. And for a moment, I wonder if they allow take-home bags. Our room does have a microwave that I could use to heat it up for breakfast.
“Well, we have a former professional basketball player and his actress wife who grew up in Omaha, another actor slash comedian who was in one of my favorite movie series. You know the one where they all sing a cappella?”
“I do recognize him,” I say, taking another bite.
Sammy keeps going. “There’s also a world champion boxer—you know, the one who led the team onto the field at one of the home games earlier this year—a Supreme Court justice, and a trio of pro athletes, including a golfer, a tennis player, and a volleyball player.
Throw in a few former Nebraska greats, free food, free drinks, and incredible seats. Dream game for me.”
“I’m glad you’re having fun.”
He studies me. “You look a little peaked.”
“I’m quite hungry.”
He goes and gets me some water. “Here, be sure to drink this too.”
“Thanks, Sammy,” I say.
He leans in and whispers, “Apollo officially asked me out on a date.”
“That’s good news,” I tell him.
“And your mom! Can you believe it? I’m so thrilled for her.”
“I am too,” I reply. “What an amazing way to get engaged! I hope they had someone take photos.”
Just as I get the words out of my mouth, Sammy’s phone vibrates, followed by mine.
“You just got your wish. Oh my stars. Just look at this,” he says, holding up his phone. “It’s gorgeous.”
And it is. Hayes is in a tuxedo, down on one knee, holding up a ring box. Mom’s flowing gown is blowing in the breeze. Pastel flowers surround them, and candles light up the balcony they are on. The Eiffel Tower, with fireworks going off behind them, is their backdrop.
But it’s the look on my mom’s face that gets to me. She looks so incredibly happy, and it brings tears to my eyes.
“It’s beautiful,” I say. “She looks very happy.”
But Sammy looks forlorn. “Do you know where he lives? Will your mom move in with him, and will we get kicked out?”
“I’m not sure,” I say, but at the same time, I don’t think my uncle would do that. At least not until my house is done.
He sighs. “I like it there.”
“I do too,” I say as the teams come out onto the field.
I check the time on my phone and pull the schedule Damon’s mom made out of my pocket.
6:30: Full team warm-ups
Right on schedule.
I use the bathroom in the suite and then go out to the lounge and check out the desserts. I’m in the mood for something sweet.
What I end up with is something that sounds like it was made for a pregnant woman—vanilla ice cream, topped with caramel and chocolate sauces and crushed-up Fritos.
I sit down and eat it in the lounge, already knowing that I’m getting a second one to take inside with me, pretending like this first one never happened.
And I do just that. Grab another one, then walk back to the suite.
“That looks good,” Uncle Tripp says, then lowers his voice. “I didn’t mention it to everyone because I wanted it to be a surprise, but at the start of the third quarter, they will be bringing in chicken and waffles, and at the start of the fourth quarter, a bunch of desserts.”
“That will be amazing. Thank you for setting this all up.”
“You’re welcome. How are you feeling? There’s been a lot going on.”
“I was really hungry, but I’m good now. Excited for the game to start.” I hesitate, wondering if I should say anything or not. “Have you talked to my dad?”
“I haven’t. We were sort of wondering if we’d hear from an attorney.”
“If Nebraska wins this game, I think he’s going to lose a lot of money.”
Tripp just shrugs. “Nothing I can do to help him if he does.”
I nod. Then go back to my seat just as the teams leave and the bands start lining up on the edge of the field.
I sit down between Dani and Jadyn. Jennifer is next to her. Damon’s mom is just behind me with Van. Damon’s dad appears to be pacing.
Jennifer looks at him. “He’s so nervous,” she says.
Jadyn agrees. “We all are. People say that it’s just a game, but it’s important to them. Pro scouts are here. And they like winners.”
“And we are winners,” Dani says loudly. Almost in a cheer. But then she stops and says, “Oh wow, Daine just showed up.”
“But I thought he was going home with the band,” I say.
Dani shrugs. “I thought so too.”
“Even after she told him they couldn’t be friends anymore?” I wonder.
Dani and Jadyn turn to me with wide eyes, and I realize maybe I shouldn’t said that.
“Uh, I’m sorry,” I say. “I assumed as close as you are, she would’ve told you.”
“Told me what?” Dani asks and the way she’s staring at me, I know I better answer or she’ll march straight up to Haley and ask her and Daine herself.
“Just what I said,” I reply. “That they can’t be friends anymore. That it’s too hard.”
“But wait, look, now he’s holding her hand,” Jadyn says.
“And she’s got tears in her eyes,” Dani adds. “I wonder what’s going on.”
“I don’t know, but if I had to guess,” Jennifer says. “I’d say he doesn’t want to be just friends anymore.”
“Of course, he doesn’t,” Dani says. “He’s written songs about her.”
“She’s sixteen,” Jadyn counters. “I like Daine. I just … do you think he’s, like, the one, seriously, Dani?”
“Yeah, I do,” Dani says.
“I agree,” I chime in.
“Me too,” Sammy says from behind us.
Jadyn lets out a little sigh. “He’s out on tour.”
“He calls her every night,” Dani states. “He says she’s been the constant in his life for the past three years. Since that first year we went to the Ozarks and we met him. Who do you think got him to sing at me and Chase’s wedding?”
“It goes back that far?” her mom asks. “She was thirteen.”
“And he was fifteen. They started out chatting on social media. And it’s just grown over the years. He’s really sweet to her. And he’s only two and a half years older than she is.”
“I don’t know if I should share this,” I say, “but she had a conversation with Damon not too long ago, told him she’s trying to determine how important playing college volleyball in Nebraska really is to her. If maybe she should go to Nashville instead.”
Jadyn shakes her head. “We talk about everything, but she hasn’t told me that.”
“Probably because she doesn’t know yet,” I offer.
“She told Damon it’s hard when two people have their own hopes and dreams and you find those dreams start to shift.
She talked to him about us living apart but still being in a relationship, and I think she was thinking more about her situation than ours. ”
“She’ll be a senior next year,” Jadyn says.
“And could graduate early and start school early to be part of spring training, just like Chase did,” Dani says. “She’ll have plenty of credits. She took extra classes after the accident. Said it helped her have something to focus on. Do you like Daine?”
“I do,” Jadyn says. “I just didn’t realize it was so serious.”
“I think the feelings are serious, but due to a lot of things—her age, his traveling, living in two different places—she tries to make it out like it isn’t,” I add. “And they haven’t been together.”