Epilogue
T he stadium is packed with fans dressed in red and gold and roaring for their favorite players. After fifteen years of being a part of the NFL family, I can definitively say there are no fans like Drillers fans. They are on a whole other level.
The cheerleaders are lined up as they always are, arms high in the sky and bright red pom poms shaking and shimmering in the bright afternoon sun. The Drillers mascot, Oil Derrick, runs around the field with his hard hat and “oil” stained face, hyping up the crowd as if they need encouragement.
I stand on the sidelines, waiting for Nico to come walking out of the tunnel.
My heart pounds and my hands shake. I’m so nervous for him.
It’s silly, I know, because he’s the one putting himself in the line of fire every week.
But watching him with fingers crossed and prayers always on the tip of my tongue has never eased over the many years.
I look to my left and see Nick and Scottie and Nik and Noelle, lined up with their brood.
They smile and tears build in my eyes, so grateful that Nic has had such wonderful men he calls brothers to walk this journey with him.
A warm hand rests on my shoulder and I look over to see Nico’s parents with equal emotion building.
Mark and Elena hold hands, always ready to be their son’s number one fans, and Greer bounces on her toes next to them with a little Greer right next to her. The girl looks so much like her mom, you’d think she spit her out. Her husband never had a chance.
Behind me I feel the close presence of my parents who are constantly competing with Mark and Elena for the number one fan title.
It didn’t take long for Papá to fall in love with Nico.
He probably fell for him before I did. Mamá took a little more convincing, but not much.
Her biggest issue with him was his age. And honestly, that was quite a hangup for me too.
He was younger than Alba, and it was difficult for Mamá to comprehend how a “young man” could really understand love.
But once again, Nic blew everyone’s assumptions away and he quickly became her favorite son-in-law…eventually.
The deafening level at which the fans yell begins to increase and I wince at the surround sound. I turn to look at the tunnel and there he is.
My husband .
He swaggers out, his gold helmet hanging in one hand, and waving to the stadium with the other.
“Wooo! Love Machine. Love Machine.” Soba begins chanting and I throw him a look that has him zipping his lips.
Nico looks out into the crowd with amazement, then sees us all waving excitedly. He gives us his legendary smile and wink and all the women of Houston melt.
“Daddy!” My arm is jerked as the little one attached to it jumps up and down. “Daddy!” She says again, then tugs her hand free.
“Mazzy, no. Come back here.” She slips right past the security and bolts straight for her dad.
Her little red and gold jersey dress with her favorite players name and number, twirls as her legs pump to get to him quicker. The long pigtails wave behind her like victory flags.
“Mazzy,” I yell again, but to no avail.
Instead of sending her back, Nic drops his helmet and picks her up, swinging Mazzy and tossing her up in the air like a doll. She wraps her arms around his neck and he abandons his original destination and sets a new course.
My other hand gets a tight squeeze and I look down to my handsome son standing anxiously next to me.
“Go ahead, Leo. Go join your sister.” He smiles that same charming smile that matches his dad’s, then takes off in Nic and Mazzy’s direction.
He pushes his glasses up the bridge of his nose, and I just love it when he remembers he’s a kid and acts as one.
Where Leo may look much like Nico, he definitely leans in my direction when it comes to his personality. He’s ten and the kid already has his college and major picked out. To his dad’s dismay, he does not plan to be a football player.
He took an extreme liking to Mr. Monty and wants to be a business man just like him. He may never play football, but he can surely own a football team.
Leo squeezes his dad’s waist and Nic pulls him close. He finally looks at me and tilts his head, waving me over. When I shake my head, he takes matters into his own hands and jogs over to me .
“C’mon, mi Reina. You’re part of this, too, and I need you by my side.” I sigh then take his outstretched hand and let him lead me to the center of the field where a microphone stands.
Leo walks in between us and Mazzy refuses to loosen her grip around his neck. We reach the center and the cheers only rise. I don’t know how anyone is going to hear him, but he’s going to try anyhow.
“Hello Drillers Fam!” He shouts into the microphone and Mazzy repeats. “Hello Drillers.”
Is there anything better than the sweet voice of a five year old girl?
“Today is a bittersweet day because, as most of you know, this will be my last season.” The crowd continues to clap and cheer for him. “As we get ready to take the field for opening game, I knew I had to speak to all of you.
“Thank you to each and every Drillers fan who made the greatest city on Earth, “ the ruckus grows louder. “My home. Thank you to my teammates who helped me become the best version of myself. The wins and losses, the championships, were some of my greatest moments.
“To the Montgomery’s,” Nico inhales deep and chokes down emotion. “Monty and Killeen. You two became second parents and I’m grateful you didn’t give up on me when I made it so difficult to like me.”
He and I laugh and I look out to the sidelines to see our family doing the same, the Nickies nodding their heads.
“To our parents, siblings, nieces and nephews. Thank you for supporting me in the good times and bad, and never letting me doubt myself.
“My best friends, Nick and Nik. What can I say that we haven’t already said to one another a thousand times.
I’ve loved every minute playing this game next to you and, for the last part of our careers, opposing you.
I have to admit that there was nothing better than seeing you two thrive on that field.
But also beating you was pretty fantastic.
” Nik holds up his hand as if to throw him the middle finger, but shows the three instead.
Always the three of them. No matter what trials they faced, they were right there to lift the other up when they were in need.
Their three paths came together for one dream, and even though the roads crossed and parted, they never strayed far.
They ran in their own lane, but those roads ran parallel.
“And last, but most importantly, thank you to my beautiful family. My two amazing kids, Leo and Mazzy, and the most beautiful, caring, forgiving woman I have ever known. Valentina.” He drops his head and whispers, “shit.”
He pinches the bridge of his nose, fighting off the tears that threaten to spill and I have no defense over mine. They immediately begin to trickle down my cheeks. Leo sees them and wraps me up in his arms to comfort me.
“I haven’t always been a cake walk to deal with,” he jokes and I nod my head with a chuckle.
“There were many times I couldn’t stand on my own, and you held me up.
You kicked me in the as—butt when I needed it, and held my hand when I was too weak to walk on my own.
My life would never have been the same without you, and I thank God everyday he brought you into my life.
Well, it was actually Monty and Waggers, but I’d like to think the big guy had a hand in it.
” I swipe away the tears that track down my face.
“My teammates and friends helped me become a better player, but you made me an exceptional man. ”
He drops the microphone to his side and brings his lips to mine. I press my palm to his cheek and kiss him with gentle passion.
“I love you, Nico.”
“I love you too, mi Reina. Thanks for not kicking me to the curb.”
With a smile I tell him, “You’re a pain in the ass but you’re mine, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“Ready?” He asks us and we all nod. “Okay. Here were go.”
He raises the microphone just high enough for Leo to reach, and Nic and I crouch down, Mazzy still in his arms.
“1, 2, 3. LET’S GO DRILLERS!” We shout and the rest of his team comes rushing out on the field.
He hurries us out of the line of fire, but a few guys catch up to us. They smack Nic on his padded shoulders, kiss my cheek —which Nic hates— and high-five the kiddos before running off to the sidelines.
We reach our family and friends, and each of them gives Nic an emotional hug.
“Alright y’all. I gotta go break some records. Sorry guys.” He looks at Soba and Papas with a wink, and this time Papas does flip him off.
“Have a good game, baby.” I tell him with one last kiss.
Before he jogs off, he leans in and whispers in my ear, “Send the kids with the grandparents and be wearing something sexy when I get home.”
A wide smile stretches from ear to ear and I rasp, “I’ll wear your pads…and nothing else.”
He licks his lip then smacks my ass as he goes.
That fucking lip lick . Still does it for me.