Chapter 34
Charlotte
Time seemed to have flown and December swallowed us up with tests, assignments, and the guys' practices. My tutoring hours were now packed too, because just as I'd predicted, everyone had let their questions pile up until right before finals.
I was convinced, and by convinced I mean "terribly pestered by two unbearable players," to go watch their game that Saturday. It would be in Foxborough, a town right next to Boston, three hours from there.
Actually, I only agreed because it was an especially important game: the so-called Bowl game. If they won today, they'd make history as a rookie university in the ACC and would earn Ethan and Logan special attention for the next draft.
Besides, they'd proposed I spend the night there in a different hotel from the rest of the team, complete with a hot tub and a beautiful view of Boston.
It would have to be worth it for the hours I'd spend having to watch men run after a funny-shaped ball and slam into each other.
On top of that, it was the last game before Christmas and the break, when we'd be apart for a few weeks.
I invited Maddie and Summer, her current roommate, to come too, but the two of them had a final in analytic geometry and would be studying and freaking out together over the weekend.
The trip was very smooth, since I slept in the back seat of the Jeep the whole way. I'd spent the week studying nonstop for a test the day before and was truly wiped out physically and mentally.
We got to the Patriots' stadium practically at the same time as the bus bringing the rest of the team and the coaching staff.
"Do you want to go to the hotel to check in, drop off your stuff, and then come back for the game?" Ethan asks after parking, craning his neck to look at me.
"How long until the game starts?"
"Two hours."
"Then, yes. Better than sitting here twiddling my thumbs extra long," I decide, and the two of them laugh. Ethan takes the key out of the ignition and holds it out to me.
"Will you take good care of Jeena?" he asks, and I shake my head, still in disbelief that his car has that name. In his crazy little head, "it's Jeena, the Jeep, because it matches her personality, obviously."
I take the key from his hand with a smile.
"I'll treat your beloved like a princess. Unless she tells me she feels like running away to Canada with me, in which case I'll have to give in to that wish," I joke, and he rolls his eyes, but Logan laughs beside him.
They grab the bag with the equipment from the trunk and we get out of the car so I can take the driver's spot. Before hugging them goodbye, though, I see that the two goofs are staring at the stadium entrance, frozen. I raise an inquisitive eyebrow.
"What is it?" I ask, and they let out identical sighs.
"It's just... it's a dream to play here," Ethan explains, and Logan nods along.
"It's the Patriots' home," the blond adds, and I let out an "ahh," finally understanding. It was the NFL team they rooted for and that I knew they prayed to one day be part of.
I break into a soft smile and run my hand over both their shoulders.
"Then make history out there today, my loves." I kiss one's cheek and then the other's. "See you in a bit."
I finish walking around the car and get in, leaving them there still kind of inert.
Oh, men and their peculiar things.
I drive to the hotel, and once checked in, I get help from a staff member to carry all our things up to the room. The place was a lot fancier than I expected, but I really should have imagined my dear rich boys wouldn't settle for simple things.
I look over the modern decor in shades of white, gray, and gold, totally approving.
There was an electric fireplace right in the center, a double bed and a single one, which we'd push together later, and besides a space with a couch, armchairs, and a TV, there was a mini kitchen with a mini fridge and microwave.
I open the doors leading to the balcony and take in the view of the city, but I don't stay long, because it's too cold.
I change my comfortable travel clothes for jeans, warm boots, and the team jersey I had customized on the back with "Clarke-Hayes" and the number 25, a "merger" of the 85 from Ethan's jersey with Logan's number 20.
Maybe it was kind of tacky? Yeah, but I didn't care. It was the only way to show my support for both of my boys. And since I was going to face a game, I was going to do it right.
They hadn't seen the piece yet, and I hoped they'd like the surprise.
I look again at the soft bed that seems to whisper my name, but a glance at the watch on my wrist tells me I have enough time to drive back to the stadium and buy a hot dog, but nothing more than that.
I send a message to Tessa, asking where she is and where we'll meet up.
Ever since she met Trey over the Thanksgiving holiday, they hadn't come unstuck.
My cheerful, talkative, always-smiling friend made a nice contrast with the scowling captain of the Royals.
They were the true case of opposites attracting, and it also amused me to see them side by side, since Tessa Hoshino was four-foot-eleven and Maddox stood at nearly six-foot-seven.
I joked that they dated long-distance.
We ended up meeting right in the box, where the people invited directly by the players sat. I'd frequented this area when I dated Johnny, but only back in Lexington, and on very few occasions. He'd never invited me to go with him to away games, and, honestly, I never had any interest either.
For Ethan and Logan, though, I was making that effort.
"Charlie! Hi!" Tess exclaims, seeing me first. I hug the little thing affectionately and we start shooting the breeze.
As the stadium and the box fill up, I recognize several faces, but my friend seems to know and be friends with absolutely everyone. Before I know it, I'm more entertained and having more fun than I expected.
A loud horn sounds from the other side of the field and the cheerleaders of the Syracuse Orange, our rival today, come out to do their routines.
Almost the whole stand roars and starts waving its flags in a strong orange color.
Being a team with more time in the ACC, Ethan had explained to me earlier, the Orange had a bigger crowd that followed them to games.
"It's kind of... oppressive being the rookie team, huh?" I remark to the redhead beside me, and Tess laughs. "If we celebrate a point for the Royals, I keep thinking they're going to want to swallow us whole," I add, looking kind of fascinated at the opposing crowd screaming and jumping.
"It really is bad. At home the energy is way better. But when we beat these little orange guys today, you'll see how the taste of victory feels doubled!" Tessa states, and I believe her.
There are routines from the Royals cheerleaders too, plus a marching band, and only then does the game begin. For what must be the first time in my life, I catch myself getting goosebumps at the sight of the teams coming out, especially the ones wearing the same blue uniform as me.
The privileged position of the box lets us see them up close, and I wave like crazy when my favorite players pass by. They seem focused, but Ethan takes a second to give a little salute in my direction, and Logan blows me a kiss.
I smile like an idiot and shout even louder for them.
The players line up and meanwhile my heart beats in the same rhythm as the crowd's drumbeat. The December cold cuts through the air, but my hands are sweaty with nerves.
By the jersey numbers gleaming against the floodlights, I know Logan is on the sideline and Ethan farther ahead, crouched in a running stance. The two of them look at each other and move their heads up and down once, like they're saying without words: "It's now!"
As if timed by the universe, the moment their eyes fix back on the Orange's defensive line, the quarterback shouts the snap.
The ball is launched and everything becomes an explosion of movement.
Logan takes off like lightning. It's like watching him in slow motion and at the same time not being able to keep up. He cuts to the right, dodges two defenders, and my chest tightens. Dennis, the quarterback, sees him and makes the throw. The ball flies in a perfect arc against the dark sky.
I grip the railing and don't even breathe as I follow the path.
Logan jumps. With his hands stretched out and his fingers firm, he does exactly what he was trained and perfected every day to do: he takes the impact and holds on to the ball.
Touchdown.
"Fuck! Yes!" I scream, exploding along with the stands.
For most people, unfortunately, it's a cry of frustration over the points scored against their team, but for me it's pure joy.
I catch myself screaming, jumping, and almost crying along with Tessa and thousands of other people who'd come to root for Lexington.
The Royals on the field are going wild too. Ethan is carrying Logan in his arms while they jump and receive dozens of congratulatory pats from their teammates. Something inside me would even want to run over to them to hug them, kiss them, and celebrate together.
Wow. A touchdown with only a few seconds into the game. Could it have been the best start of a game in history?
It doesn't matter if it actually wasn't, but that's how I'd file it away mentally and also how I'd celebrate it with them later: like they'd broken a damn record.
I turn into a real crazy fan as the plays unfold before my eyes. I curse each of the players who hit the Royals, with triple the force when it happens to Logan or Ethan, and I bounce when they score any point or simply manage to gain good yards down the field.
I even celebrate a play by Jonathan when he comes in during the second half, which was a clear sign of growth on my part.
The final score is a real blowout: 40 to 52 for the Royals.
Complete with three other touchdowns caught by Logan, to the crowd's madness, especially when he managed to catch the ball after running sixty-two yards, and two rushing touchdowns from Ethan.
Could you believe the guy had run 143 yards?
Tess and I are hugging and crying when the match ends.
My friend was also bursting with pride for her boyfriend. Trey had been a monster on defense and intercepted the rival quarterback twice, with one of those plays even becoming a pick six.
And wow. Was this me even knowing the names of the plays? What on earth had happened to me?
"They're Bowl champions, wow!" Tessa exclaims, grabbing me by the shoulders and shaking me as if to force the information into my brain. I crack up and copy her, because it was all too contagious.
The Lexington crowd takes over the stadium's noise now, chanting the team's motto, "We are Royals, because courage wears a crown!" and waving the blue flags.
The players gather in front of the area where we are and raise their arms, joining in and amplifying the celebration.
My favorite athletes are without their helmets already, and the dark blue paint drips down their sweaty cheeks, but I find them more beautiful than ever, especially because they're sporting ear-to-ear smiles and keep their arms around each other's waists.
Unable to resist, I hop the railing of the family area and run onto the field. I hear Tess let out a little shriek, but copy me right after.
Ethan and Logan widen their eyes identically, but open their arms to catch me when I leap onto the two of them.
"Congrats, congrats, congrats!" I scream, because it's the only way for them to hear me in the middle of the chaos. I kiss their faces repeatedly and my heart gets even fuller of love and pride as they laugh and kiss me back.
When I let go of their grips, I spin on my own axis and show them the back of my shirt after lifting my hair. I turn my face so I can appreciate Logan's jaw dropping and Ethan's eyes shining like diamonds.
"Clarke-Hayes... there it is, the perfect combination," Logan remarks, running his hand under the letters on my back.
"The best of all. Especially because it's around Peach's body," Ethan adds, and I laugh, embarrassed.
"So you liked it? I thought it wouldn't be in good taste to root for just one," I say, going back to facing them. Each of them rests a hand on one side of my waist before answering.
"It looks incredible, Char," my dark-haired one assures, running a hand gently over my cheek.
"Mm-hm..." Logan agrees, then leaning in toward my ear. "And we're going to fuck you wearing only that later."
The warning makes my skin tingle and I must have blushed even harder, because Ethan laughs and shoots me a wink, without even needing to have heard what the other player told me, because he pictures it perfectly.
I bite my lip and give each of them a little pat on the face.
"Am I going to be today's victory prize?"
"Definitely," they assure in unison, and I resume laughing, but decide to steer away from the topic before I start wanting to climb the two of them like palm trees and ask them to keep their promises right away.
I step away and go around greeting and congratulating all the players, except for my ex, of course, because there's no need to grow that much.
Several other people in blue shirts had invaded the field after me and grew the party.
We stay in that joy for a long while, and my cheeks even hurt from smiling so much.
My boys were incredible both on and off the field.
Maybe I really was fucking lucky, after all.