Chapter Thirty-two Rowan
Chapter Thirty-two
Rowan
When the final seconds tick off the clock, the crowd erupts. I run to the centerline, colliding with my teammates in a giant huddle. Sweat-soaked, dirty, exhausted, and so happy it can’t be contained.
We jump up and down, yelling and cheering.
“We did it! We’re state champs!” Austin shouts. His expression is pure awe, like he can’t believe it even as he says it.
“Hell yeah, we did it!” Vaughn pumps both fists into the air.
I sling my arms over their shoulders, and we let out another round of whoops into the night.
After we shake hands with the opposing team, we head to the sideline where we douse Coach C with the leftover water and ice from the cooler. He’s a good sport about it. And it’s too late for him to make us run.
Fans are making their way onto the field.
I stand on my toes, looking for Summer. She’s here somewhere, wearing my name on her back and my number painted on her face.
I could hear her yelling for me too. I might miss that more than anything else about soccer.
I hope I do a lot of things in the future that make her proud.
I accept congratulations and pats on the back from familiar faces as I weave around families and groups looking for my girl.
I come up short when I spot two people I did not expect. My parents.
“What are you doing here?” I gawk at them. They’re really here. Correction: They’re here and they have buttons with my face on them pinned to their jackets.
“We came to watch you play,” my mom says, like Duh, why else would be here? except I can’t remember the last time that was true. To be honest, I wasn’t even sure if they knew I was playing tonight. Things have been awkward and tense.
“I thought you were in Phoenix.” At least that’s what the latest note said: “Gone to Phoenix, back next week.”
“We changed our plans to be here,” Dad says. “I know it doesn’t make up for all the ones we missed, but we didn’t want to lose another opportunity to watch you play.”
“We met your coach, too.” Mom smiles.
“Coach C?” I whip my head around to the last place I saw him, but he’s lost to the crowd.
“Before the game.” She nods. “He told us how proud he was of you and what a pleasure it’s been to be your coach.”
“We’re proud of you too,” Dad adds. “I should have said it a long time ago.”
“I don’t know what to say.”
My dad steps forward and hugs me. “You were incredible out there. I’m so sorry we didn’t see you play sooner. I had no idea just how good you’ve become.”
Mom is next. She’s teary and doesn’t get out any words, but I feel her pride and sorrow.
“Thanks.” I’m still a little stunned that they’re here. And while it doesn’t make up for missing all the other games, it means something to me that they’re here now.
Before I can fully let it all sink in, Summer runs up to me. She’s a blur of blue as she jumps into my arms.
“Congratulations!” Her hair whips me in the face. “You won! You’re the best team in the entire state!”
“I had to get a big trophy like my sexy girlfriend’s.”
She grins all big and happy like she’s done all week anytime anyone’s mentioned the girls’ epic playoff run.
They lost in the sectional finals, but it was a hell of a season.
The best in Frost Lake girls’ soccer history.
Thanks in large part to Summer. Since then, she’s had a bunch of colleges reach out, and she got her official early acceptance letter from FLU.
She’s still considering her options, but I have no doubt that’s where she’ll end up.
Her future’s looking bright, and for once I can see mine.
Or at least a part of it. I’ll be cheering her on from wherever I am.
When she pulls back, she finally glances at the other two people standing with me.
“Oh.” She does a double take. “Mr. and Mrs. Blakenship. Hi!”
“Hi, Summer. Good to see you,” my dad says to her. My mom waves, still looking as if she might cry.
“We’re going to let you celebrate with your friends, but dinner tomorrow?” Dad asks.
“Yeah, I’d like that.”
“I hope you’ll join us,” he says to Summer.
She nods and then hooks her arm through mine, and we watch as my parents disappear into the crowd.
“Did you know they were coming?” she asks.
“No. I had no idea.” I shake my head. “Coach C called them.”
“Wow.”
“Yeah.” I turn to face her, resting my hands on her hips. “Wow.”
What a fucking night. Month. Year.
“Very important question,” she says as she lifts her arms up and curls them around my neck. She has a sassy, seductive glint to her eye that I like. I like it very much. “How would you like to celebrate?”
“Easy. Me, you, Freddie’s Pizza, and Channing Tatum.”
Her body lifts and falls with her laughter. “Seriously?”
“I still haven’t seen the end of the movie.” I step closer and drop my mouth to hers. And something tells me I won’t tonight either.
* * *
After most of the families and fans have left, Summer and I walk off the field hand in hand. I finally see Coach Collins by the bench, cleaning up trash from the celebration.
“Congrats, Coach,” I say to him.
“You as well.” He stares out at the field. “It was a good night.”
“A very good night,” I agree.
“Sure you want to give all this up?” he asks, glancing over at me with a sly smile. “A friend of mine at Valley University called me about you this week. I know you haven’t made up your mind about next year, but it’s worth considering. They’re building a great program there.”
“Seriously?”
“He thinks you’d be a great addition. Then again, he doesn’t know you like I do.” The playful wink he gives me tells me he’s kidding. “Think about it.”
“Yeah, I will.” To my surprise, I don’t hate the idea. It’d be nice to get out of Michigan for a few years, and I can’t imagine never playing soccer again. I might not be quite ready to say goodbye.
He nods and continues cleaning up.
When I glance at Summer, she’s smiling so big at me.
“Rowan, that’s amazing! Are you seriously considering it?”
“Maybe? It’d be a long way from you, but we could text and visit on weekends.”
“It is pretty far, but there’s a direct flight out of Green Bay, and sometimes it’s pretty cheap.”
It’s like she’s already figured it all out, and then it clicks. “Wait. Isn’t that where your brother goes to school?”
Summer busts out laughing as she nods.
“Well, this should be interesting.”