Chapter Thirty-Four
Jake
‘Holy shiiiit,’ Hud Briar says in a low tone. He’s staring at the images from inside the stadium being shown live on a screen, as we all are.
To any onlooker, at the mouth of the tunnel, we look like any other NFL pro-team about to take to the field. Forty-six brawny athletes, eye-blacked up, padding on, the bottoms of our cleats clacking against flat concrete, helmets in our hands.
I smirk. Hud’s referring to the sight of Harmony, of course, the woman we already knew he was in love with.
Because right now the love of his life is dancing with pom poms in a goddamn barely-there outfit with the ‘M’ for Mutineers right across her bikini-covered ass, just like all the other members of the CMC.
It’s not exactly what you’d expect from women who are usually the essence of wholesome. They’re bringing it.
I can see the faces of the crowd, the noise whooshing down the tunnel. I can see their shock and curiosity at this non-standard display. But they don’t know the half of it.
I feel pride at what the CMC are doing for Serenity. I wonder if she made it into the Danube and if she’s witnessing this.
Yet still, my focus is elsewhere.
Coach Holland claps his hands. He’s wearing a hat and chewing gum. ‘Alright, Mutineers! Let’s go, let’s go! Kick ass out there!’
A small silence descends. His white gloves on, Hud Briar slaps me hard on the back. It’s a move that says we’re with you.
I fill my lungs. Nobody moves.
‘I said let’s go!’ Coach Holland says again.
And still, nobody moves.
Coach takes a moment to realize that something’s up.
I clear my throat, raise my voice. ‘Sorry, Coach. We’re not going anywhere.’
Dalton Briar takes up position to my left, like we agreed. I’m flanked by forty-three of my teammates, all of them briefed, all of them supportive of the plan.
Coach Holland stops chewing his gum. ‘The heck? You’re shit-talking me.’
‘Sorry, Coach,’ I say again.
‘Get the fuck out there!’
A ripple goes through the group. I glance back. Some of the guys shake their heads. I know these guys have my back, so it’s not aimed at me, but my stomach ties itself in knots. ‘Not moving, Coach,’ I say.
Coach looks to Dalton, a pleading look on his face.
‘Sorry, Coach,’ Dalton says. ‘He don’t move, neither do we.’
Coach throws down his hat in frustration. ‘Goddammit, you’ve all gone crazy!’
‘I’ll move when I’ve talked to Hank Conway,’ I say.
‘Hank Conway ain’t even here tonight!’ is Coach Holland’s retort.
‘His daughter, then.’
Somewhere, over a radio, a voice says. ‘Coach, we’re ready. Don’t seem to have a team out here.’
Coach Holland punches the air furiously, then hollers at the top of his voice, ‘Somebody git me Samantha Conway!’
Hud Briar nudges me. ‘Here comes the cavalry.’
I glance up. Right on cue, Samantha Conway comes marching down the tunnel in her pant suit at triple speed, her face like thunder, the base of her neck bright red.
‘What the hell is going on?’ she hollers angrily. ‘Why the hell aren’t y’all on that field?’
She takes in the scene. Despite me wearing a whole lotta padding, I straighten my back and push out my chest.
‘They’re not moving,’ Coach Holland confirms in defeat.
Samantha Conway explodes. ‘What do you mean, not moving? The cameras are already rolling! The commentary is already gonna be questioning why there is only one team on the field.’ She points a bony finger. ‘Dalton Briar, you’d better get your team’s asses out there, right now!’
Behind her, the CMC cheerleaders come down the tunnel, ushered by Kathleen Lafferty, also mad as hell. Some of them have already gotten dressed again.
I take a step forward toward her. ‘I think you know what we want, ma’am.’
Sam Conway looks me over, her brows forming deep frown lines. ‘You arrogant son of a bitch. You cannot hold me to ransom. How dare you?’
I push my tongue into my cheek. Every single cheerleader is looking my way, waiting. ‘Seems the clock is ticking, ma’am.’
Sam Conway glances back at the group of women waiting on her response. ‘No. I will not give Serenity her job back,’ she clips.
‘Then we’re not moving. Until you do.’
I can almost feel the heat of her fury coming off her face. ‘You’re not thinking straight. You’re thinking with what’s in your pants. Not with your head.’
‘Actually, it’s neither of those things. I’m going with my heart.’
‘You’re insane.’
I glance back at my comrades. ‘No ma’am. I’m a Mutineer. And this is a mutiny.’
Noises of approval ripple through my teammates.
‘I’ll fine you all,’ Sam Conway breathes. ‘I’ll cancel all your contracts.’
‘What are you gonna do without a single player on your roster?’
For the first time in her life, I think I might have rendered Samantha Conway speechless.
‘Give Serenity her job back,’ I continue. ‘Give all the CMC a raise. Remove clause five from the CMC contract. Do those things, and we’ll move.’
I watch her chest rise and fall. She glares at me, a crazed look in her eye. Like she’s being squeezed on the inside. Two suited officials – maybe from the NFL – have come racing down here to find out what’s causing the delay.
‘Fine,’ she finally snaps, through gritted teeth, poking another angry finger in my face.
‘Serenity may rejoin the squad. I will give them all a reasonable raise. But, clause five stands. These girls are untouchable for a reason; I won’t drop that rule.
But if you marry Miss Harper, then I’ll let it slide on this occasion. ’
I feel my brow creep up my forehead. ‘What?’
‘You heard me. Marry her.’
‘Sh-She’s not here, I can’t ask her.’
‘Then somebody get a phone!’ Samatha snaps back.
‘She’s herrrrre!’ I hear a voice shriek from the back of the cheerleaders. I look up. Bodies move aside, the ladies all grinning in one direction.
Then I see her. My Serenity, walking through them toward me, ushered by her friend Jewel, the women of the CMC all offering her their support. She’s been wearing a Mutineers hat, but she’s taking it off.
‘How the hell did you get in here?’ Samantha Conway roars in her direction.
‘I let her in, Mom,’ another voice says, and everybody looks to the left, where Lemon steps forward. I smile at her, because none of this could have been done without my fake-date’s unwavering support.
Samantha Conway glares at her daughter, incensed. ‘You and I are gonna have words.’
Lemon crosses her arms over her chest. I sense that she’s never felt more confident than she does today. ‘Focus, Mom. Players out on the field, remember?’
‘Well go on, then,’ Sam Conway blurts at me, hands on her hips. ‘Clock’s ticking.’
‘I haven’t asked her father. And I don’t have a ring.’
‘I got one,’ Harmony says to my right, and begins twisting a ring off her finger.
She hands it to me. I glance down at the delicate, slender, silver band in my palm.
I look back at Serenity, then to Samantha Conway.
‘No,’ I say, and there are horrified gasps among all the cheerleaders.
I look at all of them, pleading. ‘No, no, I don’t mean, no,’ I stutter, then fix my eyes on Samantha Conway’s impatient face.
‘What I mean is, I’m not asking Serenity to marry me because you want me to.
I’m gonna ask her because I want to ask her.
’ Then I look back to Serenity, and there’s still a smile dancing across her lips.
‘Just so we’re clear on that. Because I’ve never wanted anything more. ’
Dalt Briar takes my helmet from me, and I drop to one knee. Behind Serenity, several of the cheerleaders let out a squeal. Even some of my teammates give a cheer.
‘Alright, pipe down, all o’ yous!’ Hud Briar hollers, and other than the crowd in the stadium above our heads chanting for the Mutineers to make an appearance, there’s silence. Harmony gives him a nod of approval, and he winks back.
I look up at Serenity. Her emerald eyes are sparkling with the tears I can tell she’s holding back. I hold up the ring.
‘Serenity Harper,’ I address her. ‘Light of my life. You’ve captured me, I’m yours forever, if you’ll have me. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?’
In the moments after, she bites her lip. The tears spill over, and she gives a small but enthusiastic nod of her head. ‘Yes,’ she manages. ‘It’s a definite yes.’
I lose track of what happens next. I slide the ring onto her finger and everyone around us bursts into cheers and applause.
I suspect that for Samantha Conway it’s more of a slow clap, but she’s not the one I’m paying attention to.
I get to my feet and wrap Serenity in my arms, and when my lips meet hers, she kisses me back with an eagerness that makes my heart swell.
She’s spent her whole young life looking after other people, and now I get to look after her, until the day I draw my last breath.
When we pull back, I rest my forehead against hers. The applause is still going, along with some high fives.
‘Thank you,’ she whispers. ‘Thank you for everything.’
‘You’re worth it. I would have given all of this up for you.’
The look she gives me is full of love. I want to stay in this moment forever, but it’s splintered by Coach Holland’s voice, rising above all the others. ‘Alright, that’s enough romance for one day, now can we please get on the fucking field?’
There’s laughter. Whooping. The sound of forty-six honed athletes, raring to play.
‘Go get ’em,’ Serenity says to me, and grants me one more kiss. ‘I’ll be here when you get back.’