Текст книги "The Bridge from You to Me"

Автор книги: Lisa Schroeder

119
Lauren

 
Colby is the star
of the second half.
 
 
It’s like he’s been
gifted with superpowers.
 
 
He catches
pass
after pass
after pass.
 
 
We are
on our feet
the entire
time because
the air is full
of excitement
and hope.
 
 
Just like
Colby said.
 
 
It feels good
to believe and hope.
 
 
As the clock
counts down
the final seconds,
we count with it.
 
 
Ten
 
 
            I will
 
 
Nine
 
 
             never forget
 
 
Eight
 
 
             this
 
 
Seven
 
 
              night
 
 
Six
 
 
              and how
 
 
Five
 
 
              good
 
 
Four
 
 
              it felt
 
 
Three
 
 
               to
 
 
Two
 
 
               belong
 
 
One
 
 
It feels
so good to win.
 
 
I look at
my aunt and uncle,
arms high,
cheering loud,
and my little cousins
dancing around.
 
 
All I can think is,
what a team.
 
 
What a greatteam
I’m on.
 

120
Colby

We did it. We took state.

There is running, yelling, and group hugging, and then, when I get a chance, I stand there for a moment and take it all in.

The cheering blue-and-gold crowd.

The final score in bright lights.

The feeling that anything truly is possible, with the right people by your side.

I don’t know what tomorrow will bring. All I know is right now, despite everything that’s happened this season, we did what we set out to do.

It’s amazing to know I was a part of something the town will talk about forever. And it’s something good.

Finally. Something good.

If someone in the stands needed some hope that things will be all right, they got a good, healthy dose of it tonight.

All of us did.

121
Lauren

 
The eagles soar.
 
 
It’s the end
of the game.
 
 
The end of
the season.
 
 
The end of
awe-inspiring dedication.
 
 
And yet,
in so many ways,
it’s only the beginning.
 
 
They worked so hard
to get here, which makes it
all the sweeter.
 
 
I did too.
 
 
The journey had
its ups and downs,
but here we are,
looking out at the horizon,
dreaming about what
comes next.
 
 
The Eagles soar,
and the town soars with them.
 
 
I get it now.
 
 
It’s not just a game.
It’s life, played out on the field.
 
 
And whether you win or lose,
the important thing is
who you are when it’s over.
 

122
Colby

After the celebratory Gatorade is poured all over Coach and we’ve told every one of our opponents “Good game” as nice sportsmen do, we scatter to find our families, who stream onto the field.

Before I look for mine, though, I make my way to Benny and give him a big hug. We don’t say a word. We don’t need to. It’s a night to be happy, but there is a hint of sadness here too. Benny should have been out there with us, and we both feel that loss. I’m guessing we probably always will.

“It’s so good to see you,” I tell him. “Man, I’ve missed you.”

“No mushy stuff, Pynes.”

“See you tomorrow?”

He smiles. And sounding just like my old pal Benny, he says, “You can count on that.”

My dad and grandparents find me, going on and on about how well I played and what a fantastic game it was. I give them each a quick hug and tell them there’s something I have to do before it gets too late.

“I understand,” Dad says. “This is your night. Go revel in it.”

I don’t know what he’s thinking I’m going to do, but whatever it is, he’s way off.

I scan the bleachers for her, hoping they didn’t jet off yet. I look and look, but I don’t see them.

“Crap,” I whisper under my breath.

“Pynes?” Temple says. “You okay? Come on, man, it’s just about trophy time.”

“Yeah, all right,” I say. “Be there in a minute.”

I scan one more time for the blue-and-gold hats, but they’re gone.

She’s gone. I’ve missed her.

I turn back around, toward the center of the field, my chest aching like I took a hit there. But of course, that’s not why it hurts.

And then I hear “Colby!” from far away.

I look left and right, but I don’t see her. Where is she?

“Behind you,” she calls out.

I turn around and there she is, on the field, walking toward me.

I start running to her, and as soon as I do, she’s running too.

When we meet, I throw my helmet on the ground, pick her up, and lift her high. She laughs and laughs. As I lower her down, I stop when we’re eye level and hold her there. Then I kiss her like I’ve wanted to kiss her since the first day we met.

With everything I have. With everything I am.

There is no question about this girl. I am all in, one hundred percent.

She tastes salty, like popcorn. Or Bugles.

And suddenly, I’m laughing, remembering how we met and how far we’ve come.

“What?” she asks, smiling. “What is it?”

“I’m just so glad you’re here,” I whisper as her feet touch the ground.

“It’s a two-for-one, you know.”

I give her a funny look. “What is?”

“My being here.”

“How so?”

“Well, I came to watch you play andI came to tell you I’m not leaving. My aunt and uncle asked me to stay and so, I am. They’re going to help me get into college and everything.”

My jaw drops to the turf, and then I’m picking her up again and spinning her around and around, until I finally stop, both of us dizzy.

I kiss her one more time.

“Come on,” I say. “There’s someone I want you to meet. I was thinking maybe the three of us could go out tomorrow night, to Angie’s Restaurant. That way I can spend time with both of you.”

She smiles. “You are the king of two-for-ones, aren’t you?”

I laugh. “I probably am. You okay with that?”

She squeezes my hand. “Totally okay.” She stops walking, and points across the field. “Wait, Colby, the trophy. Shouldn’t you be over there?”

I shake my head. Benny’s just up ahead. I walk faster.

I don’t need a trophy to tell me I’ve won.

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