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This was like ripping off a part ofit away I turned to the stands to see Riley standing up Her gaze was locked on me, and I could see the concern from here She looked like she was about to bolt down here The idea of that actually h to remind me I wasn’t alone She was there

"Can you do this?" Coach askedme back to the problehed and ran his hand over his almost-bald head "I can’t play Hunter yet He’s not ready for this"

They all needed me This was on my shoulders It wasn’t my dad’s dream It was mine No one could take ht ht I took a deep breath and looked back up at her one ave her a small nod to let her knoas okay Then I looked for one back to sit by her She atching ave her the same nod, then turned back to my coach

"I’m ready"

He studiedforcarefully

"Soonna be okay?" he said as I stood beside hied "I can play now But no, I doubt I’ll be okay for a long time"

"This has to do with your dad?"

I just nodded

"Fuck," he reed

Our defense stopped theood?"

"Enough to win this gaed out to the field with the others on the offensive line It was time to score I had to even the scoreboard before halftime, and I had fourthis play," I told West, and he nodded That ave West the ball, and he took it and made the first down Just what I needed One more of those and I’d pass to Gunner He could run it in

And that’s exactly what happened

The crowd cheered just as the last ten seconds ticked away the first half of the galanced up to see Riley’s eyes onshe was there I wanted to look at my mom and check on her, but if my father had taken the seat beside her, it would rattle et my head clear and ready for the last half

"What the hell did your dad do to piss you off?" Gunner asked as alked into the field house

"Shut up Jesus, Gunner," West barked at hi them now My mother didn’t even know yet, but she would My father would co to be the saame first," I told him, then walked ahead of both of them and into the field house, with the familiar smell of sweat, deodorant, and the desire to win

Back Off, Serena

CHAPTER 43

RILEY

One point The difference between kicking a field goal or going for two West had taken the ball and gone for two In that five seconds, I didn’t breathe I was pretty sure Willa didn’t either The entire Lawton side was on their feet in silence Not sure what to expect It was a gaoal, it would have tied the gaone into overtiasp went through the stands and everyone was on their feet

Because if West failed, they lost the gah the other team’s defensive line and the crowd erupted I actually sank down and let amble that I couldn’t believe they took But Brady had returned to the field after halftiressive He took several chances A few didn’t work, but this one did