We won. We fucking won state! The bus back home is rowdy and loud, everyone still pumped up from our win. I can’t wait until we make it back to town—I need to hug my girl. Avery and Harley as well as Avery’s parents drove up for the game. They offered to let me head back with them, Brad too, but Coach insisted we all ride back as a team. I had maybe two minutes with her, and we were surrounded by her family, my teammates. I didn’t get to hug her. That’s what I need.
Me: I need a hug, Aves.
Aves: You won the game, you should be celebrating.
Me: I will be when I have you in my arms. You’re who I want to celebrate with.
Aves: I’m proud of you, Dylan.
Me: I need a hug.
Aves: LOL. I’ll see you in an hour.
Me: Are we there yet?
Aves: Stop texting me and celebrate with the team. I’ll see you soon.
God, I love her. I type out those three little words and erase them. I can’t be that guy, the one who tells his girl he loves for the first time over text message. No, I have bigger plans for that. I just hope it all works out.
“That your girl?” Brad asks, falling into the seat beside me.
“Yeah, they’re on their way back. She and Harley are going to meet us at the school.”
“Did she say anything?”
I look at him like he’s crazy and he laughs. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“Nothing.” He grins. “Just pumped up about this win. My head’s all over the place.”
I know the feeling so I don’t think too much of it. We replay the entire game for the next hour. Coach sits up front and just grins at our antics as we announce play for play. He’s a great guy, and we’ve managed to keep my relationship with Avery separate from our relationship on the field. I’m kicking myself in the ass for not asking her out sooner. Look at all the time I wasted that I could’ve been with her. Dad says everything happens for a reason, and maybe he’s right. I was really struggling this year with grades, and if it weren’t for Avery I’m not sure I would’ve been on that field tonight with the rest of my team. She’s my lifeline.
As soon as the bus turns into the lot, Brad and I are on our feet at the front of the bus, anxious to see our girls.
“Where are you two off to?” Coach asks.
I look at him and grin. “Gotta hug my girl,” I say, patting him on the shoulder as I walk off the bus.
Brad scoffs. “Dude, that’s his little sister.”
“Dude, that’s the love of my life. Season’s over.”
Brad doesn’t have time to reply before the girls are running our direction. We both drop our bags and brace for impact as they throw themselves into our arms.
“I’m so proud of you, Dylan,” Avery says, wrapping her arms and legs around me and burying her face in my neck.
I don’t say anything. Not because I don’t have anything to say; I’m just afraid I’ll blurt it out here in the school parking lot. That’s not how I want her to remember it. Instead I hold her as tight as I can and soak up her warmth.
“Best behavior tonight,” Coach says as he walks past us.
“What’s he talking about?” I ask Avery.
Pulling back, she grins at me. “Brad didn’t tell you?”
“Tell me what?”
“We’re all staying at Brad’s tonight. Brad’s dad talked to mine and Harley’s. He promised no funny business and they said yes. I mean, technically we’re all eighteen and adults, but we are still in school for a few more months and living under their roofs,” she rambles on.
“Aves!” I say to get her attention. “What are you saying?” Did I hear her right?
She giggles. “Harley and I are spending the night at Brad’s, and so are you. She and I are going to camp out in the basement with his mom while you guys are upstairs like you normally are.”
“I don’t understand,” I say, looking over at Brad.
“My parents knew we would be pumped about the win. This is our last high school game, and for you, the last game ever. They grabbed some snacks and talked our girls’ parents into letting us all stay at my place. We’re going to hang out, watch movies, and then when we finally crash, Mom will stay downstairs with the girls while you and I are up in our rooms.”
I look back at Avery. “All night?”
She nods.
“Can we find a way to cheat the system so I can hold you? I just want to hold you.”
Her face softens. “We’ll see what we can do, big guy. Right now I’m freezing my buns off, so we need to get going.”
I give her a quick kiss before releasing her. “We’re riding back with Brad’s parents. We’ll see you two there.” She waves over her shoulder.
“Dude!” I say, getting Brad’s attention once they pull away. “Why in the hell did you keep this from me?”
“Didn’t want to distract you from the game.”
“What about you?”
He laughs. “I didn’t find out until the game was over. You were with Avery’s family when Dad pulled me aside and told me the plan.”
“Your parents are cool as hell.”
“Right? Although Avery’s right. Technically we are all eighteen now. And if we really want to get technical, all of our parents are cool as hell for agreeing to this.”
“Holy shit! We gotta go.” I tug on his hand as we walk to our trucks.
“Don’t be speeding, Romeo. The girls will be there when we get there.”
I get what he’s saying, but I don’t understand how he’s not more stoked about this. I know he cares about Harley, but maybe he doesn’t love her the way I do Avery. I’ll have to ask him—another time though. Right now all that matters is getting to her.
Just when I think life can’t get any better…