took the snap, and with no time left on the clock, he launched the ball into the sky. It was a Hail Mary pass from the midfield, an act of desperation for a quarterback with a lot of yards to cover and no other options left to him.
Twelve thousand fans held their collective breaths as the ball spiraled toward the end zone. Austin Armacost jumped up between three defenders and made the catch.
“Holy shit,” Brody shouted behind me as I stared at the field, not quite believing what I’d just witnessed. “He did it. He actually fucking did it.”
We were on our feet, the shouts and cheers of the crowd reaching ear-splitting decibels. Everyone knew that they’d just witnessed something amazing. So spectacular you could almost call it a miracle. A forty-five-yard pass to score the winning touchdown in the Division I semi-finals.
“He caught the ball!” the announcer shouted, his excitement so great that he kept repeating it. “I can’t believe I was here to witness this. This is the stuff of legends. This is why we love Texas football.”
“What a throw from Jude McCallister. Forty-five yards right into the hands of the Mavericks’ wide receiver, Austin Armacost,” the other announcer said.
“That’s my boy!” Patrick shouted, changing his tune now that Jude was a winner.
“I told you he could do it!” Jesse screamed, punching the air. He cupped his hands over his mouth and shouted into the crowd of screaming fans. “Yo. That’s my brother. Lucky Number Seven. We’re going to the state championships. Yeah baby.” Jesse did a little victory dance.
I was laughing and crying, hugging Christy as we both jumped up and down. She didn’t even like football, but tonight everyone was a fan.
I released Christy and searched the field until my gaze found Jude in the end zone. The players were celebrating their victory, spirits riding high as they jumped each other, thumping shoulders and pounding fists. So physical, even in their victory celebrations. They were a tangled mess of limbs and boy sweat as they tackled each other to the ground and ended up in a heap.
It wasn’t every day that you got to see your boyfriend make a forty-five-yard pass for the winning touchdown. But if anyone could create magic, it was Jude. He had the Midas touch. Everything he touched turned to gold. I wondered if I was shimmering as much as the gold dusting my cheekbones and eyelids. I felt like I was lit up from the inside, so bright it was impossible to contain.
This was his night to celebrate. His night to shine. And as I stood in the bleachers on a cold, clear December night, the stars drowned out by stadium lights, I wished yet again Jude had a different dream. I wished he would come to UT Austin with me and play football. Or any other college in Texas. He could have had his pick. He could have gotten a full ride. We could have been together.
But it was useless to think of what could have been.
He’d signed a contract. Five years of his life signed away before he would be released from active duty.
Now, I watched Jude run down the field with his teammates, fists held high. His helmet clutched in his hand, hair slick with sweat, black war paint under his eyes. To me, he looked like a giant among men. Shoulders impossibly broad under the shoulder pads tapering down to his narrow waist, thighs encased in blue football pants with gold bars on the sides, he was the only player I could see on that field. I couldn’t take my eyes off him.
He was searching for his family in the stands like he did after every game. When he spotted us, he grinned and held his helmet in the air. I blew him a kiss. He caught it in his hand and pounded his fist against his heart.
I love you, I wanted to shout, loudly enough for everyone in the stadium to hear it.
I loved that boy so much that sometimes it hurt.
His smile grew wider, those dimples in his cheeks making an appearance, and I was grinning back at him like a fool. Then I was laughing when Christy said, “Someone is going to get lucky tonight.”
All I wanted to do was get him off that field and somewhere alone where I wouldn’t have to share him with anyone. I was greedy and so selfish that way.
But I knew it would be hours before I could