Chasing Football Dreams (Diner Girl #2)

Chapter Twenty-Six

"Z oey,"

I dared to look away from my locker when I recognized the soft voice of my mother, catching her walking over to me.

We haven't talked since the suspicion of our mystery was solved. I still couldn't believe that a beautiful woman like her was my mother. She carries grace in every move while I'm here giving people the cold shoulder.

I found her eyes resting on my shoulder and I could already summarize what she was thinking. The birthmark on my shoulder.

"At first, I thought it could be fake but there it is," She mumbled, coming closer.

I thought the blood tests would be the confirmation she needed but instead, her focus was on the heart-shaped birthmark.

"Here you are. Alive. Following the footsteps you imprinted years ago," She cupped my cheek in the palm of her hand, tracing my cheek with her thumb.

"I'm sorry that I didn't come and visit you after we confirmed you are our daughter,"

"I am not blaming you," I walked around to grab my jersey from my locker and pulled it on.

"Shane told me that you don't want this. Us,"

"It's not that I..." I let out a sigh.

"I'm also scared,"

I turned around. "Scared?"

She nodded. "You were four when I lost you. I've lost seventeen years of watching you grow up. Missed out on your awkward crushes. Girl talk. Prom night. Watching you graduate,"

"I was prepared to be that mom blowing off parents judging my daughter on her amazing talent," Tears formed in the corner of her eyes.

"I didn't come here to cause tears. I just came here to wish you good luck and tell you that I am proud of what you achieved,"

Her smile was accompanied by sadness it pained me to see her hurting like this. "I missed out on having a best friend,"

I wasn't dissing Eliza. She is my best friend and only friend. But I was talking about having a mom who is your best friend. Who you can run to and talk about just everything and she won't judge you.

"We can still be best friends," she said with tears running down her cheeks. "We can meet for cake and coffee where we can chat for hours, or we can go for a spa day,"

"That sounds good,"

She failed at smiling as the tears put a quiver in her lips. "I will see you out there," She walked away but I couldn't let her.

"Mom," The words felt weird to speak.

Her shoulders even jumped at the weirdness. Her eyes were big and round when she turned around.

"I'm sorry if you don't want me to call you..." I couldn't finish my sentence as she embraced me with a hug.

I wound my arms around her shoulders, letting the pinned-up emotions fall. I was allowed to cry for all the years I was left to believe that I had no parents. I was taken away from my family. Sold by a selfish man.

"Hey, we are waiting for you..." Shane's voice drifted down the hall coming to a halt when he saw us wrapped in each other's arms.

"Sorry, it wasn't my intention to make her late," Angela apologized pulling away from me and wiping away her tears.

"I just wanted to wish her good luck," Shane's gaze softened at his wife's tears. He brushed his hands down her jaw and pinched her cheek softly. She stepped into his arms as he smiled at her.

He winked at me. "The team is waiting for you,"

I nodded grabbed my gear and headed to their locker room meeting the gazes of my team. Duncan quirked an eyebrow when he noticed I wasn't wearing my shoulder gear.

"Sorry, I am late," I apologized to the coaches.

I sat beside Duncan letting him help me with my gear while we went over our game plan. The time ran out and before we could wipe our eyes, we were jogging out on the field in front of hundreds if not thousands of spectators.

My heart was drumming against my ribcage with a mixture of excitement and agitation. This was it. I was where I'd always dreamt about.

There was a time when I believed God skipped my Wishlist and ignored my prayers. Miracles still happen even if it feels like they are never going to happen.

"How are you feeling?" Duncan asked, meeting me at the huddle.

"Surprisingly well," I answered with a smile. "A bit nervous but it will probably vanish at kick-off,"

"You do know that I am proud of you,"

"Why? Because I am keeping calm?"

He chuckled. "No, babe. Because even though the world took a hit at you, you never stayed down or let it shape you. Here you are leading a team of guys even when other teams were pushing back,"

"I was lucky enough to find 50 guys who were willing to give me a chance,"

"Zoey. You are a strong woman with a strong-willed mind. You got here because you were meant to be here,"

Our team has huddled in a circle around us. Everyone nodded at me in agreement.

We headed to the sideline to meet with our coaches one last time before kickoff. "I've stood with many of you at this moment. Won three championships. Today, it's some of your first time standing here," A lot of gazes shifted around, looking at each other until a few of them landed on me.

"We've had quite the memorable season," He referred to Shane joining us.

He then looked at me. "One player that brought a new spark to our sport,"

"We've got four quarters to bring the championship home,"

"The game doesn't stop until the last whistle blows," Shane interrupted.

"You've got what it takes to win today,"

"One last time, warriors," Shane brought in his hand motioning for us to bring in our hands.

"On 3,"

"Warriors!" We cheered.

"Let's kick some heinie!" Wesley shouted making everyone chuckle and cheer with him.

We got the first touch of the ball, driving us closer to the in-zone. But the ball was intercepted, and I was left standing on the sideline watching my team try to get me back on the field.

The crowd was cheering louder with every drive closer to scoring a touchdown. I got back on the field before the first quarter ended taking a tackle that left me gasping for air. But their plan failed when I still got the ball down the field and a touchdown.

Every quarter closer to the fourth got more brutal as their main goal started to become clear.

Get me off the field.

The team and the coaches started to notice. We were in the last quarter, the scores were tied and both teams were tired.

My body started feeling like a punching bag, but my mind was ready to hand them back the hits they'd given out.

"Do you remember that play in my book?" Shane asked as I stood on the sideline.

"Which one?"

He smiled. "How many did you memorize?'

"Every single one,"

"Good, let's go for the shotgun formation," We looked at Coach Devon who nodded.

"If you can handle it, let's do it,"

The team was huddled next to the field during time out when we got possession back. We discussed our play before getting in position. I moved a few yards back getting the ball from the snap moving with speeds and accuracy that drove my team to a touchdown.

Two minutes were left on the scoreboard and we were down a touchdown. We were also pushed back at least twenty yards back. We had one chance to move forward or else we lose the possession and our chance at winning.

"You need to go for a pass," Devon noted.

I looked at Shane who didn't utter a word. He had his thinking face on while looking at the field. "She can do it,"

"But they will figure it out,"

"Not if we go a flea flicker,"

"Don't you think they will expect that?"

Shane shook his head. "They don't expect Zoey to go for a 70-yard pass,"

I swallowed when Shane said the yards out loud. It only reminded me how far exactly that was. He must have seen my face as he came over to me.

"I've not thrown further than a 59-yard," I reminded him.

"You can do this,"

I looked at the field. "What if I miss?"

"It's better than not trying,"

I lifted my gaze. He's right. "I will need a Hail Mary to pull this off,"

He chuckled. "I believe in you, Zoey. You've got more drive in you than I've ever could dream of,"

"It's because of you,"

"Well, I am telling you. That you've got that power inside of you to pull this off. You just need to believe, and you will attain it,"

"Thanks, Dad," I whispered before jogging off with my team.

"You ready?" Duncan asked, sinking into his position.

I nodded skeptically, praying that I truly possessed the power that everyone believed I had in me.

"You've got this, Zo," I whispered, slipping my mouthguard back into my mouth.

I got behind Duncan focusing on the defense as I squatted. "Set. Hut-hut!"