Hello Quarterback (Hello #8)

58. Ford

58

FORD

It had been a year, almost to the day, since I had set foot on a field for a Super Bowl game. And now, as I followed my team onto the spongy turf, a million memories flashed through my mind.

I saw the plays I did wrong last year. The plays I did well. The faces of my teammates realizing it wasn't for us. The confetti falling from the sky.

The odds of us being back for a second year in a row were slim, especially after my injury.

But I had given all of myself to this team. After having to sit out several games, I had trained harder than ever before to be the best quarterback I could possibly be and make sure I saw playing time on this field. My teammates had worked hard too, put in just as many hours to make it here.

For me, today was about more than making a comeback; it was about proving to myself that I could have everything I wanted in life—love, impact, and professional success. Over the last month with Mia, I'd learned that love wasn't an “or.” It was an “and.”

I loved Mia and I wanted to win a championship game.

I loved Mia and I was protecting my body from injury.

I loved Mia and I loved my charity.

The last month had been a dream—trading nights between my place and hers. Enjoying the time we could spend together and making the most of the time we couldn’t. There were stolen kisses, late suppers, times when she slid into bed long after I had gone to sleep, but we made it work in our own way, no longer letting the past dictate our futures.

Just like I wouldn’t let a loss last year convince me we’d lose today.

“Over here,” Milo said. Krew was already standing with him by the bench. We were just about to begin warmup.

I walked over to them, trying not to let the enormity of it all overwhelm me. “Hey,” I said to them.

Milo put an arm on Krew’s back and another on mine, and we huddled our heads together. “Today is our day,” Milo said. “We’ve got each other’s backs, yeah?”

Krew nodded. “We’ve got this.”

I looked at my friends, realizing this might be the last game I ever played with them, depending on what Trent decided to do with my contract. “I need to say something.”

They both turned their gazes toward me, and I had to take a breath to keep my voice from shaking. “The last five years, playing with you two, have been the best of my life. Thank you for being my teammates, and thank you for being my friends.” Despite my effort, my voice broke with emotion.

They hugged me back, the three of us together. I knew no matter what happened with my contract, we’d be friends for life, talking about the good old days playing for the Diamonds long after we hung up our gear for the last time.

“Let’s do this,” Krew said.

I nodded, getting my energy up.

Then I went to the bench and got a football from one of the assistants. The second-string quarterback, Krew, and I took to the side of the field, passing the ball back and forth to warm up. I’d pass the ball to Krew, he’d toss it to Josh, and then Josh would throw it back.

The sound of seventy thousand voices faded into the background, giving way to my breath and the slap of leather falling into my hands, until it was time for the game to begin.

The national anthem was a fever dream, separating warmup from the game. A game that felt so much more like life. There would be plays made today. Good ones, bad ones, fumbles. Ones that set you back and ones that put you ahead.

But in life, I knew I couldn’t lose. Not with Mia by my side.

The offense took to the field for the first play, and Milo looked over his shoulder at me. “You ready for this?”

I glanced to the crowd, to the section where I knew my dad and Mia were sitting. I saw her in my purple jersey, and I smiled. “Let’s fucking go.”