Page 118 of Hard Count
Noah breathed out. He breathed out for a long time as the shaking subsided.
He opened his eyes filled with tears.
He said flatly, “I’m good.”
“You sure?”
“I’m sure.”
“Say it again.”
“I’m good, Coach.”
Coach Nelson nodded once.
They embraced, “Go win this fucking football game, the homophobic trolls can't beat you out on that fucking field.”
Noah stood up too.
He put his helmet on Los Angeles.
***
Tank sat next to Piper on the couch in silence as the game started. They played it on mute because the commentators continued what was on everyone's mind, the outing of Piper and Noah.
Vivienne went in and out of the living room taking calls.
The game was in cold mid-December weather, defensive, grinding, no rhythm, three-and-outs, punts, a missed field goal, a blocked field goal, a fumble recovered, a fumble lost.
New York eventually got a field goal at the end of the 2nd quarter. Score: New York 3, Seattle 0.
Seattle tied it in the 3rd quarter with a field goal of their own. Score New York 3, Seattle 3.
The seventh throw of the fourth quarter was the one that mattered. Third-and-eight with 2:14 left. Noah stepped up in the pocket, found his target, and dropped it into Darius’s hands before the safety got there for forty-seven yards. The kick was good through the uprights.
Score: Seattle 6, New York 3.
New York got the ball back with twenty-eight seconds and no timeouts. Seattle’s defense was on fire, and forced another three and out and that ended the game.
Tank, screamed, “6 fucking 3. Why am I rooting for these Seattle assholes? Look what you've done to me, Piper!”
Piper kept staring at the screen, “I wish I could call him and tell him how proud I am.”
The broadcast stayed on Noah after the final whistle.
He didn’t take his helmet off. He walked toward the tunnel without going to midfield for the handshake line. It wasn’t like him.
He didn’t stop for the sideline reporter, which was also not like him. He went into the tunnel, and the cameras lost him.
Three minutes later, the lower-third graphics on the screen flashed: REPORT: Noah Reyes declined post-game press availability. Reyes left the facility at 4:18 ET.
“He’s going somewhere.” Tank turned to Piper.
Piper picked up his phone.
He didn’t text Noah.
He did not look at his phone. He looked at the TV with the sound off and watched the commentators mouth words at each other.
