Page 64 of Falling Into You

They flung their hands in the air, and then the doors to the gym opened. “You’re up, Woodmont,” one of the event’s organizers said. She had a headset on and held an iPad in one hand, the door with the other.

“Let’s go!” Rory cheered.

She led the team out onto the mats at the center of the floor, overwhelmed by the sheer number of people in the stands. No matter how many times she did this, the crowds always felt larger to her. A lot of the younger squads had stayed after their trophy ceremonies and were gathered in the bleachers, making pockets of blue and yellow or green and white or purple and gold. She saw Willow’s Woodmont Middle School team members front and center with their trophy at their feet, and sitting just next to them was Jacob’s family. Jacob’s parents, Lindsay, and Chad were on their feet. Ford was looking at his phone.

And next to Ford were her mom and Owen. She was so glad they were able to make it. Her mom had her phone up and ready to record the whole thing for her dad.

“Go, Rory!” Owen cheered, jumping up.

Rory’s mom stood up, too, and touched her fingers to her lips in a half air-kiss.

Rory grinned and took her spot in front of Jacob. He leaned toward her ear from behind and whispered, “It’s go time. We got this.”

Rory nodded, her heart full. She’d never felt more ready to cheer.

What felt like days later, though it was only a couple of hours, Rory and the squad awaited the announcement. She knelt on the mat at the front of squad, clutching hands with Layla on one side and Gwen on the other, Jacob and Carlos behind them and the rest of the girls gathered around. The MC had announced fifth, fourth, and third place. There were still five teams left, but it was between Woodmont and Shrewsbury. It had to be.

“And in second place we have...”

Layla squeezed Rory’s hand so hard she swore she felt a pop.

“The Shrewsbury High School Falcons!”

Next to them, the Shrewsbury team freaked out, jumping up and down and running over to grab the second-place trophy. They put on a good show, but Rory knew the sting of coming in second, and she knew they were feeling it. She looked at Gwen, then at Layla. Was this really happening?

“And now, please join me in congratulating this year’s championship team in the small varsity coed division... the Woodmont High Lumberjacks!”

Rory launched to her feet and hugged her two best friends, jumping up and down in their arms. Then she turned and hugged Jacob and Carlos, and the squad gatheredaround her in a group hug. They all ran over to claim their massive trophy, confetti and balloons raining down from the ceiling all around them. Rory grabbed the trophy, thanked the MC, and raised her prize above her head before passing it off to Carlos. Then she turned around to look for Jacob and was unsurprised to find him standing right behind her, supporting her, having her back. Just like a good partner always should.

“You did it, oh captain, my captain,” he said with a smile as the crowd continued to roar around them and their teammates jostled and hugged and jumped up and down.

“Wedid it, soccer boy,” she said, her heart all aflutter.

And then she stood on her toes, pulled him close, and kissed him.

The second the trophy ceremony was over, Rory and Jacob ran for the parking lot, Rory shoving her arms into her red-and-gold varsity jacket as they ran. It had gotten a lot colder out, and she glanced over at Jacob in his shorts and soccer jersey, wondering how he wasn’t shivering.

“Congratulations, Woodmont!” someone shouted after them.

“Thank you!” Rory shouted back, her voice cracking. She was giddy. So giddy she could barely contain it. They’d won. They’d actually won! And she and Jacob had kissed, and it had been the most mind-blowing kiss of her entire life.It had left her wondering what she could have possibly been thinking being with Tucker for so long. Those kisses with Tucker were nothing. Kissing Jacob wassomething.

They had taken pictures for about five minutes before she and Jacob gave the trophy over to Carlos to take back on the bus with the squad. They had a game to get to.

Jacob had changed into his soccer uniform in the bathroom. She was impressed by how quickly he could change clothes. She was also impressed that he was even thinking about playing soccer for an hour and a half. As soon as this adrenaline wore off, she was sure she was going to want to pass out.

He paused at the passenger side door of his truck and held it open. “Captain,” he said with a nod.

She threw herself into his arms for one more triumphant hug, and then kissed him long and hard on the lips. Her whole person was filled with fireflies. She couldn’t believe she actually got to do that now. “We won,” she whispered.

“We sure did,” he replied with a grin.

“Now let’s go get another one.”

She smacked his chest once, then got in the truck. It was exactly 6:54. They could make it with a little time to spare. Jacob walked around to get behind the wheel, the whole truck shaking as he slammed the door hard. He put the keys in the ignition and turned and... nothing happened. He paused, took a breath, and tried again. Nothing. Not even the odd trying-so-hard-to-start-up sound Rosie had made last night at the stoplight.

“No. No! Not now!” Jacob shouted, his breath making clouds inside the cab.

“What is it?” Rory rubbed her freezing hands together. “What’s wrong?”