Page 108 of The Catch

Saint catches the ball mid air. He grabs it tight against his ribcage, turns and twists a few times, and manages to evade defensive players from the other team. Moving with the grace and speed of a superhero, he jumps into a sprint.

A gasp escapes me. Evie's hand squeezes my forearm. Saint leaves everyone behind.

It's been only a couple of seconds, but it feels like an eternity. My lungs refuse to work. Saint runs and runs, eating yards and sprinkling loose turf under his cleats. Only to slow down and stop three steps away from the goal line.

He knows he has the touchdown. Ever the showman, he turns toward the crowd and asks for applause. The crowd goes wild. Walking backwards, he crosses the line— dancing.

Nat and Pen laugh. Evie watches me. Saint throws the ball to the ground as his teammates reach him. He goes into an elaborate choreography with Dom.

I sigh. "Do you think he'll be the MVP?"

What I'm really asking is if he'll have to move to another city. Of all the reasons I've been clutching to my chest not to let myself fall for Saint, I haven't thought about this one enough. If I don't know what to make of all these feelings when we're sharing a bed, I don't know how I'll survive what we're doing together when distance is in the mix.

"His stats are good." Evie's voice is factual, but there's a hint of challenge in it. "He's broken a couple of records. He has a good chance at it."

I didn't know that. Another way in which I'm not showing up for him. And I'm entertaining feelings he doesn't expect? If I let myself imagine a romantic future with Saint, the least I could do is show him the kind of girlfriend I would be. Wanting to act differently from old relationships shouldn't mean Saint gets nothing but company at night.

Except he's never welcomed feelings like this in the past, and showing up like a Good Girlfriend is what I did in every single relationship before. It was never enough on its own. It didn't work. I still don't know what to do differently. I promised to do differently. Shit.

I'm trying to be a lover, but I'm really just a fool.

I don't recognize myself. I'm setting myself up for the worst heartbreak of my life, and I have no idea how to stop it.

"You're going to figure it out," Evie says by my side. "I know you will."

I smile. "Thanks, Evie. You're the best."

"I'm here when you're ready to talk."

"I know."

They all are. Pen watches me with a small smile, while Nat nods. Their patience falls on my shoulders like a cloak. It's warmth all around, protection from the rain if the skies were to break.

"Thank you," I say.

"For now, let's watch them win." Evie grins. "What do you say?"

"Who's ready for another drink?" Pen asks. "We won't be at their party… but we'll make our own."

Chapter 33

Saint

Several camera lights point in my direction, making the lenses and journalists no more than a shadow around me. Microphones, recorders, and cellphones hover near me, and I smile.

My grin is powered by sunlight and winning. The stadium floodlights shine on me, throngs of people on the field celebrating the win. Lightning runs through my veins.

I'm a few steps away from the top of the world, and as high as I've ever been. I scored half the touchdowns that got us the win in the conference championship. It's been weeks of this thing with Ames, and we're going on strong.

I may not be a singer crooning to thirty thousand people, but I know a thing or two about craving adoring eyes. In moments like this, I'm closer than ever to seeing myself as a catch. A real one. The kind that Ames could gaze at with hopes of forever. The kind of Mister Right she deserves.

"This is the strongest the Strike has ever been." A reporter gets themselves heard above the noise. "After losing this game last year, what do you have to tell the fans?"

"We've worked hard this season to get here." I lick my bottom lip. "We'll give it all in the final game. Our fans will get what they deserve."

"The Strike has never made it past this point," another reporter says. "What does it feel like to be so close to your first big win?"

"It's everything I've wanted, since the first time I stepped foot on the field. I'm doing this for the team, the fans, for my family. The Strike means a lot, to a lot of us. Being here for those who support us is our why."