Page 26 of Lessons in Lemonade

We all raise our glasses, and after Bryan’s clinked his with Lexi’s, he turns to face me. He knows I’ve been keeping an eye on him tonight. He hasn’t said anything, but between him trying not to scowl all night and overhearing some of the comments that have been made, I know he’s struggling.

“You know it’s just noise, right?” I say to him, catching his eye.

He doesn’t answer me, but he knows I can read his nonverbal cues. Admitting it to me would mean he believes it’s true, and it’s not. This is just how the game is played.

“I’ll be on the field at ten tomorrow morning. Think you’ll be ready by then?” I ask him, my question more about his mental state than his physical. He needs the negativity gone, and our team needs our quarterback back and focused on what’s next, not what’s passed.

“I’m always ready,” he tells me definitively.

“That’s my boy!” I again knock my drink with his and grin as we down the rest of these bottles in one swoop, eyeing each other as we do.

Around us, champagne glasses are distributed as people start counting down. Deciding I want this moment to be with Meg even though she isn’t here, I hold up my phone and take a portrait photo with the focus on the bubbles, my teammates and the patio lights blurred out in the background. Posting it on social media at 12:02 a.m., I caption it: This one’s for you. Happy New Year.

Almost instantly, a notification from her pops up with the clinking champagne glasses and wink-kiss emojis. It may as well have been the real thing, because in my chest, that’s what it feels like.

Champagne Punch

I CAN’T BELIEVE they made it to the Super Bowl.

I can’t believe I’m here at the Super Bowl.

When Lexi called last minute and told me we were going, there wasn’t one second of hesitation. The ticket was offered, I called Taylor—who was almost as excited for me as I was about getting to go—and packed a bag, and then I boarded a plane to Tampa. There, I met Lexi, and together we flew to Seattle with just our backpacks, no plans, and an anxious giddiness.

At the airport, we hopped in a cab and took it straight to the stadium. Because we were heading from east to west, the timing couldn’t have worked out better if we’d tried.

The last time I was at an event like this was when Lexi and I went to watch her brother (and secretly Bryan Brennen) play in the College Football Playoff National Championship game. Yes, that game was insane, but so far this one is nothing like it.

For starters, the average age of the attendees is older, but also, this time I’m here to cheer someone on, someone that’s for me. Well, sort of for me. Actually, I take that back—definitely for me. As he keeps claiming we’re best friends, this is definitely something one best friend does for the other, and with how much our friendship has grown since Thanksgiving, there’s nowhere I’d rather be.

I’m so excited for him. He’s been talking about this game nonstop for months, and now here we are—or I should say now here he is playing in the game of his dreams. I couldn’t possibly be any happier for him, and I’m over the moon that I get to share in this experience with him.

Arriving at the box—yes, Bryan gave Lexi box tickets, not just regular tickets—a girl I instantly recognize as Camille from Lexi’s photos squeals when she sees us enter and jumps up for hugs. The energy in the box is palpable, and I find my heart is racing with adrenaline for Jack and his team.

“I’m so glad you guys could make it! And I’m so happy to finally meet you,” she says to me, beaming from ear to ear. “I mean it feels like we’ve already met. I think I’m the last to meet you, and Jack talks about you nonstop, so this is just the best! He’s going to be so happy.” Her blonde hair is slicked back into the perfect ponytail, and her blue eyes are so large and bright. She’s genuinely happy to meet me, and that only ratchets up my excitement to be here for him.

Nerves flutter a little at the idea of that. I hope he’ll be happy to see me. Jack mentioned last week that he could get me a ticket if I wanted to go to the game, but at the time, Lexi wasn’t going, and coming all this way by myself didn’t sound that fun.

“I’m happy to be here. I’m so proud of them.” I glance down toward the field where the teams are warming up, and I scan over each one to find his number. When I do, my heart thumps hard in my chest. It’s been ten weeks since I’ve seen him—ten weeks too long.

“I’m so proud, too, and I’m so anxious. I should have been prescribed something for this because it’s almost too much.” Camille shakes her head and then rubs her hands together.

Looking her over, I can’t help but think, She’s so Southern. People have commented on my accent over the years, but hers wins hands down.

“Y’all come grab something to eat. I know once the game starts, the food will be forgotten, and well, we’re gonna need all the energy we can get.”

She’s right. I’ve never been one to sit still at a sporting event, especially if I know people who are playing. I’m full-on expecting to lose my voice today from the cheering.

Together, the three of us wander over to the food as the team clears the field to make way for pregame activities. I’m actually hungrier than I thought, and we fill our plates with cheeseburger sliders, salad, and other snacks while a few more people come over and introduce themselves. I was worried I would feel intimidated here with the other wives and higher-ups from the team, but I don’t. I feel great.

Better than great—I feel amazing.

Settling into a seat, I soak in the energy, the chatter, and the scene before me. No matter how long Jack and I are friends for, whether it’s months or years, it truly is something extraordinary to be here to watch someone else’s dreams come true.

One after the other, the teams are announced, fireworks, flames, and smoke shoot out over the tunnels, and the teams run onto the field. As they each line up on their respective side, the music in the stadium cuts off and an announcer calls for everyone to stand for the national anthem. A male country singer walks out, assumes his position in front of the color guard, and sings so beautifully it leaves chills all over my skin. At the end, the Blue Angels fly over, the roar of their engines echoing fiercely around the stadium. The feeling is electric, and I’m on the edge of my seat with excitement. Well, not literally, since I’m standing—there’s no way I could be sitting for this.

Needing a photo, I run down to the edge of the box and have Lexi take it to show me in my Tarpons gear with the game about to start behind me. I know he won’t see it until later, but that doesn’t mean the support is any less important. I caption it: Watching my best friend play in the game of his life. #gotarponsgo

I chuckle at my use of the phrase ‘best friend.’ I know he’ll appreciate it, and today I need to give him everything I have. He deserves it.