Page 90 of Hometown Halftime
“No, we did it.”
It’s at that moment that I realize we are very publicly hugging. Riley seems to realize it too, because his eyes widen before both of us separate so fast I almost lose my footing.
“Well,” he says roughly, adjusting his glasses.
“Yep,” I answer, my cheeks burning.
Thankfully, the team barrels toward us at full speed before the awkwardness can fully settle.
“COACH!” Brooke screams before launching herself at me.
The girls are crying and laughing and talking over each other while parents flood the sidelines, taking pictures. Haddie already has her fingers flying over her phone, surely posting live updates to the town Facebook page.
Standing there in the middle of it all, I’m surrounded by exhausted, ecstatic girls who just won the first official rugby game in Cedar Falls history, and pride swells so big inside my chest it almost hurts.
Chapter thirty-seven
Riley
When we walk into Gordy’s, I fight the urge to place my hand on Kinsey’s back.
And judging by the turnout, winning the first official rugby match in Cedar Falls history qualifies as a town event, because the second Kinsey and I walk through the doors, somebody near the bar cheers.
Gordy points at us from behind the bar. “There’s our coaches!”
I laugh while Kinsey covers her face with one hand.
“This is horrifying,” she mutters beside me.
“Oh, come on,” I say, bumping my shoulder against hers. “I think it’s cool. The whole town is celebrating what we did today.”
She rolls her eyes. “Please don’t encourage this.”
Country music plays beneath overlapping conversations while the smell of burgers and beer hangs thick in the air. Nearly every booth is full, but thankfully, our entire group has already claimed the long table near the back. Brynn spots us first.
“There they are!” she shouts, sliding out of the booth.
“My amazing rugby coach!” Brynn cries as she squeezes Kinsey in a hug.
Kinsey laughs breathlessly. “You’re ridiculous.”
Knox rises from the booth beside them, shaking his head while Cam laughs into his beer.
“You’d think they won the Super Bowl,” Knox mutters.
“They basically did,” Kate argues.
Ty slides a basket of fries toward me once I sit down. “Congrats. The team actually looked legit out there.”
“Hey,” Kinsey says, shocked. “What exactly were you expecting from us?”
Ty grins unapologetically. “I said that wrong. Listen, I was a new coach a couple of years ago and I wish my team would have rallied like yours did today that early on.”
“Suck up.” Levi laughs from across the table.
Darren lifts his beer. “To Coach Malone!”
Everyone raises their drinks. Kinsey groans into her hands while laughter erupts around the table. I watch her through all of it. The smile she keeps trying to hide every time someone congratulates her. The way pride still shines underneath all the sarcasm and deflection. She looks happy. And seeing her happy makes me happy.
