On a sunny October day, the fall after Hendrick came into my life, he takes me to my first NFL game. The stadium is huge and beautiful. I didn’t expect it to be so beautiful. Bright colors and fun music and so many happy, smiling people.
My parents are here. I’m not surprised in the least that they absolutely adore Hendrick. They haven’t come right out and said it, but I’m certain they’re thrilled my boyfriend doubles as my bodyguard.
The girls came with us, too. Partly because who doesn’t want to watch an NFL game in a private suite? Partly because they’ve all come to love Hendrick and wanted to do this for him. But mostly because Felix is playing. After graduation, he moved to Minnesota to play and today his schedule brought him here. Dahlia is beside herself with nerves and pride.
“Are you nervous?” Daisy asks me as I hum lightly, warming up my voice.
Oh yeah, I’m also singing the national anthem today. So, when I said that Hendrick brought me here, that was only sort of true. Today I get to step onto the field that meant so much to him and sing for thousands of people.
“A little, but not as much as I expected,” I tell her honestly. I’ve performed a few times since the Spring Fling. Once with Eddie Dillon this summer on his tour (top five best moments of my life) and twice with The Letterman Jackets.
It was several months after Ted was arrested before Eric managed to get the band back together. Mackenzie was the most reluctant, but she finally caved when Eric found someone to play drums. A she someone. I think somehow Ted being replaced by a girl made it easier for her. And they sound even better than before.
“You’re going to be great.” She bumps her shoulder against mine.
“Can I borrow Jane for a few minutes?” Hendrick asks, coming to stand next to us.
“She’s all yours.” Daisy grins and moves to join Vi, who’s trying to console Dahlia.
“Borrow me for what?” I ask as he takes my hand.
“I want to introduce you to a few people.”
We tour the facilities, where Hendrick introduces me to past coaches and trainers and some of his old teammates. I don’t know a ton about football so most of the players I don’t recognize, but when Hendrick shakes hands with Keegan Daughtry, I get a little starry-eyed. He shows up just as much on celebrity gossip sites as he does the sports section. He’s incredibly private about his personal life, doesn’t maintain a social media presence, and rarely does interviews. All that should make him less popular than other football players, but he’s gorgeous and amazingly talented so people clamor for every single detail they can get.
“And this is Jane.” Hendrick places a hand on my lower back. Then Keegan’s attention is focused on me, and wow.
“The girlfriend I’ve heard so much about,” he says. His smile is small but friendly as he offers me his hand.
I take it, still staring at him in shock. “You’ve heard about me? Keegan Daughtry knows who I am.”
Hendrick chuckles and Keegan smiles a fraction more.
“I kept pressing Hendrick, trying to get him to come back. Now I understand.”
My face flushes and I blurt out, “He’s opening a bar.”
Keegan looks from me to Hendrick. “A bar?”
“Yeah.” My boyfriend looks embarrassed as he tells his old teammate about renovating his mom’s old bar, but he’s turned it into the most incredible space. He kept a lot of the original setup to honor his mom, but added an outdoor space where people can drink and chill and play games. It hasn’t opened yet, but I already know it’s going to be successful. He’s put so much of himself into it. There’s no way it won’t be just as fantastic as him.
Hendrick wraps an arm around my hips and pulls me into his side. “Enough about me. How’s the back doing?”
Keegan’s face grows somber. “A little better, but I’m not ready to go yet. Maybe by December if I’m lucky. But the team needs help now and I hate not being out there. Any regrets?”
“No.” Hendrick drops his gaze to mine. “Not a one.”
Keegan laughs quietly. “Well, it was good to see you, Holland. Don’t be a stranger.”
“I won’t,” Hendrick promises, and they shake hands again.
“Nice to meet you, Jane.” Keegan walks off and I turn to my boyfriend.
“You were going to take Keegan Daughtry’s spot, and you passed it up?” I whisper-screech.
“Eh . . .”
“Oh my gosh, you were?!”
His eyes glint with laughter and we begin to walk away from the locker rooms and player facilities back toward the private box where we’ll watch the game. “It wasn’t quite a done deal, but if things had gone well . . . maybe.”
“Wow.” I knew that Hendrick was giving up an opportunity to play, but I suddenly realize just how big that opportunity was. “I don’t know what to say.”
He stops abruptly. “Say yes.”
“Yes,” I say automatically, then turn to him. “What exactly am I saying yes to?”
Suddenly there’s a ring in front of my face. A stunning diamond ring and Hendrick drops to one knee.
“I wanted to ask you months ago, but then this trip came up and I knew there was no better place to tell you how much I love you and ask you to be mine. Being back here feels like I’m closing one chapter and starting another. With you. And I’d choose you every time. I know you’ll probably want to wait until you’re done with school, but I couldn’t go another day without asking. Marry me, Jane? Make me the happiest guy in the entire world.”
“Yes!” I scream in the hallway, earning us a few looks, some laughs, and from people who are close enough to see what’s happening, some applause.
He slides the ring on my finger and then picks me up and spins me around. And it feels exactly like home.
