"Thank you," I said. "Ugh, I'm so glad you're here, and I didn't have to sit by myself. I already feel weird enough as it is."
"Why?" she said. "You're just here to cheer on your man. Or should I say men?"
I glanced at her, and she gestured to the bench.
"Looks like someone else is glad you're here, too," she said.
I looked down and found my father staring back. He was beaming from ear to ear. I waved to him, and he gave an answering wave. It surprised me that he was so glad I was there. I'd never thought it mattered too much whether I came to games. There were so many other people who attended. I just thought I'd stick out like a sore thumb, maybe even embarrass him for a handful of reasons, the least of which was my lack of athletic ability and the top being my outcast status. But maybe, I thought as my dad continued smiling at me, I should've come to a game sooner.
As the match started, it felt good. Not strange at all to be here watching a sporting event that I never thought I'd be into in a million years. I watched as Dare and the others ran up and down the field, my father calling plays from the bench. Our boys looked good—but none of them were as awesome as Dare.
"Ooh, did you see that?" Gigi said, clapping her hands. "J shrugged off that defender like it was nothing. He's about to shoot that ball over to Ty who'll pass to Dare to finish. He'll put it right in the net. Just you watch."
Her words came true a second later.
Jovonte passed the ball to Ty who quickly got it to Dare, and then it was like somebody lit a fire beneath his feet. The guy was so fast, his kick packing so much power, Mount Tabor's goalie didn't stand a chance. With a swift strike, the ball sailed over the poor kid's head into the net. The crowd went crazy, but Dare just jogged back into position like it was nothing.
On the next play, it was nearly the same story.
Mount Tabor tried to run the ball back but were stopped by two of our guys. Both sides were fighting for possession, when Dare came up from behind, managing to strip the ball and dribble it back down the field. No one could stop him on his way to the net. He shook everyone off, and a minute later…
"Wow," I said as the ball soared past the goalie once again. "That's two goals in the space of five minutes."
"Yeah," Estelle said. "He's really in the zone."
"Is it always like this?" I asked.
She lifted one shoulder. "Well…it's Dare," she said like that explained everything.
And by half-time, I knew exactly what she meant.
I also understood why Dad couldn't stop talking about him. Dare's talent wasn't exaggerated. The guy's ability was unmatched by anyone on the other team—or ours. And he didn't try to hog the ball either. He spent just as much time passing as he did scoring. It almost made you feel bad for their opponents.
Almost.
You could tell how much Dare loved being out there, too. I'd never seen someone so in their element. The team played like a well-oiled machine. DHS's other guys were no slouches either. Dare wasn't the only one who scored, and he had a lot of assistance from Ty and his teammates. They were definitely good on defense as well—which meant Turner Pike (our goalie) didn't see much action. But when he did, he blocked more goals than he allowed to score. Our crowd cheered a lot, and I heard Dare's name more than once. Each time, it made my heart swell with pride—which I knew was stupid.
We weren't actually boyfriend and girlfriend.
Heck, even though he'd said it a ton of times, I wasn't even sure we were real friends.
Though…I thought we might've been.
Shaking my head, I clapped along with everyone else as Dare scored again. Whatever we were, I thought, I was glad I had come tonight to see this, glad to see him doing the thing he so obviously loved.
When the game ended, the scoreboard read 10-3. Our guys had decimated the other team, no two ways about it. As the Durham High guys lined up to shake hands with Mount Tabor, Estelle, Gigi and I made our way down the steps. It was slow going since there were so many people leaving at once.
By the time we made it to the grass, Jovonte was there waiting.
"Great job, J," Gigi said and pointed to her face. "Now, come over here and give me some love."
Jovonte planted a kiss right on her cheek and hugged her tight. "Thanks for coming, Grandma," he said.
But Gigi looked irked at that.
"You don't ever thank me," she said, giving his shoulder a pinch. "No time for silliness like that. You know I'm your number one fan."
"I do," he said, wincing. "You always have been."
"Since you were in diapers." Gigi nodded.
Estelle held up her hand. "And I'm very glad to be his number two."
She leaned in, giving him a quick pec on the lips.
"Good game, baby," she said.
"Thanks, baby," Jovonte said back.
Dare joined us then, and I couldn't help but wonder if he'd expect me to kiss him, if that was even allowed. Not that I'd have the courage to do it anyway.
"Hey guys," he said, looking sweaty but dang if that didn't make him even more attractive. "It's good to see you again, Gigi. How've you been?"
"Ah, hanging in there. Still getting around, just slower than usual," she said, smiling at him. "Not that you'd know anything about that. You were wonderful, Dare. As always."
Jovonte nudged her with his elbow. "But not
