"Wow! You girls have really outdone yourselves." I say in awe, looking around my backyard.

Candace, Lainey, and a few other football girlfriends have been running around my backyard all afternoon. The guys and I offered to help but once Kev, another guy on our team, accidentally broke one of the string lights, they shooed us away. We haven't been out to see it until now and I can honestly say I'm impressed.

My giant backyard is covered in string lights, balloons, and streamers. There are a bunch of round tables circling a large dance floor, and a few longer ones for the food off to the side. Each table has a centerpiece full of flowers, pictures of players on the team, and cutout football gear. The large speakers are set up around the side and there is even a music suggestion box nearby.

My favorite part though, is the 'memorial' behind the tables. The girls hung all of our jerseys up on a clothesline and beneath each is a poster board with tons of pictures, newspaper clippings, and quotes from us. I have no clue how they pulled this off in time, but it is amazing.

"Thanks, Nate. It was really all Candace and Lainey, though. The rest of us were more just emotional support." Kev's girlfriend, Sally, says with a laugh. I look at my girl to see her and Candace blushing a deep red.

"No way, everyone helped and we definitely couldn't have done it without y'all." My sweet angel says to the group.

"Hey, Nate. People are starting to arrive. You should probably get Wyatt and start grilling." Keith yells at me from the backdoor. I give him a nod and go in search of Wyatt.

15 minutes later, Wyatt and I are standing at the grill, watching everyone mingle around. Even though my backyard is crowded with my teammates, coaches, and their families, I have no trouble spotting my gorgeous blonde talking to a few of the guys.

"You really love her huh?" Wyatt asks, making me look at him.

"What?" I reply.

"Lainey." He says with a nod in the direction I was looking

"Oh. Ya man, I really do." I say, confused with why he's asking me.

"That's good. She deserves someone to love her." Is all he replies with before he goes back to flipping burgers. Shaking my head, I follow suit and pull some of the done patties off the grill and onto a waiting plate.

______________________

"So OC, are you ready for the game?" My coach asks me.

"I was born ready Coach, I can't wait to go kick some cougar ass on Friday." I reply with enthusiasm.

"I figured. I heard from a source of mine that there will be some scouts there. It's seeming like Alabama, Florida, Ohio State, and Georgia will be looking at you." He says with a hint of excitement in his voice.

"Really? I mean I've exchanged a few emails with their coaches, but I didn't think anything would actually come of it." I say back, not bothering to hide the excitement in my own voice.

"Well, they followed through. You play like you always do and I figure you'll have the pick of which school you want." He says, leaving me standing there when he is called over by another teammate.

My pick of schools? I could get the chance to play at the highest ranked school in the nation. My dream since I was little was finally going to come true.

Ya, if you don't fudge the game on Friday.

Shoot, you're right. I have to play the best game ever. Gosh, talk about pressure.

And what about Lainey? Your dream school is out of state. What happens to her when you leave?

My terrifying inner thoughts are interrupted when I feel warm hands wrap around my waist and a soft forehead press into my back. Turning around, I keep the hands around my waist and put my own around my girl's body, resting right above her bottom.

"You look happy." Lainey says softly.

"I am. I've got my girl in my arms and I'm surrounded by the people I love." I reply back, giving her a chaste kiss on the lips.

"Well I know that. But I mean before, during your conversation with coach." She says.

"Oh that. I. Well. I was." I say distractedly, still somewhat in my head about the conversation. She lets out a low chuckle and shakes her head.

"Well, you big Oaf. Are you going to tell me what he said or just leave a girl hanging?" She talks slowly, as if I were a young child.

"Right." I let out a chuckle of my own and clear my head.

"Actually, he was just telling me there will be a few scouts at the game on Friday." I say sort of nonchalantly. To my regret, she pulls away and backs to look me in the face, hers showing clear excitement.

"Oh my gosh really? That's amazing, babe. Aren't you excited?" She asks, confused.

"Well, ya. Of course." I say, not hiding my worry very well.

"Ok, then what's the problem?" She asks.

"It's just. That means we HAVE to win the game and I need to play the best I ever have played." I reply with only part of the truth. She grips my face and forces me to look in her eyes.

"Were you planning on losing the game?" She asks.

"No, of course not." I say back, confused.

"Ok. And were you planning on giving anything less than 110%?" She continues.

"Never. I always give every game my all. You know this. Why are you asking such weird questions?" I ask her.

"Because, you need to remember that. Honey, just because a few scouts are going to be there doesn't mean how you play is going to change. Like you said, you always go all out and you never go into a game wanting to lose. I've seen you, and you play every game like there are scouts watching you, even when it's just your hometown spectators. You don't have to worry about not being good enough. They came to see YOU play, not some phony guy who's only trying because he's being watched." She says confidently.

The worry in my chest immediately subsides as I realize how true her words are. Not being able to keep my distance, I grab her face and pull her into a bruising kiss. When we both need air, I pull back to see her eyes slightly dazed and her lips swollen. And just like that, my worry is back. She must see it because she takes the same position as before and makes me look at her.

"That's not all of it. What else has got you worried?" She must see my hesitation because she gives me a stern look and speaks again.

"And don't even try to lie to me. I can see it in your eyes, it's the same worried look you got when you thought I was leaving." She replies. As my silence continues, I see realization cross her face.

"That's it isn't it? You're worried that when you move to college, this will end." She says, gesturing between her and I.

I do nothing but nod my head, fearful of how she will react. I sure as heck am not expecting her to release her grip and let out a low laugh. She must see my confused face because she stops and hurriedly explains.

"Babe. I love you. And you love me right?" She says. That I do answer.

"Yes, of course." I say quickly.

"Then there's nothing to worry about." She replies nonchalantly.

"Nothing to worry about? This is a pretty big thing Lainey." I say in the exact opposite tone her voice holds. She just shakes her head and looks me in the eyes.

"Well I'm not worried. We will figure out everything, but not right now. Right now, just know that I love you, am proud of you, and am not going anywhere. The rest, we can decide on later. I promise we will talk it through, but just focus on your game first. We can't decide anything if you don't get that scholarship." She says confidently.

The worry is still there, but eases some at her reassurance. I hold her in our original position and kiss her forehead.

"I love you Angel."

"I love you too, Nate."

Our moment is gone when we are called over by Mouse to take our seats for the cheerleaders' performance and Coach's speech. I sit in my chair and pull Lainey on my lap.

It will all be figured out.

Ya, for now I'm happy just sitting here with my girl safe in my arms. Nothing could ruin this for me. I won't let it.