Total pages in book: 43
Estimated words: 39971 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 200(@200wpm)___ 160(@250wpm)___ 133(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 39971 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 200(@200wpm)___ 160(@250wpm)___ 133(@300wpm)
Felicity is clapping her chubby little hands and saying, “Yay, Daddy!”
Derek and I get caught up in cheering with the crowd as well. He’s been explaining a lot about football to me so that I could know what I’m cheering for. I hadn’t been that into following it in the past but now I sure am.
He still plays college football and he’s scored a job coaching at the college next year after he graduates. He is happy with his career and with hanging out with Felicity and me a lot, being an uncle, and he no longer seems jealous that Steve’s life took a different path.
"Man, this is so awesome, to be here at the Super Bowl, cheering on my best friend,” Derek remarks.
"Yes, it is!" I answer with a smile.
I pick Felicity up in my arms and point out towards the field.
"I told you that you'd get to see your daddy play for real one day," I say.
She claps her hands together again and laughs. She had just been eating a banana, so her hands are all sticky.
Usually, I’d get out a wipe and clean it off her right away, but my focus is on the game, which is in its final minute, and it all comes down to Steve again. Everybody is tense with anticipation, including me.
It’s funny how I used to care so much about maintaining order and control, and now I’m so busy hoping Steve can win this game that I don’t even care about a mess. A lot has changed, but I guess having a baby can do that to a person.
My life may be messier now, but it’s full of love and happiness.
The weather is chilly, so we're all bundled up in our winter coats and I can see my breath coming out in anxious bursts as I stare at the field.
"This is it; do you think he can do it?" Derek asks me.
"Of course he can. I don't doubt him," I answer.
Derek still looks unsure and a bit worried.
"He won the last Super Bowl," I add, as a reminder and to help calm his nerves.
"That's true— he did," Derek replies.
His shoulders seem to ease up and show less tension.
Both teams are in their final time outs now. We wait until the clock runs out and they all get back onto the field.
They're ready to make the last play. It's going to be a good last few minutes of the game.
Steve is already in position and ready. The play starts and the ball is soon in motion. Steve runs down the length of the field, dodging people left and right and knocking people out of his way.
The ball that’s throw in his direction sails right through and falls into his arms. He catches it and runs so fast. He zigzags and dodges players all over the field.
He finally makes it to the end zone and scores a final touchdown right as the clock runs out. Then he throws the ball down onto the ground and does a cutesy little dance.
“Yeah!” I call out. “That’s my man!”
Derek claps and Felicity squeals happily.
“That’s your daddy!” I tell her.
“Daddy! Daddy!” she cries, sounding giddy.
Everyone in the stands begins to cheer along with us. The entire stadium is alive with happiness.
Steve's teammates run up to congratulate him and he flashes me a thumbs up sign.
And then that's it— the game is over. He has won the Super Bowl for his team once again.
There are a bunch of reporters standing by ready to interview him. But I look up at the large screen that’s above the field and see that Steve's face appears there.
“What’s going on?” I ask Derek.
“No idea,” he says with a shrug, but I notice a little smirk on his face.
“Come on, you have to know,” I urge him.
“Hey, I’m allowed to have secrets from my little sister now and again, too, right?” he asks, throwing his hands up innocently.
“I guess that’s fair,” I agree reluctantly.
Soon, I hear Steve’s voice over the loudspeaker. I look out onto the field and see him talking into a microphone.
"Bella, are you there? Can you come out onto the field and bring our daughter?" he says, as the crowd gasps and cheers.
I look around in shock. Derek breaks me out of my spell by nudging me forward. I carry our daughter in my arms as I make my way out of the stands and down onto the field.
A few of the officials that have been standing down here help us walk onto the field and over to Steve.
"What's going on?" I ask in confusion.
He still holds the microphone.
He speaks into it so that not only I hear, but everyone else hears as well.
"Bella, I want to thank you because you've done so much for me. You've changed me into a better person. I'm no longer the man that I used to be. You gave me the most beautiful, intelligent daughter a man could ever ask for. You've turned me into a good guy, and I know that I love you and that I never want to be without you. In fact, I want to be with you and only you forever," he says, dropping down to one knee.