Part 1 ( Ellie )

"Green 42! Green 42! HUT!"

The Final 20 Seconds. Edward's voice cuts through the stadium like a gunshot. The second the ball is snapped, everything slows. The crowd becomes white noise, the flashing cameras blur, and all I can focus on is my route.

I explode off the line, cutting past the defensive back, my cleats digging into the turf as I push forward with everything I've got. The safety is closing in, but I fake a step inside before slicing out toward the sideline.

I'm open.

Edward sees me. His arm cocks back, and the football launches into the air. It spirals perfectly, cutting through the night sky.

My legs pump harder, my lungs burn, and then, I jump.

Fingertips grazing the laces, I pull the ball into my chest just as a defender slams into me. The impact rattles my bones, but I don't let go. My body twists midair, and I crash onto the turf, the ball still secured in my grip.

The stadium goes insane.

A whistle blows. Game over. We won.

For a moment, I just lay there, staring up at the bright stadium lights, the roar of the crowd washing over me like a tidal wave. Then, arms grab me, yanking me up. My teammates swarm, clapping my helmet, shouting in my ear.

"Fucking hell, Crawford!"

"That was insane!"

"You just sealed it!"

A grin splits my face as I rip off my helmet, sweat dripping down my face, my chest rising and falling rapidly. The scoreboard flashes:

Final Score: 38-21.

Another win. Another moment where I proved exactly why I belong here.

-

The stadium is electric.

The roar of the crowd, the flashing cameras, the pounding of my heart against my ribcage, this never gets old. It never fades. No matter how many times I step onto the field, no matter how many games I've played in my career, this moment, right here, will always be a fucking high.

I'm standing on the sidelines, helmet in one hand, adrenaline still thrumming in my veins. The scoreboard reads 38-21, another win for the books. Another night where I proved why I belong here, why I deserve to wear this jersey.

The announcers are calling my name over the speakers, and I hear my teammates shouting behind me, hyping me up. Ellie Crawford, MVP.

I grin, wiping the sweat from my forehead, my chest rising and falling as I take in the madness of it all. The stadium lights glare down, the crisp autumn air biting at my skin, but I don't care. We did it. We won.

"Ellie! Ellie! Over here!"

Cameras flash as reporters push forward, mics shoved in my direction. I run a hand through my damp hair, trying to catch my breath as I prepare for the post-game questions.

A reporter from ESPN steps forward, grinning. "Crawford, hell of a game tonight. Another dominant performance. How are you feeling?"

I exhale, rolling my shoulders. "Incredible. The team came out strong, we stuck to the game plan, and we executed. Feels damn good to get the win."

The questions keep coming. They always do. How does it feel to be one of the top receivers in the league? What's next for me? How do I feel about the Jets offering me a contract?

That last one makes me pause, but only for a second.

I glance up at the sea of reporters, their eyes hungry for a soundbite, for something flashy. I give them what they want.

"It's a huge opportunity, no doubt. The Jets are a great organization, and if everything goes as planned, I'll be making New York my home soon."

New York.

Another reporter jumps in. "Does this mean you'll be retiring soon?"

I chuckle. "Retiring? Come on, I'm 25. I've still got a lot left in the tank. But I am thinking ahead, got some business plans in motion."

More questions, more cameras, more chaos.

I answer what I can before security steps in to clear the field. The game is over, and the celebration is just beginning.

But before I head to the locker room, my eyes instinctively drift toward the bleachers. And there she is.

Bella.

My girlfriend.

She's leaning against the railing, a huge grin stretched across her face, blonde hair cascading over her shoulders, eyes gleaming under the stadium lights. She looks proud. Excited. Happy.

For me. For us.

I jog over, my heartbeat steady, my muscles aching in that satisfying post-game way. She doesn't wait for me to say anything before she throws her arms around my neck, pressing a quick kiss to my cheek.

"You were amazing, baby," she says, her voice warm against my ear.

I smirk, wrapping my arms around her waist. "You sound surprised."

She laughs. "Not at all. I knew you'd kill it."

I tilt my head, brushing my lips against hers, slow and teasing. "Damn right."

Bella hums against my lips, fingers curling in my jersey before pulling back. "Come on, let's get out of here. I have a whole night planned for you."

My smirk widens. "That so?"

She grins. "You'll see."

With that, we head toward the exit, my hand resting on the small of her back, the roar of the stadium fading behind us.

-

My Porsche glides smoothly through the streets, the city lights reflecting off the sleek black exterior. Bella's in the passenger seat, scrolling through her phone, probably checking the reactions to my game.

I don't pay attention to the radio, just the hum of the engine and the quiet pulse of the night.

It still feels surreal. A year ago, I never would've pictured myself here. Playing for the Jets, moving to the city, building a business.

But that's the thing about time, it forces you to move forward.

I tighten my grip on the wheel, glancing at Bella as she hums along to whatever song is playing. She's been good to me. Really good. She helped me in ways I never expected, helped me untangle the mess in my head, helped me finally put my past behind me.

She helped me let go of my dad.

Therapy did a lot of the heavy lifting, but Bella? She gave me something steady. Something I never had before.

"What are you thinking about?" she asks, glancing over.

I shake my head. "Nothing. Just... life."

She smiles, reaching over to squeeze my thigh. "You deserve all of it, Ellie. Everything."

I exhale, letting my fingers brush over hers. "You helped me see that I deserve this."

I kiss her hand. Bella smiles, squeezing my hand gently. "I didn't do anything, Ellie. You got here on your own."

I smirk, shaking my head as I shift gears, steering us down the quiet, winding road toward home. "Nah, you helped. More than you know."

She hums, tilting her head against the seat, watching me in the dim glow of the dashboard lights. "Well, if I did, then I'm proud of that. Because you? You're exactly where you're meant to be."

I glance at her for a second before turning back to the road, the weight of her words settling in my chest. Where I'm meant to be. Funny how a few years ago, I wouldn't have believed that.

But now?

Now I have everything I worked for. Everything I fought for. A life I built on my own terms.

The city lights blur past us, and before long, I'm pulling into the long, sleek driveway of my mansion, something I still haven't quite gotten used to calling mine. The gates open automatically, and the house stands tall against the night sky, its modern glass windows reflecting the glow of the streetlights.

I step out of the car, stretching my arms above my head, Bella following suit.

"Mia's visiting this weekend," she says casually as we head inside.

I nod, unlocking the door. "Yeah. She texted me earlier. Said she and Aiden were gonna come by."

Bella steps inside ahead of me, kicking off her heels by the door as she stretches her arms above her head, her golden hair tumbling over her shoulders. I follow her in, shutting the door behind me, and shrugging off my jacket, tossing it onto the couch.

The house is quiet, but the kind of quiet I've come to appreciate. No echoes of a past I don't want to remember. Just peace. My space. My life.

Bella flops onto the plush leather couch, grabbing a throw pillow and hugging it to her chest. "So, Mia and Aiden this weekend," she muses, glancing at me. "That should be fun."

I nod, running a hand through my hair as I settle into the seat beside her. "Yeah. Haven't seen them in a while. Mia's been busy with the kids, and Aiden's been traveling for work."

Bella hums. "She's like a supermom now. Crazy to think about."

I chuckle. "Yeah. Feels like just yesterday she was dragging me into some dumb shit at school."

Bella grins, her fingers tracing absent circles on the pillow. "And now she's got two mini versions of her running around."

"God help us all," I mutter, making Bella laugh.

I lean back against the couch, resting my arm on the back of it, my fingers idly grazing Bella's shoulder.

I glance out the window, the city skyline stretching in the distance, but my focus flickers to the house next door.

Luke's house.

He moved to New York a few months after I did, taking over his father's business, something he never really planned for but ended up embracing anyway. He's doing well, really well, but I know him. I know the stress that comes with stepping into shoes that were never meant for you.

"He still working himself into the ground?" I ask, nodding toward the house next door.

Bella follows my gaze, her lips quirking up in amusement. "Of course he is. You know Luke. He's stubborn as hell. But he loves it, even if he won't admit it."

I huff a quiet laugh. "Figures."

Luke and I have been through everything together. From high school to college, to this, living next door to each other in a city that once felt too big for us.

I check my phone, scrolling through the messages. Luke's latest text sits there.

Luke: Game was insane. You're still a showoff.

Drinks tomorrow?

I smirk, typing out a quick response.

Me: You love it. And yeah, I'm in.

I snort, shaking my head. "Luke wants to grab drinks tomorrow."

Bella hums, scrolling on her own phone. "Shocking. Almost like you two have a routine."

I roll my eyes. "He's my best friend."

She smirks. "I know. It's just funny watching two grown adults refuse to acknowledge how much they love each other."

I flick her thigh, making her yelp. "Shut up."

She laughs, stretching. "How's he doing, anyway?"

I exhale, running a hand through my damp hair. "Good. Busy. His dad's company has him running all over the place. I think it's starting to wear on him, but he won't admit it."

Bella nods, glancing toward the window. "Have you talked to him about it?"

I shrug. "I've tried. But you know Luke. Stubborn as hell. He acts like carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders is just part of the job."

She chuckles. "Sounds familiar."

I shoot her a look, but she just grins, unbothered. "I'm just saying, you're not exactly the best at sharing your feelings either, Crawford."

I huff. "Whatever."

But she's not wrong.

Luke and I have always been the same that way, head down, get shit done, deal with the rest later. It's why we work. Why we've been best friends for so long. We don't need words to know when the other is struggling.

Still, I make a mental note to check in on him. Really check in.

Bella nudges my leg with her foot. "He's gonna be at the bar tomorrow, right? Maybe try, I don't know, getting him to open up?"

I smirk. "What, you want me to trick him into a therapy session?"

She grins. "I'm just saying, a few drinks in and Luke gets sentimental. You might get something out of him."

I chuckle. "We'll see."

A comfortable silence settles between us, the hum of the city outside filling the space.

But then Bella shifts beside me, hesitant.

I glance at her. "What?"

She hesitates. "Nothing. Just... you never really talk about her."

My whole body tenses.

I don't have to ask who she means.

I keep my voice even. "Nothing to talk about."

Bella doesn't look convinced, but she doesn't push. She just studies me for a moment before exhaling. "Okay."

I nod, my jaw tight. "Okay."

Another pause. Then Bella, knowing when to let things go, smirks. "You gonna get off your ass and take me to bed, or are we sleeping on the couch tonight?"

I huff a laugh, standing up and reaching for her hand. "Come on, princess."

She rolls her eyes but takes my hand anyway, letting me lead her upstairs.

And as much as I want to pretend that my mind isn't wandering, that I'm not thinking about the past, about the things I left behind, I can't.

Because no matter how much time has passed, no matter how much I pretend otherwise...

Juliet Baldwin is still there.

Somewhere in the back of my mind.