Don't You Dare

Chapter 8: Shared Spaces

Her heart ached at the sincerity in his eyes, but the doubts still lingered. "It's just... you were different before. I know you've changed, but seeing that just now—"

Gabe squeezed her hand, cutting her off. "You're right, I was different. But that's not who I am anymore. You know that. You've made me want to be better, to be someone you can trust. And I swear, you're the only one I want. There's no one else, Andrea."

Andrea searched his eyes, looking for any hint of insincerity, but all she saw was the boy she'd fallen for, the one who made her feel like she mattered. She took a deep breath and nodded, trying to let go of the jealousy gnawing at her heart.

"Okay," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the lingering noise of the crowd. "I believe you."

Gabe smiled, relief washing over his face. He pulled her into his arms, holding her close, his lips brushing against her hair. "Thank you," he murmured. "Thank you for trusting me."

Andrea wrapped her arms around him, resting her cheek against his chest. She could feel his heartbeat, strong and steady, and it soothed some of the lingering doubts. 

"Hey lovebirds!" Ryan teased, then turned his attention to Megan, who was watching him with a hopeful smile. "Hey, you," he said softly, leaning down to brush a quick kiss on her cheek.

Megan's eyes widened slightly, a flush spreading across her face as she tried to hide her surprise. "Hi," she murmured, her voice barely audible over the noise of the crowd.

Ryan's grin widened before he turned back to Gabe, his energy infectious. "Ready to close this out?"

"Absolutely," Gabe replied, his confidence unwavering. He glanced around the packed stands, then exchanged a knowing look with Ryan. "But first, we need to remind everyone why they're here."

Ryan nodded, a mischievous glint in his eyes as he turned to the crowd. "Think we can get them to do the wave again?"

"Only one way to find out," Gabe said, his gaze shifting to Andrea and Megan. "You two might want to watch this."

The boys jogged out to the center of the field, their arms raised as they signaled to the crowd. Gabe's voice rang out clearly, cutting through the chatter of the stadium. "Greenwich, are you ready to bring this home? Let's see that wave! On three! One, two, three—go!"

From one end of the bleachers to the other, the crowd rose to their feet, arms lifting in a synchronized motion. The wave rippled around the stadium, gaining momentum with each pass, until the entire place was on its feet, cheering and laughing.

Andrea watched, her heart swelling with a feeling she couldn't quite name. It wasn't just pride or affection—it was something deeper, something that came from seeing Gabe like this, fully at ease, enjoying the simple, unguarded moment. Moments like this, filled with laughter and shared excitement, were rare and precious. They were the moments that cut through the noise of everything else—the stress, the uncertainty, the fear of what the future might bring—and made it all feel worthwhile.

"These are the kinds of moments that change everything," she thought, her gaze locked on Gabe as he laughed and high-fived Ryan. It was in these small, effortless glimpses of happiness that she could see the real him, the boy behind the bravado, the one she had come to love more than she'd ever imagined possible.

The thought surprised her, catching her off guard. Love. She hadn't allowed herself to think of it in those terms before—not fully. But as she stood there, watching him with the crowd, she realized that was exactly what it was. Love. It filled her with both joy and a quiet kind of fear, the kind that came with knowing how much someone mattered.