“No, thank you,” he returns. “I didn’t realize how bad it was for the guys who paved the path for us. I’m proud to stand by Q’s side.”

After my plan started coming together last night, I reached out to Patricia from Pro Players for Equal Treatment. She sent over player testimonies of retired men all facing challenges like Quinton’s dad. I included them in an email to every player whose address I could get my hands on. And then I proposed a call to action: take a stand alongside Quinton. By joining his fight, they will take him out of the equation and put the pressure on the people trying to twist his motives. There’s power in numbers. It’s up to them to make sure they’re all taken care of, and that includes Quinton.

Even though Brynn and Vonnie have been trying to tell me everyone was on board, I still wasn’t sure how this was going to go. But, with the first one down, my nerves fade and determination I’ve never felt before sets in. I bet this is how Wonder Woman feels.

The rest of the Mustangs players and coaches all make their way into the tunnel, stopping to get their piece of tape from one of us as they prepare to run out onto the field.

My cheeks hurt from smiling and I’m afraid I might run out of tape when strong fingers wrap around my wrist and navigate me through the crowded space until we’re in a semisecluded corner.

“What are you doing here?”

I haven’t seen Quinton since Thanksgiving. Whereas the time apart caused me to gain five pounds, break out like a thirteen-year-old, and get bags so dark beneath my eyes that I needed to order a special concealer, Quinton looks better than ever. His beard is longer than I’ve ever seen it and it’s really unfair that he looks this good in a football uniform. Seeing him in it on TV or from up in the box really does it no justice. He’s a work of art.

My stomach cramps as the nerves come rushing back. Even though I’ve missed him, maybe he’s been better off without me. And even though I’ve been telling myself this isn’t just about getting him back, but showing him how much he means to everyone around him, this is the first time it’s really set in that this might not work. There’s a good chance he won’t forgive me.

I don’t want to lose him.

I take a deep breath before the words fall out of my mouth. “Brynn told me you weren’t going to take a knee. You have to take one.”