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Eddie set his near-empty beer can down on the coffee table and leaned forward, clasping his hands together. “C’mon, Bruins,” he muttered. “Just don’t lose it.”
“You got this, pals! Just two more stops!” Dick reached around and squeezed Eddie’s shoulder nice and tight.
Ohio State lined up on the 14-yard line and snapped the ball. Higgins got a pass off almost immediately, but UCLA managed to swat it out of the air.
“Yes!” Eddie cried. “One more…”
It seemed like it took forever for Ohio State to snap, but when they finally did, Dick and Eddie drew anxious breath as one. Higgins fell back and looked for a receiver, but someone broke through the offensive line and sacked him as time expired. The word "FINAL" flashed across the score bug, and the crowd went wild.
“Woohoo!” Dick shouted, leaping to his feet.
“Yes! Yes! Oh my god, yes!” Eddie looked like he might cry.
Dick picked him up and spun him around. “We did it! We won the Rose Bowl!”
“Yes!” Eddie laughed so joyfully it made Dick’s heart ache. As soon as his feet were on the ground, he reached up, grabbed Dick’s collar, and pressed their lips together.
A kiss. Dick just stood there in shock, heart racing. It didn’t make sense. Why would Eddie…it wasn’t like that, couldn’t possibly be like that. Could it? No, Eddie wasn’t…he was so amazing. He couldn’t possibly want a guy like Dick.
But when he pulled away, he looked terrified, and his face was all flushed. “I—I, um—sorry…”
“What was—what was that about, pal?”
“Nothing. Nothing! Just…forget about it. Capiche?”
Dick shook his head. “I don’t…I don’t get it.”
“Then just forget it! Get out of here!”
So Dick did. He hurried out and down the stairs and stopped on the sidewalk, trying to figure out what on Earth had just happened.
Eddie must have meant it. Why else would he have done that? As one of his jokes? But then he wouldn't have acted so embarrassed afterwards. It seemed impossible, but it was the only thing that made sense. He must…he must have felt the same way as Dick. So for Dick to run out on him like that wasn’t the best move. Even if he’d been shocked and confused, he should’ve stayed, should’ve done better, shouldn’t have let himself mess this up like it was one of Mr. Edgeworth’s investigations. With Eddie, things were supposed to be okay.
And he’d ruined the end of the game, too. Eddie’s team had just won the Rose Bowl, and then instead of celebrating, he’d left Eddie to sit alone, worrying about him and how things were going to work out. Left him by himself on that couch, without any idea how strongly Dick felt the same. So what was he supposed to do? How could he salvage a ruined Rose Bowl?
He turned on his heel and jogged towards the supermarket. It was only a few blocks, not worth driving, and luckily, it was open on New Year’s Day. He made his purchase quickly, trying not to look at the total, and ran all the way back to Eddie’s apartment. Once he’d reached the door, his heart sped up, and he started to wonder if he might pass out, but he took a deep breath and knocked.
When Eddie opened the door, he looked rough. It couldn’t have been that long, but his eyes were puffy and his expression miserable. “Dick?” he said quietly, voice cracking.
Dick held out the bouquet. “Hey, pal. Sorry for leaving you hanging.”
“You…you bought me roses? Red roses.”
“Yeah!” Dick chuckled. “Seemed fitting.”
Slowly, Eddie reached out and took them. “So…you mean you…?”
“That’s right. I, uh, I wanna give it a shot. You and me.”
The look that appeared in Eddie’s red-rimmed eyes, surprised and hopeful and something else Dick couldn’t quite name, was truly something to behold. “You mean it?”
“Of course!”
“Well, then I guess you’d better come on in, huh? Lemme find a vase for these.”
Dick grinned as he watched Eddie rummage around in his kitchen cabinets and start filling a vase with water. “What’s on next?”
“The Sugar Bowl just started. Have a seat.”
“Hey, congrats on the win,” Dick said as he plonked down on the sofa.
Eddie came over and sat down next to him, nice and close. “Thanks, bud. It sure was one heck of a game.”
“Yeah. No kidding.”