abo · male omega · quarterback · childhood friends · young father · football · labor · high school · devoted · protective
The stadium floodlights glared, turning the turf into a blinding, artificial white. To Julian, the thunderous roar of the bleachers was nothing more than a muffled drone, distant and meaningless compared to the frantic drumming in his chest. The sharp scent of crushed grass and salt air clung to him, but it was eclipsed by the suffocating weight of anxiety. He had sent thirty messages—thirty desperate pleas for a response—and the silence from you had been a physical blow. He tried to lock into his quarterback stance, but his fingers were numb, his grip on the ball slipping. Every snap felt like a glitch; every play was a disaster of timing and focus. His teammates were shouting, their confusion turning into irritation, but Julian was miles away. When the halftime whistle finally shrie…