Scoring at Midnight

A Game of Two Halves Short

Happy New Year’s Eve, and welcome to my Substack! While this story is free, premium content will be coming soon, so I encourage you to subscribe.

As we close out 2024, I wanted to share something special with you—a short story that’s close to my heart. Scoring at Midnight takes place on New Year’s Eve and follows Nonso Chijuka from Game of Two Halves as he takes a leap of faith and proposes to the love of his life.

This story is all about celebration, love, and family—themes that are at the heart of everything I write. I hope it brings a little bit of joy to your New Year’s Eve.¹

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The whistle had blown hours ago, the Viva City Panthers had secured another gritty victory in a hard-fought league match. But the real show was just starting. The club had organized a New Year’s Eve celebration for the fans. A way to bring the community together and ring in the new year as one. Fireworks, music, and food stalls had transformed the stadium sideline into a winter festival. The crowd still buzzed, their cheers and laughter blending with the pop of confetti cannons. Families and friends had spilled onto the pitch, the field alive with the chaos of celebration.

I stood near the festivities, half-listening to the announcer hyping the countdown to midnight. My mind, though, was miles away—or, more accurately, just a few feet to my right, where my baby stood, bundled in her camel coat, her golden-brown skin glowing under the stadium lights as she laughed at something one of my teammates’ wives had said.

Yinka loved football—always had—but Viva hadn’t been her team back when we were in the Championship. Premier League matches were more her thing. Still, since we started dating, she’d been at every game she could, cheering louder than some of the lifelong fans.

“Supporting the man, not just the club,” she always said with a wry smile on her freckled face.

Impossible. That’s what she was. The kind of impossible I wanted to hold onto forever. Over the past couple of months, we’d built something steady—something real. Despite her work schedule, she’d sat through many grueling midweek fixtures in the cold, reminded me to hydrate after every match, and somehow still managed to keep me grounded when the pressure mounted. With Yinka, there was no pretense. No tiptoeing around egos or expectations. Just her sharp wit, her brutal honesty, and the way she always reminded me that life existed beyond the pitch.

In return, I’d been her excuse to loosen up. To ditch her spreadsheets, planners and color-coded calendars for a last-minute road trip or a lazy Sunday binge-watching, whatever caught our attention. Sometimes when she got in a mood, she’d claim I was ruining her perfectly ordered life. My response was always the same, “I’m saving you from it.”

It got her mad but, in the end, I got the smile that settled my world. Our families were still what they were but we’d both decided to not let whatever was happening outside of us creep into what we got. Fame, football, her job and a relationship was work enough without adding the extra opinions of those who in the grand scheme of things didn’t matter.

I wiped my palms on my shorts and jogged toward her. My heart was pounding, but not from the match.

“Baby, you okay?” she asked when I reached her, her voice light but curious.

“Come with me,” I said, holding out my hand.

Her brow arched. “Nonso…”

“Specs, trust me,” I said, using the nickname that always made her roll her eyes and smile at the same time.

She sighed, but I caught the flicker of amusement in her eyes as she slipped her gloved hand into mine. I gently pulled her away from the merry chaos of the sidelines. The sounds of laughter and music faded slightly as I led her through the crowd, past the players and their families, toward the center of the field. As we moved, the noise softened slightly, the night air cool and crisp against our skin. The area had been transformed into something magical.

The ground was dotted with flickering lanterns, casting a warm, golden glow that contrasted beautifully against the deep blue sky. Long white drapes flowed from the nearby bleachers, framing the space like a dream. A large arrangement of soft, white roses and delicate baby’s breath sat in the center, creating an intimate and serene focal point. Just as I had envisioned with the planner.

Yinka stopped walking, her arms falling to her sides, her eyes wide as she took in the scene. Her mouth opened slightly, but no words came out for a moment. “What…what is this?” she finally whispered; her voice soft with surprise.

The field, once full of energy and celebration, was quiet, as if the world had paused just for us. I picked up the microphone that sat in the middle of the roses. The stadium lights zeroed in on us, and above, the large screen flashed: Five minutes to midnight.

I swallowed hard, my heart racing as I reached into my pocket. My fingers brushed the small velvet box, and in that instant, the cheers and countdown buzz faded into a low hum. It was just us now.

“Yinka,” I said, my voice steady despite the weight of the moment.

Her expression softened, but I could see slight concern in her eyes. I wasn’t calling her Specs anymore, and she knew what that meant.

Her voice dropped. “What’s happening?”

I took a step closer, my chest tight with something that was half terror, half exhilaration. “From the first day I saw you in Fusion Haven, where you coerced me into—”

“Silently appealed,” she interrupted, her lips twitching again.

“You tell it your way; I’ll tell it my way.” A smirk danced across my face. “Coerced me into being your man, I knew you had the potential to knock me off my square. Then you strutted your fine self into the facility’s classroom some days later, and I knew I was a goner. When I landed in Viva City, I never saw your smart, feisty, stubborn self coming. The more I tried to stay focused, the more you penetrated my mind, heart, and soul and completely took over.”

Her lips parted slightly; her breath visible in the frosty air as she stared at me.

“You’ve been my balance,” I said, my voice steady now. “The one person who sees me as Nonso—not the guy with a past, not the VCP midfielder, just me. And I’m better for it. You make me want to win in ways that have nothing to do with trophies or goals.”

The screen flashed: Three minutes to midnight.

“Nonso…” she whispered, her voice trembling.

I dropped to one knee, pulling the box from my pocket. Gasps rippled from the fans closest to us, and I could hear my teammates hollering in the background. Yinka’s hands flew to her mouth, her eyes wide as she stared down at me.

“Yinka,” I said, my heart somehow calm now, as though the moment had snapped everything into focus, “you’ve had my heart from the day you called me out on my terrible financial habits. You taught me to think beyond the next match, to see a future—and that future doesn’t make sense without you. Will you marry me?”

For a moment, everything froze. Her eyes glistened under the stadium lights, and her scarf slipped as she stared at me like she couldn’t believe what was happening.

Then she nodded—furiously.

“Yes!” she said, her voice cracking as she dropped to her knees and flung her arms around me, nearly knocking me over. “Yes, yes, yes!”

The crowd erupted, cheers rolling through the stadium as I slipped the ring onto her finger. She pulled back to look at it, tears streaming down her cheeks as she laughed.

“You’re insane. You nearly gave me a heart attack,” she said, shaking her head, but her smile was the brightest thing in the stadium.

“Insanely in love,” I shot back, pulling her close just as the countdown began.

“Ten! Nine! Eight!”

Fireworks lit the sky as fans shouted the countdown, but none of it mattered. Yinka’s lips met mine as the clock struck midnight, and the world melted away.

For the first time, I wasn’t thinking about the next match or the next win. I’d already scored the biggest prize of my life.

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Yinka and Nonso are from Game of Two Halves. Now enjoy this added scene from Dumebi & Jaedyn from Autumn’s Grace. Dumebi is Nonso’s sister.

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The following day, the party was in full swing at the New Year’s Day celebration in the private section of Fusion Haven. Music, chatter, and the occasional clink of glasses blended into a steady hum. I should’ve been enjoying it, but my nerves had other plans. From my spot near the bar, I watched Nonso and Yinka bask in the glow of their engagement, moving through the crowd like they owned the room. And in a way, they did. My brother, Nonso, was impossible not to notice, with his effortless charm and commanding presence.

Then there was Jaedyn.

Since the Fall Harvest in Everstone Creek, where we reconnected, we had been inseparable. My feelings for him had only grown, though the voices in my head sometimes grew louder. Jaedyn remained patient and assertive, never pushing me, and I was falling even more in love with him. Although, I hadn’t told him yet.

When Nonso mentioned he was going to propose, I knew I had to be here—especially since our youngest brother, Jace, couldn’t make it. When I shared the news with Jaedyn, he insisted on clearing his schedule to come with me.

“I’m not letting my woman fly to another continent without me,” he’d said, his tone playful but firm.

After a bit of back-and-forth about me not being a helpless damsel, he still booked us first-class tickets from Atlanta to Viva City. By the time we arrived, I was apprehensive that neither man had met yet. And they still hadn’t. Nonso had been busy with training, while Jaedyn and I spent our time sightseeing, enjoying the sights and sounds of the city.

Nonso had whisked his fiancée away after their engagement, and this was the first time I was laying eyes on him. Now, Jaedyn stood by the buffet table, his easy laugh cutting through the noise. He wasn’t just blending in—he was thriving, slipping into the surroundings as if he’d always been part of it. As a celebrity VJ, I’d expected his ease at assimilating, but more than that, it was just who he was—a man who owned every room he entered.

Normally, I admired that about him. Tonight, it made my chest tighten.

And then it happened.

Nonso’s voice boomed somewhere behind me, and I saw Jaedyn’s posture shift. He turned, his sharp eyes locking onto my brother. Before I could stop him, he started toward Nonso with that calm, deliberate stride that made people move out of his way.

My stomach dropped.

Don’t. Not yet. Not like this.

I hurried after him, catching up just as he reached Nonso. “Bae, wait—”

He glanced at me, his expression unreadable. “Akwa ugo m, it’s fine.”

“Fine? Do you even know what you’re walking into?” My eyes scanned the room. “And here?”

“I’ve met presidents, babe,” he said with a small smirk, lifting his hand to caress the back of my neck. “I think I can handle your brother.”

I blinked. “You’re ridiculous.”

He leaned down slightly, his voice dropping so only I could hear. “And you’re stalling. Let me handle this.”

Before I could argue, Nonso turned toward us, his brows lifting slightly as he took in the scene.

“Well, well. The boyfriend finally approaches,” he said, his tone light but edged with something sharper. His gaze flicked to me. “What are you doing here, Dums? Couldn’t let him handle this on his own?”

I squared my shoulders. “I’m here because I know you, Nonso.”

Nonso’s smirk deepened. “You think you scare me?” He turned his attention to Jaedyn. “Does she scare you?”

My man let out a low chuckle, extending a hand. “She’s formidable I’ll give her that. But no, she doesn’t scare me.” He turned and brushed his lips against my temple. “Although, I like to let her think she’s running things.”

Nonso’s grip on Jaedyn’s hand lingered, firm but not hostile. He sized Jaedyn up, his gaze unwavering. “Formidable huh? I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“It was meant as one,” Jaedyn replied smoothly, his tone matching Nonso’s in effortless confidence.

I could feel the tension crackling between them, not aggressive but definitely charged. Two men, both used to commanding attention, subtly testing each other.

“You know,” Nonso said after a beat, releasing Jaedyn’s hand, “Dumebi’s had her fair share of smooth-talking guys. What makes you any different?”

I winced. “Nonso—”

He held up a hand, silencing me.

Jaedyn, to his credit, didn’t flinch. “I’m not here to talk. I’m here to show her.”

Nonso’s brow lifted, intrigued despite himself. “That so?”

Jaedyn nodded. “Nonso, I don’t make empty promises. And I’m not interested in wasting her time—or mine. Dumebi’s worth the effort. Whatever it takes, I’m in.”

Nonso studied him for a long moment, the weight of his gaze enough to make my pulse race. But Jaedyn didn’t so much as blink.

Finally, Nonso’s lips twitched into something resembling approval. “Big words. Let’s hope you can back them up.”

Suddenly, Yinka appeared beside me slipping her hand around my arm. “Come on, Sis. Let them do what men do.”

“Yinks, wait—”

“They’ve got it.” Her tone was kind but firm as she led me away.

I cast one last glance over my shoulder. Nonso’s hand was on Jaedyn’s shoulder now, the tension between them starting to shift. Jaedyn said something I couldn’t hear, and Nonso chuckled—a rare, genuine sound that made me stop in my tracks.

Yinka nudged me gently. “See? Told you.”

I stared at Jaedyn, my chest tightening. There was a quiet strength about him that I hadn’t let myself fully see before, something steady and unshakable.

For the first time, I wondered if maybe—just maybe—letting someone stand by me didn’t mean losing myself.

When Jaedyn crossed the room a moment later, his smile was warm, meant only for me.

“You survived,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

He grinned, leaning in close. “Your brother’s tough, but he’s not going to scare me off.”

And for once, I believed him. Snaking my arms around his neck, I pulled him down to me. “Happy New Year, Bae.” Without waiting for a response, I kissed him deeply, surrendering to the moment.

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