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Sadie had gone home that night and thought about what Coach had said. She thought she’d been crying for her mom, but when forced to face the truth, she realized she’d been feeling sorry for herself. They’d been wasted tears. She didn’t need her mother’s approval. She only needed her own.

Coach had set her on the path to discovering her own strength, her own sense of being. And she’d never forgotten it.

Joel walked into the barn with Caleb and Tyson, who quickly beelined for the stage to get ready for their opening set. Sadie and Oakley had left the game shortly after halftime to help Lorelie get ready for the onslaught of people who were just now starting to arrive. The Titans had trounced the Pioneers 36-7, maintaining their undefeated status. The excitement level of the locals was reaching fever pitch as everyone proclaimed this team was going to do what none other had done since Joel’s. Bring home the state trophy.

Sadie was already set up behind the bar, a few early arrivers standing in line, waiting for drinks. Oakley was just behind her, pumping the keg and making some off-color joke about two nuns and a cheerleader. Everyone was laughing. The evening had only just begun, but it promised to be a great night.

Joel stood back as he watched all the activity surrounding them. He and Oakley had spent the better part of three days getting the barn cleaned out and setting up a bar area, building a makeshift stage for both bands, Walt and his musician friend, and Ty’s Collective, as well as chiseling out a decent bit of space for dancing.

Lorelie and her girlfriends had spent all afternoon decorating and making the food. From the look on Coach’s face, Joel suspected every bit of sweat and hard work was worth it. The guy was in his element, surrounded by so many people who loved him and who were delighted to see someone so worthy get the recognition he deserved.

“Hey.”

Joel turned around to find Lorelie standing next to him.

“Aren’t you joining the party?” she asked. “I thought you were helping Sadie behind the bar.”

Lorelie had cornered him a few days ago to ask how things were going between him and Sadie. He’d given her a vague answer about everything being fine before making an excuse and getting away from her. He wanted to shout to the world that Sadie was his girlfriend. God knew that’s what he wanted her to be. But he couldn’t.

Everything was too screwed up. His feelings for Oakley were gumming up the works, and Sadie was still resistant to accept what was going on as anything more than a short-term fling. She was determined they’d ride the merry-go-round until they got dizzy and then they’d just get off. He didn’t want off.

“I’m just soaking it all in for a minute.”

Lorelie followed his glance at Coach, her own smile growing. “I’m so happy we’re all here. Together again. And that Dad is getting better.”

“I’m glad too. This party was a great idea.”

High school had been one of the best times of his life. For a kid who’d always been a bit of a loner growing up, he’d hit his stride as a sophomore. Pretty much because of Coach. He’d been sitting on a bench outside school one day, waiting for his mom to pick him up. Tucker, who was in his math class, had stopped to ask him a question about an assignment while waiting for practice to start. Tucker had made starting quarterback for the Varsity squad as a freshman. It seemed to Joel his friend had been born throwing a ball.

Coach had stopped by to move Tucker along, and then he noticed Joel. Said he’d seen him sitting around after school every day. Joel hated riding the bus almost as much as he hated hanging out in an empty house alone for hours. So he’d elected to stay after school instead, doing his homework and watching all the other students come and go from extracurricular activities until his mom came to pick him up.

Coach invited him to practice and, since Joel’s mom was still a couple hours away from getting off work, he’d figured why not. He joined the team that very day, never missed a practice after that and by junior year, he was the starting center at every game and working part-time on this ranch. Being a part of the team had given Joel some things he hadn’t really had before high school—friends and a purpose.

Lorelie laughed as some of the guys arrived with their girlfriends in tow. Jack and Tucker came into the barn in style, Tucker with a ball in hand and yelling for Jack to “go long.” Jack ran toward Coach as Tucker lobbed the ball at him. After Jack caught it, he handed it to Coach.

Joel knew what it was. All the guys had signed a football for Coach as a gift, a memento of the night.

“Wow.” Lorelie’s smile grew. “Look at Dad’s face.”

Joel couldn’t look away. “Never seen the guy so happy.”

Lorelie turned and hugged Joel. “Thank you.”

“For what?” he asked.

“For calling the guys, asking them to come back. I think seeing all of them is what helped my dad get better. It reminded him of better times and made him feel young again. I know I never say it, but I’m glad you’re here, Joel. It was just me and Dad for so long. With you and Oakley, it feels like we have a regular family.”

Joel swallowed heavily and tightened the embrace. He understood what it meant to be light on family. Lorelie only had her dad. He’d only ever had his mom. Until she said it aloud, he’d never realized that they had begun to feel like a family. Joel thought he’d regretted not leaving Maris, but that wasn’t true. He’d subconsciously stayed because he hadn’t wanted to leave all the people he loved.

He placed a brotherly kiss on the top of Lorelie’s head. “Love you, kiddo.”

She laughed at the nickname he hadn’t used in years. Mainly because she’d become a woman and threatened to emasculate him if he continued to call her that.

“Love you too.”

The moment passed as they stepped apart and surveyed the room once more. Lela and Tucker had taken to the dance floor as soon as Ty’s Collective started playing. Walt was next to the stage, tinkering with some of his equipment, Jack and Evan Sparks were playing a game of one-upmanship as they reminisced about their glory days in high school.

He’d felt twinges of jealousy whenever he considered his friends and the places they’d traveled to, but the fact that they’d all returned to Maris spoke volumes to him. There really wasn’t any place better than home.