Page 12

Jack

“ W e’ve got a big year coming up, and I really like what I’m seeing out here.” My tone is even, no hint of what almost happened.

Garrett had me around the shoulders, and I’m not going to lie, I was pissed as hell. My brothers know me well, and they were right to gather around me.

But when I looked up and saw my team watching, the worry in their young eyes, I was right back in that room the night my father died.

I had to step back and remember my position here. It’s easy to give in to anger. Control is much harder, but it’s always the right choice.

The hardest part was catching a glimpse of Allie making a hasty retreat back to the school. I’m worried she was hurt or embarrassed. I hate that she was alone.

Instead, I’m standing in the huddle, making eye contact, one by one, with boys I’ve known since they were little guys, shouting at me from the park to watch what we do, Coach .

“I was impressed with your hustle, D-line. I can tell you’re working hard.” I look from Darnell to Rome. “You’re going to win us the game one of these times.”

From there, I go down the row, Noah to Rich to Tyreek to Flynn, finishing up with my boy Austin. “It’s your year, buddy.”

He nods, and I give him a warm grin.

Only Levi stands at the edge, looking at the turf.

Reaching out, I pat his arm. “I’ll see you tomorrow, and I want to see more teamwork.”

The boy’s lips press into a frown, but he nods. “Yes, sir, Coach.”

“Go, Captains!” Kimmie pumps her little arms over her head from where she sits on my hip, and it breaks the tension.

All the boys exhale a smile, and with that, I leave them, going to my truck and driving home.

Kimmie’s tucked in bed, and I’m exhausted. Walking through the house, I’m keyed up, and everything about the confrontation on the field burns in my memory.

It’s been a minute since I was that pissed. It was the first time in a long time I’d wanted to punch a man square in his stupid face.

I didn’t even want to be with my family at the restaurant tonight. I carried Kimmie to the truck, and we came home and had a dinner of frozen pizza and chicken nuggets, which she thought was special.

I sent her up to bathe, preparing myself to clean up a big mess. I was not prepared for her to yell for me to come catch her as she jumped out of the tub. Of course, I trudged up the stairs and held the towel for her to jump into my arms, then dried her off and helped her get ready for bed.

Reading Dogzilla helped my mood some, but even after prayers and my own shower, I’m still knotted up inside. Part of it is the confrontation, but a bigger part is I wish I’d talked to Allie before I left.

I should’ve made sure she was okay. She was right there in the middle of it listening to his accusations, hearing him say terrible things about her.

Levi’s dad is an asshole, and the things he said were way out of line. Still, I’ve dealt with parents like him before. Hell, I’ve dealt with worse parents than him.

I’ve seen men trying to relive their glory days through their sons, and I’ve seen men with obvious addiction issues try to smack one of my players right in front of me.

Every time, I’ve handled them firmly and finally. The abusers I tell to stop hitting their kids or I’m calling child protective services. For the rest, I make it clear, if they want their sons on my team, they’ll keep their shit at home.

Until today.

Seeing how he treated his own son is the one thing that helped me regain control. That, and my little girl walking right into the middle of the whole thing and holding up her hands to me. She and the boys help me remember what matters.

But I should’ve gone to Allie.

I should’ve made sure she wasn’t embarrassed or hurt or anything. I should’ve made sure Austin didn’t take what George said to heart.

I should’ve made sure the people who matter to me know I care.

Rubbing a hand over my face, I look up at the clock. It’s almost eleven, and Kimmie’s in bed asleep. I can’t go over there now.

Picking up my phone, I see a string of texts on the screen.

Garrett

Bruh, where are you?

Logan

I can’t believe I missed it all. I was talking to Rich.

Zane

I only caught the tail end—that guy was way out of line. Is Levi off the team?

Hendrix

Seriously, WTF?

Garrett

This is what you get for being in LA.

Hendrix

I swear, G…

Logan

New kid in town, goes out for QB1 today in camp. Jack alternates him and Austin, and the dad loses his shit. Says Jack is giving Austin the top spot because he’s sleeping with Allie.

Hendrix

That’s bullshit—Austin’s clearly a talented player.

Zane

Levi’s very good, too.

Garrett

If Jack doesn’t kick him off the team.

Logan

I don’t like punishing the kid for his dad, talking from personal experience.

Garrett

He was pretty embarrassed.

Logan

Hate that.

Hendrix

If he’s that good, use them both. High schools do it all the time.

Logan

It gives them less time on the field, less opportunity to show what they can do if scouts are there.

Zane

Just waiting to hear from our coach.

Garrett

Where you at, bro? You okay?

Zane

Talk to us, Jack.

I study the screen a long time, considering a reply, but it’s late. The chat ended a few hours ago. I’ll talk to them tomorrow.

My thoughts are on Allie. I could call her. My thumb hovers over the button when a light tapping sounds on my door. Lifting my chin, I wait for it to sound again.

When it does, I walk over to see who’s out there. I half-expect to see Dylan making sure we had dinner. I don’t expect to see Austin.

“Hey, you’re out late.” I open the door, holding it so he can come inside. “Everything okay?”

“Hey, Coach.” He walks into the kitchen, and I shut the door behind him. “I’m sorry for coming over like this, but I couldn’t sleep.”

All the thoughts I’ve been wrestling with press against my temples, and my throat tightens. “What’s on your mind?”

He puts his hands on the bar, exhaling heavily. “I was thinking about Levi.”

I cross my arms, leaning against the counter. Austin isn’t the boy he was three years ago. He’s grown up a lot since the days when he used to babysit Kimmie, when he got her hooked on penny cakes for Friday breakfast— because it’s T-G-I-F , as she likes to say.

He’s taller. His brown hair is a little shaggy on top, but it’s neatly trimmed around his ears and collar. His shoulders are broad, and his muscles are well defined since he started working out with weights.

All of these things are what I told him to do to improve his game.

Austin does everything I tell him to do to be the best player he can be, and I think about the contrast between how I treat him and how George treats Levi.

Lifting my chin, I nudge him. “What about Levi?”

“He feels really bad about how his dad acted.” Austin’s hazel eyes cut up to mine. “He said it’s the reason they had to leave Gainesville—and Kissimmee and Apalachicola.”

I glance at the floor, shifting my stance. “I can’t let his father’s behavior pass. If I do, it’ll turn into a real problem.”

“I know.” Austin nods, but I can tell he’s worried.

“What are you thinking?”

The boy’s expression tightens, and he clears his throat. “He made some really good plays out there today. He looked good. Real good.”

“He did.”

“I was just thinking…” Austin’s jaw flexes. “We want to win state this year, and if we’re going to do that, we need the best quarterback leading the team. Maybe it should be him.”

Pride swells in my chest. I know how much starting quarterback means to Austin, and hearing him selflessly offer to give it up for the betterment of the team scores a lot of points with me.

“I’ll make that decision.”

“I know.” He nods. “I’m just saying. I think he’s kind of… better than me.”

“No, he’s not.” Uncrossing my arms, I put my hands on the bar, gentling my approach. “There’s a lot more to being QB-1 than completing passes. You’re a leader, Austin. You’ve worked hard, and your teammates know you. They trust you. You care about them.”

“I do.” His jaw tightens, and he huffs a breath. “I guess I don’t want him to be penalized for something he can’t help.” His voice goes quiet. “I have a bad dad, too.”

It’s a punch in the chest, and protective energy surges to fill the space.

“Do you trust me?”

His eyes flicker to mine. “Yeah?”

“I care a lot about you and your mom, but that doesn’t mean I’d tell you something that wasn’t true.

” His brow lowers, and I walk around the bar to put my hand on his shoulder.

“You’re not only a great player, Austin.

You’re a good kid. You have a good heart, and you care about your team. That’s what makes you a leader.”

His shoulders relax. “I don’t think I’ve ever run plays like Levi did, though.”

“Well, come on, then. Let’s take a look and see if we’re forgetting anything.”

I lead him into the living room, and with a few taps, I pull up our private YouTube channel. We spend the next hour watching highlights from last year’s games, when he was the backup quarterback.

We watch him throw the winning pass against the Pirates, thirty yards straight into Noah’s waiting arms. A few clicks, and I show him looking around, not seeing an opening and running right up the middle for a twenty-yard first down.

After a little while of watching him being a real star, I see his confidence returning.

“What do you think?” I ask.

He nods. “Is it okay if I watch a little more?”

“Sure.” I start for the kitchen, but he stops me.

“Oh, one more thing, Coach?”

“Yeah?”

He sits straighter. “Would it be okay… I mean, would you help me do something for my mom?”

My brow furrows, and I take a step closer. “What do you need?”

“You know Christmas gets here real quick once the season starts, and when I’m playing, I can’t really make any money.” I nod, and he continues. “I was thinking maybe I could make her something, but I’d need a place to do it where she won’t see. I was thinking maybe I could do it here?”

“What did you have in mind?”

“Well, she likes to read, and she has her books kind of stacked all over her bedroom. I was thinking maybe a bookcase?”

I picture Allie’s bedroom with books all over the place. Sexy librarian .

“I think that’s a great idea. I’ve even got some tools you can use. I can show you how.”

His face relaxes with a smile, and I’m glad he’s lighter than when he arrived. “Thanks, Coach.”

I continue to the kitchen, where I prepare Kimmie’s and my lunches for tomorrow and put them in the refrigerator. When I return to the living room, Austin’s eyes are closed, and he’s sound asleep.

My lips press into a smile, and affection warms my chest. Austin’s been a good kid as long as I’ve known him, since he rolled into town a scrawny thirteen-year-old lurking behind his mother.

They were the same height in those days. His bangs were long over his eyes, and he kept his chin down. He didn’t say much, and awkward, early-teen insecurity clung to him like a coat.

I’d seen it so many times, but I also watched him grow out of it. As the years passed, as we worked together, he got stronger. He made friends and his confidence grew.

Then he made the team, and he stopped hanging his head, barely speaking above a mutter. He laughed and joked around, and like his mom, he fit right into our clan.

Hesitating, I glance up the hall in the direction of my bedroom. He can sleep on the couch no problem, but I wonder if Allie knows he’s here.

I walk to the back door, but I don’t see their car outside in the driveway. He must’ve walked over here.

Allie’s house is less than half a mile away, and I don’t like to think of her being there alone, especially with her ex-husband MIA.

As far as I know, Austin still doesn’t know his dad’s out of prison or I’m sure he wouldn’t have walked over here.

Casting a glance back at the living room, I head out into the darkness.