Page 43

Jack

“ L et me see some hustle,” I shout as the boys line up on the field with Austin in the starting quarterback position.

My shoulder is stiff, and I have to keep it in this damn sling for another week. At least my knuckles have somewhat returned to normal. The swelling is down, but the cuts and broken skin are still healing.

I don’t have time to worry about it. State championships are around the corner, and our first playoff game is on Friday.

Glancing to the right, I see the girls on the sidelines practicing their moves. Allie is with them, and she’s so pretty with her hair up and those glasses on her nose again. She’s wearing that short skirt I like, and every now and then, she’ll catch me looking and give me a little wave.

It’s a hit of adrenaline right in my chest, and I’m ready to put my ring on her finger today. I’m just waiting for the jeweler to finish resizing it.

“Levi’s been showing up these last few games, Coach.” George Powell is at it again .

He’s on the sideline in my ear, and I do my best to stay cool with the man.

I don’t like the way he rides his son. Levi’s a good kid, but I see how he’s starting to act out, and I’ve seen this scenario before. It means he’s getting too much pressure at home.

“He’s playing well.” My tone is noncommittal.

“I heard about what happened with the librarian.” George shakes his head, looking down and feigning sympathy. “That was too bad.”

“It was dangerous and potentially life-threatening.” I level my eyes on him, wondering where he’s going this time.

“You handled it, though.” He nods, seeming to sense the change in my mood.

He’d better watch it. My patience is gone when it comes to my girl.

Allie wants to keep things as normal as possible for Austin’s senior year, or I’d have her staying at my house full-time.

I can’t be with her as much as I want with Kimmie still so young, but I take comfort in knowing Rip Sinclair is solidly behind bars and her son is in the house with her at night.

“The playoffs are no time for sympathy points,” George continues. “It’s time for the best players to take the lead.”

I turn to face him. “How about you take a seat, and let me do my job.”

Logan strolls up just in time.

“How’s it going, George?” My brother-in-law steps between me and the man who’s about to meet the business end of my fist, injuries be damned. “We’ve got things under control here, so you can join the other parents in the stands.”

He huffs out a growl, muttering more choice words about the upcoming game, but I return my focus to the boys.

“D-line has really come together.” Logan is back at my side, watching them play. “Offense has been strong from Day 1, but no one’s getting through that line now. ”

“Garrett’s a natural.” I watch with pride as Austin completes a thirty-yard pass for Tyreek to run in for the score.

The stands break into cheers and applause, and the cheerleaders and drill team do kicks and chants as the boys gather in a huddle to congratulate them.

“Aus-tin! Aus-tin!” The girls yell from the sidelines, and my eyes meet Allie’s.

I love to see her smile.

I can’t clap with my arm in a sling, but that ought to shut Powell’s mouth. “I’m glad he’s our sheriff, though.”

Logan exhales a chuckle. “I couldn’t agree more. Who knew Garrett Bradford would make such a kick-ass officer?”

My frown twists, and I can’t deny it anymore. “I probably always knew. He was a peacekeeper in school.”

“He’s a good guy.” Logan glances at me. “You are, too, Coach. I’m really proud of how you took care of that asshole and rescued Allie.”

I nod. Rescuing Allie goes without question.

“When are you planning to pop the question?” He gives me a nudge. “Or has it already happened?”

“Just waiting for the ring to be sized.”

“All right.” His voice rises, and he claps. “Let me know what I can do to help.”

I hadn’t thought of this before, but it gives me an idea. “I will.”

We sail through the first playoff game against a team out of Montgomery. I put Levi in as starting quarterback, but by the second quarter, he’s been sacked twice. My brow furrows, and I watch as he takes too long to decide what to do.

George is in the stands yelling until his face is tomato-red, and I don’t have a choice. I send Austin in to cinch the win .

It’s the same thing at the next game, and the next. Weeks are passing, and we’re making our way up the bracket to the state championship in Birmingham.

We have one week to go, and the boys, the parents, hell, the whole town is vibrating with excitement. Signs are in front of every business, and the school is decorated with posters and cup fences.

Back at my place, we’re putting the final coat of paint on the bookcase for Allie.

Austin has done most of the work with just a bit of guidance on using the jigsaw and making sure the brackets are level so the shelves sit evenly.

“What do you think about these flowers?” He frowns at the pink stencils at the top corners near the curved wooden trim. “Do they look cheap? Should I paint over them?”

A slash of white paint is across the side of his cheek where he probably scratched his face, and he studies his handiwork.

It’s a sturdy, wide piece of furniture, painted white with pink and green stenciled hearts and flowers around the top corners and down the sides.

Even when I’ve been away, he’s come over early and spent time working on it. I think about Allie seeing it at Christmas, and I can already picture the tears in her eyes. She’s so sweetly sentimental, and her son means the world to her.

“Don’t paint over them.” I rest my hands on my hips. “You’ve done a really good job with this. Your mom’s going to see how much work you’ve put into it, and I think it’s going to touch her heart.”

His shoulders drop, and he puts the paintbrush on the pan.

I expected my words to make him happy, but he seems just the opposite. He’s been playing so well in the games, far outperforming Levi.

Still, the championship game is only a week away.

We’ll be loading up and heading to Birmingham Friday morning, and I remember how I used to feel those years playing professional ball when we’d be headed to the Big Game.

“Nervous about Friday?” I straighten, glad I’m finally out of the sling and getting back to normal.

“Nah, I’m ready.” He sits heavily on the bench outside my workroom, and I walk over to where he’s leaning forward, his forearms propped on his knees.

I put a hand on his shoulder. “Is this about your mom and me?”

He shakes his head. “I told you, I’m glad you’re finally making it official. You make her really happy.”

The only other thing I can think of is Rip.

He and I haven’t talked much about his dad or my changing role in his life. I’m pretty sure how Allie feels about it, but I’ve never said as much to Austin.

“I hope one day you might think of me as your dad.” I didn’t expect to feel so vulnerable saying this. “I know I’m not your dad, but still, I?—”

“You’re a way better dad than that guy ever was.” Austin’s hazel eyes cut up to mine, and I nod, feeling a little better about the situation.

“Okay.” I press my lips into a smile. “In that case, maybe I can help with whatever’s bothering you?”

His lips purse, and his expression is a mixture of frustration and impatience. Finally, he pushes off his knees, walking roughly in the direction of the door.

“Never mind,” he grumbles. “You wouldn’t understand.”

My brows shoot up. I’ve known Austin since he was a skinny middle-schooler, and this is the first time he’s ever hit me with that teenager shit. It’s more what I’m preparing to get from Kimmie.

“Hang on a second.” I walk over to where he’s facing the wall of hand tools. “Can you at least give me a ballpark idea of what it is before you write me off? ”

His eyes roll to the ceiling, and his shoulders fall. “It’s about girls—something you’ve never had to worry about.”

I slide my hand over my mouth to hide a grin. “You think I’ve never had to worry about girls?”

“No.” He hits the word hard.

I shake my head. “You might be surprised.” I reach out to give him a nudge. “Try me.”

Hazel eyes meet mine, and I do my best to appear reassuring. Finally, he exhales roughly, looking down at the ground.

“I have no game.”

“What? You’re a great player?—”

“Off the field. I have no game.” His voice rises, and he starts talking faster. “Levi talks to girls. He’s really good at getting them to talk back to him, go out with him, do stuff…”

He trails off, and I don’t have to ask what he means by stuff . “Okay?”

“I don’t know how. I never know what to say. I stand around laughing like an idiot, watching him collect them like they’re freakin flowers. Like it’s the easiest thing in the world to pick them up.”

I put my hands in my back pockets again, turning to look out at the scrub pines surrounding my house.

I was prepared for the dad talk, even the bad dad talk. I had no idea he was going to hit me with this.

“That’s what I thought,” he grumbles, waving me away. “You’ve never had this problem. You always know how to talk to girls, or women . They swarm around you like flies to… candy.”

“Thanks.” I lift my chin, glad he didn’t say shit . “But it’s not true, actually. I had an awkward stage.”

“I don’t believe it.”

“Everybody does. It’s not the end of the world.” Walking over to the bench, I take a seat. “Come sit and talk to me.”

He hesitates a little longer at the door before relenting and walking over to join me .

“You were holding hands with Sadie Duck at the Halloween maze. What about that?”

“She doesn’t like me.” He looks at his tennis shoes. “She just wants to be with a star player. She talks to me a little while, then she talks to Levi. I might be doing better than him on the field, but off the field, he’s got me beat.”

“Now, hang on.” I put a hand on his arm. “She was holding your hand, not Levi’s.”

“Yeah, but Levi knows what to do.” He cuts his eyes up at me, then he looks at his shoes again. “Levi knows how to get from talking to kissing to…”

Leaning back, I try to remember if I ever had this conversation with my brothers.

Zane didn’t need it. He read all the time, and hell, he probably knew before I did. Garrett seemed to be born knowing how to charm the pants off anyone and everyone. I was gone when Hendrix was this age, so I assume one of them talked to him.

“If you’re talking about sex, I think you need to wait until you’re older.”

“You sound like Mom,” he grumbles. “She’s always telling me to wait, and then she’s always making sure I know how to use a condom.”

My lips tighten, and I swallow a laugh. It sounds just like my passionate girl, and I wonder what Allie’s doing right now. I’d like to do some stuff with her…

Clearing my throat, I refocus. “If you want to have a girlfriend, it’s the same as making friends with anyone else.

” He squints up at me, and I continue. “When you meet a girl you like, ask her questions. Then listen to what she says. Really listen. Pay attention to what she likes and see if you can do it for her. Some girls like flowers, others like to go to movies. Maybe Sadie likes music. Ask her favorite song. Make her a playlist around it.”

He goes from frowning to relieved, and when he looks up at me again, his face is actually brighter. “Those are really good ideas. ”

“Yeah.” I feel pretty proud of myself. “Start with flowers, and maybe you’ll get a kiss. But don’t maul her… And don’t have sex.”

I figure Allie would appreciate the backup.

He snorts through his nose, leaning back on the bench. “Right.”

“Aus-tin! Aus-tin! Aus-tin!” Kimmie marches into the room pumping her fist over her head. “I’m a cheerleader.”

She climbs onto the bench, getting behind him. She leans her stomach against his back, pumping her arms over his head. “Aus-tin! Aus-tin!”

He doesn’t even seem to notice. “Thanks, Coach.”

“Need a ride home?”

“Nah, I don’t mind walking. It’s not that far.” He stands, and Kimmie is still on his back with her arms around his neck.

She scoots higher, and he holds her legs. “We’re like Uncle Grizz and Auntie Liv!”

“I’ll let you know how it goes.” His expression is lighter.

“Here, let me help you.” I reach forward to take my daughter off his back. “Good luck.”

“Bye, Aussie!” Kimmie waves as he passes through the door.

He lifts a hand on his way out. “Bye, Peanut.”

“Austin’s going to marry me.” She sticks her little chin out, smiling as she watches him go.

“Speaking of that…” I walk over to sit on the bench again, putting her on my knee. “What do you think it means to get married?”

“It’s what the princes and princesses do.” Her brown eyes are wide, and she’s very serious. “The prince takes the princess’s hand, and they get in a royal coach, and the birds fly all around, and everybody waves, and they drive to his castle where they live happily ever after.”

It’s not too far away from what really happens.

“Actually, when you marry someone, it means you love them so much, you want to spend the rest of your life with them. You make them part of your family, and you become part of theirs.” She looks up at me, nodding, and I smile, sliding my hand over her little head.

“How would you feel if I asked Miss Allie to marry me?”

She blinks several times, tilting her head to the side. “Would Miss Allie and Aussie come to live with us and would we all be happily ever after?”

“Miss Allie would.” I put my hand on her shoulder. “Austin’s going to college. He wants to play football, and he’ll have his own house wherever he decides to go.”

A smile lifts her cheeks. “Just like you, Daddy!”

“Pretty much.” I rub her back. “And Uncle Zane and Garrett and Hendrix.”

“I like Miss Allie. She says I’m her best helper, and she thinks I’ve got the legs to be a cheerleader.”

My chin pulls back, and I huff a laugh. “She does?”

“I told her I’d be a good cheerleader because I’ve got the legs for it, and she said I’d be the best cheerleader.”

“Gotcha.” Standing, I take her hand as we walk to the house. “So you think it would be okay if I marry her?”

“Would she be my mommy?”

A dry ache twists my throat. These conversations are not going how I expect today. “Would you like her to be?”

Her little lips twist, and her nose wrinkles so much like Dylan’s as she breaks into a smile. “I think that would be okay! You always smile when Miss Allie’s around.”

“I do?”

“Uh-huh.” She points at my face. “Just like that. I think you should ask her to marry you.”

I pull her in for a hug. “I think I will.”