Page 29 of The Way We Touch
“You want to see what your ole buddy Austin is doing, don’t you?” I muss her curly hair.
“He’s just running up and down the football field like they all do.” She wiggles her body side to side as she nibbles her toast.
“Let’s pretend you want to see what he’s doing. Or your daddy.”
“Daddy’s just blowing the whistle and yelling at them to go long or follow the method or keep your eyes on the ball!”
The way she says it is so much like my brother, I can’t help a laugh. “Then just eat your eggs, and don’t blow our cover.”
Her button nose wrinkles, and I haul her onto my hip, my heart beating faster at the prospect of seeing Logan again.
“Good catch, Jordy!” Garrett slaps the scrawny kid on the back. “You’ll make first string in a few years for sure with that hustle.”
“Thanks, Mr. G!” The boy beams, and it’s official. My brother can break bad news to anybody and leave them smiling. It’s all in the delivery.
Standing at the fence, I watch the boys running up and down the field. Logan is beside Jack on the sidelines. They both have their arms crossed, brows lowered watching. Garrett is out there with Jack’s assistant coach Buddy Outlaw, laughing and pointing, calling plays, and throwing the ball.
Buddy works the defensive line, and he has Garrett showing the bigger boys how to guard the runners or block the passes.
“It’s a lot of boys.” Allie’s voice is worried, and I spot Austin on the line, waiting to run at the snap.
“It looks like they’ve got him as a running back. I can’t tell if that’s wide receiver or tight end.” I sip my coffee, and Kimmie wiggles to get off my hip.
“That’s more than I know,” Allie quips.
“Don’t go on the field.” I call after my niece as she skips away from us.
“I know.” She shakes her head like duh then she takes off running in the direction of Jack and Logan. “Daddy! Daddy! We brought you coffee!”
My teeth clench, and I’m afraid he’s going to fuss at me. His arms uncross, and she’s on his hip in a sweep, his eyes never leaving the team. He says something to Logan, who nods and jogs onto the field while my brother walks in our direction.
“Everything okay?” Jack frowns, and I know he’s confused about why we’re here.
I know as well as anyone this is an intense week for him, and he doesn’t appreciate distractions.
“I wasn’t sure if you got any breakfast before you left this morning.” I hold out one of the breakfast burritos we grabbed along with the coffees when we went through the drive-through.
“I don’t really have time to eat right now, Dylan.”
“How’s your first day?” Widening my eyes, I tilt my head to the side in the direction of Allie, doing my best to play it off like I’m cracking my neck.
He puts his daughter on her feet, pressing his lips together. I know he doesn’t like talking about his process, especially not with parents, but they’re a special case.
“We’ve got some good talent on the field this year.” He nods, glancing out to where Logan is talking to the running backs. “A lot of potential on the offensive line.”
Relief breaks across Allie’s face, and her eyes glow as she watches my brother. She so obviously adores him.
“We shouldn’t be bothering you.” She touches my arm. “Come on, Dylan, let’s get back to the restaurant.”
“We can stay a few minutes longer,” I argue. “Let’s watch them get off a few plays.”
“It’s okay,” he says. “You can stay.”
Allie chews her bottom lip, and Jack walks to the side, giving his whistle a brief tweet. Garrett claps, and he says something to the bigger boys, who line up in front. The boys are split with half playing offense and half playing defense, and the way they practice is how they’ll play on the field during games.
It’s all second nature to me after years of hanging out with my dad and my brothers, listening to them talk. I might not watch them every week, but I know how it goes.
A taller boy I recognize as Harry Wilcox, cousin to Stephanie, stands in the middle calling the play.