Page 27 of Hart Breaker

Jade elbows him again.

“Everything good?” I ask.

“Oh yeah, it’s all great.” Ryan clears his throat. “I just remember watching the draft and my Riley saying the words, ‘welcome to the family’ when you were drafted.”

I’m going to hell, or maybe to my old high school, to teach gym class. I’d like that way better than hell.

Not sure what comes over me, but I pull them both in for a hug. “Didn’t remember. I was probably in shock, but fuck, it touches something deep. Then Mom’s place. I respect the fuck out of you both. I hope you never forget that.”

I hear a growl, and, yeah, I need to move it along so whoever the fuck is behind me doesn’t get any more pissed off.

As I step away, Jade grabs my chin and turns my face to her. “We do know. Now go kick ass, Hudson Hart.”

Walking into the locker room, I look back to see who the hell was growling behind me. Skinner.

“You good, man?”

“No, but I will be once I’m on the field, breaking shit.”

“O line, over here!” Coach Cox yells.

Once we’re all gathered in front of him, he starts, “Bradberry and Slay lead the league in tackles and interceptions.” He taps the side of his head. “Stay alert, Knights; it’s time to go to war.”

We all change when Pastor Josh walks in. “Okay, Knights, bring it in.”

We huddle around him as he begins, “Father, I thank You for each and every one of these young men. I thank You for the years they’ve had and the years ahead. In today’s game, I ask You, Father, that they play like never before. God, let them continue to give You glory and know that they are blessed by You. Lord, You gave them this gift; let it be a testament to the team, and their opponents, on and off this field. God, let it spill out into the community. Father, I ask that through Your blessings given to each and every one of them, and the attention this game, this sport receives, that it is not lost on the fans and viewers that inside that stadium, they’re fighting for a win, they’re fighting for their team, but when the whistle is blown, and the game is done, they’re all Your children. I ask You this in Jesus’ name, Amen.”

“Enter Sandman” begins, and I bounce on my toes as we prepare to head to the tunnel leading to the field, where we’ll come face-to-face with our opponents, their fans, our haters.

At this moment, I’m not even pissed that the sludge is gone; the energy zinging through me is like I imagine dosing on X would be like.

“You fucked up?” Skinner yells.

“Fuck yeah!” I yell as we jump into each other.

“Let’s go,” Cody Warren says, jogging past us to lead the team out.

I grab his elbow. “Let Big Daddy Boone lead us out today. His little girl is here for the first time.”

He nods. “Good call.” Then he looks back at Boone. “You lead.”

“You sure, man?” He grins.

He nods.

“Hey, Boone.”

He looks at me.

“Instead of humping the air, how about you cowboy it up. More kid-appropriate.”

Boone doesn’t disappoint. He runs out, does a couple of flips, and does his little dance, but instead of thrusts, he lassoes the air and tosses it up to where Lily is sitting with my family and … Lindsey.

The look on his face tells me he didn’t know she was coming, but he’s happy as hell she’s here.

We take to the sideline as Cody and Bricks head out for the coin toss.

I nod up to the stands. “How are you doing?”

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