Page 41 of Sidelining the Safety

Lee pinched the bridge of his nose. “Understood, and please don’t. Drew really needs this internship.”

Coach grabbed Lee’s shoulder, bending down to look at him squarely. “Then keep your feet on the ground and your eyes on the ball, alright?”

“Alright, Coach.” Lee shot one side of his mouth up in a cocky smile that made Coach Mike laugh.

“Take another few minutes, then get back into rotation. I want you covering Gunner.” Coach walked away, snickering loudly.

Meanwhile, Lee groaned. Gunner was the fastest wide receiver they had. Karma had come calling… collecting her debt.

CHAPTER 30

DREW

“Game’s on,” Drew said to Mac, pointing to the TV above the diner counter. “Turn up the volume.”

Mac gave Drew the side-eye, then glanced around before he lifted the remote and clicked the volume up a couple of notches. With the Troopers playing a one o’clock game, the diner was only half-full since most people either stayed home, went to a friend’s house, or patronized the local bars with their Sunday Ticket ginormous televisions showing every game around the country.

“I got us some wings and nachos,” Ken Connor, Mac’s father, said, carrying out two platters from the kitchen and placing them in front of Drew as he sat beside him.

Mac dropped a handful of napkins and wet wipes on the counter before everyone paused to watch the kickoff. Florida’s kick into the end zone resulted in a touchback, starting the Troopers’ offense on their own thirty-yard line. Since the Troopers had the ball first, Lee was on the sideline.

During the first half, Mac wandered the diner, refilling coffee cups, and doing the weekly maintenance, all while keeping one eye on the TV. Periodically, he asked questions about the game or what had happened, and Drew was happy to answer when he could, often looking to Ken for help or clarification. Drew felt pumped that he’d already learned so much about football since meeting Lee.

Half-time was a flurry for the diner, collecting bills, cleaning tables from those people who’d stayed to watch the first half, and seating the new arrivals who wanted to see the second half. Drew popped off his stool and grabbed the coffee pots, wandering the aisles of tables, offering refills. Mac leaned in at one point and thanked him, kissing his cheek and winking.

Ken’s eyes were saucers, staring at Drew when he retook his seat for the second-half kickoff. He didn’t want to miss it since Lee would be starting. He glanced from the screen to Ken, finding him still staring. “What?”

“My son kissed your cheek.” His gaze narrowed. “Ya’ll been withholding pertinent information. Your momma’s gonna get a beating,” he teased. “I’d been wondering why she was gloating.”

“With all due respect, sir, we’ve been keeping it on the down-low.”

Ken growled. “You know I hate it when you call me sir. Or Senior. Surrounded by incorrigible children.” He grunted as he waved off anything Drew would have said before pointing to the television. “Game.”

Dutifully, Drew turned to watch. Troopers’ kicker, Ryeland Lenhart, booted a perfect doozy to Florida’s five. The Troopers’ special team surrounded the kickoff returner and brought him down at the sixteen-yard line. It wasn’t until the pile cleared that the announcer said, “Tackle made by Lee Matters.”

Drew and Mac whooped. Fierce pride filled Drew’s chest for Lee. He’d feared their radio silence since last week would affect Lee’s playing, but he seemed to have recovered from when his feet had decided to dance without telling him during Wednesday’s practice. Oh yeah, he’d heard all about the face-plant from Cutter. He’d then had to hold himself back from going to check on Lee. Cutter—the jerk—had laughed at him, knowing exactly what Drew wanted to do, and had even offered to let him go. When he refused, he then had to tell Cutter why, which led to a lot of emotional baggage being spewed about Mac and Lee over their shared lunch break.

Heading into the fourth quarter, the Troopers were up 10-3, with both teams’ defenses holding the opposition to very few yards. Addy and his offense earned every single point of that touchdown, working their way down the field, yard by yard, with the help of two holding penalties on the defense.

Before the game resumed after the Troopers’ post-TD kickoff, the cameraman panned along the Troopers’ sideline. Drew spotted Lee standing idly by the bench, watching Addy and Cal, who stood very close together, talking, each with a hand on the other’s shoulder. The expression on Lee’s face… Wistful? Yearning?

A quiet curse drew his attention. Mac stared at the screen, seemingly reading the same thing on Lee’s face that Drew had. He looked at Drew, his mouth set in a tight line. “If they lose, I want to be there tonight.”

Drew nodded. Yeah, they’d discussed showing up at Lee’s immediately after his return or waiting until tomorrow. He had the team’s itinerary, so he knew what time the plane would land. But seeing Lee’s expression, his feelings written so clearly across his face… “I think we should go, regardless.”

“Seriously, I am going to beat your momma for not telling me.”

“What’s that, Kenzie?” Momma Connor put her arms around her husband and kissed his cheek. “Beat me?” She chuckled. “Well, I guess you can try.”

“You should have told me about these two. And that one.” He stabbed a finger at the TV.

“They’re working things out. I didn’t want to jinx it.”

Drew didn’t want to look away from the on-screen play—a run by Florida that only netted them two yards—but something in what she said set off alarms in his brain. The same must have happened to Mac because he asked, “How do you know that? Drew and I haven’t said anything to anyone.”

“Leslie and Beth popped in Monday while Lee was at practice. We had a very nice conversation about you boys.”

Drew groaned. Mac’s mouth dropped open. “Momma! How could you? This is private.”

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