Page 80 of A Game as Old as Time

She was.

Hailey finally found the strength to turn toward him, still fighting back tears as she nodded.

“My dad…was the one that kept us together when it happened.”

His green eyes locked onto hers and did not let go. This time, however, she did not look away. His gaze, which in the past had made her uncomfortable when it was this direct, was a welcome distraction from her feelings.

“Your dad is a great coach and, from what I’ve seen, a great dad.”

He sure is.

“Well,” she could feel his tension growing, “from what I hear, your dad was great too.”

His leg began to shake, like hers had done a few minutes before, and he turned his head away. The two sat in silence, the movie playing on in the distance. Hailey watched his shoulders rise as he took two deep breaths.

“My dad.” He finally turned back to her. “My dad would have liked you.”

Wow, OK.

She finally took a quick sip of her drink, trying to process what he had just said.

“My dad liked people who were kind, who always wanted to help,” he continued. She shifted in her seat. “I can see what you’re doing for everyone in the musical. How you have patience with us, even though we’re not really very good at this whole thing. I know, I know it’s probably tough for you---”

“Gunner,” she instinctively interrupted him, “you’ve all been great! A little unorthodox, sure, but you guys have so much confidence, and you work so hard.”

She watched him peek up at the screen, a smile returning to his face.

“And whether you want to believe it or not, you and the rest of those guys are talented.”

His eyes softened, and his shoulders straightened.

“Can I ask you something?” He leaned in closer, making her heart pick up speed. “Why didn’t you want to be the lead until I joined?”

Oh crap. Just move on---talk about the movie.

“I, umm…” She could see the uncertainty on his face when she glanced at him.

I hate this.

She searched for a way out, a way to move past this subject without hurting him.

But he is just being nice.

His eyes were apologetic when she glanced back at him again. When he eventually turned to the screen, his question unanswered, she could see that thing in them that was so familiar.

Pain.

He was good at hiding it, but the hurt was still evident. Talking about his father was hard, and it was probably too much for him right now. It was raw, and she knew how that felt. She wished she could say something to make it better. Tell him how much of a difference he was making, not just by playing football but by bringing joy to everyone around him.

This town was smiling again. She could see it when she went to school. She could see it on Tony at the pizza parlor, Ms. Summers at musical practice, and Mr. Chen by the car. Her father was smiling, her sister was smiling, and she was smiling. She knew he would not believe her. He was not ready for that, and she understood.

Do something.

“My sophomore year in California.” It all just started to come out. “I was picked to play the lead in our school’s musical.”

Just say it.

“A sophomore had never done that at my school, so I was so excited. I went out, and I sang and danced my heart out.” She actually smiled, remembering her mother in the crowd with a wide grin on her face. “And then…and then my mom took a turn. She, um, she passed a few months after the performance.”

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