Page 11 of Chasing Sunsets

He knew her well, if he pressured her, she’d refuse. He kept his mask in place and said, “Your call.”

She inhaled a quick breath and let it out. “Let’s do it.”

Her willingness gave him hope. The hope he needed after so much time away.

~

Zack’s phone vibratedin his pocket. He pulled it out to check the sender.

“You should answer that,” Sadie urged. “I’m sure they’ll take them up soon.”

The contract explained contestants were only allowed to use phones on their one day off during taping.

“Take the call. I need to speak to my mom as well,” she insisted.

They stood and walked toward the wall of windows. Zack swiped his phone. “Hey, Dre.”

“You make it there?”

“Yeah.” He’d only told his mom, Cal, and his best friends—Dre and Kasey—he was going to be on the show.

“I expected voicemail to pick up. When we last talked, you thought they would take your phone when you arrived.”

“I’m not sure why they haven’t.”

“You know you got this, right?” Dre—ever the optimist. One of the leading running backs in the NFL, Dre remained the most down-to-earth guy Zack ever met. “Whoever you’re paired with will thank their lucky stars when it’s over.”

“I’ve met my partner.” He peeked at his wife, who faced the other way with her phone to her ear. “It’s Sadie.”

“Come again?”

“They’re pairing separated married couples to race. She agreed on the stipulation that we don’t discuss our separation.”

Silence stretched between them.

Certain his friend didn’t know what to say, Zack changed the subject. “How are things in Miami?”

Although Dre’s team was in Dallas, they spent their preseason in Florida. “Same as every other year. Rookies are eager and overly excited. Guys on the practice squad from last year are trying hard and hoping to get their big break. Old-timers like me are exhausted, wondering why we go through this hell year after year.”

Zack knew exactly why Dre continued to play. “You can’t give up before you get the record for the most receiving touchdowns for a running back.”

“That is the goal.” Dre continued, “Mom thinks it’s time for me to retire.”

Zack snorted. “She never wanted you to play football in the first place. There you were, a first-round pick, and Mama B sat beside you looking like her dog just died. Other draft pick parents’ faces were lit up like a Christmas tree.”

“That’s Mom.” Dre hesitated. “Man, you don’t have to do this. I can take care of your bills.”

Sure, Dre had more money than Zack would see in five lifetimes, but accepting his friend’s help felt too much like a handout.

“I can’t let you do that.”

Two male contestants, easy to spot because all the racers wore the same shirt and shorts, stepped into the room. The worker he met before, Jessie, entered behind them. Many others had arrived while he was on the phone.

“We are waiting on one last decision,” Jessie called. “I’ll collect your phones soon.”

“We’re starting, I better focus. On the forty,” Zack said.

“On the forty,” Dre returned. Since that fateful game where Zack became the starting quarterback, he and his best friends always saidon the forty, meaning they were always there for one another.

---