Page 53 of The Way We Score

I put my phone down, turning to my laptop. Once a month, Hendrix and I join Logan and Zane on their weekly sports radio show, which has now turned into a simulcast on their YouTube channel.

We started doing it last year to help Logan grow the station, and it pretty much blew up. Jack joins us a few times during the year to talk about the rising high school players and which seniors to watch. The ratings have gone through the roof, especially when we’re all together.

“Welcome to the Lightning and Thunder Weekly Sports Roundup.” Logan’s polished radio voice always throws me off a little. He’s so good at it. “This week, we’ve got my brothers Garrett and Hendrix with the player’s-eye view from the sidelines, and as a back to school treat, the one and only Jack Bradford shares his thoughts about the rising stars. Welcome to the show.”

“Welcome back from your honeymoon, my man,” I’malways the one to bring out the personal side. “You’re looking tanned. Are you allowed to tell us where you took the misses?”

“I took our favorite spicy pepper lover to an eco-resort in Mexico called Cuixmala.”

“Eco resort? Did you see Maya Lopez?” Hendrix tries to be edgy, but I imagine one of those sad-horn sound effects.

“Dude, nobody watched that show. It was a big flop.”

Logan is undeterred. “It has a biodynamic farm, so she was able to go out with the farmers and harvest the peppers. When they got back, she could join them in the kitchen to watch and learn how they made local dishes. She was pretty much in heaven.”

I can’t resist. “In the meantime, you didn’t eat a thing?”

“They had mild dishes.” He holds up both hands. “But she’s got some new Dare Night recipes coming soon.”

“For the locals,” Hendrix notes.

“Let’s get down to sports.” Zane steps in to get us on track. “Looks like the Pirates’ offensive line hasn’t quite jelled this year. What’s going on there, Garrett?”

“Way to go in dry,” I tease. “Thanks, bro.”

“My pleasure.” He smiles, and I swear, he’s so damn cocky since Rachel came along. “Johnson’s playing a good game, but the receivers aren’t quite where they need to be. At least one of them.”

Charlie Johnson is the quarterback for my team the Pirates, which was also Logan’s team before he retired.

His replacement Ricky Berke has never been a favorite of mine, and now that he’s our new wide receiver, I’m forced to interact with him all the time.

“Have you stopped using the nickname?” Hendrix cuts me a look, referencing what I used to call Ricky—the Dick.

“Yes.” I glance at my old partner in crime. “I’m working on camaraderie since we lost our MVP.”

Logan holds up both hands. “Like I had a choice.”

“You had a choice.”

Thankfully, we pivot to discussing the highlights and lowlights of the past week’s games. It’s Thursday, and we’re playing against the Admirals, which is Zane’s old team. It’s part of the reason he’s giving me hassle.

When we’re done wagering who’ll win and which teams will move up or down, Jack comes in to talk about the high school guys. All eyes are on Austin Sinclair, who he’s trained since he was a freshman in high school.

Austin’s a junior now, but next year, it’s going to be crazy around here with all the media and the scouts. We’ve all lived through it before, but they have no idea.

“He’s got a lot of natural talent,” my oldest brother notes, keeping his poker face intact.

“Some would say he’s the next Jack Bradford.” Logan cuts him a smile, but Jack doesn’t take the bait.

“He’s a good kid.” It’s all he’ll give us. “He’s under a lot of pressure, but he manages it well.”

We wrap it up, and the music plays. The guys want to hang around longer and shoot the shit. They’re done for the day, and Hendrix has an off night. I’ve got to get to the stadium.

I say goodnight and leave the Zoom, but I’m not even out the door of my apartment when my phone lights up with a text. I almost don’t look at it, but it’s not the brother’s chat.

It’s Jack.

Jack

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