Page 129 of Their Greatest Strength

Jamie chuckles, rubbing a hand up and down my jacketed arm. “She likes you.”

“She’s just being nice.”

“No, I mean it. She loves you.”

I don’t know what to say, so I focus on the game instead. The offense gets into position for a second down, and Nate shifts over a few paces as soon as the QB has the ball, looking around. It’s hard to see everything that’s going on. I don’t know much more than the basics and what I’ve picked up from Jamie. What I do know is that when the QB throws the ball, it’s to Nate.

My brother is already sprinting down the field, players diving at him the entire way but never making contact. Not until one grabs the back of his jersey and pulls hard enough to send him stumbling backward. Jamie shoots up, taking the blanket with him as the defenseman reaches for Nate’s face mask and uses it to force his head to the side.

Nate tumbles to the ground, and I go still, suddenly frozen solid. The crowd goes silent while the ball hits the field a few feet away from him. Jamie doesn’t say a word before he’s excusing himself through the people on the stands below us and heading for the field.

I wait for something to follow the bad play, like a flag or a whistle, but when the whistle does blow, it’s only to mark the play dead. The defenseman who took down Nate steps over him and takes the ball with a smirk.

Jamie’s voice is so loud I can hear his words as clearly as if he were still sitting beside me. “What the fuck was that? You’re not going to call that? Are you being serious? This is high school ball!”

The referee in front of him shakes his head and replies, but apparently, he doesn’t care enough about this to be loud.

I’m suddenly standing, and when a small hand takes mine, I look down to see Nova smiling supportively. Gracie is moving past Oliver and Avery, coming to sit in Jamie’s spot.

My husband takes a menacing step in front of the ref and points at the field. His anger is potent, and despite his laid-back attire of jeans, a light-coloured jacket, and a backward hat, he’s not someone who should be taken lightly right now.

The ref extends a hand in front of him, motioning for Jamie to take a step back. Jamie laughs, reaching beside the ref to grab a yellow flag from his back pocket.

I glance between where Nate’s pushing himself up onto his feet and where Jamie moves close to him and drops the flag on the field.

“That’s how you do your fucking job. Since you forgot,” he snaps before moving to Nate’s side and easing his helmet off.

I bite down on my cheek and watch him cup the back of Nate’s head and ask him a question. Nate says no, then nods.

“He’s most likely asking him if he hit his head,” Gracie tells me.

“Because he could have a concussion,” I whisper.

“Jamie had two when he was in high school. I used to have nightmares about them.”

“Nate hasn’t had one. Not yet.”

Nova squeezes my hand. “He will be okay. Uncle J will make sure of it.”

Oliver reaches behind his wife to rub at Nova’s back before standing. “I’m going to go down and make sure he doesn’t go back for that ref.”

“Thank you,” I mumble, starting to feel guilty for not being the one taking care of this. “Maybe I’ll go too. Nate’s my brother.”

Usually, I’d be the one threatening a ref for missing that call. It’s my responsibility to take care of him.

“Jamie’s got this one, sweetheart,” Gracie soothes.

I know he does. With every second he’s down there talking to my brother and his coach, the harder I fall in love with him. I trust him to take care of this, and that’s the scariest part.

“How about you go get a drink? I can come with you if that would help,” Gracie offers, trying so damn hard to comfort me.

“A drink is good. I’ll be quick.”

“Alright, sweetheart. Jamie’s got your brother.”

I give a shaky nod in response and start making my way past everyone else and then down the bleachers. The concession stand is close, and the line is short with everyone too busy watching Jamie Bateman beat a referee’s ass at a high school football game.

It will be a good headline tomorrow. Graham will be happy with it, at least. As far as I know, while they aren’t selling out of seats every night, the buzz we’ve managed to create so far has helped with more than just filling a few rows at the stadium. The online traction has been building, and jersey sales are up.

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