Page 64 of Their Greatest Strength

The name and number on the back of our jerseys are impossible to miss, but throw in the dual black sevens Nathan demanded we paint on our cheeks, and there’s no mistake about who we’re here for.

In only a few hours, our lives are going to be very different. I’m not a public person, but that won’t matter. While my background is clean enough for the team to agree to me being involved, that doesn’t mean it’s not still smudged with a bit of dirt. Nothing about my life growing up is pretty, and knowing that there isn’t anything I can do to keep it a secret has made me uncomfortable. I just have to push past it and try not to spend too much energy worrying about what other people are going to think.

If Jamie doesn’t care, why should it matter if other people do?

Nathan elbows me in the side, and I jerk away, hissing, “What was that for?”

His eyes dart to the left over and over until finally, I followthem and realize Coach Tanner is coming over. My stomach tightens as I keep my expression flat, collected.

“Blakely,” the older man says, tipping his chin. He looks to my brother. “And Nathan, right?”

He’s in the same team jacket he was wearing in the owner’s office the night I met him, but this time, he’s added a matching hat and holds a clipboard against his chest.

“Yeah. Y-yes. I’m Nathan. It’s so awesome to meet you, Coach,” Nathan stammers, shooting his hand out.

The coach takes it, shaking it firmly. “You too. I hope you’re not too uncomfortable over here. The team will be coming out any minute now, but we don’t have chairs or anything.”

“Do people not stand over here during games?” I ask, glancing at the lack of other non-Pythons team members on the sidelines.

“Down on the field? No.”

“But we’re allowed to?”

It sounds ridiculous. I get the whole needing to make a statement thing, but for such a big field, there isn’t all that much room for an audience down here. Getting in the way of staff or players isn’t an ideal situation for me.

The coach levels me an understanding look. “I wouldn’t expect to be down here for many more games. Just make it past this one, and I’m sure you’ll be up in the stands for the rest of them.”

“That’s reassuring.”

“You’re needed down here to grab wandering eyes, specifically the media’s. Just try not to distract Jamie. I need him in the game and not chasing your attention.”

“I don’t think that will be a problem,” I reveal with a scoffed laugh.

He doesn’t look as sure. “Wouldn’t put money down on that. Anyway, the team’s coming out in a minute. Just . . .” The smile he gives me is more of an awkward grimace. “Just stay in the open but not in my way.”

“Stay visible but not too visible. Got it.”

With another dip of his chin, he pats my brother’s arm and then heads back to where he came from.

Nate’s awestruck voice fills the space around us. “We just met Riley Tanner.”

“You did. I’ve already met him,” I tease.

He bumps my shoulder. “This is insane, Lake. Like, the most insane thing that’s ever happened to me.”

I put my arm around his shoulders and lean against him, grateful that he’s here with me today. For support, but more importantly, this entire experience. Never in a million years did I think I’d be able to give him a night on the Pythons’ sidelines or a meeting with their head coach.

That itself is worth everything I’m doing.

20

BLAKELY

Honestly,I’m glad I didn’t wear a sweater.

Once the music ramps up in the stadium and the cheerleaders line up along the entrance of the tunnel, I’m sweating. A video starts on the jumbotron, but I don’t look away from the tunnel, counting down the seconds in my head as I wait for Jamie to appear.

Nathan’s vibrating beside me, his focus on every inch of the show being put on. This is his future; I feel it deep down in my soul.

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