Page 82 of Zone Protection

He chuckles. “Oh, I know. I won’t let any of you forget me.”

“Wanna go grab a bite or something before we head back to the house?”

“You not going straight to Emma’s?”

“Not yet. She has an afternoon class this semester that she’s not too happy about and doesn’t get a break between class and practice. So, I was just going to head back home and chill, but now I’m hungry.”

He stands and picks up his bag from the floor and sets it on the bench. “Yeah, I could eat.”

We say our goodbyes to the coaches, training staff, and equipment managers before we stop to sign some footballs and jerseys. As we walk out, it hits me that this is the last time I’ll leave this field house as a player. My time—along with Liam’s time—at Walker is done. Chokes me up a little, and I wrap my arm around Liam’s shoulder.

Neither of us says anything in my truck on the way to the restaurant. I pull into The Font, which is a place we’ve spent a lot of time together. When we walk in, some of the longtime staff that works there all shout a hello to us.

They let us pick our own table, so we move to our usual spot in the corner, away from most of the regular crowd, although it’s still pretty quiet in here right now.

“I just realized how long it’s been since we’ve been here together, man. This season flew by, and with all the Emma stuff,we haven’t hung out together much outside of practice.” He leans forward, resting his arms on the table.

“Yeah, I know. It’s just been so wild. I almost feel like it’s been a fever dream. And now I need to gear myself back up and get training. The combine will be here before I know it.”

The waitress interrupts us and takes our order.

“So, how is Emma handling all of this? Does she understand what’s coming? What your schedule will look like?”

“She knows my schedule for the combine, and I think we have some plans for what happens next, but you know I won’t know for sure until I … know. But she says she’s looking into schools near where I could possibly go, and once we know for sure, she’ll send in her applications and whatnot. She might decide to take a break after the baby is born too. We’ll just have to see how she feels.” I shrug.

“Arch, I still can’t believe you’re gonna be a dad. When do you think you’ll tell the others? I mean, they’ll have to know soon. You can’t exactly hide it unless you cut everyone off, but you know they won’t let that happen.”

Our drinks are set on the table. We each got a bottle of beer, and we clink them together before we take a drink.

“No, I know, and I want to tell them. Hell, I’ve wanted to tell everyone for months, but I was following Emma’s lead. She needs to figure out what will happen with her scholarship, but honestly, I’m not sure it really matters anyway if she’s coming with me. But I suppose on the off chance she doesn’t or can’t get into another program, she doesn’t want to jeopardize it. I can’t wait to tell everyone. I want to introduce her as my girlfriend and the mother of my child all at once though. Hopefully soon.” I take another drink and set the bottle on the table.

“You love her?” he asks.

“Yep. Head over ass in love with that girl. Pitz, she is everything. She’s wicked smart, funny, confident, caring, and has some weird little quirks that should be annoying or gross, but they just make me love her more. I mean, dude, herpregnancy cravings are weird as shit, but I sit there with a smile and watch her destroy perfectly good food.” I bark out a laugh.

“I don’t even want to know. You know I’m a picky eater as it is, so I don’t know if I’ll be able to deal with that someday.” He shakes his head.

“Ahh … you will, and you’ll do it with a smile because you love the girl and she’s growing your baby. Speaking of the little nugget, you want to see some pics?”

I pull out my phone. I take pictures of all the ultrasound photos so I can send them to my family. This is the first time I’ve shown anyone else though. The sense of pride I feel makes me feel ten feet tall.

He takes the phone and zooms in on the baby’s face. “This is pretty fucking amazing, man. That’s a little you, bro! So wild. I can’t wait to meet the baby. And Emma sounds awesome, man. I’m so happy for you. Grabbin’ life by the balls and shit.”

After the food arrives, we talk about what comes next for us both. I talk to him about some of the training I’ll be doing for the combine, and he tells me a little about his new coach at Michigan.

Liam Pitz is one of a kind and someone who I know will be a lifelong friend.

A week later, we all say goodbye but not without tears.Before he gets into his dad’s SUV, Pitz hugs each of us, but I hold on a little longer than the others.

When he pulls back, he grabs my shoulders and squeezes. “This isn’t a goodbye; it’s a see you later, right?”

I nod. “See you later, brother.”

We do our handshake, and then we all watch as Liam and his dad drive away.

CHAPTER

NINETEEN

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