Page 53 of The Way We Win

The boys line up for another go. Another ten, and we make our way down the field, closer and closer until it’s first and goal.

Austin’s game is smooth. He’s controlled and focused, looking for all the world like he’s been doing this his whole life.

They make the snap, and he steps back, eyes focused on the end zone. He looks side to side, when out of nowhere he goes down, falling on his ass, his face twisted with pain.

“Austin!” I hear Allie cry, and I lunge forward as if I’ll go to him on the field.

Before his butt hits the ground, he manages to pitch the ball to Levi, who spins and takes it to the outside. Austin doesn’t get up, but Levi has caught the opposition off-guard. He jumps over a safety and runs it in for the score.

We jog out to check on Austin, who’s sitting on the ground holding his ankle.Fuck.

“How’s this?” Hal, the team trainer, kneels in front of him, holding his ankle in both hands and moving it side to side.

Austin winces, shaking his head. “Hurts.”

“We could wrap it and let him keep playing.” Hal looks up at me from where he’s kneeling in front of Austin. “But it’d be better not to take a chance on further injury.”

My chest is tight when I make the call. “Levi will finish out the game.” Pointing at Austin, I give the order. “RICE.”

He knows the old acronym—rest, ice, compression, elevation. Austin’s jaw clenches, but he doesn’t argue. Garrett bends down to help him limp off the field as the spectators clap, and when I turn, Allie’s watching me with worry lining her pretty face.

I want to go to her and pull her close, tell her he’s going to be okay. It’s only the first game of the season. He’ll be able to play more, but I don’t want him sustaining an injury that won’t heal. He needs to let this one go. We’re just getting started.

But I can’t do any of that. Instead, Garrett jogs over to talk to her while I huddle with the team.

It’s infuriating.

The announcers say Levi Powell will finish the game, and Rome trots out onto the field for a quick extra point.

Following another near-score by the Broncos, Levi takes the field as quarterback. Noah takes his spot as running back.

He’s smooth as silk, falling back on the snap, easily calculating until he finds a receiver, then making a clean pass. On the next, he rolls away from the sack and runs the ball down the outside for another first down.

We end up winning the game, but it’s a bittersweet victory with Austin on the sidelines, his ankle elevated.

The buzzer sounds, and the players flood out onto the field to shake hands. I grip the outstretched hand of the opposing coach with aGood game, before heading to the locker room with the boys.

Austin is on crutches, but it doesn’t dim his enthusiasm. He joins his teammates, yelling and clapping hands and running postmortems on which plays worked and which didn’t.

Levi is right there with them, smiling and seeming lighter than he has since he arrived.

I hold up a hand, and all eyes are on me. “That was a great start. Way to pivot under pressure, offense, and bring it home. Defense, your second half was much better than the first. I like what I’m seeing out there. If we keep this up, we’ll go all the way. Now have some fun.”

A cheer rises, and they’re pulling off their gear and changing out of their uniforms.

I pull Austin to the side on my way out. “Take it easy on that ankle. We’ll have the doctor look at it and make a decision about next week’s game.”

He nods, looking down with his jaw tight. “Yes sir, Coach.”

With a tight smile, I pat his shoulder. “We’ve got nine more games. You’ll get plenty of time to shine.”

In the past on Friday nights, I’d head to Cooters & Shooters after the game for drinks and to get Kimmie from my sister.Tonight, when I exit the locker room, only one person is on my mind.

Allie is with Liv and Dylan on the sidelines with the drill team, talking to the girls. Kimmie is on her hip, and she sways side to side.

For a moment, I hesitate, watching this woman I can’t get out of my head holding my daughter. It’s like I’m seeing my future.

“Daddy!” Kimmie jumps when she sees me, and Allie lets her down at once.

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