Page 119 of The Way We Win

Jack puts his fork down to hug his little girl. “I’m okay, baby. Did you just wake up?”

She nods, and he holds her a few seconds, until she slides down into his lap, keeping her small hand on his neck.

He kisses the top of her head, picking up his fork again, and I melt a little more. “You want some breakfast?”

She shakes her head. “Aunt Deedee is making penny cakes.”

I’ve also made many, many of those little quarter-sized pancakes for her in my summers working here.

“Do you need some help?” Dylan stops at his chair, nodding at her niece.

“Nah, I’m good.”

It’s true. He’s an amazing coach, an incredible lover, my hero… and a sweet, sweet dad. My bestie wraps her arms around me, giving me a hug, and I squeeze her back.

“I like what I’m seeing here,” she whispers in my ear.

I give her arms another squeeze, whispering back. “Me too.”

“You feeling okay, bro?” Garrett slides into the chair beside Jack then reaches for a plate holding an omelette. “You’re not looking too bad, considering I had to pull you off that guy.”

“He’s lucky you were there.” Jack nods, and Liv stops behind me, wrapping her arms around my shoulders gently.

“Feeling okay, Bookish Spice?” She tilts her strawberry-blonde head to the side to meet my eyes.

“A lot better than I was two nights ago.” I give her a squeeze as well.

“The drill team organized a vigil in the park. They had candles and everybody prayed all night and everything.”

“Oh!” My eyes widen, and an ache hits my throat. “That is so…”

My voice catches, and Jack’s warm hand slides across my back.

Shaking my head, I swallow the ache. “I’ll be glad to see them tomorrow. We’ll hug it out.”

Liv smiles, kissing the side of my head before patting Jack’s good shoulder. “Good work, Coach.”

He doesn’t reply as she sits beside Garrett. I lean my elbow on the table, smiling up at him, and when his blue eyes flicker to mine, my stomach squeezes.

“I hate we missed our Halloween movie night,” Raven complains from where she sits beside Hendrix. “But I’m really, really glad you’re safe and you’re home.”

“Yeah, we’re pretty good at taking out the trash.” Garrett points at Craig, who holds out his fist for a bump.

Dylan sits on Logan’s knee at the head of the table, sliding her hand over her growing midsection. Rachel tilts her head to the side, smiling at me from where she’s perched beside Zane with Edward at her side.

As much as my early decisions try to get in my head and make me ashamed, knowing this is where I landed helps me forgive my younger self.

I was brave enough to take the chance coming here, even if I didn’t know where I’d land or how it would work out, and it turned out to be the best decision of my life.

28

Jack

“Let me see some hustle,” I shout as the boys line up on the field with Austin in the starting quarterback position.

My shoulder is stiff, and I have to keep it in this damn sling for another week. At least my knuckles have somewhat returned to normal. The swelling is down, but the cuts and broken skin are still healing.

I don’t have time to worry about it. State championships are around the corner, and our first playoff game is on Friday.

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