Page 128 of The Way We Win

I bring Levi into a huddle with Austin. “How are you feeling tonight?”

“Great, Coach!” Austin nods, shifting from foot to foot.

I look at Levi, but his expression is stony. On par with the last few weeks, he’s not making eye contact, and he seems a million miles away.

“This team is a beast. We’re not going to get away with anything.” I put a hand on Levi’s shoulder, giving him a little shake until he looks at me. “I want to lead out with you as QB-1. Are you with me?”

His lips tighten, and his chin drops. “I don’t know, Coach. I’ll try.”

Not what I want to hear. “If it’s not happening, I’m taking you out.”

He nods, not even fighting me, and it’s like a punch in my stomach. I feel like I’ve missed something, but we’ve been together on the field every afternoon for the past two weeks. His dad acts the same as always, and I can’t account for it.

“They’re letting us call the toss.” I give him another shake. “Go do it.”

I hope the honor will boost his enthusiasm. Austin stands beside me watching, and I lean over to him. “Be ready to go in.”

He nods, and we lose the toss. Levi runs back to grab his helmet, and I catch him before he runs onto the field. “Give me all you’ve got out there.”

Again, he doesn’t give me much, and I glance at Austin. It’s going to be a tough game, and it’s a big ask for him to play the entire time.

Still, he’s young and hungry, and half the town is here. I’m not sure I have a choice.

We’re on the sidelines, and Levi takes the snap. Jogging back, he looks all over the field. Tyreek is wide open, and even Rich is waiting to take the ball. He hesitates too long and ends up trying to run, quickly getting planted by the Pirates’ defense.

“We’re going to have to take him out, Coach.” Buddy is at my side, and my jaw tightens.

I hear George in the stands losing his voice from yelling, and I cross my arms. Buddy is usually in the box, but Logan took that spot tonight. I lift my chin, and Garrett jogs over to where we’re standing.

“I’ve seen this kind of thing in the pros.” Garrett stands beside me as they line up to go again. “It’s like he’s already retired. His heart’s not in it.”

“Did something happen?” I look over at Buddy, who simply shrugs.

It’s fourth and twenty, and Rome runs out to try for a field goal. My shoulders are tense, and Garrett leans in so only I can hear. “Edward’s gotten more reliable than Rome.”

“I know.” My jaw is tense, and my throat tightens as the ball wobbles wildly through the kick, bouncing off the upright.

“We can’t do this here.” Logan’s in my earpiece. “Put in our leaders.”

Garrett revs up the defensive line as they head onto the field. “Keep us in this!”

I pull Austin close. “You’re playing the rest of the game.”

He nods, eyes serious. “Okay.”

Then I walk over to where Edward is quietly talking to himself several paces behind the team under the shelter of an awning. I wave, and he reaches up to take out an earplug.

“You’re taking over as kicker.”

His expression doesn’t change. He simply nods, putting the plug back in his ear and returning to whatever mantra he uses to block out the chaos.

Defense holds them, but one of our players gets hit hard. He’s on his back on the field for several minutes, and Garrett is with him, hand on his shoulder, helping him stand and limp off the field.

My jaw tightens. Another of our best players is out of the game. We can’t lose anymore.

We finish out the half with no points on the board, and when we run to the locker room, I know I’ve got to get their spirits up. Allie meets my eyes as I pass the girls preparing to do the halftime show.

Her pretty eyes are worried, but I give her a wink. It was so good to hold her all night, and right now, thinking of her pretty face relaxed and content as she slept in my arms goes a long way to break the punishing tension of this night.

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