Page 29 of The Way We Win

I study the screen a long time, considering a reply, but it’s late. The chat ended a few hours ago. I’ll talk to them tomorrow.

My thoughts are on Allie. I could call her. My thumb hovers over the button when a light tapping sounds on my door. Lifting my chin, I wait for it to sound again.

When it does, I walk over to see who’s out there. I half-expect to see Dylan making sure we had dinner. I don’t expect to see Austin.

“Hey, you’re out late.” I open the door, holding it so he can come inside. “Everything okay?”

“Hey, Coach.” He walks into the kitchen, and I shut the door behind him. “I’m sorry for coming over like this, but I couldn’t sleep.”

All the thoughts I’ve been wrestling with press against my temples, and my throat tightens. “What’s on your mind?”

He puts his hands on the bar, exhaling heavily. “I was thinking about Levi.”

I cross my arms, leaning against the counter. Austin isn’t the boy he was three years ago. He’s grown up a lot since the days when he used to babysit Kimmie, when he got her hooked on penny cakes for Friday breakfast—because it’s T-G-I-F, as she likes to say.

He’s taller. His brown hair is a little shaggy on top, but it’s neatly trimmed around his ears and collar. His shoulders are broad, and his muscles are well defined since he started working out with weights.

All of these things are what I told him to do to improve his game.

Austin does everything I tell him to do to be the best player he can be, and I think about the contrast between how I treat him and how George treats Levi.

Lifting my chin, I nudge him. “What about Levi?”

“He feels really bad about how his dad acted.” Austin’s hazeleyes cut up to mine. “He said it’s the reason they had to leave Gainesville—and Kissimmee and Apalachicola.”

I glance at the floor, shifting my stance. “I can’t let his father’s behavior pass. If I do, it’ll turn into a real problem.”

“I know.” Austin nods, but I can tell he’s worried.

“What are you thinking?”

The boy’s expression tightens, and he clears his throat. “He made some really good plays out there today. He looked good. Real good.”

“He did.”

“I was just thinking…” Austin’s jaw flexes. “We want to win state this year, and if we’re going to do that, we need the best quarterback leading the team. Maybe it should be him.”

Pride swells in my chest. I know how much starting quarterback means to Austin, and hearing him selflessly offer to give it up for the betterment of the team scores a lot of points with me.

“I’ll make that decision.”

“I know.” He nods. “I’m just saying. I think he’s kind of… better than me.”

“No, he’s not.” Uncrossing my arms, I put my hands on the bar, gentling my approach. “There’s a lot more to being QB-1 than completing passes. You’re a leader, Austin. You’ve worked hard, and your teammates know you. They trust you. You care about them.”

“I do.” His jaw tightens, and he huffs a breath. “I guess I don’t want him to be penalized for something he can’t help.” His voice goes quiet. “I have a bad dad, too.”

It’s a punch in the chest, and protective energy surges to fill the space.

“Do you trust me?”

His eyes flicker to mine. “Yeah?”

“I care a lot about you and your mom, but that doesn’t mean I’d tell you something that wasn’t true.” His brow lowers, and I walk around the bar to put my hand on his shoulder. “You’re not only a great player, Austin. You’re a good kid. Youhave a good heart, and you care about your team. That’s what makes you a leader.”

His shoulders relax. “I don’t think I’ve ever run plays like Levi did, though.”

“Well, come on, then. Let’s take a look and see if we’re forgetting anything.”

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