Page 70 of The Way We Win

“I wanted to talk to you about our defensive line. We got lucky last week, but we’re facing some big teams. Can you come to practice this week?”

“I’ll be there.” Garrett holds out a hand, and I clasp it. “You know I will.”

Baby squeals come from Gigi’s room, and Kimmie stomps into the living room with her arms crossed. “Gigi won’t do anything I tell her to do. She keeps sayingdog.”

“I told you.” Garrett grins at Liv. “She came out for that lady’s dog. We gotta get her a puppy.”

“I am not having a puppy and a toddler at the same time.” Liv holds up a hand. “When she’s bigger, we’ll get her a dog.”

Garrett makes a move like he’ll grab her, and Liv hops around behind me.

“You’d better hide behind Jack. You know I’ll throw you over my shoulder if you start sassing me.”

“Garrett Bradford!” Her voice goes high, but she’s trying not to laugh.

It’s another twist in my stomach, and I’m again frustrated at my siblings and their damn happy families.

“We’re taking off. See you next week.” I grab Kimmie’s hand, and Liv squeals as my brother takes off after her.

“Uncle Garrett’s got Aunt Liv over his shoulder.” My daughter watches behind me. “Is that how you get a puppy, Daddy?”

“It’s how you get something.”

Holding the door to my old red pickup, I help her into the passenger’s side and buckle her into her car seat.

My phone vibrates, and I pull it out of my pocket. On the screen is a single sentence from Allie, a.k.a., mydirty little secret.

DLS

I told Ronnie no.

17

Allie

Another week goes by, and Austin still isn’t in the game.

The doctors examined his ankle and said he ought to wait one more week, and Jack didn’t even question it.

Still, when I see the frustration on my son’s face as he leans on crutches on the side of the field, it takes all my strength not to go to Jack and talk to him.

He hates when parents interfere, and I do trust him. But it’s really hard.

I stay on the sidelines with the drill team doing my best to assist Liv, but my eyes are fixed on Jack as he walks over to Austin to talk to him.

“L-E-V-I! Levi, Levi, he’s our guy!” The cheerleaders work out a new chant behind me, and my teeth clench when I see them jumping up and down shaking their pom poms.

Then, Levi jogs past them onto the field and gives a little wave, and they fall together in giggles. Rolling my eyes, I exhale a soft growl.

Austin stands on crutches beside the cooler, and his jaw is tight as he watches, too.

“It’ll turn around when he’s back in the game.” Liv is at my side, putting her arm around my shoulder. “Try to keep him encouraged.”

“It’s hard when everybody’s obsessed with the new kid in town.”

My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I reach for it absently. I almost drop it when I see a text from “Sir” on the screen.Siris how I saved Jack’s number in my phone.

Liv gives it a glance, but she walks back to where the drill team is lining up with their hands on each other’s waists.

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