Page 97 of The Way We Win

After shaking hands with the other coach, and giving a short congratulatory speech to the boys, I cut out to make my Halloween costume contact.

I lucked out with a friend who does community theater in Mobile, and he was able to hook me up with a long velvet jacket, tan breeches, and tall leather boots.

The boots are a little too big, but I can make them work as I pull into the parking lot at Cooters & Shooters. The lights are all on, and Kimmie is already here with Dylan.

She danced her little heart out on the sidelines with the drill team, and when Austin was announced homecoming king, she screamed so loud, I could hear her from the door of the locker room.

It’s silly, but my stomach tightens when I stop outside the door of the restaurant. Looking down at my outfit, there’s no going back from what it says. Especially when I pair it with what Allie’s wearing.

“Are you coming in or not?” The door flies open, and Zane stands inside dressed in full cowboy gear.

“Well, don’t you look fancy!” Rachel is beside him in a red gingham dress that pushes up her chest. Her hair is in two ponytails, and she looks like something off that old country music showHee-Haw.

“Daddy, you look like Prince Phillip!” Kimmie runs to me.

“Is that the one who was married to Queen Elizabeth?” I bend down to pick up my little jumping bean.

Liv helped her dress up as a member of the drill team, so she’s in a glittery bodysuit with thick tights and tap shoes. Her hair is slicked back in a bun with sparkles all over it, and her lips are red.

“No, Daddy!” She rolls her brown eyes. “He goes with Princess Aurora!”

Allie sees me from across the room, and her eyes widen. I have to clear my throat, because she’s stunning.

Her dress is relatively simple, long and straight with a light gray top layer almost like a coat. A wide pink ribbon is wrapped like a belt just under her breasts, giving them a mouthwatering boost, and her hair is gathered to the side so that it falls in a way that draws my eyes downward to them.

“Have I got the hottest big brother or what?” Dylan walks over in her long red pepper getup and tugs on the lapels of my light-blue velvet coat. “You almost look like you belong with someone. I wonder who it could be?” Her amber eyes roll around like she’s thinking, and I huff a laugh. “Oh, I know! It’s our very own Jane Austen-Allie!”

“Bruh, that’s one fancy getup.” Logan walks up in a round, green costume I can only assume is supposed to be a bell pepper. “Where’s your horse?”

“Left it down at Gloria’s,” I quip, holding back a laugh. “Where’s your…”

“Don’t say it.” Logan holds up a hand. “Your sister is having a hard time these days with all the… tasting.”

“You’re a good man.” I pat his arm, turning to look for my partner.

“Looking for someone?” Garrett’s jersey stretches across his stomach. “It’s about time you got on the bandwagon.”

I arch an eyebrow. “It’s about time you got on the treadmill.”

He slaps his stomach. “I’m loving life.”

“When did you ever stop?”

“I had a few years.”

“Looking mighty elegant, Coach.” Hendrix walks over with Haddy on his arm.

She’s in a pink jumpsuit with little wings all around her face. “What’s this?”

“Axolotl costume. Raven’s sister made it. We’re doing this whole ocean thing.” He’s dressed as a pirate, and Raven’s in a mermaid costume. “Glad you’re making it official with Allie. We’ve been wanting this for a long time, in case you didn’t know.”

Glancing down, I lean a little closer. “I wouldn’t call it official just yet.”

Hendrix cuts his eyes. “If you’re worried she might not be into you, I’m pretty sure she is. Even if you’re as slow as molasses in January.”

“Stop hassling him! Jack, you two look amazing.” Raven has Allie by the hand, dragging her across the room to where I’m standing. “You’re like something out of a romance novel.”

“Oh, I get it now!” Dylan cries. “It’s because Allie’s a librarian. Wow, that took longer than it should have.”

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