Page 12 of The Story of Us
A voice behind Nate said, “Dude, you’re meant to be good at this. How are the kids going to believe you know what you’re talking about if you can’t even get a goal?”
If it had been anyone else, Nate might’ve bristled at the teasing. Instead, he threw a ball at Teddy’s head, laughing as his brother caught it and slotted the goal easily.
“I can give you some pointers if you like. I don’t like to brag, but I was the Under Twelves Best and Fairest.”
Nate picked up another ball from the pile at his feet, adjusting it until the laces were perfectly straight. This kick sailed through the middle posts. “Maybe I’m not totally washed up.”
The bright lights flicked on.
Nate chuckled.Bright lights.The small oval at the back of Kathleen’s Place was so far removed from the big stadiums he’d played in as an Arizona Mustang in the NFL that it was genuinely unfair to compare the two. It even paled in comparison to the college grounds when he’d been a Utah Mountain Elk, which his brothers had loved to tease him about. They’d stopped laughing when he landed the biggest signing bonus ever for an Australian player in the NFL and became an instant millionaire at twenty-two. It was still hard to believe the path his life had taken.
But he was here now, on this small patch of grass on the southern side of town, near the old cemetery and tiny Anglican church with its colourful stained windows and arched doorways teaching kids about how important it was to move their bodies.
Nate picked up another footy and started handballing with Teddy while they waited for everyone to arrive.
Before long, car doors were thumping closed, the sound carrying across the oval. Several kids were also walking over from the main homestead, led by Eloise. The gentle wind made her long hair dance around her. Mixed with the oval’s lights, it gave her an ethereal, magical appearance. A chill whispered across Nate’s body, and it had nothing to do with the fact he’d forgotten his beanie.
“Got your exam results back yet?” he asked Teddy, trying to distract himself.
“One more semester and I’ll be a graduate Doctor of Dental Surgery. Honours and everything.” Teddy bowed, snapping another shot at goal before he was even standing up properly.
Pride bloomed in Nate’s chest. “That’s brilliant news, Ted. You’ve made it look easy.”
Teddy’s lopsided grin was automatic. “I make everything look easy. Couldn’t have done it without your help, though. Knowing I don’t have a mountain of student debt is totally kickass.”
Nate shrugged, keeping his eyes forward. His family was so funny about money. It had taken Teddy ages to accept his offer to pay for his degree. Owen and Raff had never let him help them financially, and the only way he could convince his parents to let him pay off their mortgage was to say it could be an advance on whatever inheritance he might get eventually. Hopefully, the one that was many, many years away.
“My offer still stands for the orthodontist course once you’re ready to do it.” Nate kept his tone casual, even. Didn’t want to spook the six-foot-five guy who looked like a Viking by offering too effusively to do something nice for him. God forbid.
“I know, and I appreciate it, but I’ll see how I go. You should spend some of your money on yourself for once.”
“Eh, there’s nothing I need or want.”
Which was true. Nate had everything he needed. Charlie had redone the kitchen and bathrooms at his place and built his little studio, complete with a jetty out over the Wattle River. Running power and sewerage down to it had been criminally expensive, but it had been worth it.
The group edged closer, a few parents settling in the stands while others left, the headlights from their cars sweeping across the field as they reversed.
“Thanks so much for doing this for us,” Eloise said when she stopped in front of the brothers.
“I thought there were only a few kids,” Nate said.
A much larger crowd stood behind her. “Word got out that you guys were running it, and”—she shrugged—“here we are. I’ll stay and help. Although, I don’t know how useful I’ll be. Charlie’s the sporty one, not me.”
Not even the mention of her brother could stop Nate’s gaze from dipping to Eloise’s snug running tights, cropped puffer jacket and hand-knitted beanie. Her nose was a little red, eyes bright. She’d never looked better.
Teddy cleared his throat, dragging Nate from his daydream. He redirected his attention to the group in front of him.
“Hey, guys. My name’s Nate, and this is my brother Teddy. We’re going to run your sports class for the next few weeks. We thought we’d keep the first class nice and easy and play some games.”
Of course, they hadn’t expected forty-five children, ranging from what he guessed were five to fifteen, to rock up.
“Are you famous? My dad said you’re famous, but you should’ve played Aussie Rules because it’s way better than the FNL,” a little boy wearing a Western Bulldogs shirt called out.
Teddy lowered his voice so only Nate could hear him. “This is already the best part of my day.” Then—the git—leant forward like he was about to tell the kids a secret. “Some people think Nate’s famous because he played in the NFL not the FNL, but I don’t. He’s just my silly, smelly brother who’s scared of spiders! Look how big he is, but when he sees a spider …” Teddy jumped and hid behind Nate.
The younger kids giggled. Nate hoped Teddy did eventually become an orthodontist who specialised in working with children because they always loved him.
“But it’s okay. If I’m not here to protect him, Eloise will do it.”
