Page 11 of Strong Side
“Meet you out there.” I open the door and see my dad getting out of the truck and walking to the back of the trailer. I don’t see my brother, so he must be back there already.
As I’m walking to meet them, I see Casey’s truck pulling into the complex with Beck’s truck behind his. I lift my arm to wave him over. They both pull in across from where my dad is parked.
Charlie hops out of Beck’s truck first. “Hey, chick! How’s the place?”
We meet halfway and hug. Last year, when she came to Walker, we spent more time together since Casey and I are together quite a bit, and she and I have become closer.
“It’s good. I’m dreading this part though. I feel like it takes me forever to unpack.”
“I’ll help you, and we’ll get it done fast,” Charlie says.
Beck walks over to us and hugs me. “Hey. Good to see you. Where do you want us to start?”
The “good to see you” makes me smile. Beck isn’t really talkative, but when he does speak, you know he means what he’s saying.
“Hey, Beck. Thanks for coming to help. I appreciate it.” I smile. “We might as well get started with the big stuff so my dad and brother can head back home. They have to return the trailer by five p.m.”
Casey, Bo Callaway, and a new guy walk over to join us.
“Hello, Noelle James. It’s good to see you on this fine Oklahoma day,” Casey says, walking over and wrapping me into a hug.
A thought hits me that Trey and his friends would have never come by, let alone offered to help me move. I don’t know how I didn’t pick up on those red flags.
Yet here are some of Walker football’s starting lineup, ready to help me.
“Hello, Casey King. It’s good to see you as well.” I pull back and slap his stomach. “You’re a nerd.”
We both smile and laugh.
Bo nods at me. “Hey, Noelle.”
I don’t know him as well, we aren’t at the hugging stage yet, so I just lift my hand and smile.
The new guy reaches out his hand toward me. “Hey. I’m Silas.”
“Hey, Silas. You’re the one from Georgia?” I ask him.
“That would be me. I came from playing for Georgia, but I’m from Arkansas.”
We shake hands, and he pulls his hand away.
“Gotcha. So, you’re closer to home now. Welcome to Oklahoma!”
“Okay, James, let’s roll. I’m hungry, and I want to get this done before it gets hotter.” Casey starts walking toward my dad and brother, and the guys follow.
Chelsea walks over, and I introduce her to Charlie. Then we walk over to the guys and my dad and brother.
“I feel like you guys have control of this situation, so we’ll start taking stuff out of my car.” I lift my thumb over my shoulder.
“We need to bring in the furniture first so that the boxes or whatever you have aren’t in the way, so let us get this stuff infirst. Won’t take us long since I have some of the stars of Walker here to help us.” My dad laughs.
“Oh, right. I guess that makes more sense. So, what do you want us girls to do?” I ask.
“Just look pretty and tell us where to go,” Casey chirps.
“I like that answer,” Charlie says.
“Just show us where everything goes, and once we’re done with that, we’ll get your cars cleared out,” Dad says. “Hi, I’m Noelle’s dad, Brad.” He holds out his hand to Chelsea.
