Page 2 of I Got You

I squeeze them both before they head out to wait for the bus. “You two look out for each other today and be kind.” Garrett hugs me while Teddy struggles to get away. Just before I hear the click of the door closing, I feel the Nerf dart hit me in the butt cheek. That little sneaky rotten turd could win a sharpshooter competition. It’s on when he gets home, and he’ll have no idea what hit him.

Liv climbs down from her chair, bringing me her bowl.

“Let’s get you dressed. Gwen should be here any minute.”

Gwen has worked for our family for years and is the thick rubber band that holds us together. My dad hired her after Hank was born, and she’s been a part of our family ever since. Thank goodness she’s stuck with us because I don’t know what I’d do without her.

As I brush Liv’s hair, Cole’s ringtone comes from my phone tucked into the waist of my leggings.

“I’m impressed you’re up this early. What do you want from me?”

He laughs. “What crawled into your coffee this morning? You’re awfully chipper.”

I roll my eyes, biting the tip of my tongue to see if I’ve regained any feeling. “Haha. You know I don’t have a choice but to be Little Miss Sunshine these days. Believe me. It takes everything in me. Hank and I could survive on grunts until noon in another life.” His laugh makes me smile. “Seriously, why are you calling me?”

I love my oldest brother, the full-blooded one who’s just a couple of years younger, but I know with one hundred percent certainty there’s no way he’s calling me this early to chat. I wait.

“I need you to check out some of the guys at practice today. They aren’t cutting it and need to be in your class ASAP.”

My brother is the starting quarterback for Colorado State, and he’s good. Really good.

Cole lives, eats, and breathes football. He always has. I can’t remember a time when he wasn’t throwing a football.

He’s slated to be high in the draft picks after graduation this year, but he takes on a responsibility to live up to expectations set by others. Those expectations stem from the fact that he’s Tim ‘The Rocket’ Matthews's son. It’s a legacy he wears on his shoulders, and he wears it well, but sometimes I wonder if the load ever gets too heavy. He accepts only excellence from himself but also from his teammates. When he sees someone lacking, he’ll do what’s necessary to get them leveled up.

Do I play football? No. Do I know a bit about the game? Yes. I grew up watching my dad play, but I didn’t just watch.

I spent hours sitting in his lap, dissecting games and strategies. I listened to him and his teammates discuss the ins and outs, x’s and o’s, plays, and bad calls. I absorbed the intricate details of the game. My dad’s game.

My childhood was standing on the sideline and sitting in the stands, watching, listening, and taking it all in. What I bring to the table is getting guys to hop off the line and maneuver the field like their bodies are one of those slimy, stretchy lizards.

Last year, Cole convinced a couple of the guys who were stiff, tight, and unable to react to take my barre class. Shortly after, Coach Cavanaugh filled my barre space with giant, egotistical football players. These big dudes didn’t know what hit them but were moving more fluidly, with fewer injuries. Their price, having to don ballet shoes and face the pain of realizing just how inflexible and weak they really were.

“Does Coach know you are asking for my help?” CC would be just as likely to seek me out, but I’m careful not to step on the man’s toes.

“I told him I was going to have you take a look. I didn’t say anything to the new defensive coach or Coach Almas, but what can they say if CC’s on board? These guys can’t touch their toes or move their hips, let alone run and twist to catch a ball. You know two games into the season, they’ll be out with sprains and pulled muscles. The whole team needs to go into the season without pain.”

“Jumping into my class isn’t going to help that. They should’ve been taking yoga or pilates all summer.”

There’s a long sigh, and I know he’s running his long, skinny fingers over his face.

“Yeah, but I also know that getting them in there now will only help them heal faster when they get hurt. It’s better than nothing. Please. Once you see them, you’ll immediately know where to start.”

“Cole, maybe you should just stick them with one of the sports therapists?” It’s not that I don’t believe in my ability to help. I do, but these guys need fast results, which is one more thing I don’t have time for.

I twist the hair tie around the end of Liv’s braid a few times and let out a huff when he doesn’t say anything.

“But I know what you can do. I trust you.”

The little shit knows just how to bait me. “So what do I get out of this?”

“How about I take the kids to a movie after church on Sunday? You can have the whole afternoon to yourself before the season starts.”

And there’s the hook. I’m no dummy. A few minutes of my time scoring an afternoon to myself is a no-brainer.

“Deal. I'll be there this afternoon if I don’t get hung up after class with a student. I won’t be able to stay long. I told the boys I’d be home early today.”

“Ok. Perfect. Thanks, Mags.”

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