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Pirates peel off me, and my guys are there, flipping me over.
“You okay?” Calvin asks.
“Help me up.”
They pull me to my feet, and I flinch at the pain in my body. Rebels party in the stands, the guys chatter excitedly, and we get into position for the extra point.Where’s Dylan?
Where would she be if she’s not here?
Extra point goes on the board, offense moves to the sideline, and Farrow steps on with defense as Kade takes the field.
He gets into position, points at me, and I slip off my helmet, but I can’t watch. I stare at the ground, knowing every time he gains yardage, moving closer and closer to the end zone. Guys roll to the ground, and I hear curses and insults, and I still don’t look at my family.
I don’t have to look at them to know that they hate what they’re watching.
I don’t have to look at them to know Dylan’s not here.
We may or may not win, but I’ll wake up alone tomorrow.
She’s done with us. That’s why she’s not here. She doesn’t care about the game. She can’t watch us do this.
Kade scores a touchdown, our offense steps on the field, then them again, and by the end of the second half, it’s seventeen to seven, Pirates.
The band marches, people leave their seats for the bathroom or food, and the teams drift into the locker room.
“Hunter, half time,” Dewitt calls.
I turn my head, just enough so he’ll hear me over my shoulder. “I’m staying here.”
“Now!”
“I’m staying here!”
They leave, and I don’t sit. I stand there and hydrate and fume, but shit fills my head like a bucket, pouring in until it overflows, and all of a sudden, my head falls back and my shoulders sink.
I don’t even like football that much. I never did.
I played, because I knew Dad loved his kids in sports, and if Dylan was at the games, then I wanted her to watch me as much as she did Kade.
I laugh with no one there to hear.
“Do you love your brother?” a voice asks next to me.
I look over to see my mom.
I stare at her a while, and I don’t want to lie to her, but God, it’s been so long since Kade was my brother. I forget what it feels like. “I want to,” I tell her.
She nods. “It’s just a game, Hunter. It won’t solve anything. It won’t humble him to lose. Why are you really here?”
I stare down into her eyes, the tears not falling, and I hate to think of how my family is seeing this.
“I want to face him.”
She shakes her head. “You’re so much better than that. Whyare you here?”
I turn away, swallowing through the needles in my throat.
“Anger happens,” she says, “but you can’t let it be your entire identity.”
