Peering across our destination, I notice there’s a handful of people running or walking around the track, someone shooting goals into the soccer net on the far side and on the near side…
Wait, is thatDel? Del, the Waves’ veteran kicker?
My brain can’t compute why he would be here.
“Are we going where the soccer player is?”
Connor gives me a small smile. “Nope.”
“To Del, then?”
“Yep.”
“But—”
I stop walking, confused.
Connor quit playing the sport during his flag football days in middle school and focused on soccer. Landon has pleaded withhim to give football a chance again several times, but Connor has resisted.
What’s going on?
I walk behind him like a lemming down the steps until we’re striding across the field. Del gives us a wave as we approach.
“Hey, Connor.” He turns his gaze to me. “Rawley, great to see you.” He doesn’t look surprised that I’m here.
I don’t know Del well yet, but he’s been the Waves’ kicker forever, and I first met him in passing during Landon’s rookie year, so we’ve had some interactions.
“Same.” I try to look like I know what’s going on, but yeah, super fucking confused.
“You ready to show him what you’re working on?” Del asks Connor.
Connor looks over to the person shooting goals on the other field—a woman, I see now.Isthis soccer related, after all?
But then he shifts to Del. “Yes, let’s do it.”
“I have everything set up for you. You warmed up?”
“Yeah, I’m okay. Got loose in Landon’s gym before coming here.”
Del nods, and without either of them paying me any mind, they walk to the thirty-yard line on this side of the field.
There are several footballs, and as they hit the center of the yard line, I see Del pick one up and say something to Connor.
My brother takes three large steps back, and all of a sudden, Del is kneeling, holding the football in place.
A split second later, Connor starts to approach Del rapidly, and then—holy shit—boots the ball.
It clears the field goal posts, dead center and about fifteen feet higher than it needs to be.
Which means he could make it even farther from the post.
“Again,” Del says, loud enough that it projects my way. Connor shoots me a smile as he walks back to his starting spot.
And then he drills another perfect field goal.
This time I don’t stay still, jogging closer to them. “What the hell, Con? What is this?”
“Surprise.”
