She hesitates. “I don’t know, crowds aren’t really my thing.”
“Fair,” I nod. “But it’s a good crowd. Lots of noise, bad hot dogs, and the whole town shows up. Kind of a Rosehill tradition.”
“I’m not exactly… traditional.”
“That’s alright. Ain’t why I asked.”
She chews on her bottom lip, looking down, but then, to my surprise, she nods. “I’ll think about it.”
“That’s all I ask,” I step back from the car. “Have a good evening, Ms. Patel.”
“You too, Coach Wesley.”
And just like that, we’re back to polite titles again.
But I’ll take it.For now.
The buzzer sounds for halftime, the lights illuminating the field under the September sky. We’re up by a touchdown, but the other team’s good. It’ll be tight whichever way it goes.
Even during the break, I’m on the edge of my seat.
I scan the crowd until I spot Alex sitting near the bottom edge of the bleachers, his black clothes blending in with the shadows. I walk over to him and plop down, bumping his shoulder lightly.
“Didn’t think you were coming.”
He shrugs, his eyes trained on the field. “Figured you’d guilt-trip me forever if I missed it.”
“Damn right,” I agree, earning a huff of a laugh.
It almost feels right, like the last couple of months haven’t been off, and I’m not worried sick about the kid.
The stadium goes quiet as the announcer’s voice booms over the speakers, and couples walk onto the field one pair at a time, dressed all fancy with big smiles plastered on their faces.
“Your Homecoming King and Queen, Jason Barnett and Olivia Kent!”
Jason steps forward, in his dirty football uniform, and Olivia, his girlfriend, looks happy as can be as she kisses him on the cheek and waves at the crowd.
Hell, this is the happiest I’ve seen Jason since the season started.
They get their plastic crowns and their sashes, and I’m cheering for them, shouting out along with everybody else.
Beside me, Alex is completely still, fixated on the field.
When I sit back down, he mutters, “Weird seeing him like that.”
“Yeah,” I say, watching Jason. “It is.”
He’s got the girl, the crown, the stadium cheering his name.
I remember when that was me, not too long ago.
“You know her?” I ask, nodding toward Olivia.
Alex snorts. “Not really. She’s nice, I guess. Cheerleader, senior. Kind of dumb.”
“You say that like it’s a crime.”
“It’s not,” he says, giving me his best shit-eating grin, “If it was, you’d have been arrested a long time ago.”
