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Julie hadn’t made things any easier. Every time I saw her all I could think about was the night at the back of Catch. But she wouldn’t let me get close to her.
A bell rang in the distance and at least two dozen kids started to rush the field. I watched as Hunter melted into the background, not wanting to be a part of the group.
For some reason, it bothered me. I’d observed it for days. They were like a pack of dogs, picking on the puppy. If I had a few minutes alone with Hunter, he wasn’t that shy. I’d gotten to know the kid. But as soon as the older kids showed up, he retreated faster than a guy on special teams trying to dodge a tackle.
One of the older kids picked up the discarded football and the children started to sort teams. I strolled over to Hunter and waited for him to make eye contact with me.
“Why are you not over there playing?” I asked him.
“They don’t like it when I play.” His voice was quiet. I wanted to wipe the smudge of dirt from his cheek but I stuffed my hands in my pockets. I knew he had a no-contact policy.
“Why not?”
“Because they said only kids with families should play. No one is going to come see me play so there is no point.”
“The little shits said that?”
Truth was, I didn’t know Hunter’s story. Not all of it, anyway. But I wasn’t always the star quarterback. I didn’t always play in the AFA. I had a past. One I wasn’t proud of. Only that I had survived it.
Hunter’s eyes widened.
“Sorry. Language.” I shrugged. “Don’t tell Miss Bristow.”
He smiled lightly.
“Let’s go. If you want to play, you’re getting in that game.” I almost slung my arm around his shoulder.
“No it’s ok, really. I don’t mind not playing.”
“Well, I only play with the best so unless you come, I’m not playing.” I smirked. All week, I had been tossing with him. I’d never seen so much natural talent.
“Really? You think I’m good?”
“Damn straight kid, now let’s go.”
He ran ahead of me. Before I even reached the huddle, I already heard the kids telling him they didn’t want him there. That he didn’t need to play. I listened, wanting to hear every word. Every second that passed made my blood run hotter.
I didn’t get how little kids could be so mean and hateful to each other. What the hell happened to playing together and having a good time? Why did they give two damns about who had what or who was who? These little fuckers had no idea how good they had it. It pissed me off even more.
“No one wants you, Hunter. Even your family didn’t want you. You can’t even find a new family to want you. You suck. Go away.”
I saw the poor little guy trying his best to be strong and stay there. He was doing what I asked him to do. It filled me with pride. I wanted to wrap him up in a tight hug and let him know that he had someone in his corner.
There was a ringleader in gangs. There always was. I walked to the center of their circle. I turned my head to the left and the right as if I was searching the crowd for someone and then I pointed to the oldest kid. I could see Hunter out of the corner of my eye. His shoulders dropped and his whole body looked like the world was sitting on top of them. No eight-year-old deserved that.
“What’s your name?”
There was fear in the kid’s face. “J-Jamie.” He swallowed hard. Suddenly the ring leader wasn’t the badass he thought he was.
“Well, Jamie. We’ve known each other how long?”
True, I hadn’t memorized their names. The only one I really kept an eye on was Hunter.
“A week, sir.”
I nodded. “Yeah. A week. Thought we could scrimmage today.”
I heard them whisper around me.
