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Logan
Istand on the football field, Wade and Robbie flanking my sides, and peer out over the group of young boys who tried out for the two teams. After I made myself look like a complete imbecile last night at the Bar & Grille, I rejoined Wade and Robbie, and we hashed out the final cut for both teams.
I can’t stand the thought of cutting any of these kids, of breaking any of their spirits. They all stare back at me, hope in their eyes. I know that some who don’t make it this year won’t be back. I briefly wonder if this is how my high school coach felt.
But I was offered this job because of my reputation, my talent. If I ignore the fact that some of these boys can’t even catch a football, there’s no way we’ll have a winning season, and that’s what the Board of Education expects, what the whole town expects. They expect me to bring home a championship title.
“If I call your name, you made the varsity team. If you don’t hear your name, please come back and try out again next season.”
I’m going down the list when I see Holden Pierce, Quinton and Liam’s dad, get up and leave the bleachers. I spoke to the man once in the past couple of days and feel he’s a good guy. Good to his sons. Just trying to figure things out as a single parent the same way I am.
As he walks out of the stadium, Sailor walks in. Her hair is down today, like it was last night, and she’s wearing the same pair of oversized sunglasses she wore before. She finds an empty spot on the bleachers and sits down, crossing her legs.
I start reading off the names for the kids who have made the team. As I call out the names, knowing Liam Pierce is not on the list, I glance up at Sailor. She has moved from her seat on the bleachers and is perched against the fence, staring intently out to the field. It’s as if she knows what’s going to happen and is preparing for the inevitable heartbreak that comes with not being picked for a team.
I look over to Liam, at this kid who has more heart than any other player on this field, and I decide, fuck it.
“Liam Pierce.”
I can feel Wade and Robbie’s eyes on me. They know he didn’t make the team, yet I just called out his name as a player. We clap for the boys and Wade taps my shoulder. I shoot him a look that tells him not to question my judgment. I am the head coach, after all.
I’m sure to give some encouragement to the boys I cut, pointers on what to work on over the next year, and how to come back more prepared for next season’s tryouts. There’s no equipment to load tonight, but I let Campbell stay behind and talk with his new teammates, enjoying how happy my son is.
When I reach my truck, Sailor is waiting there. You would think after being married to a difficult woman like Jolene, I would know better than to be interested in Sailor Leigh. I shouldn’t be interested in any woman, period. I need to focus on my son and my newfound career as a high school coach and teacher.
But Sailor Leigh isn’t just any woman. We have a history together. Had Jolene not told me she was pregnant, my life would have taken a completely different path. And that path would have had Sailor on it with me.
“Liam didn’t really make the team, did he?” she asks, crossing her arms over her chest.
It’s a defensive posture, meant to keep everyone out. I bet she does it so often that it comes naturally to her.
“I called his name from the roster list.”
“Prove it. Show me the list.”
I laugh. “Did you not want him to make the team?”
“Only if he earned it. Liam loves football, but there’s more to playing the sport than being knowledgeable about it. More than just loving the game.”
“He has heart. I’ll work with him on everything else.”
She wants to smile. I can see one corner of her mouth tilt slightly, but she keeps her emotions in check as she walks past me to go to her Jeep.
“Logan?” she calls out when she’s almost there. “You just earned yourself five seconds.”
