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The elation of moving to the semifinal was another step in the journey, the plan coming to fruition. Another box checked. I hugged Tennessee like I never wanted to let him go.
Coach’s beaming grin said it all and his after game speech was full of praise. The defense was solid, the offense was superb,my last throw was a masterpiece and Tennessee’s catch was magic.
In all the jubilation after the game, I hadn’t seen Sierra. Well, I’d seen her at a distance, her fluorescent green vest like a beacon, scurrying around with the water baskets but she hadn’t come over to me. Probably just as well. I’d been squirted with sugary energy drink and was sticky all over.
The bus ride back to Covington was one big celebration, and as per what had been happening all season after a win, Dad invited the team over to our house.
But it was into the ice bath tubs as soon as we got back to school, the remedy for muscle fatigue. The ice baths were new and were the bane of my existence. They may have helped with flushing away metabolic waste post-workout and reducing inflammation, but jumping into 50 degree water literally took your breath away. It was five minutes of torture, of suffering in silence—I had learned that complaining would get me extra time. Yep, Dad had once kept me in for seven and a half minutes because I shrieked so much. Hey, I couldn’t help it if I was a warm-weather person. I’d take the beach over the mountains any day.
Sawyer coped with the ice bath by closing his eyes and going into a meditative state. Time slowed to a snail’s crawl if I did that. I’d open my eyes and two seconds would have passed.
I needed to be distracted.
“Talk to me Sawyer,” I said.
“Man, just focus and breathe. You’ll be out in no time,” he said, jumping into the giant trash can.
“C’mon Cap, you can do it.” That was encouragement from Redmond Phillips, a junior defensive lineman.
“You had a good game, Red,” I said, just to keep the conversation going.
“Hey, thanks. I felt really good out there today.”
“Afternoon games can be different,” I said. “You know, I think you’re fresher, not so tired. And the grass is less dewy so you’re not slipping so much.”
“True,” Red said. “Hadn’t thought of that.”
The play-offs were scheduled for Saturdays at one o’clock, so it had been an adjustment from the usual Friday night games. For me, I preferred it. Playing under the glare of lights could affect your vision and handling the ball was easier if the air wasn’t so cool and dense. Once I explained to Red how the difference in time could affect the air pressure of the ball, which in turn meant kicks and punts and passes flew through the air further, my five minutes was up. I really did have the gift of the gab when I needed it.
Shivering as I jumped out, Sawyer emerged as if he’d been pleasantly sunbathing on a Caribbean beach.
“Hey Sawyer,” Red called out to him, already boasting that he was doing eight minutes which was totally unnecessary; he hadn’t even played in the last quarter.
“Hey Red,” Sawyer answered with a somewhat tolerable tone, likely still in a state of zen.
“Just wondered if Sierra will be at Coach’s later.”
The mention of Sierra’s name forced my ears to full alert.
“Who’s asking?” Sawyer asked.
Red shrugged, a mischievous grin covering his face. “She kept checking to see if I’d been drinking enough today.” His eyebrows bounced up and down suggestively.
I didn’t like it. Rage rose in my gut, causing my hands to shake, and I don’t mean in a shivery way like when I’d gotten out of the ice bath. I don’t know whether I was mad because Red was hinting at liking Sierra, or that he’d insinuated that she’d paid him more attention than me.
“You stay away from my sister,” Sawyer said with a smile, contradicting his own words.
“Can’t help it if she likes me,” Red said, winking at Sawyer in a cocky, arrogant way.
I saw red.
Well, both literally and figuratively.
And though my legs were shaky, I stormed up to the ice tub and stood threatening over the copper-haired kid who was way bigger than the average junior. Redmond Phillips certainly put in the hard work at the gym.
“You heard Sawyer,” I said in my deepest, most assertive voice. “You stay away from his sister.”
“Yes Cap,” Red said, his vivid blue eyes flashing back at me with an element of surprise. It was at least good to know my role of captain commanded respect, but I was weirdly jealous that this kid was in Sierra’s classes. That he had another year of school with her, that they’d graduate together, might even go to prom as a couple, maybe the same college.
