Page 71 of Full Coverage (Boys of Fall)

Randi didn’t know what to say. She turned the book over.

The Boys of Fall. A collection of essays about small-town football—the victories, the defeats, and the fans that make it all matter.

Randi swallowed hard.

“These are the stories we’ve told him,” Teresa said. “All the people he interviewed, behind the scenes stuff, but…”

Randi looked up.

“But mostly the stuff you told him,” Teresa said. “The stories that made him love football. And you.”

Randi shook her head. “He doesn’t love football.”

“He loves Quinn football. Now. Because you helped him see that very little of it is actually about the game. And you helped him know all of us better. You helpedmeknow everyone better.”

“Really?”

“I got to beta read the book. He figured I’d be the harshest critic of anything about Quinn.” She shrugged. “I liked it.”

Randi breathed deep, her eyes stinging.

“Read the dedication,” Teresa said, opening the front cover.

“Oh my God, read it out loud,” Annabelle said.

The words blurred and Randi had to blink. She finally shook her head. “You read it.” She handed the book to Annabelle.

“Out loud,” Lela added, leaning onto the table eagerly.

Annabelle cleared her throat. “The fifty is where anything can happen, things can go either way, and it’s all about who wants it more. It’s all about possibilities and desire at the fifty. Miranda Doyle.”

Randi felt her heart thump and a tingling start at her scalp and travel to her toes.

Annabelle and Lela looked at her, their eyes huge.

“You said that?” Lela asked.

Randi nodded.

“Wow, that’s really good,” Annabelle said.

Randi chuckled in spite of the swirl of emotions going through her. “Thanks.” She looked at the book. “I can’t believe he used that.”

“And I’m not done reading,” Annabelle said.

Randi sat up straighter. “Okay, go on.”

“He signed it,” Annabelle said. “And it’s amazing.”

“Read it,” Lela said, almost bouncing in her seat.

“It says, To Miranda, M—”

Randi grabbed the book.

“Noooo!” Lela protested.

But Randi could barely hear her because she was reading Nolan’s words.

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