Page 69 of Forever

Kennedy laughed. “He does know that team we’re playing is the tigers, not the beasts, right?”

“I have no idea what goes through Nigel’s head.” I high fived all the players and smiled as they enjoyed some of the cookies Brooklyn had made for them.

The stadium slowly emptied out.

“I’m going to cut out early from cleanup,” Kennedy said. “I need some Tylenol and a nap. I’m pretty sure Nigel has it covered anyway.”

Nigel was currently removing fingerprints from his water glasses with a towel.

I wasn’t sure why he kept bringing fancy glasses instead of paper cups.

“See you later,” I said.

“Coach! Coach!” Jacob yelled as he sprinted toward me. “We won!”

“Yeah we did.” I lifted him into my arms and balanced him on my hip. “Where’d you get this?” I tapped the Eagle in the middle of his long-sleeved shirt. He hadn’t beenwearing this when we left the house. And I didn’t even realize that Empire High made clothes in children’s sizes.

“My abuelo gave it to me.”

“Thanks, Tanner,” I said as he joined us on the field.

“Young Jacob and I have the same taste in fashion. Don’t we, my boy?” He put his fist out.

Jacob fist-bumped him.

“How about we go help out Nigel with…whatever he’s doing,” Tanner said and lifted Jacob out of my arms. The second Jacob’s feet hit the ground he ran over to Nigel.

“Brooklyn wants a word,” Tanner whispered to me.

I looked up at the stands. She was still sitting there. But instead of smiling down at us she was staring off in the distance. “Is everything okay?”

“Oh, I think everything is more than okay,” Tanner said.

“What’s going on?”

“She didn’t tell me.”

“Then how do you know it’s fine?”

“Because I can read people like the back of my hand.”

“So…what does she want to talk about?”

“I’m going to let her fill you in. Congrats, Matt. I’m really happy for you.” His smile faltered. “Truly. You’re living the dream.” His smile was gone now. He patted my back and then joined Jacob and Nigel.

What the hell was going on? Tanner looking serious was never a good thing. He’d been congratulating me but looked sad as fuck. I walked up the steps.

Brooklyn turned toward me at the sound of my steps. And her smile was back now.

I sat down next to her. “I like seeing you this happy.” I gently nudged her with my shoulder.

Her smile just grew. “I am so happy.”

“I can see that.”

She laughed.

“I didn’t realize how invested you were in the Eagles winning.”

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