Page 7 of Everything's Better With You
They got through the rest of the routine with some rudimentary stunts, definitely not the latest skills out there. Joe was already thinking of little things they could do immediately to improve this routine, even though they’d already taken it to Nationals. They apparently took fourth in their division, which was pretty good for Greenvale, at least from what Joe had seen over the past few years. He still kept tabs on college cheer, especially his Jackets. Since his team won nationals twice, the team had qualified to go eight more times, won twice, and placed four times.
“They’re good,” Les said, clapping when they finished. They both stood up with the crowd as they cheered the cheerleaders, all the while Joe was mentally mapping out what he could do with the team.
“They could add more stunt partners, they’re not using everyone.”
Les elbowed him. “You could make them better.”
Joe’s glance darted his direction. “I see what you’re up to, Payton.”
Les laughed. “I’m not trying to hide my motivations.”
Joe gave him a long look. The chemistry between them fifteen years ago had been off the charts, but fifteen years was a long time. Things change, people change, and Joe had lived a very different life, but he was still the driven guy he’d been back then.
Les…he moved a little stiffer, a little less cocksure. His blond hair had thinned, a fact that he seemed to ignore considering his mullet. He maybe had a few more lines on his face. Under that shirt, Joe was sure the six-pack was less defined… But Les still had that same warm enthusiasm for life that Joe had initially ridiculed, and then come to admire. And his smile still lit Joe up like a roman candle.
Differences or not, Joe was damn gladto see Leslie Payton.
Barry was talking over the loudspeaker, something about great plans for the future, but Joe was focused on Leslie.
“Can you honestly see me back in Ayre Valley? Fifty miles from the nearest major airport? A hundred and fifty miles from the nearest theaters and shopping—”
“We’ve got Target fifteen miles away now—”
“Shopping that’snotat a department store.”
“I’ve got a Cessna out at the airstrip. My pilot will take you wherever you want to go.”
Joe laughed. “What about you? Monday Night Football and Postgame Wrap-Up? That’s all over?”
Les shrugged. “Brother Barry needs me, Greenvale needs me, I come. Plus I built that big-ass house for my mom, I might as well live in it. She’s pretty spry for her age, but you know she’s slowing down a little. My brothers keep her entertained, but she’s tired.”
One of the things the two of them had bonded over was being raised by unique moms.
“That’s right. The twins. They live here too?”
Les laughed. “Yeah, they heard I was coming and they decided we’d have a family reunion. They’ve got a new YouTube series they’re going to do, I guess, and they’re joining the coaching staff.”
“Oh yeah? That should be an adventure.”
Les’s twin brothers were twenty years younger than him and the epitome of chaos. They both played baseball and football, a matched set of tight ends, and they did fairly well, but they were also entrepreneurs and more than one of their cockamamie schemes made them a fortune.
“An adventure.” Les turned to Joe. “Come have an adventure with me. What’s the worst that could happen?”
That was a damn good question.
Joe had a lot to think about, but he didn’t want to disappoint Leslie. They’d gone to a lot of trouble to bring him here this weekend, it was the least he could do to give it some thought.
“Ask me again later.”
Les raised his eyebrows and then the crowd was up and moving to the BBQ and they were swallowed up. There had to be nearly two thousand people at the expo between the students, alumni and townsfolkand there would be twice that here tonight. A decent turnout, but in the Greenvale heyday they’d easily have double that for Spring Fling.
On the way to the courtyard where there was a band set up to play and giant grills grilling several options, Joe was greeted by a few folks he recognized and many he didn’t. One that hedidknow chose to make a big scene.
“I’ll catch up with you later,” Les said to Joe as he was called over to some guys in suits.
“Joseph Jehosephat Judd! Get your ass over here!”
Marti Simmons was captain of the Jackets cheer squad Joe’s freshman year. He’d approached her, told her the team needed him, and they became inseparable. She had been the one to convince the others to let Joe—and then several other guys—join the team, paving the way for the transition to coed. She’d been Joe’s biggest supporter and critic ever since, and it had been a ridiculous amount of time since he’d seen her.
