Page 140 of The Goat in the Bedroom
Touchdown. Denver State 37, Bay State 35.
The stadium went absolutely insane.
“THAT'S MY BROTHER!” I yelled, not caring who heard me. “THAT'S MY BABY BROTHER!”
Artie was jumping up and down beside me, and I grabbed her, spinning her around as confetti cannons went off andthe whole Kingman section was screaming and hugging and definitely crying.
“We need to get down there,” Chris said, already moving.
Somehow—Chris's deep fucking pockets, definitely—we made it to field level. Isak was doing interviews, but when he saw us, he broke away from the Sports Network mid-sentence and ran over.
“Did you see that?” he asked, like he was twelve again.
“See it?” Dad pulled him into a hug. “Son, that was the best quarterbacking I've seen from a Kingman yet.”
“Including Grandpa?”
“Especially including Coach.”
One by one, we all hugged him. When he got to me, he held on extra long.
“Thanks,” he said quietly.
“For what?”
“For showing me it was okay to leave home and still carry it with you.”
I pulled back, looking at my baby brother who wasn't such a baby anymore. “You've got it backward, man. Home follows us. We don't carry it.”
He grinned. “Whatever, you're getting sappy. But also...” He looked at Artie, who was taking pictures with Jules. “You better lock that down before someone realizes what you've got.”
“Already on it.”
“Good.”
Before I could respond to that, someone called Isak's name. Fox Daws was walking over, helmet under his arm, that movie star smile in full effect.
“Great game, man,” Fox said, offering his hand. “That last drive was something special.”
“Thanks.” Isak shook his hand, trying to play it cool but clearly starstruck. “You were incredible out there. Three touchdowns?”
“Would've been four if your safety hadn't made that play in the third.” Fox glanced at me. “You're Gryff, right? We met at the combine.”
“Yeah, good to see you again.”
Jules squeaked beside me.
“Your brother's got a future,” Fox said, genuine respect in his voice. “If he ever wants to run routes in the off-season, I'm in LA.”
“I might take you up on that,” Isak said.
Jules double squeaked.
They did that complicated handshake-hug thing athletes do, and then Fox was jogging back to his team. Isak watched him go with an expression I recognized, already planning, already thinking ahead.
“Don't even think about it,” I warned. “You're not transferring to Bay State.”
“I'm not transferring anywhere,” Isak said. “But if I happen to get drafted by whoever drafts him...”
