Page 179 of Most Valuable Players
“We’re just waiting on my dad,” Adam says and glances toward the house. “Ginny, did you see him when you came out?”
“No, I haven’t seen him this morning.”
Adam’s brows scrunch together. “That’s weird.”
“He probably had to run to town for something Mom forgot. Let’s just start, I’m sure he’ll show up.”
Adam doesn’t budge.
“I will go check on him.” I nudge Heath playfully. “Don’t screw up my winning streak, Payne.”
I hurry back up to the house and to the kitchen where I can hear Mom and her sister, Zoe, talking and cooking. Mom’s wearing a half apron chopping onions while Zoe sits on a stool peeling potatoes.
“Hey.”
They both look up as I enter.
“Morning. Game over already?” Mom asks.
“No, we haven’t started yet. We’re waiting on Dad. Do you know where he is?”
Mom and Zoe exchange a look.
“What?” I ask when neither of them immediately answers.
Mom shakes her head. “I don’t know where he went, but it’s not like him to miss the big game. Start without him, and I’ll text and let him know the team’s missing him.”
I grin. “Okay. Thanks, Mom. Are you staying for dinner, Aunt Zoe?”
“No, your uncle Wyatt and I are heading to his mom’s. I’ll stop by Sunday before you head back to school.”
As I go out, Dad’s pulling into the driveway. I run to him, pleased to see he’s dressed to play in an old T-shirt and shorts. “You’re late.”
“How’s the team looking, kid?” He gives me a one-arm hug as we walk toward the game.
“We’ve got a few ringers thanks to Adam and his friends.”
At the next break in play, Adam finds us on the sidelines, and he and my dad hug. Adam’s taller and broader than him now, which is just another way things have changed over the last three years.
“Good to see you, son.”
“You ready to get your ass kicked, old man?”
Adam and my dad smack talk like they’re both twelve, but it’s so good to see them together. Our whole family home at the same time.
“You’re on Ginny’s team,” Adam tells him.
Our team huddles up, and Dad and I substitute in.
As we play, I have this sublime feeling of total completeness. Like I’ve never been this happy. Maybe it’s just nostalgia and the sense that this is a rare moment. Adam will graduate, become a doctor with insane hours, and get married or move far away and who knows when we’ll all be here again. Maybe another three years. Maybe longer.
Heath isn’t as good of a QB as Bryan, as painful as that is to admit, and Adam is way better than I remember. While we grab water, Heath gives me a rueful smile. “You might want to think about a trade if you want to keep that winning streak.”
“I would never leave my team in the final quarter,” I say, faking shock then wrapping my arms around his sweaty neck. He grins and I kiss him in front of everyone. I definitely got the better QB and I’m not shy about letting the other team know it.
30
HEATH
