CHAPTER 12
BRADY
West was standing out by his truck when I pulled into the driveway. He was either waiting on Maggie or he was waiting on me. The frown between his eyebrows said it was me. He never frowned at Maggie.
“What’s up?” I called out as I walked around the front of my truck.
“I was going to ask you the same thing,” he replied. “Didn’t want to bring it up at practice, but this Riley thing. I get why you were helping today, but I also know your truck was seen at her grandmother’s last night. That hasn’t reached Gunner’s ears yet, but when it does, you ready to explain that?”
It had been two years, but this grudge was still holding strong. The more time I spent around Riley, the more I believed she’d been treated unfairly. That this town should have listened to her, not ridiculed her.
“Not sure I believe Rhett was innocent. Not anymore. Not after the way we saw him act just last month.”
West nodded slowly, but his frown stayed in place. “Maybe. But we have a championship to win. If Gunner still believes his brother and you’re hanging around Riley, then we are going to have a problem. Don’t know what I believe anymore, but I do know that this isn’t the time to make any bold statements.”
I understood what he was saying. It wasn’t as if Riley was going to warm up to me any time soon anyway. I’d tried to be her friend, but she wasn’t interested. We had the biggest game in our high school career, the state championship, coming up in a few weeks, and we had to actually get there by winning the last two games that would place us at that game. If we lost, our season ended. We had to win the play-offs to get to the championship game.
“You’re right,” I replied. “I won’t be seen with her anymore. This morning was a fluke. That’s all.”
The front door opened and Maggie stepped out. She was dressed like they were going somewhere: in a yellow sundress, with her hair curled. “Looks like you got a date.”
West turned and his face went from serious to love-struck. If Maggie weren’t my cousin, I would laugh at him. But Maggie had lived through hell, and she’d found happiness with West. The most unlikely guy in the world to end up saving her.
“Yeah, I do,” he agreed, then walked toward her. He’d forgotten me and our conversation. For now.
I waved at Maggie and told them to have a good time before heading inside. The smell of Mom’s meat loaf engulfed me as I walked into the house. I knew she’d have creamed potatoes, turnip greens, and corn bread to go with it. Dropping my bag by the front door, I headed for the kitchen.
“He’s home. Let’s eat,” my dad said, turning to look at me with a large mason jar full of sweet tea in his hand.
Mom chuckled and shook her head. “The man has no patience. I’ve been slapping his hand away from the meat loaf since he walked in the door. First night home for dinner in a week, and he acts like this.”
Dad had been working on a project at work that was keeping him late every evening.
“Smells great. I’m starved. Where’s Maggie headed?” I asked, knowing my mother would have the details of their date.
“West is taking her to some fancy place in Franklin. He got a reservation for it and everything. She spent an hour trying to decide what to wear. I just love watching her like this. Hard to believe four months ago when she moved here she wouldn’t even speak.”
She had come a long way in a short time. I agreed with Mom there. It was all thanks to West, but then again she’d been West’s rock through his father’s death too. Really, they’d saved each other.
“Let’s talk football,” Dad said, not wanting to be reminded of why Maggie was here and why she had come to us not speaking. Maggie’s mother was his sister, and her brutal death still haunted him. Mom said he had nightmares about it.
“We look good. Friday night won’t be easy, but we should win. As long as everyone keeps their head in the game this week. I thought I’d have the guys over tonight to watch some clips of the Panthers play this year. So we would know what to look for.”
“Good idea. West has to have Maggie back by nine. He’ll miss most of it,” Dad said, sitting down with his plate piled high with food.
“I’ll make some cookies,” Mom said, then handed me a plate.
“We can do it tonight and tomorrow night for those who can’t come tonight. I mentioned it after practice. The guys who are available tonight will be here around seven thirty.”
Dad nodded his head as if he approved of the idea. “What does Coach say? He think y’all are ready?”
“You know Coach. He never thinks we’re ready. Part of what makes us work. We never get comfortable.”
For the rest of dinner we discussed Friday night. It was what we always talked about this time of year. Once the championship was over, we would talk about next year. College football. My future.
Three years ago . . .
“You know your brother is banging Serena. Isn’t that, like, illegal?” West asked Gunner.
I had heard that Serena was sneaking around with Rhett too. But I hadn’t wanted to bring it up. Leave it to West to throw that out there.
“Naw, he’s still seventeen. She doesn’t become illegal until his birthday in April.”
West laughed. “So he’s gonna bang the freshman while he still can. I want to be Rhett when I grow up.”
Gunner smirked. “Join the club.”
I didn’t say anything because I in no way wanted to be Rhett Lawton. I thought he was cool and I admired his skill on the field, but he was always partying. Dad said I wouldn’t make it far in life if I lived like that. I had a future in the NFL to pursue. Rhett was the heir to the Lawton millions. I doubted he planned on any career, really. Other than taking over for his dad one day.
“Y’all want to go outside and throw the ball?” I asked, hoping to change the subject.
West shrugged and reached for his soda and a bag of chips. “I guess.”
“All you do is think football,” Gunner replied, still lounging on the sofa.
It was my future. Of course that was all I thought about.