After the Game(22)

I paused and looked in the room. She was on her bed sitting with her legs crossed and a book open in her lap. The girl read more than anyone I knew.

“Yeah,” I replied.

“West went home to take a nap before y’all have to meet to leave.”

“I need to go do something,” I said, not giving her any more detail.

“Well, good luck tonight.”

“Thanks. I need it.”

She tilted her head to one side and her dark brown hair fell over one shoulder. “Never heard you say that before.”

Because I never felt that before. I had always been focused and confident. Not now.

“I’ve got a lot on my mind is all.”

“Riley Young,” Maggie replied. It wasn’t a question. It was a statement.

“I don’t know what you mean,” I said, and started to walk off.

“You’ve been off since she threw the rock at the window the other night. You made the wrong decision, and it’s haunting you.”

This wasn’t something I wanted to discuss. I just needed to fix it. “You didn’t say anything to West, did you?”

She shook her head. “Not my information to tell.”

I really liked that about my cousin. She wasn’t a gossip. She kept to herself mostly. No drama or girly stuff to contend with. A lot like Riley, I guess.

“I’m working out what the right thing is. Not just for me but for everyone involved.” I wasn’t making sense, but that was all I was willing to say.

“I don’t know her. But I like her.”

“Why?” I asked, curious.

“No girl has ever rattled you like this. Not even Willa. Certainly not Ivy. You need rattling.”

No, I needed to be levelheaded and ready to win this game. “I disagree.”

Maggie picked her book back up like she was done with this conversation. Which was something I liked about her. She didn’t go on and on about a topic I was done discussing.

“I’ve found that the things that rattle us the most are the ones worth making sacrifices for.” She said this without looking up at me.

Damn. That struck a chord.

“Did you make sacrifices for West?” I asked, already knowing the answer.

This time she looked up from her book. “I spoke, Brady. I braved the sound of my own voice.”

The reason why that was a sacrifice didn’t need explaining. I understood. With a nod of my head, I left her there with her book. She had gained life again when she’d spoken to West. A large part of her that had been missing was filled with new reasons to be happy.

I didn’t think I was missing anything. I had great parents, I had good friends, and I was going to play football at an SEC college next year. My life couldn’t get much better. Before I picked up Riley and Bryony in my truck the other day, I didn’t question any of this. I knew I was solid. I was ready for my future.

Now I wondered if I was just living the easy life. Not facing challenges or really making a mark on anyone. Maggie had been West’s rock through a hell I never wanted to imagine. Even as broken as she was, she’d stood by him and become his center. She had done something with her life that meant more than just her happiness. She’d found happiness helping someone else.

Was I happy? This life I had . . . Did it make me happy? Did playing football and being the star at Lawton High really make me happy?

No. It didn’t. I wasn’t fulfilled.

I was empty. Pointless. I was a vessel to win games at my high school. Girls liked me, and I had my pick if I wanted them. My truck wasn’t new, but it was nice and had been given to me without my having to work for it. There was nothing worth mentioning I had done for anyone.

Tossing my bag into the passenger seat of my truck I decided that was over. I wasn’t focusing on Brady Higgens anymore. Someone needed me. She needed friendship, and she had come to me. Fuck my friends getting mad. They all needed to wake up and realize that was two years ago and we’d all been wrong. I was worried about winning a championship and there was a single mom who I had once considered a friend reaching out. I wasn’t ignoring that. Not for a damn game.





You’ve Got a Championship to Win





CHAPTER 17


RILEY

There were painted car windows, blue flags with lions on them, and of course large signs in every yard except ours with LIONS #1. My house wasn’t worried about the game. We were the only ones in town without some Lions sign in their yard, and in the next town meeting they could possibly vote to run us out of town . . . again . . . because we’ve failed to be football obsessed.

Smiling at that thought, I shook my head. It wouldn’t happen, of course, but the way they all made over a football game you would think it was the presidential election. Bryony pointed at another car that passed us leaving town for the game. The painted windows and flags flying were fascinating to her. At least they were good for something.