“Wait a second,” Jack said. “You can’t be serious. We caught the guy.”
“He’s got you there, Clark,” his dad added. “Think it through. How would it look if you charged Jack after all he’s done?”
“We’re not going to charge him. But the wrath you two are about to face is far worse than prison.” Clark walked over to the door, stood to the side, and opened it.
Jack’s mom stood in the doorway. Jack could count on one hand the number of times he’d seen his mother truly mad. As she fumed in the doorway, Jack realized he’d need to start using both hands now.
His father’s mouth fell open. “You called my wife?”
33
You Think I’d Miss This?
TWO WEEKS LATER
Jack parked the Impala at the end of Kelly’s long driveway. The Dawsons were having another picnic, and once again Jack was invited. He didn’t know whether that was a good thing or a bad thing.
Kelly ran out of the front door and straight to Jack. She wrapped her arms around him. “Hey. I didn’t think you’d come.”
“You think I’d miss this?” Jack grinned.
“We’re going out tomorrow night, right?”
Jack nodded. “But I didn’t want to wait a whole day to see you again.”
She kissed him.
Preston, Warner, Archer, and five other guys walked out of the back yard. When they saw Jack, Warner said something, and they all burst out laughing.
“Just say no if they ask you to play football,” Kelly whispered.
“I can’t say no.”
She pleaded, “My brother is just doing this because of my father, and…” She huffed. “Warner and I—”
“Were a thing.” Jack shrugged. “Past tense.”
“Not for him. I heard him tell Preston that he was gonna really bust you up if you played again.”
“I kinda figured that when Preston called me and suggested another game.”
Kelly’s mouth opened, but she closed it when her brother strode up.
“Glad you could make it, Jack,” Preston said with a smile.
“Yeah,” Warner sneered, “I didn’t think you would after the last game.”
“I’m actually looking forward to it.” Jack handed his keys to Kelly.
As they walked across to the back yard, Kelly squeezed his hand. She looked up at him and mouthed, Don’t.
Jack just smiled.
“Same teams as last time?” Preston asked. “With you we have nine, but Hayden can sit out.”
“Actually, Preston, I’m glad you’ve got eight guys. I figured I’d take you up on your offer.”
Preston looked confused. “What offer?”
“Last time Archer said it’d be okay if I brought some friends.” Jack pointed down the street at two approaching cars. “So I did. They’re just a few guys I grew up with in my old neighborhood.”
A rusted brown van pulled up to the curb, followed by a gray sedan. All six foot six of Chandler got out of the van first. The driver’s door opened and Gino, who was an even six feet tall but weighed almost three hundred and twenty pounds, got out next. Then the van side door slid open, and Bobbie G and Anthony got out and stood next to Chandler. Bobbie G was a little smaller than Chandler but outweighed him by forty pounds. And Anthony’s enormous biceps, covered in tattoos, bulged as he crossed his arms.
“What’s up, Jack!” Estoban jogged up from the sedan and knuckle-bumped Jack. Two other big guys followed him, along with Michelle, Makayla, and Lori.
Jack surveyed the group of guys—they were as large as an NFL team. “Thanks for coming,” he said with a smile. Then he turned to Warner, who was noticeably paler. “Well, let’s play some football.”
Michelle, Makayla, and Lori joined Kelly and her girlfriends on the sideline as the two teams lined up. Warner’s team got the ball first, and on each of the first three plays, they all ended up flat on their backs, groaning in pain. On the fourth play, Archer wisely just threw the ball away.
Then Jack’s team got the ball. Estoban, their quarterback, huddled up the team. “I say we let our host score the first touchdown.” He turned to Jack. “Jack, fake like you’re going left, then cut back behind me and I’ll toss the ball to you. Stick close to the sideline.” To everyone else he said, “Jack’s got a bull’s-eye on his back, so no one let the other team get near him. Got it?”
Anthony cracked his knuckles. “No one will touch him.”
As planned, Estoban tossed the ball to Jack. Jack bobbed left, then right. He cut quickly in front of Preston before he had time to react—then he made sure to run the ball right past the ladies on the sideline, grinning the whole way. He made it look good, but the truth was, with his friends guarding him, Jack could have walked down the field and scored.