The One & Only(22)

We both murmured that we were fine, then transitioned to breezy small talk. At one point, Coach asked if I’d heard back from Smiley.

“Not yet,” I said, part of me relieved that I hadn’t.

“Call him again,” Coach said. “You gotta be persistent.”

I nodded, then said, “So how was practice?”

“It was good,” Coach replied, glancing at Lucy, then giving me a strained smile. “But no football talk tonight. Remember?”

“It’s okay, Daddy,” Lucy said, removing condiments from the refrigerator and handing Caroline a few carrot sticks. “I mean, whatever else would there be to talk about?”

I don’t think Lucy meant the rhetorical question to sound as biting as it did, because she followed it up with a shrug and said, “I mean, it is the week of the spring game. I get it. It’s okay. You can tell Shea—and all of us—about practice.”

“Practice was fine,” he said. “I just had to deal with some other stuff today … It’s always something …”

“What happened, Dad?” Lawton asked, tossing Caroline over the back of the sofa. She bounced, laughing, then giddily circled around for more.

“Oh, it’s a long story,” he said with a sigh. “Just a little issue with Reggie … Probably nothing.”

“Who?” Lucy said.

I think I must have gasped, because Lucy glanced at me and said, “What? Like I’m supposed to memorize a hundred players?”

“Reggie Rhodes, honey,” Neil said. “You know who he is.”

“He’s only the biggest recruit we’ve had since Ryan James,” Lawton said.

“Oh, him. Yeah. I didn’t recognize the first name,” Lucy said. “I know him.”

“Of course you know him, dear,” my mother said, tossing her tomato and onion salad.

“So what happened?” Lucy asked. “Did he get hurt in practice?”

Lawton laughed and shook his head, twisting off the cap of a Bud Light. “He’s not here yet, Luce.”

“What do you mean he’s not here?” Lucy snapped back.

“Lawton means … that he’s still in high school,” Neil said. “He’s coming next year.”

“Well, wherever he is … He could still get hurt!” my mother said, rushing to Lucy’s defense. “He could have gotten in a car accident. Or … had a random slip and fall—”

“On a banana peel?” Lawton quipped.

“What happened, Daddy?” Lucy said, scowling at Lawton.

“Nothing, really … Just a little mud in the water … It’ll be fine.” He shook his head, then shifted into his faux upbeat voice and said, “So, who’s hungry? Neil, let’s fire up that grill, son!”

We all agreed that was a very good idea—because everyone knew that there weren’t many things in Texas that barbecued ribs couldn’t fix.





Seven





A few days later, Walker played its annual spring game, which also counted as our fifteenth and final NCAA-permitted spring practice. More than thirty thousand fans turned out for the glorified scrimmage, also televised on ESPN2, offering the first glimpse of our team minus the recruits. Technically I was working, making my usual rounds between the press box and the sidelines, ensuring that everything was running smoothly. But because nothing was really on the line, it was more party than game, a two-sided showcase of our offensive and defensive talent. We looked good, more fluid and crisp than I’d ever seen us play in March—a sentiment that I heard paraphrased behind me in a smooth Texas dialect, with just a subtle elongation of vowels. I recognized the accent and voice right away, knew it was Ryan James, Walker’s golden child, even before I looked over my shoulder. His voice was that distinct, even if I hadn’t just heard it on SportsCenter the day before, discussing the Cowboys’ upcoming season.

“You boys have to convert here,” he mused aloud. “Let’s get it done, fellas.”

“Hey, Ryan,” I said, as he took two steps forward and stood flush with me, watching the drive.

“Hey, Rigsby,” he said. He crossed his arms as we watched the next play. Second and three, but Mark Everclear, our quarterback, stared down the primary receiver for one beat too long, and took a sack.

“Dammit,” I said, happy that our linebackers were looking good but more disappointed by Mark’s hesitation.

“Phil Medlin was wiiide open,” Ryan said, reading my mind. I was impressed that he knew our roster so well—and touched that he still made it a priority to return to Walker for the spring game.