“You can’t call me out in the middle of a fuckin’ game!” Cosgrove roared as the whistle blew.
“Unsportsmanlike conduct,” the ref shouted, his arms straight out, palms down, his shout scratchy because he was pissed. “Fifteen yards!” Then he leaned into Cosgrove, stuck a pointed finger in his face and clipped, “Get a handle on it, Cosgrove, or you’re off the field and I’m only lettin’ you stay on it ‘cause this is the last thirty seconds of your last game. Do not even think of comin’ back after half-time.” He leaned in further and hissed, “And by God, you better brace man, because after that shit, I’ll see to it you’re suspended permanently.”
“Locker room,” Colt repeated Layne’s words and the referee and Cosgrove’s eyes went to Colt. “Hand off to Fullerton and get your ass off the field.” Cosgrove opened his mouth to speak and Colt leaned in and warned, “You got one second, man, before you’re in cuffs.”
Cosgrove took that second to save face and glare at Colt before he yelled, “Fullerton!” tore his whistle from around his neck and tossed it to one of the Assistant Coaches. Then without further hesitation, head down, he started to jog off the field.
When he did, both sets of bleachers burst out in a loud standing ovation that rocked the field but Layne went to Seth who was still down on a knee, his face pale, his eyes on his departing father.
Layne reached a hand to him and called, “Seth.”
Seth’s eyes sliced to him then down to Layne’s hand, he put his gloved hand in Layne’s and Layne hauled him up.
“Head back in the game, man, but, after, you need a place to crash, you got one,” Layne said quietly, wrapped his fingers around Seth’s neck, gave him a squeeze with a tug then turned, gave Jasper a head jerk indicating Seth, Jas jerked his chin up in return, moved toward Seth and Layne jogged back to the fence. He put his hands to it and cleared it.
Rocky was there within seconds, her hands at his abs, she moved in close.
“Sweetheart?” she whispered and his eyes tipped to hers.
“It’s okay,” Layne told her, curling the fingers of both his hands around her neck.
“Seth?” she asked.
“It’s okay, Roc, he’ll be okay.”
“Jasper?”
“It’s all good, baby,” Layne whispered.
Her eyes searched his then she leaned into him and put her forehead to his chest. One of his hands moved to the back of her neck and gave her a squeeze as his eyes went to find both his sons on the field.
They moved the ball fifteen yards and play resumed.
Even with the penalty, the opposing team didn’t manage to translate their turnover to points on the board by half-time.
The second half Layne watched with Rocky at his side, snuggled into him with both arms around his middle, her head most of the time resting on his shoulder. With Fullerton calling the plays, Jasper seeing the ball and Tripp taking turns with Seth, the ‘dogs won twenty-one to three.
*
With a variety of other parents, fans, Colt, Cal, Keira, Heather, Dave, Spike, Ernie and Rocky, Layne waited after the game to watch the boys load up in the bus.
When they filed out, Cosgrove was not among them.
When his boys came into view, Layne saw this time Tripp was crowding Jasper and Jasper was crowding Seth. His sons were supposed to go to their mother’s that night after pizza on the town, it was the beginning of her week. But Jasper had heard Layne’s invitation and he’d talk to Seth about taking Layne up on it if he got the vibe that Seth wouldn’t be safe at home. Therefore, Layne wondered where he’d put another body in his house. He should have bought one of the four bedroom floorplans.
When Tripp saw him, he waved, though he was clearly learning cool, his wave was a flick of a hand. Jasper noticed his brother and his eyes came to Layne and, king of cool, he jerked up his chin but no more except another chin jerk to Keira before they hustled into the bus.
“Is he going to be okay, Mr. Layne?” He heard Keira ask and his eyes dropped to see she was staring at the bus looking worried.
“Yeah, Keira, he’ll be fine,” Layne answered, she looked up at him and she didn’t seem any less worried.
So she turned to Cal. “Joe, if Jasper isn’t up to pizza, can he come over to our house and watch a movie?”
Proving Layne’s earlier theory correct, Cal didn’t hesitate to reply, “Sure, honey.”
Keira leaned into him and whispered, “Thanks,” as her eyes went back to the bus, Cal’s arm curled around her shoulders and he pulled her closer.
“You good?” Cal asked him and Layne nodded.
He was good because Rocky was leaned into him the same way and had been since they took their places outside the locker rooms. This meant he could deal even though his sons had survived another game time drama and Gabby was standing alone twenty feet away, no Stew, and when she wasn’t craning her neck to look for her boys, she was staring at Layne and Rocky. Layne felt this was progress considering she was staring and not glaring.
Layne forced his mind off Gabrielle and his eyes went to Colt. “Roc’s gonna see what she can do for Meghan.”
Colt nodded and he looked at Rocky. “Cool, Rocky, thanks. Sean will appreciate that.”
She smiled up at him but didn’t reply and it was then that Layne realized that the game was over, the latest drama was over, his kids were likely gone for the night, Rocky was likely done with her period and therefore it was time to go home.
“We’re outta here,” Layne mumbled and led Rocky away.
They got a variety of good-byes and Layne a clap on the shoulder from Dave as they stopped at him so Rocky could give her Dad’s cheek a kiss and then they walked away.
They were nearing the Suburban when Layne heard the pipes. His head turned and he saw Ryker sitting a Harley, bald head open to the elements, leather biker jacket undoubtedly covering another tank top. When Layne’s eyes hit him, the pipes roared for a second which Layne decided was Ryker’s way of telling him he wanted a chat.