The first quarter field goal is the only score that Missouri manages to eke out. The Warriors defense, led by Masters, is stifling. If they aren’t sacking the quarterback, they attacked him as soon as the ball left his hands.
The team struggles on offense, but Jack makes a great catch in the third and runs it for another thirty yards before he’s stopped. They manage to punch the ball across the goal line three more times, and the game ends twenty-one to three.
Riley and I jump out of our seats and cheer as loudly as any of the fans at the game. It’s the most fun I’ve had watching one of Jack’s games in years.
We drew the short end of the stick when it comes to parents, but I’ve always had the team. You’ve only had me. It wouldn’t be a bad thing to have another person on your side, Ellie. Besides, you could do a lot worse than Masters.
My eyes follow Masters around the field as he slaps helmets and gives one-armed hugs to his fellow teammates. He stops in front of Jack, whose face is lit up like a spotlight. He’s so happy. The two exchange a few words and something Jack says makes Masters laugh. Then the camera cuts away.
“Will they come home today?” Riley asks as we clean up the living room.
“They should.”
And maybe Jack will come over along with his teammates. Or maybe he’ll text me, say that there’s a party somewhere, and we should come. I’ll go and find Masters, we’ll get a little drunk, he’ll forgive me for my cold shoulder, and we can pick up where we left off.
My phone buzzes and my heart skips. It’s Masters.
Not getting out today. Apparently there’s bad weather coming in and we’re not flying.
No, just Jack. I try not to be disappointed at his words.
“I guess not.” I show Riley the text message.
Sweet catch in the third. And nice YAC stats. I type back.
“What’s YAC?” Riley asks peering over my shoulder.
“Yards after catch. The number of yards that a player gets after he catches the ball.”
Just in the third? I was killer all day! JK. Not gonna lie. It felt great. This will be a good year.
Jack and I exchange a few more texts and then I tuck the phone away. I can almost taste his happiness. Even if they did come home and had some raging party, I wouldn’t go, because I can’t trust myself around Masters.
“Hey, you okay? Is Jack okay?”
Riley touches my shoulder. I look down at her concerned face and the urge to confide in her nearly overwhelms me. I don’t tell her the whole truth but the burden of it is weighing me down. “Jack is on the bubble academically. He has problems with some of his classes and it brings his grades down. He’ll never win awards, but he’s not dumb.”
“And?
“And Masters apparently has to check up on him.”
She nibbles on her lip. “Why don’t you tell him that you’ll check up on Jack? That way Knox gets taken out of the loop.”
I stare at her.
“What?” She rubs her forehead. “Do I have ice cream on my face?”
“No. That’s a genius idea, and I don’t know why I didn’t think of it.”
“See?” she nudges me with her shoulder. “This is why it’s okay to share things. Two are better than one.”
The tension that set in on Monday eases. Maybe this is the way for me to have it all—secure Jack’s eligibility and give Masters a chance. So I take a deep breath and text him.
Great game. You guys played fantastic.
There is no response.
I only have myself to blame.
18
Knox
Post Game: Warriors 1-0
My phone is dead. Given how crappy the day has been going, I’m unsurprised. Game one is in the books with eleven to go. If we play like we did today in any of those upcoming games, we can kiss our national title hopes goodbye.
“You got a charge?” I nudge Matty. I don’t think I’ve gotten a text from Ellie, but that doesn’t stop me from obsessively checking my phone.
“No. Sorry, man. Mine’s on life support too.” He shows me his phone face. The battery indicator is red. “I’m working on a local meet up, and if my phone dies before I can get all the details locked down, I’ll be pissed.” He flips to Instagram where some busty brunette has posted a thousand selfies. “Like her?”
I shrug. She’s pretty, but she also looks like everyone else Matty has screwed in the last twelve months.
“How about her?” With a flick of his fingers, he brings up another profile.
“They look the same to me.” Lots of long hair, big boobs and tiny waists. They look kind of breakable. One thing I like about Ellie is that she’s solid. I don’t have to worry about holding back with her.
That is, when I get her. I haven’t heard from her since she gave me the book back. My guess is that she’s offended I’m keeping track of Jack. It’s not like I’m reading his answers or pre-grading his papers. Who’s got time for that shit? I’ve got my own classes and don’t need to add that burden.