I was pretty sure arrogance ran in the family.
I glanced at my dad, pacing back and forth and screaming at the players as they took their positions. Kyle was strutting around, leading the team and peacocking. I looked back and forth between them.
Oh yeah, arrogance.
On both sides.
I leaned forward, my nerves stretched as the team made their final play. We were down 29 to 34 and needed to get the ball in the end zone to win.
Things were dire.
But if we scored...
The crowd grew quiet as both teams took the line of scrimmage. Kyle screamed "Down! Set! Hike!" and the field erupted into frenzied activity. Kyle looked utterly calm as he fell back and launched the ball into the air. It sailed farther than any ball I'd ever seen before.
And one of our guys caught it. I clapped and yelled with the rest of the crowd, amazed at the catch. He ran, darting around players. He got boxed in and twisted sideways lateraling the ball again.
Kyle was running fast up the other side of the field. He leapt in the air and grabbed the ball, clutching it to his gut. Rolling like a crazy train, he smashed through the other team's last two defenders and right into the end zone. He spiked the ball into the ground in celebration.
It was over. He'd done it with a classic flea-flicker. We'd won.
The baby went wild at the exact moment his daddy scored the final touchdown. The whole arena erupted into madness. I covered my ears, laughing and crying at the same time.
Kyle looked up and found me in the stands. He always knew exactly where I was sitting. He smiled at me, making the V sign for victory.
In another minute, the crowd surrounded him, swallowing him up. The trophy cup was filled with ice water and dumped over dad's head. My mother rolled her eyes, laughing and crying along with me.
Kyle was hoisted onto someone's shoulders and carried around the field like he was a sack of potatoes. How they lifted him was beyond me. He was more like a sack of lead potatoes.
Or gold ones.
I smiled. My sack of potatoes.
And in less than three days, I was going to be Mrs. Sack Of Potatoes.
Chapter Twenty-Eight Kyle
I paced back and forth, wondering how the hell I was going to get through the next few hours. Coach was giving me strange looks, which wasn't helping my anxiety levels. I had a strange feeling he was going to try and knock me off before the ceremony.
I was relieved when Betsy and Evan walked in pushing an enormous box teetering precariously on a wheeled cart. It was wrapped in tie-dyed paper. There was a handmade card on top.
As if we would have trouble knowing who it was from.
Betsy leaned up to kiss my cheek.
"Don't worry, it's just a crib."
Evan slapped my back. Ben came in and slapped my back. Everybody slapped my damn back.
Except Coach Carmichael.
He just watched and waited for the opportunity to take me out. I knew I'd crossed the line when I'd impregnated his baby girl. I knew there would be a day of reckoning. But I wouldn't change a damn thing.
I lifted my chin and nodded at him.
This was it, I thought. A lifetime of cold stares to look forward to. He gestured to me to go outside. I had a moment where I seriously wondered if I should stay inside.
"Walk with me, son."
"Sure thing, Coach."
"You know son, marriage is a serious responsibility. So is fatherhood. Are you sure you are up to the challenge? It's not too late to walk away. Belinda will be fine, you know that. She'll always land on her feet. Girl like that, she could replace you in a heartbeat."
I was trying to control my temper. It wasn't working.
"She'll always have us. And we could send you photos of the kid if you wanted. Or not. No need for you to be involved at all. You're a young man, with a bright career ahead of you. Both of you could move on from this, have your own lives."
I stopped walking and turned to face him.
"With all due respect Coach, that is complete bullshit. She's worth more than all of that put together, and you know it. I'd give up my career and more to be with her. As would any man in his right mind."
Coach stared at me for a moment, then slowly the corners of his eyes started to crinkle. For a minute I thought he was going insane. He smiled suddenly and slapped me on the back.
"I was just testing you son. You passed."
We walked back inside in time to see yet another enormous gift being rolled in by the venue staff. This time I looked at the card.
"What the hell?"
Betsy shook her head, eyeing the box.
"I hope it's not another crib."
I opened the card and hid a smile. The gift was from Kenneth and the guys. There was an shipping receipt inside. It said 'faux leather sex chair.' There was a little drawing of a lounge chair with two round humps. There was also a little brochure with images of some positions you could try.