My bag was sitting on my bed like expected, all packed up for me. Mom wasn’t home from work yet, but she’d be at the game along with my dad. They would bring Maggie, and it would be the normal Friday night. Except today, my head was not just on the game the way it always is.

Frustrated, I grabbed my bag and headed back downstairs. I had to deal with this now. We were supposed to be at the field house to load the bus in one hour. Before I went there, I was going to see Riley. If I didn’t talk to her and ease my mind, I wasn’t sure I could pull tonight off. The Panthers were also undefeated. We had a job on our hands, and I had to be 100 percent.

“You leaving already?” Maggie asked as I passed her bedroom door.

I paused and looked in the room. She was on her bed sitting with her legs crossed and a book open in her lap. The girl read more than anyone I knew.

“Yeah,” I replied.

“West went home to take a nap before y’all have to meet to leave.”

“I need to go do something,” I said, not giving her any more detail.

“Well, good luck tonight.”

“Thanks. I need it.”

She tilted her head to one side and her dark brown hair fell over one shoulder. “Never heard you say that before.”

Because I never felt that before. I had always been focused and confident. Not now.

“I’ve got a lot on my mind is all.”

“Riley Young,” Maggie replied. It wasn’t a question. It was a statement.

“I don’t know what you mean,” I said, and started to walk off.

“You’ve been off since she threw the rock at the window the other night. You made the wrong decision, and it’s haunting you.”

This wasn’t something I wanted to discuss. I just needed to fix it. “You didn’t say anything to West, did you?”

She shook her head. “Not my information to tell.”

I really liked that about my cousin. She wasn’t a gossip. She kept to herself mostly. No drama or girly stuff to contend with. A lot like Riley, I guess.

“I’m working out what the right thing is. Not just for me but for everyone involved.” I wasn’t making sense, but that was all I was willing to say.

“I don’t know her. But I like her.”

“Why?” I asked, curious.

“No girl has ever rattled you like this. Not even Willa. Certainly not Ivy. You need rattling.”

No, I needed to be levelheaded and ready to win this game. “I disagree.”

Maggie picked her book back up like she was done with this conversation. Which was something I liked about her. She didn’t go on and on about a topic I was done discussing.

“I’ve found that the things that rattle us the most are the ones worth making sacrifices for.” She said this without looking up at me.

Damn. That struck a chord.

“Did you make sacrifices for West?” I asked, already knowing the answer.

This time she looked up from her book. “I spoke, Brady. I braved the sound of my own voice.”

The reason why that was a sacrifice didn’t need explaining. I understood. With a nod of my head, I left her there with her book. She had gained life again when she’d spoken to West. A large part of her that had been missing was filled with new reasons to be happy.

I didn’t think I was missing anything. I had great parents, I had good friends, and I was going to play football at an SEC college next year. My life couldn’t get much better. Before I picked up Riley and Bryony in my truck the other day, I didn’t question any of this. I knew I was solid. I was ready for my future.

Now I wondered if I was just living the easy life. Not facing challenges or really making a mark on anyone. Maggie had been West’s rock through a hell I never wanted to imagine. Even as broken as she was, she’d stood by him and become his center. She had done something with her life that meant more than just her happiness. She’d found happiness helping someone else.

Was I happy? This life I had . . . Did it make me happy? Did playing football and being the star at Lawton High really make me happy?

No. It didn’t. I wasn’t fulfilled.

I was empty. Pointless. I was a vessel to win games at my high school. Girls liked me, and I had my pick if I wanted them. My truck wasn’t new, but it was nice and had been given to me without my having to work for it. There was nothing worth mentioning I had done for anyone.

Tossing my bag into the passenger seat of my truck I decided that was over. I wasn’t focusing on Brady Higgens anymore. Someone needed me. She needed friendship, and she had come to me. Fuck my friends getting mad. They all needed to wake up and realize that was two years ago and we’d all been wrong. I was worried about winning a championship and there was a single mom who I had once considered a friend reaching out. I wasn’t ignoring that. Not for a damn game.

You’ve Got a Championship to Win

CHAPTER 17

RILEY

There were painted car windows, blue flags with lions on them, and of course large signs in every yard except ours with LIONS #1. My house wasn’t worried about the game. We were the only ones in town without some Lions sign in their yard, and in the next town meeting they could possibly vote to run us out of town . . . again . . . because we’ve failed to be football obsessed.

Smiling at that thought, I shook my head. It wouldn’t happen, of course, but the way they all made over a football game you would think it was the presidential election. Bryony pointed at another car that passed us leaving town for the game. The painted windows and flags flying were fascinating to her. At least they were good for something.

The next vehicle that passed wasn’t a painted car. It was Brady Higgens’s truck. My chest tightened at the sight, and I began walking faster. Getting home wasn’t going to make the reminder of the other night go away, but I could at least get busy with making Bryony a snack and cleaning my closet or something. Anything not to remember the fool I’d made of myself.

Bryony clapped and waved at the next car that drove by. They had a stuffed lion’s head on the hood. Not sure how they were making that stay. But it sure made Bryony happy. She’d probably enjoy the games. All the fans cheering and guys running on the field. I’d never be able to take her, though. That was a part of my life that was over.

I turned into my grandmamma’s drive just as Brady’s truck came to a rolling stop beside me. Bryony was waving at him as if he were her best friend. I had already been rude in front of my daughter once this week. I wasn’t going to do it again.

“Don’t you have a game to get to?” I asked him. His window was down, and he looked like he was about to speak to me.

“I have about forty-five minutes. Can you talk?”

My response should have been Nope. I can’t. Bye.

But Brady had a game, and he was here for some reason. To him, it had to be important. I looked over to see my dad’s car was also home. Fridays he often got off work early. The game probably had the entire town getting off work early. Leaving Bryony inside with my parents shouldn’t be an issue.

“Let me take her inside,” I replied.

I pushed the stroller to the front porch and bent down in front of her to unbuckle the safety harness. “Mommy is going to talk to our friend Brady, okay? I’ll be inside to fix you a snack in a few minutes.”

She nodded as if this all made sense. I often wondered if it did, if she understood the things she responded to.

Opening the door, I saw Dad on the sofa with a cup of coffee and the newspaper. “Hey, Dad,” I greeted him. “Brady Higgens is out here and wants to talk to me a minute. Can you keep an eye on Bryony for me? I won’t be long.”

Dad frowned. “Brady? Doesn’t that boy have a game to be at?”

My sentiments exactly. I nodded. “Yes, so this will be quick.”

“Sure, I’ll watch her. Tell him I said good luck. I’m rooting for them.”

I didn’t respond. I wasn’t sure what to say. My parents were too enthusiastic about Brady. I was afraid they were about to be let down. I put Bryony down so she could run to see her pops, then closed the door behind me. My father wasn’t the nosy sort, but whatever this was about, I didn’t want anyone overhearing us.