Leah laughs. “Football, Baseball, then fentanyl, according to the great Dr. Denton.” She shoves the article away but it’s okay, I don’t want to read it anyway.
“Why’d you save it?” I ask about the article.
“Oh I didn’t save it because of that. That’s Riley’s article paper. Remember? When she wrote the article about why safe sex is an important discussion in freshman health?”
I nod. “I remember.”
“I saved it. And on one of my rereads, I noticed Denton’s article.”
“Football can be dangerous, I can’t deny that. And I’m not against the boys knowing the repercussions of long-term play. But telling a mom about those things the night her son was hurt?” I shake my head. “If I were a punching man.”
Leah points at me. “Don’t change. If you were a punching man, I’d have to fire you.”
Around the bench behind the staff lounge, Leah, West,Denae, Riley and I have lunch. Weekend plans are discussed, and after learning that Riley and Jo Jo are taking a paint’n’sip class in Oakcreek, Denae has a blind date in Willowdale, West is rebuilding a portion of his fence and Leah has four episodes ofThe Bachelorrecorded on her DVR and a new bottle of wine waiting, they face me.
I shrug one shoulder. “Nothing much. Grabbing a beer with Jake. Hudson, too, if he’s not busy.” I look at West. “You wanna join?” He doesn’t ask what day, because Friday nights are football nights this time of year.
He nods. “Sure. Just text me.”
Leah crumples her napkin and gets to her feet, outstretching her balled up fist. She loves a group fist bump.
“I feel like a Power Ranger doing a group fist bump,” West complains.
“It’s morphin’ time!” Riley says, shoving her fist into mine.
The first bell rings, warning the students they have seven minutes to get their shit together and get to class, and I take that opportunity to say goodbye, grabbing Tanner’s packet of homework off Leah’s desk before heading back.
Moving through the rally court, I spot Tanner’s older brother, Rawley. It’s not so much Rawley that catches my attention but what he’s wearing.
And holding.
Dressed in a pink hoodie, the word HOPE written across, the O a cancer ribbon, swim trunks with sun’s wearing sunglasses, and cowboy boots, he’s carrying a partially empty plastic gallon tupperware of potato salad, a vending machine Pepsi tucked into his swim trunk pocket.
I step in front of him as he crosses the court, heading toward his shop class. I may or may not have looked up Rawley’s classes—out of curiosity—when looking upTanner’s. Turns out, these Colt boys aren’t just smart, but they’re really smart. In all the AP and advanced classes in every course possible.
“Hey, Rawley, how’s your brother feeling?” I ask him, wondering if he knows I stopped by last week. I didn’t see him, and I was only there a few minutes when I gave Clara June the jersey, but still, I wonder. “I’m gonna come by in a day or two and see him, but how’s he doing?”
Rawley tips his head in the universal teenage language, saying hello. “He’s alright.”
“Alright, huh? I guess that’s good.” I try my hardest not to survey his outfit again, and instead ask, “how’s everything at home?”
He shrugs. “Mom’s been picking up extra shifts all week.”
When I saw her on the porch last week, she’d picked up an extra shift that night, too. She’s gotta be exhausted, and stressed. I know she worries about Tanner’s recovery, and money, and now with all these late hours, I wonder how she’s managing it all.
Guess she managed it all before I took an interest, but still, I can’t help but wonder.
I wonder so much that I make a plan to have dinner at Goode’s that night, and talk to Clara June.
Just making sure she’s alright and doesn’t need anything, and after that, I’ll check on Tanner. Typical coach duties, I lie to myself.
CHAPTER
NINE
CLARA JUNE
When Rawley showsup after school, I’m genuinely surprised. Not only did I figure I’d have to fight him tooth and nail, but I also wasn’t even sure I’d make him go through with it. I mean, yes, he should have to pay me back. But my hope was that the threat of working (teens,you know, it doesn’t take much) and giving me his paycheck would be enough to make him cough up his thoughts.
