Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 100090 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 500(@200wpm)___ 400(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100090 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 500(@200wpm)___ 400(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
The quarterback snaps the ball and jogs back. Jake’s open, so the ball is passed to him. He catches it and runs for the end zone.
We all rush to our feet, yelling and cheering as Jake makes the touchdown. He runs back to his teammates and jumps into them in celebration.
“That’s my boy!” Ryan yells, pointing. “That’s my kid.”
In the next play, our team intercepts the ball, prompting more elation and cheering, and then Jake takes the field once more.
This time, he’s open again, but when he catches the ball, he’s immediately tackled.
Hard.
When the other boy stands, Jake doesn’t get up with him, and I cover my mouth with my hands, my eyes glued to Jake.
“Get up,” I whisper. “Oh, Jesus, get up, baby.”
“He’s okay,” Joy says, taking my hand in hers reassuringly, and I cling to her as Ryan rubs a big circle on my back.
“I need him to get up.”
Finally, I see Jake nod, and someone offers him a hand and helps him to his feet. The crowd applauds as Jake walks to the sidelines. He waves up at us, and I breathe a huge sigh of relief.
“Thank Christ,” I mutter.
“It’s always nerve-wracking watching the boys you love get beat up on the field,” Joy says with a knowing smile. “But they’re tough.”
“I’m gonna hunt that kid’s mom down and have words with her.”
Ryan laughs out loud and kisses my head. “I don’t think that’s necessary, but I like the thought.”
When the game is over, we’ve won by twelve points, and everyone pours onto the field to congratulate our team.
Jake comes right over to us, hugs his dad and grandparents, and then he sees me and grins. He marches over and picks me up right off of my feet and hugs me.
“You came,” he says.
“Of course, I came. A very important player invited me himself.”
He grins widely. “Did you see that touchdown?”
“Yes, and I also saw that tackle. Took ten years off of my life.”
“Just knocked the wind out of me,” he says with a negligent shrug. “No big. Hey, Dad, is it okay if Russ and a few of the others come out to our place to watch movies and stuff tonight? We have the best house.”
Ryan grins with pride. “Sure, bring whoever you want. Be sure to tell them that their parents can call me if they want to.”
“Awesome, thanks.” Jake grins. “Can we maybe order pizza?”
“I’ll handle it,” Ryan assures him. “You deserve it after that game.”
“Best day ever,” Jake says as he gives the rest of the family hugs, takes the time to put Holly up on his shoulders, and then Daisy when the little girl doesn’t want to be left out, and then he jogs off to join his friends.
“I guess you’re hosting a party tonight,” I say with a laugh.
“I don’t mind. He deserves it.”
“Yeah, he definitely does.”
“We’ll come help,” Brady says, indicating himself and Mac. “You’ll need it.”
“I appreciate it,” Ryan agrees and turns to me. “I want to see you soon.”
“Oh, don’t worry about that. You will.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
RYAN
“Ihave two rules,” I inform the twenty or so teenagers who have gathered at my home after the game. They’re sitting in the theater seats in the movie room, and I’m standing down front.
“Let us have ‘em,” Russ calls out.
“One, there will be no drinking alcohol in my house. If I catch any of you doing that, I’ll call your parents right away. I’m a cool dad, but I’m not that cool.”
Jake snickers at that.
“What’s the second rule?” someone asks.
“You have to eat all the food in that kitchen. The pizza, the snacks, the sodas. Because I don’t want leftovers.”
“You got it, Mr. Wild,” someone else calls out. “Thanks for letting us hang here. Is it okay if some of us sleep in here?”
“Have you called your parents? Do they know where you are?”
Several of the boys nod enthusiastically. I’m glad that they didn’t bring any girlfriends tonight. I didn’t want to have to referee teenage sex in my house.
Christ, I’ll never be ready for that.
“If your parents know you’re safe and that you’re here, I don’t care if you sleep over.”
“Yes.”
“Legit.”
“Let’s watch the movie!”
I grin at Jake, and he smiles back, and then I make my way out of the room to leave them to it. Brady and Mac are waiting for me outside on the outdoor patio, where there’s a fire crackling.
With a Coke in my hand—I’m not going to break my own rule tonight—I open the glass door and step out to join them.
“You have owls,” Brady says with a grin. “They’ve been hooting for the past twenty minutes.”
“That’s cool.” I sip my Coke and sit on the couch, stretching my legs out in front of me, and one of the owls hoots. “I wonder if they’re a mating pair.”
“Owls mate for life,” Mac informs us.