“Like your momma ends up on her ass every Saturday night?”
“Fuck you.”
“Eagles!” Coach Carter’s voice was louder this time. Enough for the room to quiet and the players to all look at the door where Cam and Coach Carter were standing, the light from the hallway spilling in behind them. “We have a visitor. Best behavior please.”
“Sorry, Coach,” the curser mumbled.
A rumble of chatter started up as people realized who the visitor was. Cam heard his name repeated, eyes widening as they looked at him.
“Many of you know Cam Hartson, the safety for the Boston Bobcats. He used to be an Eagle, like you. And he’s going to be joining us for practice over the next few weeks, to give you some pointers. He’ll be working with the Varsity and JV teams, so everybody here will get to meet him. And he’ll be watching the game tonight, so give it all you’ve got and make us proud.”
Cam lifted his hand up in greeting. “Hey, it’s good to see you all. Good luck with the game tonight. I’m looking forward to cheering the Eagles on again.”
One of the players walked forward to shake his hand. “This is Grant Ryerson. Our quarterback,” Coach Carter told Cam.
“It’s good to meet you,” Cam said, his grip strong.
“You too, Mr. Hartson.”
“It’s Cam. I’m too young to be a mister at a school.”
The boy nodded, his expression serious. “Yes, sir.”
Ten minutes later, they were walking out to the stadium. There were a few kids at the back dressed in their street clothes. “They’re not playing?” Cam asked the Coach.
“They’re mostly JV players. The ones we think will make Varsity next year. The kid at the back is interesting. Joined us this year, but he’s good. I put him on the freshman team to see what he’s made of, but he’ll be moving to JV next week.”
Cam followed the coach’s gaze to the tall, dark haired boy standing a little apart from the others, and a jolt of recognition went through him. Michael Devlin. The boy’s gaze met Cam’s and pulled away almost immediately, as though he was embarrassed.
Poor kid. New to the school, the team, and now he had to deal with Cam all over again. “What position does he play?”
“Wide receiver.”
Cam nodded and took a seat on the bench where Coach Carter indicated, and glanced around at the bleachers, wondering if Michael’s mom was there. He wasn’t playing, so there was every chance Mia had dropped him off and would pick him up later.
Either way, the thought of seeing her sent a rumble through him. She’d asked him to leave her alone, and he’d done just that. Maybe he’d even been glad she’d turned him down. She was right, he didn’t need any complications. Not even ones that came packaged like her.
With baggage attached.
Yeah, but the packaging was pretty hot.
A drum started playing, then music flooded through the PA system, as the cheerleaders took to the field. Cam swallowed hard, because his memories were so strong. Of being a kid, of having dreams, of knowing that this was the one thing in his life he was good at.
Of having hope that a better life was ahead of him.
Damn, he missed that feeling.
Mia took a seat in the bleachers, coiling her hair over her shoulder as she sought out Michael. She finally saw him standing by the fence, talking to the players, his face serious.
What had happened to the big smile he’d been wearing since he’d gotten home from practice? His moods were so mercurial.
The cheerleaders were on the field, doing the kind of tumbles that always made Mia worry they’d end up faceplanting, but they were graceful and always ended on their feet. Then they ran to the right, exiting the field and the music faded out, replaced by the announcer.
“Friends, parents, players, welcome to Columbus High. It’s Friday night and we’re ready for a game! Let’s hear a big cheer for the teams.”
A loud roar filled the air. Mia joined in, clapping wildly. She couldn’t see Michael anymore. Maybe he was sitting on the benches.
“We also have a very special guest tonight. Before he was a Boston Bobcat, he was a Columbus Eagle. Please give a very warm welcome to Mister Cameron Hartson. One of the best safeties the NFL has ever seen.”