Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 91783 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 459(@200wpm)___ 367(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91783 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 459(@200wpm)___ 367(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
“Don’t turn one mistake into two,” I yell but doubt Mack hears me.
On the next series, Noah sends in the play. Mack runs it to perfection. Play-action, three-step drop, hits the tight end crossing the middle for twenty-two yards. Noah doesn’t pump his fist this time. He just turns to Nick and taps the clipboard twice.
Paige’s squad runs a routine during the timeout. She’s in the front row, arms sharp, voice cutting through the cold. She’s good at this. Paige is good at most things she decides to care about. It’s getting her to care that’s the challenge. She’s strong willed and carries so much on her shoulders.
The fourth quarter is ugly. Both teams are grinding it out with short runs and incomplete passes. Beaumont holds a six-point lead with two minutes left, and Mack takes a knee to run it out. The bleachers empty slow. Fans stand, stretch, pull their jackets tighter. I stay in my seat and watch the field clear.
After the game, I stand at the railing, waiting for Noah to come over. I haven’t seen him since I got back. After he talks to Mack, he jogs up the stairs and then gives me a tight hug. I hold him longer than he does me. I need an extra moment for all of this to settle in. He’s no longer the boy I watched play or the man who guided his professional team to a title. He’s a dad, a coach in his own right, but he’s still the ten-year-old I met at the sports museum, who said he knew me because he saw me kissing his mom.
“Nice win,” I say when I release him.
“Tough one, but a win’s a win. We expected you to come by when you got home.”
He’s right. I should’ve stopped by. “I don’t want to interrupt.”
“You’re not an interruption, Dad. I want you to spend as much time as possible with the kids. They’re growing so fast.”
I nod and look down at my boots, which apparently are very fascinating. Noah claps me on the shoulder. “We’ll be over.”
Noah laughs. “Or we’ll be over. Just know the doors always open.” He goes to his mom and hugs her tight, then runs off toward the locker room.
I inhale deeply and stare off into the darkness. Finding the middle ground—the point where my life makes sense—is going to be hard. I want to be present as Liam the husband, father, and grandfather, but also as the rock star. It’s been my identity for so long I don’t know how to be me without it.
Nick catches my eye. I decide to walk down to the field, to show Mack and Noah that Nick and I can coexist.
“Nice game,” I say.
Nick shows me Mack’s stats on his clipboard. “He’s better than both of us were.”
“He’s better than you were. Let’s not get carried away.” I was outstanding. Nick was okay.
Nick almost smiles.
I beam.
Peyton’s Wagoneer pulls into the driveway two mornings later. I watch from the kitchen window as Noah gets out, opens the rear door, and Juniper emerges. He props her on one hip, then leans back in for another. Maverick.
Where’s Jace?
He heads toward the front door. I open it before he knocks.
“Jace has an ear infection,” he says. “Peyton’s in there with him.” He motions toward their SUV. “We’re taking him to Nick.”
Juniper reaches for me and my heart does a double take. I didn’t expect her to remember me because I haven’t seen her in months. Her little fists grab at my shirt, fingers twisting the fabric near my collar. She smells like baby soap and cereal, and it looks like she’s wearing more than she ate.
“Why isn’t Nick coming over to the house?”
“He has rounds today and wouldn’t be able to get to us until later. We don’t want to wait because Jace is pretty uncomfortable.” Noah sets Maverick down on the living room rug. Maverick looks at me, looks at the room, and crawls toward the basket of toys Josie keeps in the corner.
“Where’s Mom?”
“Mani-pedis with your sister.”
Noah looks at me for a moment with contemplation in his features.
“I can take care of them,” I say, readjusting Juniper. “How hard can it be?”
Noah laughs and sets down the diaper bag. “Peyton says we’ll be back before lunch. They’ve had breakfast and Mom keeps all their snacks in the pantry. There are bottles in the diaper bag but if you want to put them in the refrigerator that would be great. They’re teething and watch Mav. He puts everything in his mouth. Don’t let him near the dog food.”
I look toward the yard to see if Stevie Nicks is sitting outside, waiting patiently to come in. “We don’t have a dog.”
“Then you’re already ahead.” He pauses his hand on the doorknob. “If they’re too much, call Talisa.”