Page 36 (1/2)

"I have so Stanton today Do you knoho that is?"

Yeah, I kneho Doug Stanton was Anybody who followed college football at all kneas the long term coach at State "Yes, sir, I do"

"He’s interested in you, son He’s heard about you and wants to come watch you play It’s awful early in the season for anyone to be contacting et a ju next week"

My heart raced and I realized the first thing I wanted to do was tell Claire, my friend "Wow, Coach State would be my first choice" It wasn’t far from my brothers and they had an incredibly successful record with Stanton as their coach

"This is it, Jessie This is the beginning of the rest of your football career This is how you get noticed by the pros," he said "You’ve got the kind of talent for that whether you’ve thought about it or not"

I ht have that kind of talent, but I had not considered playing professionally because I never expected to be discovered playing for Collinsville "I don’t want anyone on the team to know, Coach"

"Why not?" he asked

I decided I would tell him the why, but not the who "They won’t all be happy about this and I don’t want to give anybody a reason to try to take ame"

"You don’t have to say another a word You’ve been a real tea it before, but I know exactly who youan eye on Forbes Henderson since the day you had to ride off the field in an ambulance I’ve been his coach for four years and I know hiet out there and do so your best for Stanton"

"Sure thing, Coach and thanks for everything This is literally going to change my life," I explained

"I know it is, Jessie, and I couldn’t be prouder to have a hand in it"

When I got on the field for practice, I saw Claire across the field and was eager to tell her about ood news, but not because she was a each other between plays and cheers She saw the ecstatic look onwas up with me She wanted to run to me and find out what it was I could see it in her eyes, like I was reading her mind, as she watched me intently from where she stood

Real friends could have chatted after practice, but we couldn’t, and it spoke usly called a friendship She watched et into my truck and leave as she stood by her car with Forbes and I realized we could label our relationship whatever anted, but things were no different fro the boundaries of our relationship in the beginning

One thing was different this ti closer was a risk to Claire I wasn’t willing to chance

33 Spit It Out, Already

Claire

I wanted to call Jessie to see what had hi so much, but I was afraid to push the friend envelope too far If I continued to act like more than a friend, I was afraid he would withdraw his contact fro I couldn’t risk Friendly contact was better than none at all

I almost had to tie ed to not call Jessie By the time we met up on the way to Huot to telllike a hyena yesterday I’ve been dying to know"

He stopped walking and we stood at the entrance to the freshe s to watch e, Princess It’s exactly what I wanted because it isn’t far from Harley and Ozzy and they have an awesome law school"

I couldn’t control my excitement for him and threw my arms around his neck "Jessie, that is awesome I’m so happy for you" He pickedround He looked at o of hioing to State, too"

His expression was thoughtful as he replied, "No, you never told me that"

I reue instead of telling hi to be together because ere supposed to be Instead, I said, "Yeah, ie went there, too"

We both so and said, "Sorry I just got really excited for you is all," as I reached for my backpack on the sidewalk

We turned to walk toward class and he buI’m pretty sure they do it everyday"

I halfheartedly smiled at his dismissal of our embrace, but we both kneas based on ed it