Page 14 (1/2)

He hated taking the painthere ht, Mom had forced him to take them Then, when he finally went to sleep, she’d fallen into my arms and sobbed I had never seen her like that before, had never seen her break down

Facing today’s gaet to go home and tell my dad about it had been the only way I’d been able to play I wanted to tell hi that would make him smile I wanted hi I didn’t want hi those dreams Because without him, I wouldn’t care anyone

I hadn’t looked for Raleigh after the gaet the hell away from all of them All their joy over our win I couldn’t be happy My dad hadn’t been there Winning didn’toing to the field party where the tea pointless I couldn’t celebrate I just wanted to forget I wantedaround for almost an hour, lost in the pain that had become part of me, my truck drove down the familiar dirt road to the field party It was here or hoo hoet

Everyone was already here The loud shouts and laughter had once been welcome sounds Now I hated theame They didn’t knohat fear was None of the years of their lives Once, they’d been mine, too

I closed h the trees I would have to walk in there and put on a sa I had but only because I wanted to be able to tell my dad about it Not because my heart was in it

I didn’t fit in anymore With any of them

But where else would I go?

Drinking would ease the pain so would take it all away

I would pretend It hat I did best lately

Heading into the open field, I found a beer and h was here already I could see her over with the soccer boys I knew she wasback at me I just didn’t care

"Where you been, ht, and you weren’t even here to glory in it!" Ryker yelled out to s to do first," I replied with a grin that hinted I’d been doing sos I’d let thehter followed h moved over to soccer boy land," Nash replied He’d been pissed at me for a day or two, but after practice on Thursday we’d both agreed I was right He had to focus on football not Brady’s cousin

I shrugged and took a seat down on the tractor tire that Ryker was sitting on "Whatever," I replied

Next to ot to quit looking for her She’s okay She’s here, and she’s not your business Brady will be back in afor his cousin, he’ll get pissy"

I turned ht he had backed off that

Nash held up both his hands "Easy, I was just seeing as here Not looking for anyone"