55. king
CHAPTER 55
KING
NOT LIKE THAT, START RUNNING
The training camps were intense. They were a way for coaches to map out what high school students to keep an eye on and for us to get the ground running for the upcoming Birchwood Bowl. It was a long morning of drills and hand shaking with important people from across the country.
I did my best not to gawk at my girlfriend.
The Lawson family had their own photographers follow them around which meant more evidence of her, wearing my jersey. Her mom’s eyes widened when she saw and Coach Lawson did a double take, along with every other Romans football player on the field.
Muttering under her breath, Willow waved away questions, and I couldn’t keep the smirk off my face.
I had my tattoo for her on my hand, a permanent mark to prove I was hers. When I first had it done, I kept it clean, taking extra care of it because the tattoo meant that much to me. Now, Willow had my jersey. Not as permanent, but it was in front of everybody. Proof she was mine.
Around ten we had a water break and I tapered off from the rest, chilling with Ryan and Adam. I watched Mrs. Lawson while Coach Lawson and a few of the major coaches were ushered inside for something.
Joyce Lawson wasn’t just the coach’s wife. She was Willow’s mom.
If you’re dating a girl, shouldn’t her mom like you?
I craned my neck. "Should we get to know the coach’s wife?"
"No," Ryan replied instantly.
"I’ve never thought that ever in my entire life," Adam said.
"Yeah." I nodded. "It’s a good idea." I jogged after her. "Mrs. Lawson? Ma’am? Can I carry that for you?"
"It’s not heavy—oh, you’re carrying it."
I easily took the box from her, and we walked side by side. This wasn’t the time to be silent though, I needed to say something.
I cleared my throat. "I’m halfway through your book, ma’am."
"My book?"
" On The Sidelines? It’s a great read. I’m on the chapter of cervical spine injuries in the NFL before the seventies. It’s informative."
"You’re…actually reading it?"
I nodded again.
"When do you have the time?"
We stopped at the table where she wanted the box dropped off, and I cleared my throat. When did I have the time to read her book? In my truck. While I followed her daughter around the city.
"I—uh—I’m King."
"I know who you are," Mrs. Lawson replied, amused. "Number seventy-two, finished first on the Romans for tackles both your sophomore and junior year, and you were the catalyst to winning against UNLP. Is it really King?"
"Yes, ma’am."
"They don’t call you by your first name?"
"No, ma’am."
"You’re spending time with my daughter."
I stole a glance over my shoulder. Standing next to Kassie, Willow burst into laughter. The sun kissed Willow’s dark skin, making her glow warmer than anyone else around her. The sun loved her. I had to compete with the sun .
I turned back to Mrs. Lawson and nodded.
For a couple of seconds, neither of us spoke, and I smiled. This was the first time I had the opportunity to talk to Mrs. Lawson. Actually talk to her.
In the future, we’d be meeting differently. Dinners and family reunions and birthdays. She’d be the grandmother to my children. It was interesting to think about. This woman would be a major part of my life and she didn’t even know it yet.
"Uh…is that it?" Mrs. Lawson said.
I nodded.
"Okay…it was nice to meet you, King."
"Thank you, ma’am."
"You don’t have to thank—you can call me Joyce."
I nodded, backing up. "I will see you around, ma’am. Joyce. Ma’am."
"I bet you will."
"You know, ma’am, if you ever want Romans merchandise or tickets, I can always?—"
"You do realize my husband is Daniel Lawson?"
"Right." I paused. "Thank you, ma’am."
I grinned. That went better than expected. I didn’t know what I was so worried about. Maybe it was the later part that upped the difficulty? Like asking for her blessing and figuring out where to spend Christmas? Yeah, that was probably it. Because this part was pretty easy.
At the water coolers, Ryan and Adam were staring dumbfounded my way, before they shifted back to look at each other. But my introduction was a good first step with my mother-in-law, and that was all that mattered.
I stopped walking next to a group of football players.
Taking a hard right, I pushed myself into their conversation. "Brent, what’d you say?"
Brent, a Romans running back, swiveled to look up at me. He was surrounded by some players from other schools, but I wasn’t focused on them. I was focused on my teammate.
"What? Uh—nothing."
I stared him down, waiting, while the guys gave nervous chuckles.
"I said she has a nice pair—pair of lungs?—"
I grabbed the back of his shirt and hoisted him up.
"Oh, shit, " one of the guys blurted out and some other football players ran over, crowding us. I ignored all of them, tightening my grip on Brent's jersey.
"King?" Adam called to me, confused, before he and Ryan were next to us too. The circle was growing.
"Brent, just tell him," a tight end groaned.
Ryan pushed into the circle. "What’s going on?"
Shaking his head, Brent dug his fingers in the underside of his jersey’s collar, trying to get me to ease the embarrassment because we had an audience now.
That wasn’t going to happen.
"I said— fuck —" He turned bright red. "I’d slam my hand with a car door to motorboat Willow’s boobs."
"Holy shit," Adam chortled. " Bro. "
Half the audience burst into surprised laughter at Brent’s expense, but when he tried to smile, I shook my head.
"Would you say that about Kassie or Piper?"
"Uh—no."
"Why not? "
Brent wet his lips. "I’d—I’d get my ass kicked."
"What do you think is going to happen if I catch you talking about the coach’s stepdaughter like that again? "
His voice jumped an octave. "You’ll kick my ass!"
Our audience was full of hyenas, everyone jonesing for a closer look at Brent.
Ryan folded his arms over his chest. "I think he learned his lesson."
"He didn’t even apologize, captain," I retorted.
"I’m sorry!"
"Nope, not like that. Start running."
The laughter died.
I nodded towards the right. "You’re going to run around the field, and each time you pass Ms. Pruitt, you’re going to apologize loud enough for everyone to hear."
"Who’s Ms. Pruitt?"
"Coach’s stepdaughter," I snarled. " Go. "
I released him and he stumbled. Plenty of our teammates, players for other schools, and high school students started jeering, pushing him to start. This was a good public punishment. Everybody would get to see what the consequences were for a first-time offense.
A center player cupped his hands around his mouth. "Chop, chop, get moving, Brent!"
I could tell Brent was waiting for me to call it off and say I was kidding, but I folded my arms over my chest. I wasn’t fucking kidding. If he didn’t want to run, I’d give him a reason to.
He started to jog, jerking back to see if anything changed. All the football players actually on the field paused to glance at the only guy stumbling out of formation.
" Faster! " I barked.
Brent sprinted, and all eyes were on him as he came up to the girls.
"I’m sorry, Ms. Pruitt!" he yelled.
Adam patted me on the back. "I think you fucked him up for life, King."
I raised my voice. "FASTER!"
Brent raced around the field, approaching the girls again. "I’M SORRY, MS. PRUITT!"
"IF I WANTED TO WATCH YOU WALK, I’D TAIL YOU TO CLASS!"
" I’M SORRY, MS. PRUITT!"
Across the field, I could clearly see Willow’s shocked expression. I purposely pivoted away from her while Brent picked up speed.
"Alright, shut it down, King," Ryan told me.
I grunted. Brent had six more laps in him.
The other guys roared with laughter as Brent made his way back to us. Adam said something about ending it too but I ignored both of them. Six more laps and I’d be satisfied. The only thing was, I could feel Willow’s stare from across the field.
Reluctantly, I glanced at her again.
Wrong move.
She snapped her fingers and mouthed one word. " Stop. "
"Brent," I held out a hand. "That’s enough."
The running back collapsed to the grass, wheezing. He was a college football player. What a load of crap. I rolled my eyes while some of the guys helped him up, still laughing.
"What are we doing here, boys?" Coach Lawson’s voice boomed over the scene.
A handful of them started explaining before Ryan stepped into his captain role and relayed the events. All while Brent stuttered through another embarrassed apology.
Coach Lawson chuckled and clapped me on the back. "You know what this is, boys? This is called loyalty . "
With my eyes on Willow, I nodded.
Yeah. It was. Blinding loyalty that wouldn’t waver.