Chapter 15 Cooper
COOPER
Wood Hollow didn’t host many events. Until recently, we simply hadn’t had the infrastructure required to accommodate traffic and parking that wasn’t specifically related to the mill. And our only reliable eatery hadn’t been equipped to serve large parties. That had changed, though.
We’d widened our thoroughfares, cleared overgrown brush for parking, and had remodeled derelict buildings that were now leased to popular new cafés.
Nothing fancy, but that was okay. We could offer guests a variety of quality bed-and-breakfasts, dining choices and conveniences, and damn it, we looked pretty in springtime.
The sky was a robin’s-egg blue dotted with cotton-candy clouds. The tapestry of pines, elms, and maple trees complemented the newly manicured football field behind Wood Hollow High’s gymnasium.
Not to belabor the point, but it sure as hell hadn’t been this nice when I’d gone to school here.
Back then, the grass had grown in ugly clumps, and the ground had been riddled with dangerous divots.
In tenth grade, Reg had twisted his ankle on one the size of a small pothole.
He’d literally been writhing in pain next to a mini crater, and the school’s response had been to throw some dirt in it.
“I think it made us tougher than the rest,” Reg liked to say. “We didn’t hand out Band-Aids for boo-boos. We rubbed a little dirt in the wound and played on. Life is rough, man. Falling isn’t failure unless you stay on the ground. And no one wants to do that in Wood fucking Hollow.”
He’d been joking, but also…not.
I tipped my head in greeting to Mr. Grubel, my eighth-grade biology teacher, and his wife as I waited for Ivy and Chase to scramble out of the truck.
They’d been in a funny mood this morning.
Excited to see friends at the flag football kick-off and a little melancholy the way they sometimes got on what I secretly referred to as “exchange days.” I didn’t think they preferred Wood Hollow to Fallbrook or staying with either Sarah or me.
We’d done a good job at making both places feel like home. But good-byes were never easy.
I pushed that thought aside and took the opportunity to seek out Silas in the crowd. I’d offered to give him a ride, but he’d wanted to come early to check out the field, and there was no way we’d have been ready to leave the house any sooner.
“Put your sweatshirt on, Chase.”
“Why? It’s sunny and I’m not cold,” he replied, hopping out of the truck.
“No arguing. It’s cooler than you think.” I stifled a sigh as Chase grumbled on cue, yanking the Condors sweatshirt Hank and Denny had given him over his head.
“Can I go find Rhys?”
I spotted Reg’s SUV by the fence. “They’re heading in now. Go get ’em, tiger.”
Chase whooped and raced off just as Ivy stepped onto the pavement, face averted.
“Are you ready to—” I stopped in my tracks, tipping her chin to get a better look. “You’re wearing eye paint.”
“Eye shadow,” she corrected. “Only a little bit. It’s not a big deal.”
“I don’t think your mom approves, and—”
“But you’re my dad.”
Ivy didn’t bother hiding the challenge in her tone. It had been a while since either of them had gone there. But that was because Sarah and I were usually better at communicating potential issues. I’d let this one sneak through the cracks, and I still had no idea how to handle the makeup quandary.
“True. Um…”
“Oh! I see Nora. Can I go?” To her credit, she didn’t bolt off. She held my gaze and waited for permission.
“Sure. Check in regularly. You know the rules,” I said, pulling a bag hidden under the kids’ carryalls out of the truck.
Ivy cocked her head and gave me a head-to-toe once-over. “Are you playing today?”
“Yeah, someone called in sick, and Dex asked me to sub for Fallbrook.”
She squealed and jumped up and down, looking more like the girl who’d drizzled too much syrup on her pancakes while humming along to a SpongeBob doodle on the flat-screen a few hours ago. “You didn’t tell us! Oh, my gosh! This is so cool! Did you tell Silas?”
Heat blossomed on my cheeks, and I suddenly felt like a teenager with a crush. “No, I didn’t. This is last-minute and no doubt will be very embarrassing, so let’s not draw too much attention to your dear ol’ dad.”
Ivy couldn’t stop grinning. “Whatever you say, dear ol’ Dad. Get lots of touchdowns!”
“No pressure, eh?”
“No pressure.”
I huffed. “Yeah, well…lower your expectations. I haven’t played in years.”
“You’re going to be great!” And with that, she skipped away.
I followed at a mindful distance, said hello to Nora’s mom, and noted that her kid was wearing a lot more blush than Ivy.
I seemed to recall that Nora was a year older, which hadn’t made much of a difference…
till maybe now. I filed that info under “Things to worry about later,” along with a reminder not to drop the ball this time, then greeted a few more friends and acquaintances on my way to the portable tent Dex had rented for the event.
Dex and his committee had gone all out. A balloon arch in Wood Hollow High’s colors—gold and black—was set up next to the deejay playing dance music from the early 2000s.
A row of tables situated against the fence were laden with complimentary water bottles and samples from participating eating establishments in town.
There was a hot chocolate and mini maple cookies station from Rise and Grind, donut holes from Dexter’s Donuts, and garlic balls from Mike and Sam’s Pizza, just to name a few.
The mood was celebratory and a touch chaotic. Like any small-town gathering should be.
I paused to greet a couple of guys from the mill, laughing at an old joke before turning to see Silas standing on the sideline, surveying the grassy expanse with his hands on his hips looking like warrior…or a model.
God, he was beautiful. A professional athlete, ripped and toned, and confident in his physical prowess amongst a gaggle of kids, parents, armchair sports enthusiasts, and high school has-beens.
The contrast should have been laughable, but Silas emanated a warmth and realness that made me think he’d fit in anywhere. Even Wood Hollow.
“Hey, I know you.” Silas held a hand up for a high five, bro shake combo. “Are you playing?”
“Dex needed numbers, and I’m on the reserve list, so…yeah.”
His sunny grin widened from ear to ear like a Cheshire cat. “Cool. Think we’ll be teammates?”
“Nope, sorry!” Dex popped up between us, clipboard tucked under his arm.
“Fallbrook is down a player, and they need Coop. We’ll get started in five minutes.
I’ll welcome everyone, introduce our coaches this season, and hand the mic to Silas.
Short and sweet is fine. I know I put you on the spot, but I can’t tell you how much we appreciate this. ”
“It’s my pleasure,” Silas assured him.
“Let’s hope you still feel that way after you’ve taken a hundred selfies,” Dex called as he strode away.
I stretched my arms above my head and twisted my torso to loosen up a bit. “Go easy on me out there.”
“No fucking way. It’s a fight to the finish out there.
I’m gonna spin you like spaghetti on a wonky fork.
” He danced around me in a prize-fighter stance, fists cocked.
“I’m gonna throw the ball so far over your head, you’ll be swingin’ for it like a bear swatting at a honey pot.
I’m gonna run so fast, you’ll see a cloud of dust and it’ll be too late to catch up, but you’ll try.
You’ll be huffin’ and puffin’ and beggin’ for mercy. Sadly, mercy ain’t coming, Coop.”
“Are you finished?” I deadpanned, my lips twitching with humor.
Silas knitted his brow as if giving the matter some serious thought. “I think so. Polarize the opponent and win, win, win. Yep…that’s the gist.”
“Very funny.” I nudged his elbow, feigning interest in something in the distance. “Hey, this is really very nice of you.”
“I’m a nice guy.”
“I’m serious. This is a larger turnout than usual, and no doubt that’s because of you,” I said.
“Who knows?” Silas snorted derisively. “I’m happy to do it. And…tonight?”
I didn’t pretend not to know what he meant. I nodded briskly and smiled. “Tonight.”
Two minutes later, Dex grabbed Silas and motioned for the coaches to join him at center field. The deejay cut Black Eyed Peas off in the middle of “I Got a Feeling,” and a minute or so later, it was mostly quiet.
Dex thanked everyone for coming, gave his usual speech about the four towns of the forest uniting for a great cause as a portion of the registration fees went toward college scholarships and our local food bank.
He thanked the biggest donors, who also happened to be hockey players from Elmwood, and jokingly wondered if any of them knew how to play football.
“Yeah…I didn’t think so. Wood Hollow’s got this one in the bag!” That earned him a laugh and provided the perfect segue to introduce Silas. “You won’t believe this, but we have a real live NFL star with us today. Help me welcome our special guest, Silas Anderson!”
Everyone went wild.
Dex had a gift for gab and he was good at pumping up a crowd, but it also helped that Silas was a natural-born ham.
Silas pretended to throw a football before he took the mic and raised his arms, encouraging a little extra adulation.
The kids and their friends cheered and applauded.
Hell, so did my friends, who were also busy snapping pics or recording him.
I would’ve thought Silas would be leery of ending up plastered on social media at a community event in a tiny forest town given his recent exposure, but he seemed to relish the spotlight here.