Chapter 40
Johnson
FIVE MINUTES EARLIER
Shit, shit, shit. The Dallas defense has got our number in this half. Has got my number.
We know our receiver core as a whole is weak, but Dallas is exposing the vulnerabilities over and over again today. Once they double team Bailey, none of the other guys are playing at a high enough level to cover for him, even Paul, who seems a step slow.
Still, we’re up, thanks to our equally strong defense holding them to two scores. It’s now 16-14. One more quarter to go.
I won’t cost us this game.
We huddle up at second down and eight yards to go. I call out the play.
“Let’s do this,” Carter says from within the group before we get into our positions.
The ball snaps to me with perfect placement. I drop back three steps and look at Bailey, my primary target. Fuck, he’s completely covered again.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Walsh breaking free of his man near the line of scrimmage, and make the split-second call to dump it to him short. He catches the ball and grabs a couple extra yards before getting tackled.
A five-yard gain.
Third down and three yards to go. If we convert this play into a first down, we’ll at least be in field goal position for the rest of the drive.
I call the next play and we get set.
“Hut.”
The ball lands in my hands, and I start checking down options. One second, two seconds, and three seconds of holding the ball, and suddenly there’s a defensive end hurdling towards me.
Scramble, my mind shouts. I run out of the pocket and cheat to the left where it seems like there’s more protection.
Oh good, there’s…
WHOOPH. A huge blow to my side knocks me over, my feet losing their ties to the ground. With no time to brace myself for the fall, I bang my head on the dirt a split second after my body hits.
Everything fades…
…
…
“Johnson, JOHNSON…it’s Landon. You hear me okay?”
“Grace? Grace?”
“What the fuck? Why is he saying Grace’s name?”
…
…
“Johnson, we’re putting you on a stretcher and then wheeling you back. Stay still.”
“Grace?”
“Who is Grace? Does anyone know?”
“That’s my fucking sister. Why the hell does he keep asking for her?”
…
…
“Johnson, it’s Carter. It’s going to be okay. They’re grabbing your mom so she can meet you inside in the medical treatment room.”
“Grace?”
“He keeps asking for a Grace?”
“That’s his girlfriend. Can she come back there?”
“THAT’S NOT HIS GIRLFRIEND. THAT’S MY SISTER.”
“Shit, Landon, you need to calm down. I’m sorry that you need to hear this way, but they’re dating. He’d want her there.”
…
…
“I’m here, Johnson. With your mom.”
“Grace. Goldie.”
“It’s me. We’re going to the hospital now.”
Beep. Beep. Beep.
I hear the sounds before any of my other senses come back.
And then I wish mightily they hadn’t come back because fuck does my head hurt.
So does my neck, for that matter. Shit, it’s agony to turn my neck.
“Johnson,” Mom’s voice comes before I can actually see her. “Don’t try to move. You’re going to be alright, but you have a nasty concussion and strained muscles.”
I try to speak, but my throat is so dry, my tongue sticky.
“Let me get you some water.”
She brings me a small paper cup, and I take a couple of sips as she tips the cup into my mouth.
“Slow, Johnny.”
We’re quiet for a while, with her periodically having me sip some more water.
Eventually, I work up the energy to form more words.
“Game?”
Mom nods her head, knowing what I’m asking. “Yes, sweetie, you guys won.”
I shut my eyes and stay still. Thank god I didn’t let down the guys.
“Plenty of time to worry about football again. The doctors say they expect you to make a full recovery. It’ll be slow going right now.”
My heart lurches. That means I’ll miss games…
“For how long?”
Mom uses her most soothing voice on me. The one that she’d bring out when she had to break bad news to me as a child.
“We don’t know yet, Johnny, I’m sorry. Let’s focus on getting you better.”
The pain from that news is almost as bad as my pounding head.
I realize then that I have no clue how much time has passed. “What day is it?”
“It’s Monday. You’ve been in and out of it for a day.”
I lost a day.
“Lainie will bring the kids once you feel up to it, she’s been so worried. And Grace said she’ll be back here later tonight. She’s trying to talk to Landon this morning and see her brothers before they leave.”
Shit. I need to get better.
I don’t want her to have to shoulder that burden alone.
But I pass out again five minutes later…