AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Like what?” I ask.
He stands, sipping his coffee. Then he dumps the remainder in the sink and rinses the cup. “If I told you, it wouldn’t mean anything. You’re a smart boy. You went to Clemson. Figure it out.” He walks out the back door, but it springs open again a second later.
“I got it, Dad.”
“Out of the way.” Emmett runs through the kitchen and up the stairs.
It’s a good reminder to finish my fucking house.
It’s our first football game and everyone in Willowbrook is out and in the stands.
It’s killing me that Gillian is up there and still not talking to me.
Junior varsity plays first. And of course, Clayton is the star player.
I see a person standing along the fence line, but they’re in the shadows. I can’t see their face.
“Who’s that?” I ask Coach Smith since Coach Reyes is busy coaching junior varsity to their victory.
He follows where I’m looking and shrugs. “Not sure. I’ve never known someone to stand away from everyone.” Coach Smith looks behind us. “There’s still some room on the bleachers.”
The hairs on the back of my neck raise, and for the first time tonight, I look up at Gillian. I don’t know how I’ve managed to resist this long. She’s clueless, standing and cheering with everyone else because Clayton just caught a touchdown in the end zone.
My dad’s words come back to me. This doesn’t just affect me. This affects Gillian and Clayton, so for the rest of the game, I watch the shadow, hoping like hell I’m wrong.
Junior varsity wins their game, and since they have to stay for the varsity game, they take the bench as the varsity players get ready.
I’m busy coaching the varsity boys, but I track the person growing closer to the fence opening the further the game progresses. Varsity wins, and everyone in Willowbrook cheers and yells, chanting “Wildcats!” over and over.
On our way off the field, I fall into line with Clayton. “Great job tonight.”
He makes eye contact with me, and they’re the same eyes as his mom’s. My heart pinches at the thought that she may never talk to me again. “Thanks, Coach Noughton.”
All the fans clap as the players go by. As they exit through the fence to head back into the school and take showers and change, the shadow emerges, and my worst fear comes true.
Waylon Knight stands there, clapping like every other fan, except his eyes are only on one person. “Fourteen.”
Clayton doesn’t hear him. He’s talking to his mentors, who are patting him on the back.
“Hey, fourteen!”
Clayton stops, looks to his right, and slows, letting the pack go ahead of him. I stay back and put my hand on Coach Smith to stay with me. I glance at Gillian, who sees what’s about to happen. She’s pushing through the crowd, not letting her eyes stray from her son.
“Heck of a job out there,” Waylon says.
I’m not sure if Clayton sees it, but they have a similar nose and jawline. Not everyone would suspect that they’re father and son, but now, side by side, it’s hard not to see it.
“Clay!” Gillian shouts, sprinting down the side of the field.
Clayton turns to his mom. He must notice her panic and can probably read his mom better than I can. I figure he’ll look back at Waylon and connect the dots, but his eyes search me out instead. In them, there’s one question.
I nod.
“Who are you?” Clayton asks.
“Is that who I think it is?” Coach Smith asks from next to me.
“Yeah.” I step forward a few more paces to break the distance since Gillian hasn’t been able to get here yet.
