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He grips my shoulder and gives it a squeeze. “Means you’ve got respect for the game.”
“That I do.”
“You have family here today?”
I smile. “Yeah. You?”
“I never know, and I don’t look anymore, either. I walk on that field, and I give the game everything I have. When it’s done, that’s when I allow myself to look.”
“Solid advice. You got any more?”
To that, his face lights up. “Kid, I’ve got over a decade’s worth of advice. You new Jags just don’t seem to want to hear it.”
“Nah, man, that’s not me. Knowledge is power. I want to learn from the coaches, books, and reels. But I also wanna learn what they don’t teach. I want all the wisdom that comes from players who’ve been there. I’m surrounded by some of the greats—you being one of them. I’ll take all you’re willing to give.”
“Steel,” he yells across the locker room.
Amias looks over at him and lifts his chin. “Yeah?”
“You’ve been demoted. I have a new favorite rookie.”
He shakes his head and chuckles as he turns back toward his locker.
When Turner starts to walk away, I call after him, “Anything?”
“Yeah, don’t expect to win today.”
The fuck?
I laugh to myself. “Thanks?”
“You’re welcome.”
I walk over to my locker and see Pope has the one next to me.
He looks over as I grab my hat and glove. “Turner’s a good man.”
“I won’t argue that.”
He chuckles. “You ready for this?”
“Yeah. Do you have any advice?”
“Haven’t played in this capacity, so as of now, no. But I do have a request.”
“What’s that?”
“Try not to overthrow first.”
* * *
We’re batting at the top, and I am sixth up. It’s not the greatest spot to be in, but I get it—I need to prove myself.
When I step onto the field for the first time, starting as a rookie, and my heart is hammering so loudly that I swear I can hear it. I’m excited, nervous and, yeah, in sheer awe as I take it all in. The roar of the crowd sends shivers down my spine, even though I know it’s for Texas, and I swear I’m absorbing their energy.
The familiar sights and sounds of the stadium are intensified, and all I can think about is the fact that I’m living out my childhood dream.
I take a moment to say a little prayer for being given a second chance at something that was always mine, not my father’s. Something I easily threw away out of anger and hatred.
