Page 11 of Out of Bounds
Colton gave you my number? Is he okay? Should I hotfoot it down to the ER?
Ha. Funny. If not entirely in jest.
Me
I can be very persuasive. I’ll see you at the ranch on Tuesday. Unless you’re coming to the game on Sunday?
Annie Sunshine
Sadly, the Alamo Stadium isn’t the right place for a ten-month-old. Are you sure you want to do this?
Me
Annie Quinn, you need to learn to accept good grace. I’ll give you and Nelson a wave on Sunday.
5
ANNIE – MID-SEPTEMBER
Dirty Laundry
It’s the first time I’ve ever missed the Bear’s first game of the season. Instead of watching my brother and the guys kick off at the Alamo Stadium, I’ll be supporting from right here in my front room.
I’ve got a standing fan blasting at Nelson, who’s wearing nothing but a diaper on account of this afternoon’s heat. The cameras on screen pan the friends and family area, always pausing on the model girlfriends and celebs – the limelight WAGs – but I catch a glimpse of my daddy and Sas.
“There’s Papa, Nelson. Blow him a kiss.”
Nelson is trying desperately to make the transition from crawling to walking. He climbs up my legs, holding on to my shoulder to stand on his divinely podgy and sort of bowed legs.
He blows the cutest kisses at the television, all wide-mouthed and sloppy. I know I’m biased but I really have the most adorable kid in the world. Which almost makes up for the fact my game snacks consist of yoghurt and super squishable finger chips that stick in my molars.
Oh to have a corn dog and some crunchy chips at the ground.
As the Bears run out to “La Grange” by ZZ Top, I flip Nelson onto my lap. Bouncing him in time to the music, I force aside the FOMO. I havesomuch to be thankful for. I just also really love being at the games, in the thick of the atmosphere, cheering for my brother’s team. After all the support the team has shown us since Mama died, I’m extra invested in every man on the squad.
The last players to run the guard of honor onto the field are the receivers and the quarterback – the stars of the show.
I hold Nelson’s hands and he giggles as I cheer for Omar, then UncleColton.
I try to ignore the broadcasters when they start discussing personal matters.
“Eighty-two, Colton Quinn. He had an inconsistent season last year with a lot going on personally for him.”
“Yeah, let’s hope it doesn’t impact his game this year, too,” another says.
“One thing’s for sure, I’m looking forward to when the Bears face the St Louis Archers and these guys come back up against Auston Rogers and his team. First Quinn broke Rogers’ jaw in his sister’s honor, then the Archers defense caused Thieriot’s injury. It’s going to blow!”
They’re talking about your daddy, Nelson.
I’m thankful for the announcement of number eighty-nine, Tanner Pace, and the memory of his last message to me.
“Will he wave to us like he promised?”
Tanner bounds out of the tunnel, hitting the hands of his teammates that are held out to him as pyrotechnics explode around them.
As I scrutinize the way the new season uniform looks on him and hugs his perfectly fine tight end (pun intended), I realize how long it’s been since I’ve been touched by a man. That’s the only reason I can find for my smutty thoughts and my body feeling all squirmy in ways it really ought not to be.
If Iwerein the market for a man – even a hook-up – which I amnot, a football player is the very last place I would look. Once bitten, twice shy.
