Page 28 of Me For You
I’d managed to snag one offline and got it shipped to us in time for a pregame photoshoot. Me in my Tigers jersey while she wore number fifty-five to represent her big brother. Being with me, it was only natural for Rylee to be a football fan. She had no clue what was going on most of the time and only cheered when there was a touchdown. Sometimes for the opposing team but we were getting there.
I thought it would be a sweet gesture to let Ryland know Rylee would be watching him play today and also sporting a jersey with his number. It was a women’s XS, which was all I could get in time for the game, and it swallowed her small frame, but we made it work. After all, it was the gesture that counted.
We did a photoshoot this morning and texted the pictures to Ryland. Me in my Tigers jersey with Rylee doing a bunch of silly poses. I hadn’t gotten a response but assumed that had more to do with gameday focus than ignoring us.
The Sharks broke the huddle and lined up at their twenty-eight. Third and eight. Their QB settled in and my eyes drifted left toward fifty-five. One thing I would give Ryland was that he looked damn good in his uniform. His body was massive and lengthy. His weight was forward, knees bent and arms loose at his sides.
The snap came and the defender went right, trying to spin and cut around Ryland, but he shifted and squared his body, moving with quick, short paces, blocking Omiri long enough for him to get the ball downfield.
Damn it…
I turned when I noticed Marlee’s hands moving in my periphery. She was signing to Rylee.“Your brother is making Somee mad.”
Rylee’s face scrunched. “Why is he making her mad?”
Marlee smirked and cut her eyes my way before she focused on Rylee and signed,“Because he’s good and Somee doesn’t want the Sharks to win.”
Rylee slipped off the sofa and stepped in front of me.“Do you want me to cheer for the Tigers so they can win?”she signed.
My heart melted. Before the game started, she asked if she should cheer for Ryland since she was wearing his jersey, and if she did, would I be sad.
“No, you cheer for the Sharks. They need all the help they can get because my Tigers are going to win this.”I tapped her nose and she smiled before I pulled her into my lap to watch the next play. Omiri had gotten them downfield and they were in range to score again to take the lead and win the game until the refs called offensive pass interference. The call was questionable, but came with a penalty that shifted them back ten yards with just seconds left, making their only option to score by means of kicking a field goal.
They lost. Shit…
As much as I wanted my Tigers to win, I didn’t want it to happen like this. A bad call from the ref resulted in a field goal that put the Sharks out of the playoffs.
Their team was clearly pissed. Their coach argued with the ref and the players shoved people out of their way as they left the field. All of that was expected but my focus remained on number fifty-five.
He had words with one of the reporters who looked distraught after Ryland walked away from her, which had me turning to Marlee to find out what was said.
My hands moved quickly after I had her attention.“What did he say?”
“We didn’t lose the fucking game. The refs did. Report that.”
My eyes went wide.“He didn’t.”
“He did,”she signed with a smug grin.“He’s not happy.”
Understandably so, because he was right. The call was bullshit and cost them the game, but I imagined stating that so colorfully with a reporter wouldn’t earn him any favor.
“We didn’t win,”Rylee signed after she stepped in front of me.
I shook my head.“No, the Sharks lost. Sorry, kid.”
I tapped her nose and she shrugged. “Can I have more wings?”
“Go for it but you need veggies, so add some celery and carrots,”I signed and grinned when she wrinkled her nose.
“Just two,”she tried and I shook my head.
“More than two and eat at the table.”
She huffed and signed okay, leaving me to head to the kitchen to fix a plate. Everything was laid out on the counter because I wanted Rylee to always have the ability to function independently whenever possible.
“Are you all packed?”Marlee signed when Rylee was out of our line of sight.
“I am.”
