Page 15 of Between Brothers

“Made me? You think my mommy makes me do things?” I asked, unable to keep the grin off my face.

“Wh–? No, I wasn’t…” Rigs fake lashes were fluttering so fast, I was surprised I couldn’t feel a breeze.

“Fuck off.” I nodded, encouraging the advice to be followed.

She blankly stared like my dismissal was too much to comprehend. When I bugged my eyes, hers widened.

“Uh–Okay,” She stressed the last word like I was the world’s biggest asshole and pranced away with twice her usual attitude.

I could feel my mother’s eyes on me as I made my way toward Kennedy.

“Anyone can try out. You just have to show up on the day they indicate.” Kennedy finished explaining just as I ventured toward her.

“Yeah, but like, how good do you really have to be? Do they accept anyone just because they show up to try outs?” a little blonde girl in a jumpsuit asked.

“That is the joy of small-town life. Almost everyone makes the team, if only because our numbers are so few. I can remember my seventh-grade year, they didn’t have a High School varsity team, because they didn’t have enough kids trying out to form one.” Kennedy shrugged.

I smirked, unable to quell my inner wiseass, “You imagine that means you were just the best out of what they had? I mean if other schools had their choice, and the local school put you on the team out of necessity and numbers…”

Her head swiveled slower than a horror movie, and those piercing green eyes burned into me.

“I’m not saying you aren’t decent, I’m just saying…”

“They didn’t offer me a full ride because I was decent. They offered tuition and housing because I was good, King. What did football ever get you?”

The children giggled, but she didn’t stop there. She lowered her tone and turned her head so the kids couldn’t read her lips, “Some already ran through ass?” Her gaze shifted ever so subtly from me to the corner of the gym.

I didn’t need to look.

I knew Rigs was still lingering back there.

“Pass,” she abruptly announced, before grimacing and repeating a bit louder, “Hard pass.”

“Not my ass, not my ol’ lady, never has been,” I mused, finally giving in and casting a glance back to Rigs.

She was leaning on the wall, but when she saw my attention slide her way, she instantly shifted away from it and began to preen.

A whistle blew, and a lady with cropped hair loudly summoned the children to the center of the gym, “Alright, everybody, gather around. We’re going to go over our assistance program. It’s really good stuff. The program Kate Crowe has founded with last month’s grant will help buy uniforms and cleats for anyone who lives in the district and qualifies as low income. We also have information regarding free sports physicals for the first week of school. Gather around, I have fliers for everyone.”

Kennedy and I ventured after the kids, taking up a post behind the masses while the woman went over the details of the charity program my mother helped set up.

“How long are we stuck here again?” Kennedy quietly asked.

I flubbed my lips, ready to leave if she was. Before I could say as much, a hand settled on my shoulder and delicate fingers curled tight. I turned my head to investigate and was greeted with a wet kiss on the cheek.

“All set, Babe?” Rigs wiggled into me like we were a thing.

I couldn’t contain my grimace, or the heated way my eyes anchored on her.

“You fucking slow or something?” I whispered under my breath, jerking my shoulder away from her weight.

She flopped into me and made a loud noise, as if she’d stumbled. Several of the children looked back. The woman with the short hair stopped speaking and glared.

“I’ll leave you two to it.” Kennedy winked, taking a wide arc around us.

Rigs reached for me, and I slapped her hands away, fully prepared to trot after Kennedy. From across the room, Kate shot me a passing look that reeked of disapproval.

I pinched my face up, jerked my head back, and somehow managed not to tell her to go fuck herself in front of a gym full of half-pints.