“All good points,” Jake said. “I guess it’s your lucky day, Sonny.”
“Screw both of you,” Sonny answered. “I’m not leaving.”
The conversation stopped. Ernest pulled up in a custom Bentley. Jordan rode shotgun.
“Here we go.” Sonny gave the commentary.
The cousins climbed the steps, Ernest carrying two large bags, and Jordan carrying one.
“What’s up fellas?” Jordan pointed to their feet. “I told you, Ernest.”
“You did.”
They gave each of the guys a bag.
“What’s this?” Jake didn’t look inside. Neither did Dylan or Sonny.
“Sweats and shoes. We guessed the sizes.”
“Small,” Ernest cut in.
Jordan snickered. “I told Ernest, y’all biker boys live in your boots.”
“You want to dress us...why?” Sonny set his bag down.
Jordan was pleasant. “We got off to a bad start. And, Rain can be boring as hell. We’re going to play some football. The field is a mess—”
“That will make it interesting,” Ernest added.
“We figured you might like to blow off some steam.”
“Do I have to be on your team?” Sonny asked.
Jordan grinned. “I wouldn’t have you.”
“I’m in.” He picked up his bag and went inside to change.
Jake was slower. “Are we going to talk about this?”
“Here you go.” Jordan tossed him a small vial of some thick pasty substance. “It loses its potency three hours after you open it, and you have to quit breathing this air within twenty-four hours of taking it. So get your eenie meenie miney mo out of the way first. Is that enough conversation for you?”
“That’s it. That’s all you care to do?”
“What else are you looking for?”
“There are three of us.”
“I can count. Two of you weren’t invited. And, not one of you wanted anything to do with us until now.”
“We didn’t know.”
“Sounds like a personal problem,” Ernest said.
“I’m giving you an opportunity to come at me legally.” Jordan held his arms wide. “You want to miss this chance for a dry conversation that won’t get you anywhere?”
“No, he doesn’t.” Dylan stood up and nudged Jake to his feet. “We can talk after.”
“No, I don’t.” Jake pocketed the serum, grabbed his bag and went inside.
“Thanks for the offer, and the looking out.” Dylan pointed to his bag. “Do we owe you for this?”
“Naw.” Jordan shook his head. “It’s the least we can do.”
“No, it’s not.”
That made Jordan chuckle. “You seem pleasant. It better not have anything to do with my sister.”
It didn’t occur to Dylan to lie. “You might want to prepare yourself for disappointment. It has everything to do with your sister.”
To his surprise, Jordan laughed outright. “In that case, she better be walking on sunshine.”
“That’s the only way she’s getting down from the cloud I left her floating on.” They were still laughing when Dylan went inside. He wished they would have met under different circumstances. The Bishops were harsh because they needed to be. But, he didn’t believe they were heartless.
MOST OF THE OTHER PLAYERS had arrived at the school’s football field. Some were familiar like Eddie, Prince, and Pryor, but many were strangers. The ground was muddy, and the bleachers were wet. Spectators came prepared. Old towels and plastic trash bags to sit on, blankets, hats, and thermoses of coffee, tea, and hot chocolate. The community turnout made the dull Friday afternoon into a community get-together. They wanted to hang out and watch a fun football game. Also, the Maya-drama was a thing to witness.
Nile stopped short. She expected Dylan to be there, but not on the field...lined up behind Jordan...facing Jake and Sonny. She didn’t know what it meant, but it wasn’t going to be good.
“Be obvious, why don’t you.” Tigris gave her a nudge to move her along.
“I need to get a grip,” Nile muttered and followed her sister to a seat.
It didn’t take long to become clear, what it meant. There were plenty of players—the game was real and they rotated positions. But, the unannounced purpose was for Dylan to keep Jake and Sonny away from Jordan. It became the thing to watch. When Jordan quarterbacked, Dylan was his offensive tackle, protecting his blindside. Because Jake was determined to sack Jordan and Sonny played dirty, Dylan was twice as busy as he needed to be.
But it was fun. Covered in mud, matching skills and wit, and trading insults. It fed an animalistic need for the frustrated young men trapped in Rain. They played hard because nobody backed down.
The girls were the same, needing to feel free. Maya and Toni joined Tigris, Nile, Sugar, and a handful of others on the bleachers. They cheered both teams, talked boys, and focused on player-particulars.
“Oh, he got cannons...”
“I’d let him catch me...”
“That behind is fine...”
“What position do you have to play to jump on that?”
Moments of normalcy were rare...and fleeting.
The guys took turns getting water and taking short breaks. At one point, Sugar caught Dylan’s attention. “They are working you double hard. Are you getting worn out?”
“Yes, ma’am, they are,” he said. “But they’re not wearing me down. To be honest, I worked out earlier. I’m more worn out from that.” He cut his eyes to Nile.
She turned away to hide her blush and her smile.
He caught them both.
Not willing to let the moment go, Tigris said, “A hard workout is a good thing. Or, so I hear. Are you planning to stick with that routine?”
Her sweet devious smile, coupled with Nile’s dropped jaw, confirmed Dylan’s suspicion; he and Tigris were on the same topic. He went with it. “Rigorously.”
“That is what hot-guys are for.”
Nile elbowed her.
“He started it.”
Yeah, he did. He grinned, saluted the ladies, and went back to the game.
Chapter Twenty-Six
The game was more than half over with Jordan’s team ahead by one score when Jake trotted to the sideline.
Maya stopped listening to the tall-tale about someone’s sexy night. At first, it seemed as if Jake was just thirsty. But moments later revealed that wasn’t the case. He had another problem. Jake stumbled in a dizzy circle, disoriented and gasping for air.
Someone asked, “Did he take a hit?”
“Seriously. Now?” Tigris huffed.
Maya knew what that meant. “Jacob!” She scurried down the steps and flew to Jake’s side.
“I think she actually loves him,” Toni said to no one in particular.
Neither Tigris, Nile, nor Sugar acted as if they heard her.
Jake doubled over. Vomiting and sweating, his whole body began to convulse.
Dylan and Sonny were there, steps behind Maya.
“Jake, buddy, you okay?” Sonny tried to pull him up.
Jake’s skin was pale and clammy. His eyes were bloodshot. He was in too much pain to talk.