Chapter 24

"Ready, my captain?"

I was just pulling my practice jersey over my shoulder pads as Mark asked.

"Ready," I agreed.

The locker room was noisy. Everybody was up after Friday's game. I had to admit I was feeling pretty good myself. Tami had come back after about an hour, then went in to have a talk with Mr. Reed and another one with Mr. Walker, and seemed to have found her balance.

I looked at the outside door. "Alright you clowns. Let's try to look like a football team," I yelled.

The locker room echoed with their cheers, but then, just as I got to the door, it died. I turned. Luke was standing just inside the other door. "Can I talk to you?"

I nodded. "Mark, take 'em out. Two laps around the field, then give 'em to Robbie."

He nodded, and, subdued, the team headed for the field. "What can I do for you, Luke?"

"I, uh, I just wanted to say I was sorry."

"For what?" I didn't want to see him squirm, but I figured if he was really sorry, saying the words would help.

"I, er, I lied. I said what Mr. Parker told me to say."

"Okay."

"If you want me to tell anybody, I will."

I nodded. "I don't think you have to do that. The people who matter already know."

He looked at the ground and scuffed his foot. "I just thought I should say something."

"Well, when she read the article, Robbie figured out why you lied."

"Yeah," he said, rubbing his side. "She's something else. Remember when I started and I said something about a pathetic team having a girl?"

I nodded.

"There's nothing pathetic about her."

I grinned. "Painful sometimes, but never pathetic." Luke looked like he wasn't done, but didn't know what else to say. "Can I ask you something?"

He nodded, seeming almost grateful.

"Were you using in Texas?"

He looked at me, then back at the ground. "Yeah."

"Here?"

His head hung even lower. "Yeah."

"Have you stopped?"

"I... I guess."

"Don't guess. Have you stopped."

"I have."

"Okay." I turned my back on him and walked to my locker. I opened it and dug my cell phone out of my jeans pocket. I looked back at Luke, then found the number I wanted in my contact list. I dialed.

Rosita answered the phone. "Brees residence."

"Hi, Cuz-in-law. You ready to dump the doc and come cook for me?"

"Who? Is this Tony?"

"The same. Is the red-headed terror around?"

"I'll get her."

Luke scuffed his foot a couple more times, then turned toward the door. "I'll just get..."

"Stay!" I ordered as Cinnamon answered the phone.

"Tony?"

"The one and only."

"You decided you wanted more of my body and are flying back?"

"I wish," I said, only partly joking. "I need Wynter's phone number."

"I see. A brunette and a redhead aren't enough, so you want a blond too."

"I need an expert opinion, and I'm short on minutes. Right now Robbie's running the football team, and I'm not sure how long they can last."

"You're back on the team?"

"Long story. I'll call this weekend."

"If you don't, I'll sic Hailey on you."

"The number," I reminded her, and she rattled it off. "Do you know if she's home?"

"She's supposed to be working on a group project for one of her classes, and they're supposed to meet at her house."

Luke had a nice little ping pong game going. He's look at me, he'd look at the door to the field. He'd look at me, he'd look at the door to the hall. I pointed at a bench. "Sit."