Angel placed his cigar on the edge of the firepit and opened his hands, ready to catch the ball.
“Really?” Tommy asked, surprised. They were only sitting three feet apart, but he still didn’t expect Angel to be interested in tossing the ball back and forth.
“Just because I don’t play sports, doesn’t mean I’ve never thrown a ball. I have a brother. And my father always included me whenever he played ball with Nesto. Go ahead. Let me have it. But be gentle.”
“You sure?” The last thing Tommy wanted to do was hit Angel in the face with the football. The scene from The Brady Bunch played in his head again, and he fell forward laughing.
Angel rolled his eyes. “Just throw the ball.”
Tommy threw it, and Angel caught it. He even tossed it to Robert. The three of them ended up sitting in the yard for several hours talking, laughing, and throwing the football to one another before Robert had to leave.
“Thanks, you guys,” Tommy told Angel and Jessi after his brother left. He placed an arm over each of their shoulders and pulled them closer to him. “I had such a good time tonight.”
“I’m glad,” Jessi said. “I love watching you and Robert together. You get along so well.”
“I had a good time too,” Angel agreed. “It was fun.”
“I can’t believe you played football with us,” Tommy replied.
“Hardly.” Angel scoffed. “All we did was throw the ball to each other from a few feet away.”
“That counts.” Jessi looked at Tommy. “Right?”
“It sure does. It was actually the best part of the night.”
“Really?” Angel looked surprised. “Even better than visiting with your brother?”
Tommy stopped to think about his answer. He loved his brother and time together always made his heart feel whole. But he shared something special tonight with Angel that he never expected. Granted, he hadn’t played football or even touched one in years, but the sport had been a big part of his life. A part of his life that he had shared with Jessi, but not with Angel. So, the simple act of throwing a football around brought Angel into a corner of Tommy’s life that didn’t include him before. And that meant more to him than anything. “Yeah,” he answered, after a long pause. “It really was the best part of the night.”
A week later, Jessi and Angel surprised Tommy with a one-day trip to Texas to attend the Wranglers/Bucks game. Two bodyguards sat on either side of them like a pair of bookends at the AT&T Stadium, but it didn’t stop people from gawking. Fans in the row in front of them snapped discreet and not-so-discreet selfies, but they were respectful and didn’t ask for autographs or try to start up conversations. They were here to watch football.
When the Bucks trotted onto the turf, Tommy caught sight of his brother. He couldn’t contain his enthusiasm, jumped to his feet, and cheered like a lunatic. Obviously, it caused everyone in their vicinity to turn toward him.
“Sit down, you nut,” Angel said, tugging on Tommy’s T-shirt.
Tommy waved to the fans who were staring at him, phones snapping away, as did Angel, before the home team took the field, stealing the fans’ attention. Minutes later, everyone rose for the national anthem, but instead of seeing the American Flag on the video screen, the camera was zoomed in on Angel.
“We have a celebrity in attendance today,” the announcer said, through the microphone. “Angel Garcia, will you do us the honor of singing The Star-Spangled Banner?”
Angel’s face lit up with surprise and his hand went to his chest as he nodded.
Jessi looped her arm through Tommy’s, her smile equally proud, as Angel took the mic on the field. “I can’t believe Angel is singing the national anthem. Did Robert do this?”
“I have no idea.” Tommy shrugged. “He didn’t mention it, but he must have told people we were going to be here.”
The music started, and Angel belted out the familiar first verse of the most patriotic song in America. As Tommy stood with his hand over his heart, he looked at the awed faces and heard the gasps around him.
Without his signature flashy stage attire, dressed only in jeans and a tight-fitting black T-shirt adorned with silver chains, Angel looked regal and understated, which drew attention to the lyrics instead of to himself. The emotion that bled from his voice as he sang pierced Tommy right through the heart, and by the expression on everyone’s faces, they felt the same way.
The anthem was incredibly difficult to sing, and most acclaimed vocalists had trouble, but it was as if the song were made for Angel’s voice. It echoed in the open air with brilliant clarity and power. His chest broadened, and he appeared to stand taller. One hand held the mic to his lips and the other reached for the clouds. Applause grew louder as Angel drew out the high note at the end in perfect pitch. Even Tommy was stunned.
When Angel delivered the last word of the song, he collapsed at the waist with his arms outstretched in a dramatic bow. After several seconds, he straightened up and took in the cheering crowd with appreciation. Humbled, he pressed his hands together in thanks and nodded his head before returning to his seat.
“That was fucking incredible,” Tommy said, never prouder of his husband.
Jessi kissed Angel’s cheek. “I had tears in my eyes.”
Moments later, the kickoff took place, and Tommy got lost in the game. His pulse raced with energy as he watched Robert tackle opponents and guard his running back. Memories of his own time on the field flooded Tommy’s head. It had been over a decade since he last played college football, but the rush came back to him tenfold. He couldn’t sit still and jumped to his feet, cheering for his brother and the Bucks.
