Zaire closed his eyes.
It wasn’t butterflies…it wasn’t fireworks…it was grounding, like his heartbeat finally heard where it belonged and believed it.
“Y’all so cute,” True teased, walking up on them, “make me wanna find a woman too.”
“Cuh, watch out.” Zaire laughed before he kissed Meadow’s thigh.
Before he could pull her closer, a car honking cut through the yard.
Everybody turned toward the sound blaring through the peaceful morning.
A caravan of three family-sized SUVs pulled up along the gravel, tires splashing through the puddles.
“Coach Z!!” DJ jumped out of the first car before his Mama could even unbuckle her seatbelt. He sprinted across the grass, shoes slipping a little in the wet dirt.
Zaire sat up quickly, wiping his face with the back of his hand before the kid got close enough to notice.
Ray grinned from the shed. “Lord, the cavalry done pulled up.”
DJ ran straight into Zaire with full force, hitting him square in the ribs. Zaire grunted and caught him easily with both arms.
“What you doin’ out here?” Zaire asked.
“We came to help!” DJ puffed out his chest like he’d been waiting to say it. “We saw the people on the news, and Coach Meadow texted my Mama and said things were kinda crazy, so we came to make it better.”
Meadow blinked. “I did not text your Mama that.”
DJ shrugged. “Well she said you did.”
Zaire bit back his laughter.
More kids piled out of the cars. Aliyah, Mya, Karter, and Lay all ran toward the porch like they lived here.
Behind them, the parents approached more slowly, waving shyly toward Meadow and offering nods of respect toward Zaire.
One Mama called out, “Where y’all need us? We brought gloves and some water.”
Ray stepped forward. “We appreciate y’all. Ain’t much to do yet, but this means a lot.”
Meadow could feel tears tightening her throat.
The kids flooded the porch steps.
Karter stood in front of Zaire, chin tilted with pride. “I saw your game.”
Zaire raised an eyebrow. “Oh word?”
“You was locked in,” Karter said. “My Daddy said you don’t swing like the other dudes. He said you swing like you fighting something.”
True, overhearing, muttered, “He ain’t wrong.”
Zaire chuckled under his breath. “Tell your Daddy he smart.”
Karter nodded hard. “I think you gon’ win everything.”
That one hit deeper than Zaire expected.
Before he could respond, Mya walked right up to him, brown eyes big and earnest, her braids swinging. She grabbed his waist without hesitation and hugged him tight.
