Levi and Tommy moved out of the way of the other teachers filing in, and Coach Crawford followed them.
“Sorry about that, Da—” Tommy started but then course corrected with, “I mean, Principal Crawford.”
Levi clapped a hand on his friend’s shoulder. “I just haven’t seen Tommy since the wedding, so we were catching up.”
Tommy’s father appraised them both and gave them a curt nod. “How about you two finish catching up in the bleachers with therest of the faculty. Announcements are starting soon.”
“Sure thing, Coach,” Levi replied.
“Sure thing,Coach,” Tommy mimicked, though Coach Crawford either didn’t notice or didn’t care as he strode off toward the podium that faced the home-team side of the bleachers.
“Yikes,” Levi said when Tommy’s father was a good enough distance away. “After that speech he gave at your wedding, I thought things were better between you two.”
Tommy scoffed and scrubbed a hand across his visibly tanned face. “Coach sure knows how to work a crowd,” he admitted. “But the second he sees me on school grounds wearing civilian clothes instead of a coach’s polo?” He raised a brow at Levi. “He asks himself the ever-present question of, ‘Where did I go wrong that my son turned out likethis?’”
Levi shook his head and laughed. “Like what? The only teacher in the entire district who has received the Illinois Teacher of the Year award…twice? The only teacher…I hear…who comes up as the most requested when students are filling out their schedule requests for the following year? Or the only coach I know to have smoked his debate opponentseverytime at the state debate meets?”
Tommy laughed. “Okay, now you’re just being an asshole to embarrass me.”
But Levi shook his head. “You’re hot shit, Tommy Crawford. You don’t need to throw a pigskin across a field to prove that to anyone.” But something in his chest squeezed. Levi believed the words he said to Tommy, but it took Tommy years to believe it about himself, that he could still behot shitin a coach’s polo ratherthan pads and a helmet. Now here he was, knocked down a peg again, a true fish out of water where he used to be king of the ocean.
“Thanks, man.” Tommy shrugged, thankfully oblivious to Levi starting to spiral. “Somehow, though, I don’t think he ever got the memo. Good thing he always had you around to fill the void, right?”
Tommy smiled as he said the words, but Levi could feel the bitterness behind the grin. Is this what he’d missed being gone for so long? His best friend still feeling less than in his father’s eyes all these years later.
“Come on.” Tommy nodded toward the bleachers. “Let’s stop holding up traffic and let the big guy have his spotlight.”
Tommy strode ahead, and Levi followed a couple steps behind, an ache in his gut that seemed to be growing by the minute.
As they approached the bleachers, Haddie’s eyes met his, and a smile spread across her face that turned the ache into something warm, something like comfort.
“Hey, Commissioner…” Levi caught up to his friend and backhanded him on the arm. “Come here. There’s someone I want you to meet.”
Tommy sighed and followed Levi to where Haddie sat, climbing into the empty row above her and the other teachers she sat with.
“Who’s your friend, Coach?” Haddie asked, spinning to face them. Her hazel eyes crinkled at the corners when she smiled, and he took a certain pride that after doing this roommate and friend thing for almost two weeks now, he could elicit such an expressionfrom her.
“Haddie Martin, this is Tommy Crawford, my best friend since elementary school.”
Haddie’s eyes widened. “Well, that is about the most adorable thing I’ve ever heard. No wonder he asked you to be his best man.” She held out a hand, and Tommy shook it.
“Don’t fall for that bullshit charm of his,” Tommy told her. “He got into his share of trouble back in the day.”
Haddie leaned toward them and stage-whispered. “I expect you to tell me all about this trouble you speak of when Levi isn’t around.”
Tommy laughed and elbowed Levi in the ribs. “I like her,” he told his friend. “It’s been a while since you’ve introduced me to someone you’re seeing.”
Levi choked on a laugh, and Haddie snorted.
“Oh god!” she told Tommy. “We’re not dating. We’re just living together.”
This time Tommy let out his own choking sound. “Excuse me?”
Levi cleared his throat. “Remember when I asked about the apartment? Haddie sort of already had dibs on it but couldn’t afford the rent.”
“And your best man here didn’t want to go halfsies at first,” Haddie chimed in.
“You didn’t even want to tell me your name,” Levi reminded her.
