The crowd suddenly gets quiet, and the announcer comes on. “Time out for an injury on the field.”
Alyssa gasps. “It’s Braden!”
Chapter 5
I stand up so I can see over the guys in front of me. Braden’s lying on the field, holding his leg.
“What happened?” I ask.
“Fuck,” the guy in front of me says. “There goes the season.”
“Do you know what happened?” I ask the guy.
He turns back and smiles. “I didn’t know you were sitting behind me. How’s the hand?”
“It’s fine. What do you know about Braden? Did he get hit?”
“A guy on the other team ran into him.”
“Which guy? Who did it?”
“Number 34.” He points to him. “That guy right there. He was running to catch the ball and slammed into Braden. Looked like an accident, but who knows? He could’ve done it on purpose.”
“What happened when he hit him?”
“Braden fell and twisted his knee.”
“Is he gonna be okay?”
“Depends on what he did. A knee injury could put you out for the season.”
We watch as two men help Braden off the field.
“Looks like he’s out for the game,” the guy in front of me says.
The guy next to him shrugs. “We already won. There’s no way the other team could win with us this far ahead.”
Brock appears on the sidelines, meeting up with Braden and a man who must be the team doctor. He’s kneeling beside Braden and pressing down on his leg while Brock talks to Braden.
I feel a hand on my shoulder. “Let’s go.”
I turn and see Trystan there. “Go where?”
“Braden’s hurt. We gotta get down there.”
Peyton and Alyssa give each other a look, but I’m not sure what it means. Is it concern for Braden or surprise that Trystan is treating me like family?
I get up and follow him down to the field. There’s a low whisper coming from the crowd.
Trystan kneels down next to his brother. “What the fuck happened?”
“The fucker tripped me.” Braden’s jaw is clenched, either from anger or pain or both.
“You think he did it on purpose?” Trystan asks.
“Hell yeah. Weren’t you watching? The fucker came right at me!”
“How’s it feel now?” Brock asks.
