After a few moments, Jaylen collected himself. “Am I dreaming? Is it really you? The Storm?”
“Hey, man. It’s nice to meet you.” Xavier held out his hand to Jaylen, who reached up and shook it. “Your sister tells me you’re a Cardinals fan.”
“More like a fan of the Storm. I mean you,” Jaylen said, a wide, infectious grin spreading across his face. Jaylen was a good-looking kid with almond-shaped brown eyes, a head of curly dark hair, and cinnamon-colored skin. He had a slim, athletic build that seemed to lend itself to sports. Right away Xavier could tell Jaylen was fast. He might excel at track, Xavier imagined.
“That’s nice to hear,” he said. “Hey. I’ve got something for you.” He handed over the jersey. “Just a little something for a super fan.”
Jaylen held up the jersey and let out a guttural scream. “This is sick!” he cried out. “Wait till I show my friends. No one will believe it. Thanks so much.”
He closed the distance between himself and Xavier, then wrapped his arms tightly around Xavier’s waist. The hug made him feel like Superman. Jaylen was holding on for dear life. Xavier couldn’t remember the last time anyone had hugged him like this, but it felt good.
“Okay, you’re going to have to let him go at some point so he can breathe,” True said, smiling. Her voice sounded a bit emotional. Her love for Jaylen was etched on her beautiful face. He felt privileged to witness it and be a part of a special moment.
Jaylen let go and took a step backward. He was gapingat Xavier with an expression of shock and awe. No one had looked at him like this in a very long time, and he hadn’t realized how much he’d missed it. Not the hero worship part, but knowing he was valued and not simply a has-been.
The young boy’s eyes were shimmering with excitement. “I can’t believe this is really happening. It’s like Christmas and my birthday all rolled into one.”
Everyone laughed at his expressiveness. True looked as if she was lit up from the inside. Clearly, her brother being so overjoyed made her happy. It felt good knowing he’d done something for her family to bring some happiness their way.
“I’ve got fresh-from-the-oven chocolate chip cookies here,” Annie said, holding up a plate of cookies. “Come and get ’em.”
They all sat down at the kitchen table with Jaylen snagging a seat beside him. He jumped up to get milk for everyone and poured a glass for Xavier. True sat across from Xavier, watching the interaction between him and Jaylen.
“So, do you play football yourself?” Xavier asked as he bit into a cookie.
Jaylen dunked his cookie into his glass of milk. “Well, we had a team for nine-man football, but we don’t have a coach anymore.”
“Nine-man football has become popular in Alaska. It allows for smaller schools to play with nine members rather than the usual eleven,” True explained.
“Makes sense,” Xavier said with a nod. “Sorry about your coach.”
“Me too,” Jaylen said, sticking out his lip. “I miss playing football a lot.”
True placed her arm around Jaylen. “You’re going to be all right. We’ll find something else for you to do.”
Something else? At that age there was nothing else thatwould satisfy a kid who’d had a taste of football. The sport seeped into your veins, and before you knew it, you’d fallen in love with all aspects of the game. Other than his family, Xavier had never felt as passionate about anything in this world as football. Not even Heather.
Before he could properly think things through, Xavier blurted out, “Maybe I can help.”
True frowned at him from across the kitchen island. “How?”
“I can volunteer my services as a part-time coach,” he suggested. Both Jaylen and True looked at him with disbelief. Annie busied herself at the stove, seemingly uninterested in the discussion. He wasn’t sure why his lips were so loose at the moment, but his brain was working overtime trying to find a solution for Jaylen. Little boys shouldn’t have to give up sports because of adults not following through on their commitments. The experience could be life altering for Jaylen, just as it had been for Xavier.
Jaylen began jumping up and down and squealing. True shifted from one foot to the other, her unwavering gaze trained on Xavier.
“Xavier, can I speak to you for a moment?” she asked, motioning him to leave the room.
Uh-oh. She didn’t sound too happy with him. Had he overstepped in making the offer to coach Jaylen?
“Sure,” he said, following behind her as she hotfooted it out of the kitchen.
Once they reached the living room, True turned to face him, letting out a huff of air. She looked extremely perturbed. “You cannot say things like that!” She began to pace back and forth, darting irritated glances at him.
“Like what?” he asked, genuinely confused. “About being his coach?”
“Yes,” she hissed, throwing up her hands. “He immediately took it to heart.”
“Isn’t that a good thing?” he asked, running his hand across his jaw.
