Interrupt the voices, the fear.
Breathe.
As much as I hate it, I do what Annika says and I breathe.
Inhale for three seconds then release.
The stadium noise fades just a little. I toss the football up just a little and it lands in my hands. I toss it higher and higher. I catch it clean every time and even though a four-year-old can do the same, it’s a start.
Footsteps echo behind me.
“Parker!”
I turn and Noelle jogs down the sideline with her two kids, holding one and the other gripping her hand. Matt runs over, scooping up the youngest into his arms before kissing Noelle.
It’s our pregame family ritual. Sutton meets Greyson. If Birdie is in town then she meets J.D.
We all exchange hugs and words of encouragement.
Noelle spots me and walks over wrapping me in a hug before I can escape. “You look tense.”
“It’s ninety degrees in November.”
“You’ve played in much hotter weather.” She pulls back, surveying me like she always has, reading me like an open book. “So, how’s the performance coach?”
I shrug. “I’m a work in progress.”
Her eyebrows lift. “I heard she was here at practice.”
Of course, she’s heard. Gossip travels fast through the O’Ryan family.
“She was at the practice facility. Not right here.”
Noelle tilts her head with a suspicious smile. “You know she’s never done anout-of-officevisit.”
“Not true. She said she comes out when needed.”
“I asked around.”
“You asked around?”
“Of course I did,” she says proudly. “And all three players I asked said they were strictly seen in the office. Which makes me wonder something,” she smirks.
I already know where this is going. “No.”
“I didn’t even ask the question.” My sister throws her hands into the air.
“You were about to.”
Noelle’s grin widens. “So is the hatred phase over?”
I shake my head in disbelief that she’s talking about this literally fifteen minutes before game time, but that’s my sister.
“We barely tolerate each other. But if she can unblock me, I’ll do what’s necessary.”
Determination.
She studies my face. I have a photo of my mom looking at me this way when I was a toddler. Noelle reminds me of my mom or at least what I think I remember. She loves hard and then a little harder. Not afraid to make a joke or to cry in front of me.
