the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, and the football program was strong as well. It was another part of Lyle football that had been dropped during Coach Oliver’s tenure.
“The guys are a little worried.” DeMetri leaned over his knees, looking at Cody. “About camp. I mean, no cell phones? A lot of guys have a hard time with that.”
“They’ll be fine.” Cody had every hour of their time organized. Jim Flanigan had helped him figure out the best drills and workouts for their time away. “Camp’s always tough. But it’ll be fun.” Cody intended to live by the standards he’d set for the guys. No cell phones except for an emergency. Even where Cheyenne was concerned.
“I guess it’s not really the cell phone thing.” DeMetri sat back against his seat again. “They don’t know how they’ll do against the other teams. They don’t wanna let you down, Coach.”
The words hit Cody straight in the heart. That the guys cared that much now, from where they had started out when Cody took over … he was deeply touched. Somehow … despite his inexperience and the tough place the kids were in when he arrived, a change was happening at Lyle. They didn’t show up expecting to lose. They actually cared.
“Well … thanks for letting me know, Smitty. I’ll have to talk to them about that.”
“Don’t tell ‘em I said so.” He didn’t want the guys thinking he had an advantage because he lived with Cody.
“I won’t.” Cody peered over Cheyenne at him. “You know me better.”
“True.” A grin spread across DeMetri’s face. Cody captured the picture of the kid smiling, driving to the picnic with them. A few weeks ago he was living in the school’s wrestling room. Now he was happy and a lot more adjusted.
Cody fell quiet for the rest of the ride, enjoying the feel of Cheyenne beside him, the presence of DeMetri. He’d learned something about himself these past months. He had a purpose again. His counselor agreed that was the reason the flashbacks had all but stopped. Between Cheyenne and DeMetri, he felt needed now. More than Cody had realized, he lived to help others. It was one more reason things hadn’t worked out with Bailey. She didn’t need him.
He let that thought slide loosely around the floor of his heart. Okay, she might’ve thought she needed him, because she had feelings for him. But Bailey could have whatever she wanted. She had the perfect family, the perfect life … and now she had a dream job and a relationship with the nation’s hottest young actor. What could she possibly need him for?
Enough time had passed, that he understood their breakup better. Subconsciously when he realized a few months ago that Bailey didn’t need him, he’d withdrawn from her — blaming it on the situation with his mom. Sure, there was danger because of the drug dealer his mom had dated. But still he could’ve stayed with Bailey … told her they needed to see each other less, and wait the situation out until the man was arrested. He didn’t have to walk away from her the way he did.
But deep down he knew she didn’t need him — and that had triggered his decision to run, which in turn led to his nightmares and flashbacks. Because without Bailey he had been without purpose.
He felt the urge to reach for Cheyenne’s hand, but he held back. DeMetri had asked about her, whether they were dating … and Cody had told him no. It wouldn’t set a very good example if he held her hand now — when they were supposed to be only friends.
The picnic was set up at the fairgrounds — since the football field wouldn’t have been large enough for so many people. Cody guessed just about every retired guy in a ten-mile radius showed up to flip burgers and hand out hot dogs. He wasn’t good at estimating the number of people in a crowd, but it felt like Ms. Baker was right — the whole town had shown up. Not only that, but they’d each brought a friend.
An hour after the picnic’s official start time — just before dinner was served — the Lyle mayor took his place on a makeshift podium and asked everyone to move to one side of the field. “It’s now my pleasure to introduce to you this year’s Lyle High football team!”
The entire crowd broke into loud applause and cheers, a show of support that amazed Cody and