Forever Mason, page 17
“I called him last night and told him to bring one.”
“Why?”
Liam looks at my dad, then back at me, and shrugs. “So, I know how many yards you need to break this record.” He did listen to me. I stand there and stare at my dad, thankful that I’m wearing a helmet because I don’t want anyone to see that I have tears in my eyes. He and Liam did this for me. Dad clenches his hand and pumps his fist into the air. I do the same.
When the whistle blows after the coin toss, Liam walks out to the field and takes center.
I’m on his left.
The first play is a hand-off to me. I wrap my arms around the ball and barrel my way through the pile. I dodge a tackle, jump over a hand trying to grab my ankle, and when I’m finally brought down, I’ve rushed for thirty. Before I get to the line of scrimmage, I watch Liam as he looks at my dad, and the number he holds now is seventy.
Every play in the first half of the game goes to me. After the third run, I stopped looking at my dad because seeing the numbers was a distraction. I’m brought down after a run, and when I stand, Liam calls a time-out.
“What the hell?” Coach yells, but Liam doesn’t care. He goes to the official and takes the ball from him.
“Congratulations,” he says as he pushes the ball toward me, and that’s when reality hits. I don’t know how I tuned everyone out around me, but I had. I glance at my teammates, who are all clapping, and then I look toward the stands. My dad is holding a sign that once again says one hundred, and then he switches it and holds a sign with the new record, nine thousand five hundred and two. The all-state rushing record now belongs to me. I run toward him, and he meets me at the railing.
“I’m so proud of you, Mason,” he yells over the crowd. “So damn proud of you, my son!” I hand my dad the ball and he holds it high in the air, much to everyone’s delight.
By the time the clock ticks down, I’ve padded the record. It’ll be interesting to see who challenges me for the title. If some kid can do it, I’d like to be at the game when it happens to congratulate him because it hasn’t been easy.
When Liam takes a knee, we rush him. He’s hoisted onto shoulders and paraded around. Back-to-back championships are common. Winning three times is a feat, but to win four in a row with the same quarterback is unheard of, and that’s why Liam is going to the NFL.
After the game, everyone climbs into my truck. This is how we all started, the four of us crammed into the cab, and I’d drive us to school. Tonight, I take us to the water tower, where the party is well underway. Liam needs to decompress. The press hounded him after the win, and his father was front and center with twenty more scouts when all Liam wanted to do was celebrate with his teammates.
The girls stay on the ground while Liam and I climb the ladder to the tower. There are a few other guys there, some from the team, but others are from school. They’re all from Beaumont though. They all make way for Liam, acknowledging the fact that he discovered this place. We sit down, and each take a bottle from the case of beer he bought with his fake ID. He pops the top and downs his instantly. He throws it into the bed of my truck, and someone has the keen sense of mind to yell incoming so the people who stayed down there aren’t afraid when it crashes.
He nods toward Josie. “My dad thinks she’s trying to trap me.”
“I doubt that,” I tell him. “She loves you.”
“Sometimes, I hope . . .” he pauses and reaches for another beer. He drinks half before finishing. “What would you do if Katelyn were pregnant?”
“Marry her,” I say without any hesitation. “Move her into my house so she can get away from her mother. What would you do?”
“I’d drive us far away from Beaumont and start life all over. If we stayed here, Sterling would make her life hell.”
I agree.
“I think about it sometimes, not using a condom, but then I think that would ruin her, not me, and I can’t do that to her. I love her too much.” Liam tosses his second bottle down while I still nurse my first. “I need to pick a school and then beg her to come with me. But I can’t support her, and it’s not like these schools have married housing or some shit. She won’t let me pay for her application fees, and she’s made her mind up about going to Beaumont State with Katelyn.”
“I know the feeling.” I take a long pull. “I wish we could go to the same school,” I say with a shrug. “This way, the girls would visit, and they’d always be together. It seems as close to perfect as we’re going to get.”
“Yeah, it does,” he says. “All I know is that I fucking love her and don’t have any clue how I’m going to live without her.”
Twenty-Five
Holy crap, I’m in New York City. Never, in a million years, did I ever think I’d be standing in Times Square, looking at the marquee billboards, and thinking, “wow, I have the best best friend ever.” As much as I’d love to say I’m here because of my talents, I’m not. I’m here because Liam brought my dad and me. Sure, I can announce my intentions in front of a live studio audience, but no one is here to see me. ESPN invited a handful of football athletes to New York for National Signing Day. That’s how important Liam is. I think at last count, he had twenty Division 1 offers, but his father is hell-bent on him going to Auburn. Liam told me about his visit to Alabama and said Hal, the coach, schmoozed Sterling and wasn’t even on the field when Liam practiced with the team. He also hated the weather and couldn’t see himself living there. But when I ask where he can see himself living, he shuts down and doesn’t say anything. I feel bad for him. The weight of the world rests on his shoulders, thanks to Sterling.
The lobby of the hotel is bustling with activity. This place is the hub for all the coaches who came for this, the media, and the players. And here I am, soaking it all in. I tried to get Liam to explore with me, but Sterling has him locked in his room, going over the schools. It’s like a damn quiz, and whoever Liam picks will be wrong in Sterling’s eyes unless it’s who his father wants.
“Mason Powell?”
I turn at the sound of my name and see someone from the University of Texas approach me. “Yes.” I hold out my hand and shake his.
“Coach McWilliams.”
“Nice to meet you, Coach. I’ve meant to call you back.”
“No worries. I know this is a busy time for athletes. Do you have a moment to talk?” he motions toward the hall where the conference rooms are. I know this because I’ve scoured every inch of this hotel out of boredom. I follow him and step inside a small room. There are a couple of circular tables, mostly covered in paperwork.
“Have you made a decision?”
I shake my head slowly. “No, sir. Honestly, I’m here because Liam Westbury invited me to come along.”
“You guys make quite the duo. We really hoped he’d come to Texas, but I’m not sure we’re in the running.”
I don’t know if he’s looking for information on Liam or what. If he is, he’s barking up the wrong tree. Liam doesn’t tell me anything about college, and if he did, I’d never betray him.
“However, we are very interested in you. I know we didn’t get to talk much last week, and I glossed over the details, but we’d love for you to come to Texas and play for the Longhorns. We can offer you a full scholarship, which includes your tuition, room and board, and all your school supplies.”
It takes me a moment to realize what he said. “Full ride?”
He chuckles. “Honestly, I’m surprised you don’t have more offers. I figured with your stellar numbers and the impressive four years you’ve put together, you’d have as many as Liam.”
Me, too.
“I don’t know what to say,” I tell him. “Can I talk it over with my parents?”
“Of course, just don’t keep me waiting,” he says jokingly. “Here’s all my information, just in case. Have your mom or dad give me a call. If you want to come to tour the school, we can fly you out. You can meet your teammates and get a feel for what campus life is about.”
“Thank you so much.” We stand and shake hands again. I leave the room and head right to the elevators so I can tell Liam. When I get to our floor, I go past my door and raise my hand to knock, but I see that his door is ajar. I push it open a bit too mightily, and it slams against the wall, startling him.
“What’s up?” he asks with confusion written all over his face. I step closer and notice his eyes are red-rimmed, and his cheeks are flush. I don’t have to ask to know that Sterling has been on his case already.
“I can’t believe it’s signing day,” I say, trying to hold my news in as long as I can. I pull out the desk chair, spin it around and sit down to face him. “We’re going to college in a few months.”
“I know. What’s going on, Mase? How’d you get a key to my room?”
“Have you decided?” I ask, avoiding my question about his room. I know he’s afraid Sterling will come back, but I plan to make this short and sweet.
He shakes his head slowly. “That’s what I’ve been trying to do all morning.”
Leaning back, I rest against the desk. “So, you know I have a lot of DII offers, but last week the University of Texas called me, but I never called them back. McWilliams found me downstairs and made an offer, and I think I’m going to take it.”
“Yeah?” Liam doesn’t seem surprised at all. “That’s good, man. They have a solid program. How come you’re just telling me this now?”
I shrug. “I don’t know. It seems like nothing compares to what you have sitting in front of you.”
“That’s bullshit, Mason. You’ve worked hard. You deserve this. Are you signing today?”
I nod. I think I’m going to do it. This seems like an opportunity too good to pass up. “I’m nervous, though.”
“Me too.” Liam seems different. He sighs. “Do you ever want to quit and do something different?”
“Nah. I don’t see the NFL in my future like you do, but I want to coach and give back to the community. I want to do my four years, get an education and come back here and marry Katelyn.”
“Yeah, that sounds good.”
“Why? Do you think about quitting?” I ask.
Liam stares at the door. What’s he doing? Waiting for Sterling to bust in with all guns blazing? He looks back at me and nods. “All the time, man. I don’t love the game like I used to. The pressure has been too much, and I feel like I’m a bomb about to detonate. I hate all this school bullshit. In two hours, I have to decide what school I want to play for, and if I don’t pick Auburn, Sterling is going to freak out.”
“So just pick Auburn.”
He rolls his eyes and sighs. “I don’t know.”
“Dude, you have it so easy. You have all these colleges coming after you. I would’ve given my left nut to be in your position. Stop bitching. Pick a school and say, ‘fuck you, dad.’ Hell, come with me. That will really piss him off.”
Liam’s head pops up, and I can see his wheels turning. Sterling would shit a brick if Liam went to school with me. I know how he feels about me. I’m the dirt stuck to the spike of Liam’s cleat. When he doesn’t say anything, I stand and say, “I should probably go before your old man gets back. See ya down there.”
Two doors down, I open the door to the room I share with my dad and find him sitting by the window, much like Liam was. He’s reading a book but sets it down when I come in. “Hey,” I say when I get to the table.
“Where’d you wander off to?”
“Just exploring. Tonight, we should sit down there and watch the lights.”
“I’d like to take you to a nice dinner,” he says. “I’d like to invite Liam as well.”
I nod and would love for Liam to come, but it’s unlikely. I sit across from my dad and place my folded hands on the table. “Dad, I want to thank you for being the best dad a son could ask for. I see what Liam goes through, and I can’t imagine living like that. The way Sterling treats—”
My dad rests his hand on top of mine and squeezes. “It’s unfair. Unfortunately, Sterling believes this is effective parenting. Your mother and I see things differently. We are very proud of you and everything you’ve accomplished. I hope you know this.”
“I do,” I tell him. “When I was downstairs, I ran into Coach McWilliams. He’s offering me a full ride, Dad.” I can barely say the words before the tears start falling from my eyes. “Division 1, and they want me to play for them.”
My dad gets up from his seat and pulls me from mine. “This is amazing,” he says as he hugs me. “I can’t even tell you what this means.” I already know. It means no student loans. It means I can start a future with Katelyn in four years, debt-free. He steps back and looks at me. “What are you going to do?”
“I’m going to sign, Dad. I’m going to go play football at the University of Texas.”
“I can’t wait to watch you, Mason.”
Liam sits at a long table with other recruits on each side. One by one, the emcee calls them by name and bellows out their stats. The audience erupts with clapping. I’m in the back, leaning against the wall with my dad, while Sterling is in the front row, dressed in Auburn colors. I wish I could see Liam’s face, but the lights are bright, and you can barely make out the features of the people on the platform. When Liam took to the stage, he still hadn’t made a decision. I don’t envy him, and I have a feeling he’s about to do something reckless and stupid—like announce he’s not going to college.
Cameras start clicking, and the crowd roars. One of the recruits has chosen a school, but I wasn’t paying attention. My focus is on Liam. I wish I could be up there with him, offering him a comforting hand, but that would alert people to the fact that he’s lost right now.
“Liam Westbury,” the commentator calls his name. I stand up straighter, focus on my friend, and listen while the speaker rattles off Liam’s stats. Win after win, breaking this record and that, and the unprecedented four state titles. They go on and on. I whistle, letting him know I’m there. That I’ve got his back on whatever he decides.
“Mr. Westbury, please tell us where we’ll be watching you play in the fall?”
The crowd goes quiet. So quiet you could hear a pin drop. Liam hesitates and leans forward into the microphone. “This fall, I’ll be playing along the side of my running back, Mason Powell, at the University of Texas. Hook ‘em horns,” he shouts out to the crowd.
The stillness of the crowd is gone, replaced by murmurs. I stand there, with my mouth open. My father leans into me, “Did you know about this?” I shake my head. I don’t know what to think, other than we’re going to win in Texas. Liam and I are unstoppable.
Sterling comes toward me, red in the face. He’s a tall, brutish man. My dad steps in front of me even though I’m as tall as Sterling, and I know, without a doubt, stronger. But Sterling Westbury can hurt people without getting physical.
He points his finger at me. “You’re to blame for this,” he spews. “You and that harlot he fucks around with. You’re ruining his life. I’m sure McWilliams offered you a spot as long as my son committed, and you can bet your ass I’m going to find out about it.”
“That’s enough, Sterling.”
He laughs. It’s snide and menacing. “If you know what’s best for you, you’ll get your son under control.” Sterling looks back at me and says, “Fix this, or I end you.”
As soon as Sterling walks away, my dad ushers me out of the room and back to our hotel, which across the street from the studio. Once the door closes, he asks, “Did McWilliams offer you a spot if Liam chose Texas?” I can’t believe my dad is even asking me something like this.
“No, he didn’t. McWilliams didn’t know Liam was interested. When I told Liam about the offer and asked where he was going, he said the same thing he’s said all year. He didn’t know. I got pissed because Liam literally has everything and everyone falling at his feet, and he continues to listen to his dad. He never stands up for himself so, I told him to tell his dad to fuck off and come with me to Texas. I didn’t think he’d do it. Hell, I didn’t think he was even listening to me.” My dad’s eyes go wide. “Sorry for swearing.”
“It’s fine,” he says, waving his hand in the air. “We have a bigger issue with Sterling.”
“I’m sorry.”
My dad shakes his head. “Nothing for you to worry about. Let’s go downstairs and sign your letter of intent.” I know what my dad is thinking—sign it now before Sterling has a chance to ruin things for me. What a fucking piece of shit he is. Someday, I’m going to tell him.
When we get back downstairs, Liam’s not in the room, and neither is Sterling. I’m sure Liam’s getting his ass reamed. I find Coach McWilliams, who doesn’t seem happy to see me, which really sucks. “Hey, Coach. I’m ready to sign.”
“Yep,” he says and then tells me to follow him. I do, and when we get to his table, he hands me a one-page letter detailing my responsibility and that of the school’s. I sign on the dotted line, shake his hand, and tell him I’ll see him in July for camp.
When I get back upstairs, I knock on Liam’s door. There’s no answer. There’s no answer at dinner time or in the morning when I knock for breakfast and when it’s time to leave for the airport. Before we check out of the hotel, dad verifies that Sterling Westbury has checked out. Otherwise, he was going to file a missing person’s report for Liam. After the clerk confirms they checked out the night before, Dad and I make our way to the airport. The flight home is miserable in the sense that I feel entirely responsible for fucking things up for Liam.
Twenty-Six
Katelyn cuddles next to me while we sit on the couch, while my parent's lounge in their new, matching recliners. She’s flipping through a photo album my mom gave her as a gift with the past three years of our lives documented, culminating with our recent graduation. Every so often, I glance down at the book and catch her tracing the outline of a face—mine, hers, Josie’s, or Liam’s. I had no idea my mom planned to do this, but it turned out pretty damn awesome. Memory books are all the rage right now, along with cell phones. I think if I hear, “don’t call me until after nine,” another damn time from people with these phones, it’ll be too soon.
