Beyond the Lights Page 2

  “Dang, Coach. I’m not sure who she is or why she’s walking toward you, but you might want to run. She looks pretty pissed,” Clark says and the other boys start to laugh.

  “Run,” I say, pointing toward the track. They all grumble at Clark but do as I ask.

  “Kyle, make them run half a mile then send them to the gym. I’ll be there in a minute.”

  “That’s not…”

  “Yes, that is Addie Mae and it’s obvious she’s gone Hollywood on us. Now, let me see what in the hell she wants so I can focus on this game.”

  “Dude, I hope so ‘cause right now, the only thing I can focus on is her in that tight little outfit.”

  “Shut up and make sure they aren’t dying out there.”

  He turns to go to the track and I walk toward Addie Mae.

  “Whatcha need?” I say quickly.

  “Well, nice to see you, too.”

  “Look, we’ve got a pep rally in a few minutes and a game to win. I’ve done everything you asked me to do. Why are you here?”

  She crosses her arms and stares at me. “Have you listened to my voicemail?”

  Pausing, I think about it and realize I haven’t looked at my cell phone all morning. “Nope, been busy.”

  “I swear. Sawyer, I had a brilliant idea, but I need you to handle it.” Looking at my watch, I’m wishing she’d hurry up. “I think little man needs some Mason High apparel for the shower. Can you get me a helmet and a jersey?”

  “Sure, I’ll bring it tomorrow.”

  “No, like now. Well, the jersey at least. For the helmet, have all of your current players and coaches sign it. I think it would be an awesome way to remember the team that was playing when he was born.”

  As much as I want to be a dick right now, I can’t because that is an awesome idea. “Come on, I’ve only got a second.” We go in the field house to the extra uniforms closet. I grab a jersey and helmet. Tossing the jersey to her, we walk back outside.

  “Thanks, Sawyer, and good luck tonight. Please tell me there’s an extra seat by Madelyn in the reserved section.”

  “Yeah, there is. She still doesn’t have a clue you’re coming. Tate has had to come up with a lot of shit to keep this a secret and pull off the cookout tomorrow, and that’s what she thinks it is. A cookout.”

  “Great. Sawyer, thank you,” she says as she turns and walks toward the truck, and for a brief moment, I wonder what in the hell happened to little Addie Mae.

  Chapter 4

  Addie Mae

  ARRIVING AT HOME, I CAN’T wait to see my mama and get a great big hug. Of course, the moment I pull into the driveway she’s out the front door waiting.

  “Suga, I’ve missed you so much and what have you done to your hair?” she says with an unsure look on her face.

  “It’s platinum. You know how it is out there. I’ve got to look the part, and I like it, honestly. It makes my eyes pop.”

  “True, but you’re beautiful just the way you are, and I don’t need any Hollywood folks to tell me anything different.”

  “You’re my mama. You’d think I was beautiful if I looked like mud.”

  “Well, those mud masks are all the rage now,” she says as we both begin to laugh. Going inside, I take my suitcase to my room, and then go back to the kitchen to go over all the details of the shower with Mama. I need her Southern Belle opinion on everything.

  “Addie Mae, I have to say, it sounds like you have everything planned out to a tee. Now, as long as Sawyer follows through on his part, it looks like it’ll be smooth sailing.”

  Remembering the jersey in my truck, I jump up from the table and hurry to the get it and show Mama.

  "Good gracious, girl! I didn’t know what made you run out the front door like that.” Then she pauses as she sees the purple in my hands. “Whatcha got?”

  “I stopped by and got this from Sawyer. I want to have Ellis heat-pressed on the back of it. What do you think?”

  “I’m thinking I love that idea! I’ve already gotten everything monogrammed and done on all the items you requested. That bib is adorable! Let me show you. Bring that back to the craft room.”

  Walking into my mama’s craft room takes me back in time. She’s always been working on something and the moment a vinyl cutting machine and an affordable heat press was the newest trend, she had it. Everyone within the town limit gets her put their names on everything, and those football moms keep her in business this time of year. It’s crazy how her hobby has now turned into a full-time job for her.

  Quickly, she turns on the computer, types in “Ellis,” checks the size, pulls silver vinyl to match the lettering and the machine goes to work. I watch her intently as she does it with ease. It’s almost like how I feel with makeup. It comes natural.

  Once the machine stops, I watch her pull the excess vinyl from the sheet and she transfers it to the purple jersey. When the letters are perfectly even, she slides it onto the heat press, shuts it, and waits for the beep. Within a few minutes, I have the most adorable Punchers jersey I’ve ever seen.

  “Mama, it’s perfect!” Glancing down at my watch, I know that it’s time to get ready for the game and I can’t wait to see Madelyn’s face when I surprise her tonight.

  “I’ve got supper cooking and it will be ready long before the game. Also, I made you a new shirt to wear to the game.”

  “Mama, you shouldn’t have.”

  “Well, I can promise you this. You are not walking into that stadium looking like that.”

  Glancing down, I think about what she’s saying. “What’s wrong with it? All I’ve got to do is throw on my old ball cap and I’m good.”

  “Suga, I know you are your own person, but I thought you might want one. If you don’t, my feelings won’t be hurt.” Walking to the closet, she pulls out a fitted white tank top and on it in purple glitter is “Backin’ Jackson.”

  “Oh dear lordy! Please tell me that’s not the saying for the season.”

  “It is. Everyone has been supporting Sawyer since his playing days. So someone made the comment one day at the gas station that they were backin’ Jackson and it stuck. I made yours a little different though,” she says with a sly grin.

  Looking it over, it is really cute and totally screams Addie Mae. I love the fact that the font is trendy and unlike the normal scripts most girls around here use, but it’s what I notice underneath that makes me giggle.

  “Really, Mom? You had to put that on there.”

  “What?” she says innocently as we both look at the cute little jackass.

  “You know what!”

  She starts to giggle, “You were always a pain in his ass, so I thought a donkey was perfect instead of the typical Punchers horseshoe.”

  “He was always a pain in mine, too. Don’t forget that. When we were kids he always thought he knew everything and then when we were teenagers, no one on the football team would come near us for fear of him punching their lights out. Anyways, it's perfect and will look amazing with my purple shorts and wedges.”

  “Wedges? Girl, I hope you brought your boots home.”

  “Mama, no worries, they are packed and I have a few spares in the closet, I think. However, they don’t exactly match this outfit.”

  “When did that ever matter?” she says, shaking her head and walking out of the room.

  * * *

  Sawyer

  As the moments tick down to game time, I make sure that everything is ready. The team has had their pregame meal, I’ve got the helmet signed for the shower, I’m focused on bringing home the first varsity victory, and ready to enjoy the weekend by the pond as soon as possible.

  “Dude, you good?” Tate asks.

  “Yeah, I’m going to be great once we win tonight, review film tomorrow, and I’m sitting dockside at the pond with my fishing pole.”

  “Don’t forget that cookout tomorrow. You’ve got a lot of shit to do before you’re able to relax.”

  “Heck no, I did all that work while she
was off in Los Angeles. I get to sit back and watch.”

  “Um, have you met Addie Mae? There’s no sitting back and watching.”

  “For me there is. She’s not going to tell me what to do with her Hollywood self. She might work in the big league but she’s home, and we do things differently in Texas.”

  “So I was thinking that Smart needs to work on holding that defensive line. If he doesn’t have the first quarter, I’m pulling him and putting Jones in,” Tate says, changing the subject.

  “I trust your opinion, Tate. Now, let’s go kick some ass.”

  Chapter 5

  Addie Mae

  AFTER SUPPER, I GO TO my room, touch up my makeup, and straighten my hair. Taking my shorts from my suit case, I slide them on and the tank Mama made me. I can’t believe I’m about to wear a jackass to this football game. Grabbing my wedges, I slide them on and realize I don’t like the look. Glancing in the suitcase, I spot a pair of black stilettos that will look amazing. Grabbing my purse, I look in the mirror and shake my head. Will anyone even care if I look this put together? Maybe? Maybe not? But that little voice keeps telling me that eyes are everywhere, even in Mason.

  Making one last-minute decision, I grab my worn out Mason High ball cap and slide it on. Taking my fingers, I move my long platinum hair in place and smile when I think about all the memories this hat holds. No matter where I am and what I’m doing, it takes me home.

  Walking into the hallway, I run into Daddy coming to change quickly before the game.

  “Addie Mae, I know you’re a grown ass adult, but you will not walk out of the house looking like that.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Those shoes. Change them. I can deal with the shorts and we know that shirt is your mama’s doings, but those shoes. Hell no.”

  Shaking my head, I turn and walk back into my room and silently thank my daddy for talking some sense into me. He’s always been great at that.

  Looking in my closet, I know that my brown boots will not work at all, but I know exactly what will. My Lucchese booties. Sliding them on, I look into the mirror once more and know that this is totally me. My makeup is perfect, and I’m home.

  As I walk back down the hall, Daddy and Mama are getting ready to go to the game as well. Daddy turns to me.

  “Much better. I can’t believe you thought those heels would be okay for a damn football game. Who are you and where’s my Addie Mae?”

  “I’m right here, Daddy. I’ll meet y'all there.”

  Driving to the stadium takes me back to the last home game I remember most.

  As the final seconds tick on the clock, Sawyer takes control of the team. He calls for a play and as the ball is snapped, he takes off as the ball finds his hands. He looks around and his receiver isn’t open so he does what any great quarterback would do. He takes off toward the goal line, not allowing anyone to stop him. As he crosses the goal line, the clock shows zero, and Sawyer Jackson has scored the winning touchdown. Mason High is state championship bound. We all flood the field and as I walk up to him to congratulate him, he smiles and I do my best not to think about how cute he is because there’s no way in hell he’d ever see me as anything other than a royal pain in his ass.

  Pulling the truck into the parking lot, I look to see if the stands are full. Man, it’s been years, but was always enjoyed the feel of Friday nights. Once I left Mason and got big gigs, it was harder to make it home. My parents would fly out to see me, I’d come home for a few days over the holidays, or Madelyn would fly out to visit. My schedule is always so crazy and ever changing, I can never plan too far in advance because life is so hectic. Walking toward the gate it hits me, I don’t have that damn ticket to get in the reserved section. As the music blares through the speaker, I know that Sawyer is already on the field and so is Tate. I don’t want to ruin Madelyn’s surprise, so I just put on my big girl panties, and pray that it’s at the home gate.

  Walking up to the ticket booth, I’m met by Mrs. Scism, my old Biology teacher.

  “Addie Mae, is that you?”

  “Yes, ma’am. How are you?”

  “Great! You look beautiful! When did you get home?”

  “Today. It’s kind of a surprise. Do you know if Madelyn Ellis has gotten here yet?”

  “I don’t know, reserved tickets go in through the pass gate.”

  “Oh, thank you.” Fingers crossed, I walk around to the pass gate and smile as Coach Webb is standing there.

  “You couldn’t give it up, huh?” I ask.

  “Do I know you?” he says and it hurts my heart.

  “It’s been a while, but I hold a nice record on the track field.”

  “Addie Mae?”

  “Yes, sir. How are you?”

  “I’m good. You got your ticket?”

  “Actually, Tate or Sawyer was supposed to leave it.” Total lie but let’s see what happens.

  “They didn’t.” He looks to the field and sees they are both busy. “Go on in. Madelyn sits up there in section 100 row B. She just walked in a few minutes ago. You can’t miss her. That belly is as big as a barrel.”

  I smile and refrain from laughing. She would die if she heard him say that. She’s pregnant, not fat for crying out loud.

  Quickly, I walk from the bottom gate toward the stands. Glancing over at the field, I see Sawyer in a pair of khaki shorts and a purple polo, and Tate in the same talking to different groups of players. Who would have thought? As I make my way to the top of the reserved section, I see that Madelyn has taken a seat and she is so cute with her mommy-to-be football apparel. Walking down the concrete steps toward her, she is clueless. I quickly slide in and as she feels someone sit beside her, she turns quickly like she’s about to attack and then lets out a high-pitched squeal.

  “Addie, what the what?!” she exclaims and everyone around her looks to us. She engulfs me in a hug and then starts to cry. Oh geez. I didn’t expect that.

  “No need for the water works. I told you I would be home before that little tyke made his arrival.”

  Pulling back, she looks me over, “But why didn’t you tell me on the phone yesterday?”

  “Hello, I wanted it to be a surprise.”

  “Well, you got me there.” Then she looks at my shirt. “Your mama! Sawyer is gonna have a fit when he sees that.” We both begin to laugh as the team exits the field from warmup.

  After a few moments, the teams are being called back in, the cheerleaders have the banner in place, and the team demolishes it in seconds as they run toward the home sideline. As Sawyer jogs to the sidelines as well, I notice he looks up to us and smiles then Tate does the same.

  “Guess they noticed whether you’re here or not, huh?”

  “Yeah, they’d have my head if I wasn’t cheering them on. Especially this being the first home varsity game, but it’s not just me, our parents and this entire town are pulling for Sawyer. He’s been a nervous wreck the past week. I’ve never seen him like that.”

  Suddenly, I feel a little bad about the fact I’ve added stress to Sawyer. I mean, it’s only football, but I know he’s worked hard to get this job. I also know that Mason folks can be ruthless if the season doesn’t follow along with a state championship.

  “Sawyer, upset?”

  “Yeah, and he’s been weird, too,” she starts to say but the national anthem begins to play followed by the moment of silence, then it’s time for football Friday night.

  * * *

  Sawyer

  The moment she walks to the pass gate, she stands out like a sore thumb. My only thought is that she has an air about her that would make anyone look her direction. It’s obvious this girl isn’t in Texas anymore, and I’m also wondering what kind of magic she’s pulling over Coach Webb because I sure didn’t leave her a ticket.

  Turning back to my players, I blow the whistle and they each go to their appropriate coach. Talking to my quarterback, I make sure that he knows what I expect tonight and then it’s time to hurry off the field
for the team pep talk, but I can’t help but glance over my shoulder to see the look on my sister’s face. Addie Mae might be some big fancy makeup artist to most, but to my sister, she’s the one person that understands her as much as I do. Madelyn looks like she’s about to knock someone’s block off but quickly it fades when she sees Addie Mae. Shaking my head, I run off the field and into the field house to give these boys the talk of a lifetime.

  The game is an easy one and I’m thanking the big man upstairs that by halftime we’re winning 27-0. If the second half continues then I’m going to have to put my third string in for sure.

  As the clock ticks down in the fourth quarter, we’ve kept them from scoring the entire game and in the last few seconds, they kick one field goal. The final is 45-3 and as the band plays the victory song, I let out a sigh of relief, look up to the stands and smile at my hometown team cheering us on. Football is life and my life is football.

  As my boys line up to shake hands, I follow suit, and then we head toward the locker room to call it a night. Film will come early in the morning and not to mention, I’ve got to deal with Addie Mae all freaking day.

  Once all the boys have put up their pads and the uniforms are ready to be washed, I cut off the lights and walk outside. There are a few folks hanging around, but when I see the cutest pregnant girl coming my way, I smile.

  “What's up, sis?”

  “You did awesome out there.”

  “Hey, what about me?” Tate whines.

  “Oh honey, you are my favorite, hands down.”

  “Thanks, sis. So was that Addie Mae up there?”

  “Yup, sure was me,” she says, coming into view and when I see her shirt, I stare.

  “Damn, you still are a pain in my ass,” I say, seeing that jackass on her shirt. Of course, her mama would make it fit her to a tee.

  “I try,” she says with a smart ass smile.

  “Anyways, I’m heading home. Got a long day tomorrow. I’ve got films in the morning and the Jackson cookout.”

  “Oh my gosh! Addie Mae, you're coming, right?”

  “Of course. I mean I just got the invite, but I’m not missing a cookout at the pond. Do I need to bring anything?” she says, looking between the two of us.