Series: Fever Falls Series by Riley Hart
Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 85157 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85157 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
We said our goodbyes to Beau at the corner, then jumped into Wyatt’s car as Beau turned and walked away. “Should we give him a ride?” I asked.
“He would have asked if he wanted one. What the fuck, Carmichael? You’re always so goddamned worked up about what Campbell’s doing.”
“Fuck you!” I shoved his arm, and he swerved slightly. “I don’t give a shit what Campbell does.” I didn’t. I really fucking didn’t.
We drove around and picked up a few more of our friends. We met another group at this café we went to, where they had really big to-go cups for cheap. Once we filled up on soda, we all climbed into a few cars and made our way toward Fever Falls High.
When we passed Willow Brook Park, I saw a familiar backward cap—Beau standing there, talking to a kid. It was like a light bulb went off in my head, knowledge smacking into me as I thought about the shit I’ve given him.
“Fuck, pull over,” I told Wyatt.
“Huh?”
“Pull over. I was supposed to, um…meet Mom at the store and I forgot. I can’t play today.”
“What the fuck, Carmichael. You’re the one who put this game together.”
“And now I remembered I have something to do…with my mom. Pull over, man.”
Wyatt grumbled under his breath but stopped the car. “Dude, you’re worse than Campbell right now,” he told me.
“Hey…you’ll be the best player on the field without me and Campbell there.” I closed the door, and he flipped me off. I waited until the cars had driven around the corner, then jogged to the park. When I got there, making my way across the sidewalk and over one of the small, grassy hills, I saw Beau across the way, playing catch with Kenny.
I stopped, my feet rooted to the ground like the huge willow tree in the middle of the park. Beau made his way over to his little brother, said something to him, showed him the ball…maybe how to hold it?…before he pulled his arm back, likely explaining to him how to throw.
My stomach sort of ached, and goose bumps traveled up my arms. I should have known it had something to do with Kenny. There was only one thing Beau loved more than football, and that was his family, especially his brother.
The ache traveled from my stomach to my chest. I didn’t know anyone like Beau. He was good at everything, confident, and a nice guy. He was more responsible than anyone I knew, like this old soul fitting into a body that looked similar to mine.
Only he had that happy face on his biceps… His arms were smaller than mine but getting bigger. His hair stuck out from under his hat, and there was mud on his thigh. He had a dimple beneath the left side of his mouth, and the way his forehead wrinkled when he talked to Kenny… And what in the fuck was I doing standing there describing Beau Campbell?
As I watched him throw to Kenny again, I thought about how much he loved him. Beau never asked for anything in return. He just always did the right thing, was always kind…and I wished I was more like him.
“Hey!” I said as I jogged over.
“What are you doing here?” Beau asked when I reached them.
“Cap-tain, right, Beau?” Kenny asked. He spoke slowly, as though he was trying to concentrate on his words. His speech was slightly hard to understand.
I grinned. “Yeah, I am. And Beau is second.” I was trying to make sure his brother knew Beau was just as important on the team as me, but the way Beau groaned, I wasn’t sure I had. “Can I play with you guys?” I asked.
Kenny said, “Yes!” right as Beau asked, “Why?”
I shrugged and said the first thing I could think of. “Because it sounds like fun. I can help you teach Kenny how to play.”
“P-ease, Beau! P-ease!” Kenny begged, and I knew I had him. Beau wouldn’t deny Kenny anything, and again, it struck me how noble he was.
Beau nodded. “Okay.”
“But-er-fly, but-er-fly!” Kenny said, then began chasing it.
Beau chuckled. “So much for football… You don’t have to, ya know? I’m sure you’d rather be with the guys…or Sarah.”
“I’m not seeing Sarah.”
“Olivia?”
“Nah, we broke up.”
“You can go, Ash. You can’t want to play catch with me and my little brother.”
But I did, more than I could explain. “Sorry, Cranky Campbell, but Kenny wants me here, so you’re stuck with me. Come on, let’s go teach your brother the fine art of football.”
And that’s what we did. Sometimes it was hard for me to understand what Kenny said. I always felt bad when that happened, but Beau always seemed to understand every word. We were out there with him for nearly two hours before Kenny told Beau he was tired and ready to go home. It had been one of the things I couldn’t make out.