Free Lexington and 42nd (The Off Field Series #1) by Kim Carmody Page A

from setting up all morning, we collapsed on the sideline to eat. The scent of freshly cut grass wafted by as a light breeze picked up, reminding me of home, where just having a lawn to mow in the midst of summer was cause enough for celebration. I had spoken to my parents only a few days ago and the forecast for rain was all they could talk about. Drought was an ever-present danger to their livelihood, the pressure of sustaining life and growth on a farm always threatened by a lack of rain. I’d lost count of the number of years when I’d stood beside my father in summer, watching as the water in our damns shrank and reduced and all but disappeared, until there was nothing left but a patch of soggy mud.
    The sense of responsibility had weighed heavily on him; a family to take care of, thousands of animals depending on him to survive, huge bank loans to repay and customers to satisfy. In all my life I think I could count on one hand the number of times he had taken a day off from working on the property. He was the most selfless man I knew, putting everyone before him and expecting no thanks in return.
    Thinking of him both warmed me and flooded me with guilt. Choosing not to return to the farm after graduating had been one of the hardest decisions I’d ever made. My parents were supportive, wanting me to follow whatever path I chose, but deep down I knew it hurt them that I hadn’t wanted to return to the farm, instead deciding to make a life for myself in the city.
    The sound of echoing voices came from the tunnel, pulling me from my daydream and I looked over to see the team jogging as one onto the field. There was no padding, helmets or game-day uniforms, but it would have been obvious to anyone watching that they were a team by the way they moved as a united group around the sideline. They progressed through a range of drills in the center of the field, their movements practiced to perfection. Not a ball was dropped or a pass missed, and their sense of self-awareness as a team was evident in the way they communicated with one another. Words barely needed to be spoken, each member of the team just knew what his role was and made sure he did it.
    In the middle of all this was Will. He was so obviously their leader in every way, calling the shots with complete control. It was clear that everyone on the team followed his lead without question. I had no doubt in my mind that if Will told them to jump off the Brooklyn Bridge, each player, without fail, would say No problem Jensen and do just that. I continued watching him, marvelling at his complete focus, the way he seemed to be aware of every single thing that was happening on the field while still managing to participate in the drills with ease. His commitment to the game and his sense of responsibility to his teammates, the club and all who worshiped them was obvious. I felt like I was seeing another side to the man who already took up far more of my thoughts than he should.
    As if reading my mind, Dana sighed beside me. “They can be a pain in the butt at times, but they really are an impressive bunch.”
    I nodded, unable to peel my eyes away. “I feel like I’m watching a movie—they’re so perfect.”
    Dana laughed. “They really are. You know, every year it can be hard to separate the hype from the genuine feel within the team, but this year there’s definitely a sense that they could go all the way.”
    I let her words sink in as we continued to watch them. “Do you love football or could you do this job for any sport?”
    She shrugged. “Football and I have sort of a love-hate relationship. My dad coaches college football and my two younger brothers both look like they’re going to get full scholarships next year, so not liking football wasn’t really an option for my mom and me. Sometimes I find the hype can get a bit out of control, but yeah, when it boils down to it, I guess I do love it.”
    “Wow, no wonder you always seem to know what you’re