Bodies and helmets slapped and slammed on the grassy practice field after school on Wednesday afternoon, preparing for the playoff game the week after Thanksgiving. Most of them would trickle over to Ellie’s Place after practice where Casey, Al, Teagan, and their team of mentors would help with homework, host the leadership class for a few, and support whatever else needed patching in the lives of these teens. But for now, nothing existed in their world besides their teammates, their coaches, and a football.
Sweat beaded under Micah’s cap despite the cool temperature as he and Shawn called plays, broke up arguments, and shouted encouragement from opposite sidelines. The more Micah spent time with these boys, the more he was convinced that they needed a version of boot camp—discipline, team building, and the knowledge of how to fight for one another instead of with one another. Something like that could turn reluctant teammates into brothers. It would be perfect for off-season. Or perfect for an afterschool sports program as part of Ellie’s. Maybe he could recommend it to the new coach, whenever Casey found one.
He wanted that for these kids. But that meant staying past his planned time. Christmas. He had to make his last visit by Christmas and close out this part of the journey. He needed to end the nightmares and the nagging that he hadn’t finished paying for the death of his brothers. After that final goodbye, he didn’t know where he would land next.
His phone buzzed. Mom.
If he ignored, she would just call back. She was persistent that way, and she’d taught them that family always came first. Something that had made his induction into the SEALs much easier.
“Hey, Mom. I’m kinda busy right now. Watch Zane, TJ!” he shouted, holding the phone away, his eyes glued to the field.
“Good, then I’ll make this short. Pap bought you a ticket home tomorrow morning at 6:30 a.m. Seth has the weekend off from football, it’s Gran’s birthday, and it’s Thanksgiving, so the whole family is coming in.” Which meant Nick and Kaylan. He hadn’t seen his best friend and sister since he’d left California, hadn’t talked to Seth beyond a few texts to see how college and football season were going. He couldn’t remember the last time he had checked in with David. Clearly, he wasn’t doing great in the family-first category. Just one more way he failed the people in his life.
He shouted a few more instructions, the phone plastered between his shoulder and ear as he clapped. “Mom, I thought I told you I would just spend Thanksgiving at Mama Rosie’s this year. You didn’t have to buy a ticket.”
“I know you did, Micah.” He heard the weariness in her voice over the clash of pads and teens on the field. “But, we all want you to come home, Son. Time to be around your family. Just for the holiday weekend. You’ve been all over the place. Come home and let us be with you. Please. The ticket is already bought and paid for. You just need to be at the airport in the morning.”
What she meant was that they all wanted to make sure he was okay. He rubbed a hand over his face, sweat streaking his palm. He wasn’t used to being the family priority. He didn’t like it.
He needed to get off the phone. Needed to focus. Needed to not feel like a project, although he knew he would never really be that to his family.
“Sounds good, Mom. I’ll be at the airport in the morning. Just send the ticket to my email.”
“Great! Pap already checked you into a Southwest flight out of Love Field. I can’t wait to see you tomorrow.”
She hung up before he could protest anymore. Truth was, he didn’t want to. TJ sprinted down the field and scored a touchdown. Micah jumped up and down, yelling words of encouragement, and then shouting for the team to regroup and do it again.
Alabama didn’t feel like home any more, even though most of his family lived there. But it would probably be his best place to start over . . . if he didn’t stay in Dallas. He glanced at his watch. He’d be back where he grew up in less than twenty-four hours.
It was time. Maybe the time away from Dallas would help him decide what to do about Casey. He hadn’t heard from her again after the text. Hadn’t seen her at all since he left her house.
But he couldn’t get their kiss out of his head, couldn’t scrape away the image of her haunted eyes as they walked into her house or the shuttered look of a door closing as she’d kicked him out after a night that had left both of them breathless. She was running and he knew it. He understood but he didn’t like it, wanted to stop it.
Shawn’s team ran down the field for an answering touchdown and field goal.
Maybe he was still running. But if he were ever to decide how he felt about Casey, or the SEALs, or even Dallas, he needed to go back home.
After all, his running really began his senior year of high school on a football field in Alabama. And it was time to face the memory.
The family lake house smelled like roses and vanilla the second he walked through the door. His dad slapped him on the back as he entered behind him. “Welcome home, Son.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
“I’ll go drop your bag in your old room.”
“I can do that.”
His dad’s soft smile, so like Micah’s brother, David, ceased any argument. “I’m not that old that I can’t handle a few stairs. Besides,” his dad motioned to the kitchen where Micah could see the rest of the family laughing and milling around the island, “I think some other people want to say hello.”
He didn’t even make it down the two steps into the living room before arms wrapped around his neck and the faint scent of lavender tickled his nose. Kaylan. He dropped his backpack and picked her up, sinking into the hug he hadn’t realized he’d been aching for. He’d missed her. She’d been his best friend growing up, the first person he’d ever wanted to protect. He’d tracked her down in Haiti after the earthquake shattered the country and her heart right along with it. He’d encouraged her in her love of Nick, chased after a terrorist stalking her. He’d held her when she’d cried, fought with her—often for her own good— and loved her fiercely.
The arms wrapped around him now were clearly returning the favor. He hadn’t realized how broken he felt until his baby sister reminded him what home felt like.
“Happy Thanksgiving, and welcome back. I’ve missed you.”
He dropped her back to her feet and squeezed her shoulders. Her pale skin had the faintest hint of color from her days on a California beach. A few more freckles dotted her nose. Her auburn hair hung in layers to her shoulders, the slight wave making her look like she’d just come from a day at the beach. He’d missed life with her, her steadiness.
He kissed her forehead and dropped an arm over her shoulder, finally stepping from the entryway and into the family living room. “I’ve missed you, too. What did you fix me to eat?”
She rolled her eyes. “Gran and Mom did all the cooking before we got here. But they fixed your favorites.”
“Basically they didn’t want to let you near the kitchen.”
She elbowed him in the gut. Hard.
He doubled over chuckling. “At least you still know how to get in a cheap shot.”
She crossed her arms, leaning against the leather sectional taking up the center of the high-ceilinged room. “No joke. I grew up with three brothers, and I live with Nick.”
“You taught her a little too well, Bulldog.” Nick stepped next to his wife, twirling a strand of wavy hair around his finger absently. “In some places, what she can do is considered spousal abuse.”
Micah grinned, knowing the two of them would never hurt one another. Not for the first time, he craved a relationship like his sister and brother-in-law shared. Kaylan teased him about finding a girl all the time, but truthfully, he’d never been ready to commit. Probably because he never found a girl who really turned his head. Until now.
“Very funny.” She slipped onto her toes and gave him a quick peck on the cheek before darting away to the kitchen.
Micah rubbed his stomach and stood up straight. “Well I have definitely not missed how sickeningly cute you two are. Or your subtlety.”
Nick smirked and took up his wife’s place leaning on the sectional. “Never could get much past you.”
“No, that was you, Hawk.”
Quiet descended between the two. The quiet born of countless operations, late nights at home, early morning runs, and life-and-death experiences. Laughter still sounded from the kitchen, but Micah knew this moment would shape the rest of the weekend.
“You look good, Bulldog. More like your old fighting self again.”
Micah crossed his arms, matching his friend’s stance. He felt better than the last time he’d seen Nick. Something felt more put together in this moment than it had in a long time.
“Dallas has been good for me.”
Nick nodded. “Kaylan has missed you. Logan and Kim’s kids have been asking for you.”
Just thinking about his old teammate and his family made longing bubble to the surface. His team had truly been a family. When Logan lost a leg after an op gone wrong, Micah and the team had swarmed Kim and the kids, taking care of them, helping out. He’d spent countless nights on the beach listening to them laugh around a firepit with the guys who cared for them, fought for them, loved their dad. He missed all of them—Colt, Jay, Titus, Logan—but especially Nick and Kaylan.
“C’mon, Hawk,” Micah allowed some of the old teasing to drip into his voice. “Just say it.”
“Say what?”
“You know . . . that thing you’re dying to say.” He cupped his ear and leaned in close to Nick.
“You’re still a pain in the butt.”
Micah choked back a laugh and grinned. Familiar. This moment felt familiar. He was in his childhood home with his family and his best friend, a man who had felt, seen, and experienced the same things he had.
Nick’s steady gaze pierced right through him.
“I missed you, too, man.” Nick gave him a quick hug, slapping his back, the emotions easing in the wake of brotherhood. Home. In more than one sense.
They fell into step, approaching the family kitchen where everyone else had now spotted him. Nick leaned in close before the vultures descended. “But if you tell anyone I said that, I will hurt you worse than your sister could.”
Micah grinned. “Only if you are ready to get beat.” He took a quick step out of reach. “Hey everyone, guess who just admitted he missed me!”
The family laughed as Nick crossed his arms and smirked. Challenge accepted.
For the first time in a while, Micah felt a little more whole.