Page 96 of The Cheerleader

The reporter laughs and gives me a follow-up question, but I’m only half paying attention because the Daily Campus reporter has her sights on Mom.

The girl says, “Mrs. Granger, what’s the secret to Bryan’s remarkable condition and endurance? What do you feed him at home?”

Another reporter jumps on the bandwagon, asking, “How often does he practice? What kind of workout regimen does Bryan do at home?”

A barrage of similar questions are fired at her until Wally springs out from her hold.

Luckily for us all, my little cousin speaks up because Mom seems catatonic.

“He works out all the time at home,” Wally says. “I bet he’s the strongest one on the team. He can lift a bale of hay with one arm, two if they weren’t so darn big and clumsy to handle.”

The reporters laugh, and Mom reins Wally in with a hand on his shoulder and a tug.

“Are you going to follow in your big brother’s footsteps?”

Wally nods and grins, and for once I don’t bother correcting the mistaken assumption that he’s my kid brother. I want to end this fiasco with the reporters. Coach Torino joins us, along with Eldy, as if he reads my mind, sweeping the attention away.

Bainbridge follows me and my family as we retreat from the field. He’s the one reporter I’ve developed an understanding with, if not trust, and he looks between me and Wally and says to me quietly, “I thought your brother was older and⁠—”

I hear Mom gasp. Shit.

“He was. This is my cousin. He’s like a brother. Don’t make a big deal.” I stare at Bainbridge hard while my heart hammers until he understands my nuclear-arms-level of seriousness and nods.

He clears his throat and says, “I have one more quick question about the game if you don’t mind.” He glances at Mom and smiles.

“We need to get going anyway,” she says. Then she gives me a quick hug and drags Wally away before I can hug him. He shouts his parting comments, waving.

I turn to Bainbridge and put my helmet down on the bench. “Shoot.”

“I noticed you have a recruiter here watching you.”

“That’s not a question.”

He laughs. “I think he wants to talk to you. You going to talk to him?”

“Guess we’ll find out.”

“Okay, I get it. Have a fun celebration tonight. You deserve it.” He reaches out to shake my hand, and I look at it for a split second, surprised, then shake it.

“Thanks.”

He joins the shrinking crowd of reporters talking to Coach, Eldy, and a couple of other guys. I pick up my helmet, ready to go—almost. Turning, I glance over to where the cheerleaders are still gathered. My eyes are first caught by Liz, but they almost immediately skip to find Susie.

Catching her eye, I start to move in her direction, but I’m stopped.

“Bryan, can I have a minute?” The voice is unfamiliar, and when I turn, he looks familiar, but he’s a stranger.

He extends a hand and smiles. Maybe another reporter.

I shake his hand, saying, “Make it quick.”

“Great game. Impressive running skills. You might have broken a record if they didn’t take you out.”

I nod, waiting for the question.

“Let me cut to the chase. I’m a recruiter with the San Francisco 49ers.”

My heart climbs so high in my throat I can taste blood. My ears buzz, and my body clenches in fear. What the hell am I afraid of? I should be thrilled. Or at least happy.