“You better believe I will.”

“Push up your glasses, please,” Tess instructed Rudy, who hurried to do as she asked.

A whistle sounded, and the teams jogged onto the field for the second half. The Mountaineers were down, seven to seventeen.

“Where’s Dylan?” Sebastian asked.

“There. On the sidelines. He played a fair amount in the first half, so I have hope that you’ll get to see him in action.” She held the popcorn toward him. He took a handful.

It tasted like average quality movie popcorn. But he was starving, so it might as well have been the most delicious thing he’d ever eaten.

“Did you have dinner?” she asked.

“Not yet.”

“I’ll go down and get you something. Hamburger? Hot dog—”

“You’re here to watch your brother. I’m here to watch your brother. I can wait to eat until after the game.”

“I really don’t mind,” she told him.

His chest ached with tenderness. He was a doctor, used to the role of caretaker, less familiar with being cared for. “Thanks, but I can wait.”

“Then eat the rest of this.” She passed the popcorn over. “I had as much as I wanted when you were talking to the Colemans.”

“You sure?”

“Yes.” Those thick lashes framed eyes that looked candid. But it might be that he was just a sucker where she was concerned. It might be that she could tell him the sun was made of Play-Doh, and he’d believe her.

“And here.” She lifted her cup. “Iced tea. There’s at least half left.”

He hesitated.

“Good grief. Here.” She thrust the tea at him. “For someone who’s quick to give gifts, you seem awfully reluctant to take them.”

“Oh?” he asked dryly. “How does that feel? To want to give something to someone who’s reluctant to take it?”

She laughed. “It’s my turn to complain about you! You’re not allowed to twist this into an opportunity to complain about me.”

On the next play, Dylan jogged onto the field. Leah cupped her hands around her mouth. “Go, Dylan!”

They were too far away for Dylan to hear. She scooted forward on the seat, back straight. The play went off. She shouted encouragement, clapped, winced, then clapped some more as the boys regrouped in a huddle.

Watching her was the best entertainment in Georgia.

“You got this, Mountaineers!” Leah yelled.

A few minutes later, the team failed to convert on third down and had to kick. She shook her head. “When they run the ball, they convert on third down sixty-seven percent of the time. So I’m not sure why they attempt to pass on third downs.”

“Can I go get a candy bar?” Rudy asked his wife.

The older woman released a frustrated sigh. “You already had half a Kit Kat, remember?”

“I’m still hungry.”