Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 78257 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78257 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Some of the guys from the team edge closer.
“…did he say he won…”
“…yeah, he did…”
My guys whoop and fist-bump each other.
I block it all out and focus on Archer. “You’re the loser. Now take your hit. I’ll even let you.”
His entire team is watching and murmuring as he dives for me and gets in a tiny pop to my face, but I’m back and on him in an instant. I’ve got him up by the collar of his jersey, and I’m aiming for his face again when three of my offensive guys pull me off.
I struggle and fight as they drag me across the field.
“Stop, man. Enough already! We fucking won! Let it go.” It’s Blaze’s voice and he’s tugging at my arms. “Think about your hands, dude! Protect the arm.”
They push me to the other sideline and form a wall so I can’t get to Archer. I fume and pace the field as they murmur at me to settle down.
But I’ve reached a point where they can’t talk to me. I shove them all away.
It dawns on me that I’ve cracked, that I’ve messed up somehow, but I push those thoughts away. Not now. Not now.
The quarterback coach is up in my face, checking my hands, and I grimace as he barks out an order for an ice pack. I don’t even care if I’m hurt.
On the other side of the field, support staff checks on Archer. I see him running his mouth and pointing at me.
Blaze hits me on the back. “It’s cool. It’s over. Slow your breathing, man. Take a breath.”
I ease back as one of the staff puts an ice pack on my hand and then dabs at what I assume is blood around my eye.
Coach Alvarez has gotten Archer’s side of the story, and I watch as he marches across the field to where I am. I’m still pacing when he gets up in my face. “Do you think that solved anything, Voss?”
I glare at him.
“Well?”
My teeth grit and I spit out the words. “It made me feel better.”
He bites down hard on the pen in his mouth. “You got a lot of nerve, son. Is it out of your system?”
My gaze bounces over to Archer. “Not by a long shot.”
“Then get your ass to the showers. I expect to see you in my office in half an hour. Understood?”
I nod.
He gives me a grim look. “You’re dismissed.”
I straighten my shoulders and shove everyone off me then stomp across the field.
After I shower, I plop myself down in Coach’s office and wait for him to show up. My left hand rubs at the part of my fist that hit Archer’s face.
Coach walks in and takes a seat on the edge of his desk. His eyes are hard as nails as he rakes them over me. “That was the stupidest thing I’ve ever seen you do.”
I straighten my posture and lean forward in the chair. “Sir—”
He holds his hand up. “No excuses. I know it was a late hit. I know you guys have your differences, but that’s what makes being number one so goddamn elusive. You have to want it enough to let that shit go. Do you want it? Do you want to be the first pick in the draft? Do you want to have the world at your fingertips when you leave this shithole of a town?”
I swallow. “Yes sir.”
He gives me a short nod. “Then show some leadership and coolness out there. You looked like a high school kid who’s pissed off that someone’s dating his girl. Get over this…rift you have with Archer.”
But…
Archer doesn’t respect me. He’s the one who should be sitting in here. Not me.
“Life isn’t fair, Voss,” he says, as if he’s reading my mind.
My fists curl. “I didn’t start the shit—”
“No excuses.”
“Or what?” I say.
His eyes harden. “Don’t make me have to decide.”
Oh, I know what he’s insinuating. That he’ll replace me with the backup, Dillon.
Screw that. I respect the hell out of him, but I won’t be forced into a corner to behave when I’m not the one who needs an attitude adjustment.
“I hope it doesn’t come to that, sir.” I stand up and stalk out the door even though he hasn’t dismissed me.
Penelope
“Sine, cosine, and tangent are the main functions used in trig,” I explain to the small study group I meet with each week in the library, pretty much my favorite place on earth. In fact, I make sure my study section always meets on the floor right smack next to the romance section. Sometimes I even think if the whole writing gig doesn’t work out, I can always be a librarian and live around books forever.
My phone buzzes for the third time, and I set down my notebook. “Guys, my phone keeps going off. It must be important.” I smile at them. “Let’s take five then meet back here.”