Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 98023 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 490(@200wpm)___ 392(@250wpm)___ 327(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98023 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 490(@200wpm)___ 392(@250wpm)___ 327(@300wpm)
“Holy shit, Blake!” Ron Zimmerman yells from somewhere behind me. “What are you on today, brother?”
I keep pushing until I cross into the end zone, collapsing immediately to the ground and rolling over onto my back to stare at the sky. Clouds drift from east to west, falling from my head to my feet and continuing downfield until they clear the bleachers on the other side. I can hear the guys yelling and celebrating and shit-talking from all around me, but by and large, all I can do is remember to breathe. In and out, I work to bring my pulse back to normal.
“I think he broke himself,” Nick Fisher, my center and one of the biggest fuckers on the team, whispers as he finally crosses the finish line himself. I hold up a single middle finger, making them all giggle to themselves like little schoolgirls.
When Coach Gordan leans over me, blocking out the sky with his face, I know I’m about to get my ass chewed for real, though.
“Hey, Sleeping fucking Beauty…what the ever-loving hell was that shit?”
“Coach,” I wheeze, closing my eyes when breathing still doesn’t come naturally, and a cramp attacks me dead in the side.
“I swear, you kids are going to be the death of me. What are you trying to do, kill yourself? Trying to be some hotshot for the new guys?”
I shake my head, but he keeps going anyway.
“I don’t give a fuck. Whatever it is you’re doing, quit it, okay? Goddammit, I hate this job sometimes. Hit the showers!”
He climbs away from my corpse, and Hank Lewis, my tight end and go-to guy, steps in to take his place, holding out a hand to help me up. “Come on, Boden. Time to rise and shine.”
I sigh as he pulls me to my feet, groaning slightly at the pain in every single part of my body. “Certainly seems like you’re being driven from a different place today. Everything okay?”
I nod, giving him a thumbs-up. “Oh yeah. I’m swell.”
Hank smirks. “Well, whatever it is, it makes you really fucking fast. None of us could even catch your ass.”
I laugh. “Oh well, glad there’s an upside.”
“For real, though, is everything okay?”
I nod, clapping Hank on the shoulder. “Yeah, yeah. I’m fine. Just a weird week, that’s all.”
“Okay, dude. You coming to the club with us later?”
I shrug. Honestly, I’m undecided. It’s not a bad idea per se. I mean, it might lead to some questionable choices, but it’d surely improve my mood. Instead of committing, I offer about all I’m able to right now—a chance. “I might. We’ll see. Cool if I let you know?”
“Of course, dude. The guys know you aren’t much of a partier, so either way’ll be cool.”
“Later, dude.”
Hank takes off, and I take my time walking through the end zone to my abandoned gear, gathering my pads and helmet from earlier and scooping them up to carry them to the locker room.
A wave of sadness crashes over me, and all of a sudden, I’m decided. I jog to catch up with Hank in the tunnel to the locker room. I spot him about fifty yards ahead, his helmet and pads hanging from the fingers of each of his hands. “Hank, wait up!”
He stops in his tracks and turns around, and I keep running until I meet up with him. “Hey, man, what’s up?”
“I changed my mind. I think I’m going to come out with you guys.”
“Really?” he asks, his whole face lifting with unbridled excitement.
“Really. We haven’t had a chance for a ton of bonding this summer, and hell, I don’t have anything else going on. So, what the fuck, you know?”
“Shit yeah, my dude. Fuck, this is gonna be good.” He pounds knuckles with me as we start walking toward the locker room again, explaining the plan. “We’re going to hit a restaurant first, check out that new club Tau, and then just go where the night takes us. We can meet up beforehand and go together if you want. Like seven or so?” He pushes through the door to the locker room, and I follow him, looking up at the clock on the back wall as I do.
It’s only a little after four, so that gives me plenty of time to head back to my apartment, shower, change, chill for a bit, and mentally talk myself into believing this shit is a good idea. “Yeah. That works.”
“Cool. It’s downtown near the Financial District, so we can just meet here and then catch the subway together?”
I nod. “Cool, man.”
Hank heads for his side of the locker room while I head for mine, tossing my pads and helmet into my locker with just a little more force than I intend. I sit down in front of it and start undressing, trying my best not to think about why I’m so fucking pissed off.