Page 95 of On Her Team
There are grunts and a smattering of applause.
“Let’s give them a show!”
The team claps before standing and moving toward the door but Coach holds up his hand to stop them. He locks eyes with me. “And Edwards – keep your head where your feet are.”
I jump to my feet. “Yes, Coach!”
Tanner bursts into laughter before clapping me on the back. “Someone’s not Coach Cha Cha’s favorite anymore.”
I shove him and he falls to the floor. “At least I’ve been his favorite. Unlike you, who lives in the doghouse.”
“Woof! Woof!”
I roll my eyes at Tanner’s imitation of a dog. He’s a total goofball. If he weren’t such a good wide receiver, he’d be in more trouble than he already is. Which seems impossible considering how much trouble he’s currently in.
Nolan claps his hand. “Come on. Game faces on.”
Brock grunts before helping Tanner to his feet.
Corbin glares at us. “Don’t screw this up for me.” He marches off before we can respond.
“For you?” Tanner shouts after him. “Why is today special? Is your sexy landlady watching?”
Corbin whirls around. Nolan pulls Tanner behind him. “Ignore him. Everyone else does.”
“Ha! No one ignores me.”
Nolan slaps a hand over Tanner’s mouth. “Yes, we do.”
“Enough. Playtime is over,” Brock grumbles.
I follow him out of the locker room into the stadium. It isn’t as big as our usual stadium since it’s a college stadium but it’s not small either.
The fans roar as we enter but I don’t pay any attention to them. I’m too busy searching for my people. Besides coaches, I’ve never had people I care about come to watch one of my games before.
I spot Addy and her family in the third row. Mila jumps up and down and shouts while the rest of them wave. Even Nora’s here. Addy’s mom usually isn’t around much.
I stop to wave but Brock urges me forward. “Game time.”
As if I’d forget it’s game time when I’m wearing all of my gear except my helmet. I wave as I walk to the team area.
Today is a joint practice against the Tigers. The Tigers have been here all week doing drills and scrimmages with us, but today is a practice game. Which is why the bleachers are full.
I reach the team area and Coach Knox slaps me on the back. “Head in the game, Edwards.”
“My head’s in the game.” As much as it can be, considering Addy and her family – the people I want to be my family – are in the crowd. I want to impress them. Show them how good I am at my chosen field.
Coach studies me for a moment before nodding. “Bring it in! Helmets off. Eyes up.”
He scans the circle. “Today we’ve got a scrimmage. Not a war. Not a revenge tour. Not an audition for the UFC.”
A few players snort.
“Let me remind you of something the league likes to callmodern rules.” He uses air quotes for modern rules.
“That means no full-speed, live-contact tackling. That means you wrap up and release. That means you do not try to separate a man from his soul.”
He points toward the other side of the field.
