Page 81 of Bluffed By the Offense

“That house is worth the wait,” I tell Coleman.

“With cash on the barrel, it would usually be a much shorter time frame,” Coleman says apologetically.

“It’s okay. I don’t want to displace anyone. I can wait till the season’s over to move in.”

“Great! Well, congratulations.”

“Thanks, Coleman. Appreciate you, man.”

“I’ll be in touch.”

We hang up and I walk back to the table.

Cass is pushing a bite of cake around on the sample plate.

I sit down and lean in toward her. “I got Seventeen Cherry Hill.”

My smile won’t quit. I want that house. I love it. I’ve loved it since I first saw it. I can see myself settling into a house like that.

Cass looks over at me, something like sadness in her eyes. “Congratulations, QB.”

She’s unnaturally quiet the rest of the time we’re at the bakery. Emberleigh wraps up the leftover cake.

All the players decline the offer of taking leftovers home. We’re on pretty strict diets during football season. We already just barely won our first game in the final two minutes on Thursday. We need every edge we can get going into our next game at Carolina this weekend.

Unnecessary Roughness

Treyvon: For those of you who missed it, we got a QB and girlfriend sighting today

Me: Should I be scared by the text thread name change?

Declan: Where Trey’s involved, we all should have a healthy little dose of fear.

Jaxon: It was pretty cute watching you two together.

Me: Cute? Nothing about me is cute.

Linc: I used that exact word when Shanay grilled me about seeing you two today.

Jaxon: Yep. Cute.

Me: Is anyone here focused on our game against the Panthers?

Treyvon: I’m focused, Cold Turkey. But you and your girl are awfully distracting.

Jaxon: It’s refreshing the way she puts you in your place.

Me: We’re calling that refreshing?

Treyvon: I’ve never seen anything like it.

Declan: Cass is a force to be reckoned with, to be sure. But she’s got a heart of gold.

Jaxon: Think you’re up to the task, QB?

Treyvon: I already told her where to come if she needs a real man.

Me: Keep your offers to yourself.