Knowing that a fight on the field isn’t going to do me any good, I shake my head and walk away.
The next two downs we go with running plays, and I get to see Nate firsthand.
The annoying POS is really talented, juking his way around the defense effectively. Granted, no tackling is allowed.
In a real game, I would be blocking for him. So it really sucks to feel less than enthusiastic about his success.
Another two plays later and Tony tells me I’m his first option on the next one.
This time it goes better. Once I’m off the line of scrimmage, I cut up through the middle roughly twenty yards and turn before Tony puts the ball right in the center of my chest.
It’s a beauty.
“There we go,” Tony says to me, before going to the sideline to quickly chat with Marshall about the next sequence.
I shoot Nate my bestfuck youlook, and then go back to the larger group.
The rest of my time with the second team is solid, but not perfect. There’s a couple of times that Tony and I are out of sync, with me dropping one ball and completely out of position for the other.
Still, thanks to my time with Johnson, I had the play calls down, and I feel confident that we just need to play together more to find our rhythm.
Two months ago, my insecurities might’ve reared up, but I know this dynamic is not about me.
Not that Nate doesn’t try to poke some out of me again.
“I don’t know, Battle, that wasn’t looking Heisman-worthy to me,” he says faintly while we run back into the locker room.
Fuck that guy.
I switch backto the first team when they take the field, ending the day on a high note with some clean catches.
“You settled into our home for the next three weeks?” Bailey asks our crew in the wide receiver room.
Chance and Ty nod.
“A hotel room is better than our dorms, so it’s ‘home sweet home,’” Chance jokes.
It turns out he’s doing solid on the third team, according to what he downloaded to me at lunch. I can see him relax over the day as he feels more comfortable with belonging here.
Ty, not so much. Being on the bubble, I can tell he’s minding his behavior.
It’s shitty to watch even with a new friend, but that’s football for you.
When we get back to our hotel, I’m eager to chill in my room for a minute. But within twenty minutes, Chance shows up at the door with Ty.
We grab a hasty dinner downstairs, and then decide to watch some baseball in Chance’s room.
“I’m exhausted after today,” I say, zoning out as we watch the Marlins. “So good to just veg.”
Unfortunately, when I leave his room at ten, it legit takes only fifteen minutes for the hurt to resurface. The sadness abouther, us.
Which leads to me wondering:What is Avery doing right now?
Maybe I should have stayed with the guys longer.
Shit, shut this line of thinking down, Battle.
BUZZ.
