Page 168 of Forever Relentless

Fifteen.

I slowed before the end zone, walked over the line, and mimicked tossing the ball as if the ref was standing there, and I’d done it a thousand times.

The whistle blew behind me.

I turned back toward the line.

The DE was staring at me like I’d just murdered his entire bloodline.

Dante jogged toward me, shaking his head.

“You’re enjoying this way too much,” he muttered.

I handed the ball back and shrugged. “Just running the play.” I took a breath. “Don’t ask me why he’s making me do this.”

Across the field, Coach Sutherland was watching me.

Not smiling or frowning, just watching.

He stepped closer to Coach Holt and said something under his breath. Holt’s eyes flicked to me. Then back to Sutherland.

The coach looked at me again, longer this time.

Like he’d just realized something he wasn’t sure he liked. “Again!” he barked.

“Am I a linebacker again, Coach?” I asked as I joined the line of scrimmage.

“No.”

I ground my teeth together as I took my place on the line.

This time, the defense didn’t look nearly as confident, and I wasn’t thrilled with the change in the gameplay either.

Dante called another play, and once again, I ducked around the defense and made my move. Looking back, the ball was already sailing my way. I caught it, gained five yards, and was tackled.

I laughed as the second team linebacker flattened me.

“You ran after me?” I asked him as he helped me to my feet.

“No clue what the play is anymore, I went freestyle,” he muttered.

“Smart,” I clapped him on the shoulder and returned to the line. Coach Sutherland watched me and then looked around at his players.

“Everybody on this field here now!” he yelled.

When all the players and coaches were gathered around him, he sucked his teeth and moved in a small circle to look at us one by one.

He turned toward the defense. “You see that? You see Matthews showing you up as he plays offense?” he barked. The entire unit went still. “That’s what a football player looks like.”

Nobody said a word.

“Position doesn’t matter,” Sutherland continued. “Matthews just showed you that. Moore!”

Jason stepped forward, having been on the sidelines while I essentially played his position.

“You just lost your place on the first team.”

My eyes popped as Jason’s jaw dropped. “What the fuck?” he demanded.