Page 129 of Colliding with Ten

“You’re a maniac. You were all the way down at the end of the field. How’d you get back so fast, Usain Bolt?”

He smiled, and the frustration was gone. “I couldn’t leave my best guy hanging, and a few of the guys followed in the pile.”

“You got ejected.”

“Yes.”

“Jace, you’ve never been ejected.”

“I know.”

“You’re the least aggressive person on this team.”

“But he put my QB on the ground after the whistle.” His voice was even, but his eyes burned. “So I made a decision.”

I wanted to tell him it was reckless, and that the team needed him more than I needed retribution, but he was my guy. “Thank you.”

He nodded. “The team had your back. You should’ve seen it. Even the guys on the bench.”

“I’m touched.”

“You’re our favorite quarterback.” He paused. “Behind Tom Brady, of course.”

“Obviously.”

“And maybe behind that guy from the Super Bowl last year.”

“Okay.”

“Top five, easy.”

If my ego ever got big, these guys kept it in check. I shook my head, chuckling, and the headache flared, reminding me to stop moving. “Is Chapman playing?”

Jace moved in his chair. “Yup.”

Rick Chapman was a veteran quarterback and my backup. He could manage a game and keep the offense moving, but beating a team playing with this much venom would be difficult.

“Go back to the sideline. Be there for Chapman.”

“They ejected me, Lennox.”

Right. I’d already forgotten. The headache worsened. “Then go yell from the tunnel.”

Jace chuckled, then stood up. “I’m staying in Buffalo tonight if they admit you.”

“No, don’t do that.”

“I’m doing it.” He gave me a dap and headed for the door. “I’ll see you at the hospital.”

“Jace.”

He turned.

“No more fights.”

He pointed at me. “Stay conscious.”

Then he was gone.