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I watch as he walks out and wait for my dad’s answer. “Did you fucking know?” I yell through gritted teeth.
“I’m gonna let that slide this time because I’m your father and your coach and because I love Annabelle and Tommy too. But don’t ever forget who runs this team, Declan.” The veins in his neck are popping out as he forces himself not to yell back. “Lower your fucking voice. Now.”
“Come on, Dad. I looked for thirty seconds and got a page of hits. They’re calling her a charity case and Tommy special-needs baggage.” I choke on the words, “I don’t know how to handle this.”
“Scarlet Kingston is all over this, Declan. I’ve been in touch with her all morning. We were trying to keep it off your radar before the game. I realize now that was a mistake, and I’m sorry for that, son. But what you just did out there is another level of shit. Care to tell me what the hell just happened?”
I stare hard at my dad.
“Maybe I need to reword that. I need to know exactly what the hell happened out there.” When I still don’t answer, he crosses his arms and asks, “If you want to play today, you have to tell me, Dec.”
Fuck.
“He said her pussy better be golden to have to deal with Tommy. Happy?” I’ve never been this angry in my life.
“My quarterback just punched my tight end the morning before the game. As a coach, no, I’m not happy. As a father, I wish you’d hit him harder.”
“Thanks, Dad. What the hell am I gonna do? How am I gonna fix this?” How am I gonna face Belles?
“You’re a leader, and it’s game day. This is the price you pay. This is being a professional, Declan. Assholes are always gonna say something. They’re everywhere, including on our team. He’s half the man you are, on and off the field. He’ll never know the kind of love you have because of Annabelle and Tommy. But here’s the thing. We need Curt Kenny. We need him for this game. He’s had it out for you since your fight his senior year. His draft status plummeted after that game. The Kings got him in the sixth round instead of the first. That cost him millions, and I have no doubt that played a part in what happened today. If I’d have known at the time that I was going to draft you this year, I wouldn’t have taken him. But he’s a good tight end.” Dad’s eyes look calmer and clearer than I feel.
“It’s not my fault he didn’t train harder.” I leave out the fucking entitled asshole part.
I see Dad getting frustrated with me. “You’ll have your chance, Dec. But for now, you pull your shit together and lead your team like the goddamn professional you are, son. Then, you’re gonna go home and talk to Annabelle. She’ll be okay. She’s made of tougher stuff than this.”
I can only hope he’s right.
Hours later, when I’m stretched out, suited, taped up, and trying to get into the headspace I need to be in for the game today, I realize how much my life has changed in the past few months. Nothing has ever come before football. It was always my first and only love and my top priority. The only thing I cared about. There’s never been a time when I haven’t been 100 percent focused before a game... until today.
I’m struggling to force thoughts of Belle and Tommy to the back of my mind for the next sixty minutes of football. The locker room is loud, and for the first time in my life, my headphones are making me claustrophobic. Everyone has given me a wide berth and stayed away, but it’s not helping.
Coach walks into the room, and all talking stops. “Gather round, men.” He’s looking right at me but talking to the room. “Last away game of the season. We win this, and we walk out of here as division champions with a bye week and home-field advantage. You get an extra week to give your bodies a rest, and I know how much you need that at this point in the season.”
He’s holding his rolled-up laminated play sheet against his leg. “Do you realize that as a player in this room, you represent the top half of 1 percent of anyone who’s ever picked up a football? The skill, strength, and determination it took to get you here are only gonna get you so far though. You’ve gotta have heart to win. You represent the towns you’re from. The towns you live in now. The city of Philadelphia. You give them hope. You give them something to look forward to. This is the first time in a decade this team has been in this position.”
His eyes scan the room. “Everyone in this room is part of one family, and families fight. It happens. But when we fight, we keep it in-house, and we move on. And while I might fight with my brother, no one else is allowed to. We don’t let that happen.”
All eyes turn to Curt and me, standing across from each other. Coach continues, “You’re Kings. Kings take what they want. We’re gonna walk into that stadium today and take it from them. We’re gonna march down that field and shove that ball down their throats. Because Kings don’t ask for permission. They don’t care what people think or say. They do what’s best for their kingdom. Because Kings don’t just win games. Kings build legacies.”
The team starts to get noisy again.
Dad clears his throat and raises his voice, “Memento Mori, gentlemen. All men die. Leave it out there on that field and walk off it, knowing that you lived.” His eyes meet mine before he growls, “We’re fucking Kings. Now act like it!” and marches out of the room.
