AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Who are we?” Nixon bellows louder, a leader turning to face his team.
“Ravens!” The chant spreads through the room, increasing in volume.
“Fucking yeah.” He lifts his hand in the air. “Now let’s go show them they’ve underestimated us.”
Nixon turns to me, and we bump fists, grabbing our helmets from the bench before making our way out on the field.
There’s nothing quite like playing that first game of the season on the home field. The roar of the crowd as we head out is almost deafening. I let it guide me as the offense takes to the turf. Stormy gray eyes meet mine for a split second before we fall in formation. I bend forward, facing the player on the other team.
“You’re done, pretty boy,” he spits. “You’re leaving this field with your tails tucked between your legs.”
“Not sure about you, buddy, but my dick’s too big to do that,” I smirk as his eyes turn into tiny slits.
Nixon calls out the play, and the moment the ball is snapped into his awaiting hands, I’m already moving down the field. The ball lands safely in my arms. My feet pound against the grass, each step sending a little stab of pain through my knee, but I grit my teeth, pushing through it.
One of the players is catching up to me, so I throw a lateral to Collin, our tight end, who catches it and continues sprinting toward the end zone until he’s tackled. First and ten, with twenty yards to go.
It’s good to be back.
CHAPTERELEVEN
PRESCOTT
Forcing a smile, I nod at the reporter as I slowly leave. It takes all of me to hide the slight limp as I make my way to the locker room.
As soon as I push the door, I’m greeted with a madhouse. My teammates cheer as I enter, some patting me on the back and congratulating me on a good first game back over the blasting music. Everybody is running on a high after the win. Hell, even Coach was smiling as he left the locker room after our post-game talk, and the guy never smiled.
Finally, I reach my spot, easing down on the bench in front of it and let out a shaky breath.
“That was one pretty sweet catch in the fourth, Wentworth,” Nixon says, slapping me on the shoulder. I’m grateful to be sitting because I’m not sure my legs wouldn’t give out on me.
“It’s good to be back.”
It’s the truth, but damn, I can feel the last three hours in every freaking bone in my body.
“Hell, yeah, it is. This is going to be our year, man. I just know it.”
I want his words to be true, desperately, but right now, just the idea of doing this again anytime soon makes me want to puke my guts out. It was only by pure determination and adrenaline that I’d made it to the end of the game.
Pain meds.
I look down at my shaky hands. I curl and uncurl my fingers a few times, trying to get myself under control.
I can’t. I know I can’t, and yet…
An ear-piercing whistle spreads through the room.
“Yo!” Gregory yells, looking around to make sure he has everybody’s attention. “There’s a party at our house. I’ll see you all there.” His gaze stops on Nixon. “That goes for you too, Cap.”
“Yeah, yeah, I’ll be there. Somebody has to make sure you assholes make it to our next practice in one piece. Today was a good day, a goodgame, but remember, this is just game one.”
Phillip lets out a groan. “Can we not? We just got off the field. Let us enjoy it for a bit.”
Nixon lifts his hands in surrender. “Fine. Have at it.”
“Thank you!”
The conversation resumes around us. Nixon turns toward the locker, shaking his head. “I swear they’re going to be the death of me. We weren’t like that.”
