AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Even better to play next to him,” Nixon grins.
Guilt spreads through my stomach, making the bile rise in my throat for lying to my friends. But there was no way in hell I could tell them the truth.
Fake it till you make it, right?
It wasn’t a secret that I’ve been struggling with my recovery. I was pissed off at the whole world for robbing me of the last season and winning the championship.
And then the injury wasn’t healing right. The whole process was slow and painful as fuck, and things weren’t much better after the cast was off. My leg felt off, but no matter how much therapy I went through, the pain never went away, at least not entirely. I knew what would happen if I told them the truth. They would tell me I shouldn’t continue playing, but that wasn’t an option. I have one year. One more year left, one chance to win that championship before it was over, and I turned all my focus to med school.
Shifting my weight, I feel my muscles tighten, the pain in my leg not as strong, thanks to the painkillers I took earlier, but still there. Always there.
“You’re just happy you have at least one player who’s used to your shitty throws and can make you look good,” I say, plastering a smirk on my face.
“My throws are perfect,” Nixon protests.
I snort, “Only in your dreams, Cole.”
“Oh, please, admit it. You missed playing.”
He can’t even imagine. Not being able to play for the last nine months has been extreme torture. Football has been an essential part of my life since I could walk. If I’m not a football player, then who the fuck am I?
Just the idea of having to give it up before I can win it,actuallywin it, makes me want to punch something.
“I want us to win the national championship. Together.”
“One day. One day, we’ll win it together.”
My throat grows tight as I push the memories back in the box where they belong.
“I missed the game, you on the other hand…”
“Screw you.”
“Hey, if you’re fishing for compliments, you better look for them elsewhere.”
“Good to see you two are still the same,” Zane shakes his head.
“Where’s your girlfriend?” Callie asks.
“She’s…” Zane turns around, looking over the crowd of people. “There.”
I look up toward where he’s pointing to where Rei and Spencer are standing close to the bonfire and talking with Grace and her boyfriend, drinks in their hands.
Spencer looks up the moment we join the group, clinking his cup against mine. “That was some game.”
“Thanks.”
Spencer nods, taking a sip of his drink. “Hopefully, now that you’re back in the game, you’ll stop bitching as much.”
“I wasn’t bitching…”
Before I can even finish, there’s a loud chorus of: “Yes, you did.”
I glare at my friends, who are laughing their asses off. “Whatever. Not one of you had to sit on the sidelines for the past nine months, so you can all suck my dick.”
“That tiny thing in your pants?” Spencer smirks. “Thanks, but no thanks.”
“Screw you, Monroe.”
