Chapter 4 Luca
Luca
“I GET WHY you’re bummed, Luca,” my big brother, Roman, says. “But this kind of thing happens a lot. Use it as fuel.”
“Nobody thinks badly of you for this,” my twin brother, Levi, adds.
It’s early morning, and I’m talking on the phone to my brothers while driving a rental car from the airport to my new team’s training facility.
I had such high hopes when I got the call to attend the Admirals’ training camp.
But unfortunately for me, when their superstar edge rusher accepted a new contract last night, they immediately cut me loose.
Like my brothers have been saying during this call, it’s a common story in this league.
One I’ve heard many times without thinking badly about the poor player who got the shaft.
But now that it’s happened to me, I’m feeling deeply embarrassed and shameful about it—worried everyone is going to think I’m a total loser now.
“I’ve already told Cameron to find me another team,” I report to my brothers. “So hopefully he’ll have something for me soon.”
Cameron is Roman’s best friend from college who became his agent and now represents Levi and me, too. Obviously, I’m a charity case for him at this point—a favor to Roman. I was hoping the Admirals would change that for me and finally make me worth his time.
“Wherever you end up this season,” Roman says, “just do your best. Get yourself onto a roster, Luca. Any roster.”
“With the worst team in the NFL? No, thanks.”
Roman pauses. And it’s in that silence that I realize my big brother thinks that’d be okay for me. Because that’s all I’m good for. Is this truly how low I’ve sunk?
“You never know what could happen in this league,” Roman says. “Change your attitude and make some lemonade out of these lemons, as best you can.”
I grumble something under my breath.
“Look, I know the situation isn’t optimal,” Roman retorts.
“But I think the new owner’s got a few tricks up her sleeve.
Rumor has it she’s the one who personally recruited Coach Parker.
If that’s true, then she’s a badass, because Jack Parker is one of the best in the game.
” Roman snickers. “Despite how badly I dog-walked his players in college.”
“Two seasons in a row,” Levi adds with a snicker of his own.
Both Roman and Levi played for Michigan, albeit years apart, since Levi and I are six years younger than Roman. Our parents went there, too. So, we were all raised as Wolverines, even though I eventually wound up playing for Nebraska.
Roman exhales. “This might be your last shot, Luca, so you need to bust your ass, stop acting like life is a sitcom all the time, and show these fuckers why they should keep you around even after Moriarty signs his new deal.”
I bristle at the sitcom remark. “Football is stressful. Fun is fuel.”
“Not for me,” Levi deadpans, and Roman and I chuckle at his dry delivery.
“Well, yeah, because you’re evil,” I reply. Our family always calls Levi the evil twin, simply because he’s naturally more stoic and reserved than me. Plus, with “evil” being an anagram for Levi, it was a natural fit for a lifelong nickname.
I pull into the parking lot of the Mastodons’ training facility and turn off the engine. “Hopefully, Cameron will find me another team before today is over, and this conversation will be a moot point.”
“Or maybe you should bust your ass there,” Roman mutters. “Hey, Coach Hardy is just about to give his opening remarks, so I need to go. Have a good one, men.”
All of a sudden, the momentousness of the occasion for my big brother hits me like a ton of bricks.
After more than a decade with the Crusaders, Roman is about to walk into training camp as a Thunderbolt, and yet here he is, using his valuable time to give his loser of a little brother some encouragement and tough love.
“Have a great training camp, guys,” I say. “Both of you. And Roman? This is your year, man. That ring will finally be yours.”
Roman ignores my pep talk, which is totally on brand for him.
He prefers to do his talking on the field.
“Show them a new you, Luca,” Roman says.
“No stand-up routines in the middle of practice. No spontaneous Olympic reenactments on the uprights. Just put your nose down and show them what you can do on the field, and the rest will take care of itself.”