Chapter 12
MATEO
“Blue eight! Blue eight!” I yelled, squatting down behind my center with my hands extended out and ready for the ball. Under my helmet, sweat trickled down the side of my face, eyes darting from side to side.
“Kill!”
Right on cue, the ball was hiked directly into my hands. I hopped up and back, head on a swivel as I scanned the field. My offensive line held back the opposing team, giving me time to find an open player.
I bounced on the balls of my feet, different plays and scenarios running through my mind as movement on the field changed.
The main role of a quarterback was to move and adapt on the fly.
The game plan could change five times in a span of three seconds, so I had to be able to think through different opportunities and setbacks and score for our team.
I darted around a few players headed straight for me, eyes seeking out Jake or Perry but both were outmanned. Seeing no other option, I tucked the football in the crook of my right arm and took off to the left where a small gap beckoned me.
Behind me, players clashed as my offense did their job at keeping me safe and in the clear. The end zone was only a few yards away, so I dodged a few players that reached out to stop me. I ran straight through for a touchdown.
Despite this only being practice, my team cheered. In a real game, they’d be over here doing their little dances. Everyone clapped my shoulders and back as I headed to the sideline.
I yanked my helmet off and shook my head, flinging my sweaty hair from my forehead. I grinned as Jake and Perry came over.
“Quick thinking with running the ball. Collins and Ruiz had me surrounded.” Perry shook his head but had a smirk. His cheeks were red and flushed from running plays for the last hour.
“Good job, man.” Jake clapped my shoulder. “I can feel another championship coming our way.”
My chest tightened at his words. I quickly shoved down the anxiety that filled my chest and forced a nod. “Yeah.”
“When are you set to cut this mop?” Jake asked Perry, pointing to the long blond hair that fell around Perry’s face.
“I’ll have you know, this hair could sell for thousands.” Perry tossed his locks over his shoulder dramatically.
“Yeah, I don’t know about that,” I tacked on.
“You guys are just haters. But per preseason tradition, I’ll be buzz cutting and donating my hair later this afternoon.”
A lot of athletes were superstitious, and Perry was one of them. He would grow his hair out the entire season and only cut it when preseason came back around. Now that we’d won The Legacy Championship, he was going to be even more insufferable about it.
“Thank god, you look unruly.” Jake smirked, which earned a shove from Perry.
I watched, silently wondering why I was friends with these two. Ironically, Perry and Jake were both two years older than me, and yet, I acted more mature—sometimes.
The sound of a whistle stole my attention. Coach stepped through the huddle of men, his bulky frame almost making him blend in with the team.
“Good practice, gentleman,” Coach Reggie said, his voice carrying across the field in a way that was both impressive and a bit intimidating.
“Our first preseason game is next Thursday. That means we only have one more practice before then. I expect everyone to show up Tuesday morning energized and ready to go over every single play.” Coach was a few feet ahead, but I still felt the intensity of his stare as if he were right in front of me.
“Yes, Coach,” we all echoed.
“I’ll be meeting with everyone separately from today until Wednesday morning to see who will be playing. Keep your phones on.”
I already knew I wasn’t playing. I’d be put in for the first fifteen minutes maybe, but the last thing anyone wanted was to injure starting players during a preseason game.
Plus, I was glad we already had a conversation a week ago—before I knew Emmie was his daughter. I couldn’t lie that I wasn’t on edge being around him. I told Emmie it didn’t matter that he was my coach and her father, but he was also someone I saw every other day.
I knew the sooner I told him about his daughter and me, the better things would be, but I wasn’t entirely sure there was an ‘Emmie and me’ yet. Going to the rink two days ago was technically our first date.
Until I knew Emmie actually wanted to see me again and not bolt, I wouldn’t be saying anything to her father.
“So,” Perry’s voice drew me back in. “Want to grab a bite to eat?”
My mind still lingered on Emmie, but I knew from her text last night she was busy until tonight with her own practice. I’d be an absolute dick if I ditched my friends to sit around my apartment to wait for a text from someone who likely wouldn’t be up to hanging out after a long day.
“Sure.” I grabbed my helmet and started after the rest of the team toward the practice facility. The early afternoon sun was stifling with the ten pounds of gear I had on. My hair clung to my face, and sweat dripped down my back.
“How would you feel if I had hair like yours?” Perry asked, gesturing to Jake’s braids. I’ve never seen him without his hair immaculately done. He’d mix up the style, but it was always so intricate that I had no idea how his hairdresser did it.
“You think you could pull them off?” The way Jake looked Perry up and down made me snort. Perry with his blond hair and blue eyes screamed California surfer. There was no way he could ever pull off the hairstyle Jake had.
“Oh, I totally could. It’d help show off this incredible jawline.” Perry dragged his index finger along his chin, one that couldn’t grow a beard no matter how many times he tried.
“Oh god,” Jake muttered. “How women like you is beyond me.”
“They like me cause I’m the whole package.” Perry flexed his bicep with a smirk.
Jake looked at me with a raised eyebrow. “Hey, he was your friend first.” I put my hands up. Him and Perry were on the team a year before I got drafted, so they were friends longer.
“I laid no claim on him,” Jake shot back.
“I am right here you know,” Perry deadpanned.
“Oh, we know,” I joked. Perry shoved my shoulder, and I laughed.
“Boone!” My name being called stopped our conversation. I glanced over my shoulder and found Coach headed my way.
“Good luck with that.” Jake slapped my shoulder. My friends shot me a look before they left me and headed inside to shower.
Taking a deep breath, I turned around. I took in the similarities between Coach Reggie and Emmie. Thank god she didn’t get her looks from her father or things would have been extremely awkward.
“Coach.” I moved my helmet to my other hand while I shifted on my feet. He stopped a few feet in front of me, arms crossed. It was a stance that screamed I know what you’ve done. Shit, did he know I was talking to his daughter?
New sweat formed on my back and had nothing to do with practice.
“I’ll make this quick so you can get going,” he started. “We’re going to have you play the first quarter of both games, but then you’re going to sit out.”
I let out an inaudible breath. He just wanted to talk about preseason and not the fact I had his daughter pressed against her car just two days ago.
I nodded. “Sounds good to me.”
The longer I stood there, the more my skin itched. It wasn’t that I didn’t know how to lie or that I hated to—there were plenty of times I tried to get away with things in high school—but doing so to someone I respected and was around almost every day was hard.
Also, I wasn’t sure Coach would appreciate that I fucked my fist to the image of his daughter this morning before I came here.
“I told Jennings he can call and text you if he has any questions about the plays,” Coach said, mentioning the backup quarterback that would be taking my place until the real season started.
Coach meant well, but Duncan Jennings and I weren’t friends. He was drafted to the team seven years ago and was named starting quarterback. For four years, Jennings was the leader of the team, something he really enjoyed being. Then the Titans drafted me three years ago.
I came into the team knowing I was a rookie and had to earn my position.
Just because I was drafted first didn’t mean I was guaranteed a starting spot, especially when the team already had a quarterback that had done a decent job.
The team made it to the playoffs once, but they weren’t a contending team.
The moment I stepped through the doors of the locker room, Jennings hated me. While everyone was friendly and welcoming, he wasn’t. He kept his distance. Whenever I asked a question, he’d give one-worded answers.
He knew I was there to take his position and resented me for it. When he sprained his ankle and Coach put me in, that was it. I became the starting quarterback, and he was bumped to backup, further adding to his resentment.
Jennings flat out told me I hadn’t earned my spot, nor paid my dues. He fully believed he had superiority over me since he’d been around longer, but it wasn’t my fault I was a better player.
It was obvious Coach and management had no plans of getting rid of me. There were rumors Jennings was looking to be traded, so I wouldn’t be surprised if he left before the season fully started.
“I’ll make sure to reach out to him,” I said, although I had no plans to actually do so. I was the last person Jennings would listen to, and it’d be a waste of my breath and time.
“Thanks, Mateo. I’ll see you Tuesday.” With a nod, Coach stepped around me and joined the other coaches.
I released a breath, fingers uncurling around my helmet. I turned on my heel and headed for the locker room for a quick shower. Telling him about Emmie would be a problem for the future.
“The fact Coach thinks you and Jennings are buddies is a bit funny. Everyone on the team knows he hates you,” Jake remarked as the three of us sat around a table at a bar and restaurant a few blocks from the practice building.