Chapter 9
I grunted as my face slammed into the turf. I pushed myself back up and turned around.
Pinky Innocenti stood a few metres from me, facing away. I was almost certain he tripped me, but unless someone else saw I had no proof. Even if I had proof, what would I do about it? Probably nothing. It wasn’t worth starting trouble over.
I uncurled my hands and focused on the training session. Pinky must have decided I was responsible for the confetti in his shoes. That was the only explanation for why hed trip me in the first place. If the coach saw, hed be lucky to get a spot on the bench during the Down Under Bowl.
Come on, Coach shouted. Ive seen sloths that work harder than you guys.
I heard Bam snort a laugh.
I bet hes never seen a sloth in his life, the running back said. Much less one that worked harder than we do.
I grinned. It faded when I caught Pinky glaring at me. What was the guys problem anyway? Even if I had pulled the prank on him, it was only confetti.
I suspected it was Chase who put it there. If Bam had done it, it would have been glitter. Now that would warrant being pissed off. Glitter would never come out completely.
I made a mental note to pull that prank on Bam once the season was over. Just thinking about the expression on his face made me smile.
What? Pinky snapped.
I realised I was still looking in his direction. I shrugged. Nothing.
Then focus on your fucking training. Unless you want us to lose. He narrowed his eyes at me through his helmet.
What is your problem? Bam asked him. He looked about ready to punch Pinky in the dick.
Pinky addressed me. You live with your mum, and let your friends fight for you. Is there anything you do for yourself?
Youre cruising for a bruising, asshole, Bam growled.
Leave it alone, Bam, I told him. We all need to focus right now.
Yes, you do. From the expression on Coach’s face, he at least heard some of the conversation. Maybe you guys need to run a few more laps of the field. Because if your heads arent in it, you dont deserve to win it.
That belonged on a bumper sticker. He wasnt wrong though. We didnt deserve to win the biggest game of the year if we were fighting amongst ourselves.
The coach stood back and addressed all of us.
We have one more game, he said slowly as he walked up and down the line of men. Its do or die. This is the second biggest game of the year. If you dont have every play, every move down pat by now, then why are you even here?
Because we want to kick ass, Hawk shouted.
Yeah, a few guys called out in agreement.
All the ass, Bam agreed.
Then get your shit together, Coach said. If I hear arguing again, youll know if we won or lost, because Ill kick your behind into next December.
I bit back a smile, but it was kinda funny. Even the best kicker on the team wouldnt be able to boot a grown man very far.
Apparently Gods Gift finds that funny, Pinky muttered.
I bristled but kept my shoulders square, face forward. Whatever his problem was I couldnt let him get to me. At least my nickname wasnt Pinky.
As if he read my mind, Chase walked past me and said, Hes called that because his dick is the size of his pinky.
I choked back a laugh. As far as I could tell, no one heard but me. Lucky for Chase, because I suspected Pinky would have put a fist in his face if he had.
I caught the ball Hawk tossed to me and got back into position.
Snap.
I threw the ball out behind me. Hawk caught it and started to charge down the field. He narrowly missed being slammed to the ground by another player, but it was obvious to everyone watching that we were more focused.
We trained for another hour before we went for a cool down run around the field.
Bam trotted beside me. You know, Im half tempted to take Coach up on his offer.
What is that? Chase jogged on the other side of Bam.
The one where he offered to send us into December, Bam said. The anticipation is killing my ass.
Maybe your ass should be more patient, Hawk suggested. What was up with Pinky anyway? He ran on my other side and gave me a concerned look.
I think hes under the impression I put the confetti in his shoes, I said.
Did you? Hawk asked.
No. I pulled off my helmet and let it dangle from my fingers. Im starting to think I should have. I looked sideways at Chase. Any idea who did it?
Why would I have any idea? Chase asked. He gave me his best innocent-as-shit face.
I rolled my eyes at him. Because either you do or Bam does. And if it was Bam, it would probably have been custard.
Hell yeah, it would, Bam said. Ive never done that one, thanks for the idea. He grinned.
Sounds like a waste of custard to me, Hawk said.
Either way, it wasnt me, so if anyone wants to own up, Id love to get Pinky off my back. I looked around at them.
Whats with the name Pinky anyway? Bam asked.
Whats with the name Bam? Hawk teased. His middle name is Pinkerton.
I like my theory better, Chase said.
I volunteer you to find out if it’s true. I grinned at Chase.
Not a chance, he said. I have no desire to look at his dick. Or yours or any other guy’s.
Feeling threatened? Bam teased.
Chase laughed. No. The opposite. I wouldn’t want to put you guys to shame.
Ain’t gonna happen, Bam drawled. Normally I don’t like stereotypes about guys with big feet, but sometimes they’re accurate. He waved toward his.
You wish, Hawk said.
Bam pressed a fist to his heart. You know how to hurt a guy.
Hawk grinned. I should. I hurt guys for a living.
We all laughed.
You guys are hilarious, Pinky said sarcastically. He and three of his friends drew in around us.
What is this? Bam asked. High school?
It certainly looks like it, Chase agreed.
You know what is wrong with you guys? Pinky said.
Why dont you enlighten us? I suggested. Honestly, I should have told him to fuck off. He wasnt helping anyone, certainly not the team.
I dont think any of you wants this enough. He looked at us, one after the other.
Hawk slowed to a walk, his expression furious. Dude, question my dick size before you question my commitment to the Rapids. Except, dont question my dick size either. Its none of your fucking business.
I slowed and put a hand on Hawks shoulder pad. Dont. I didnt know what Pinky was up to, but it wasnt worth fighting him. Save your aggression for the opposition. I gave Pinky a dark look. Starting shit is just gonna have a negative impact on the team.
In case youve forgotten. Pinky said coldly, I wasnt the one that started the shit. Blame whoever fucked with my shoes.
I returned his glare evenly. It wasnt me. I dont know who did. And right now, I wouldn’t tell him if I did.
He obviously didnt believe me.
I didnt care. If he wanted to be an asshole, that was his prerogative. It didnt mean I had to be one as well.
Pranks like that are nothing but childish, he snarled. But it always seems to be you four involved in this crap.
Because we know how to have fun, Bam said. Maybe you should get that stick out of your ass.
Maybe I should stick it in your pretty little sisters ass? Pinky smirked.
We all grabbed Bam and held him back.
Fucking asshole. You so much as look at my sister… Bam growled.
Maybe you should retire before you destroy the Rapids completely. Pinky trotted away, followed by his friends, before any of us could say anything.
So much for team unity, Chase said with a grunt.
I think thats against his religion, Bam said. He shook us off and glared after the tight end.
He certainly does seem to have a problem with us. Hawk frowned in the direction Pinky went. Hopefully hell get over it before he screws this up for all of us.
Yeah, I agreed. I wondered about Pinky tripping me. At the time, I assumed he wouldn’t do anything to cause me permanent injury. Now, after that, I wasnt sure.
Bam was right, it was very high school of him. I had enough bullying back then, I didnt need that bullshit now.
So, Chase said, when are you seeing your girlfriend next? He grinned at me, obviously trying to take my mind off Pinky. It worked. I simultaneously blushed and smiled.
Tonight if we didnt have that media thing, I grumbled. It wasnt just a media thing. It was a meet and greet with some fans who paid a bunch of money for it. I hated those things. The fans always seem to think, because they paid lots of money, it gave them some sort of special access to us.
I didnt mind chatting, but I didnt like it when they started to get touchy-feely, or asked a bunch of personal questions.
You could always ask her to come along, Chase suggested.
The other guys nodded.
I dont think were quite at that point yet, I said reluctantly. You guys might scare her off. That was only half true. I was scared I would scare her off.
I would tell her who I was, but I wanted to wait until the right time. A meet and greet was definitely not it.
Bam grinned. Yeah, Hawk’s ugly face would scare off anyone.
Hawk flipped him the bird. At least Im smart.
Ive heard from a few girls that they think Hawk is hot. Personally, I dont see it, but he wasnt ugly. I didnt think Bam thought he was either. In fact, the four of us are pretty good-looking dudes. If I say so myself.
Says you, Bam said teasingly.
“Anyway, Chase interrupted. When do we get to meet her then?
Im thinking, I said slowly, around about the end of time.
Oh, I get it, Bam said. You think she’ll take one look at us and dump your ass. Because the three of us are so much hotter than you.
I laughed. Keep telling yourself that. I didnt think he was too far wrong, but I wasnt going to admit that to him.
I will, he said. I like to be honest with myself.
By now wed reached the door leading into the locker rooms.
I looked around for Pinky, but couldnt see him. For some reason I half expected him to be lying in wait.
Yeah, flashback to high school. Is there anyone who got through that time in their lives without being traumatised? There are probably plenty but I wasnt one of them.
You okay? Hawk asked softly.
If there was anyone who knew about trauma during the high school years, it was him. His mother died of cancer during his final year. For a long time, he struggled to talk about it. It wasnt for Bec, hed probably still be keeping it all inside.
I shrugged. Yeah, Im okay. Its just, you know, the pressure of the Down Under Bowl. What if we dont make it? What if we do? What if we make it and then fall on our asses?
All valid questions, Hawk said. Well work hard, and do the best we can. And kick butt like only we know how.
I smiled. You make it sound easy and painless.
It will be neither of those things. He clapped me on the shoulder. But we are up to it. This is our year, I can feel it.
I hope so, I said. It would be a dream come true for every single one of us.
With Rubie cheering me along from the stands, it would be the ultimate dream come true.