Page 61 of The Linebacker

“Yeah, and did you miss where that chatter got us? This is the team that won the Super Bowl.” He pointed at his white jersey with the cherry red number outlined in navy blue.

“Not this time, bro. Because we saw your girl out last night, and she was hot.” He bent his knees, rolled his hips, and mimed slapping someone’s ass.

Amil tackled him before his brain even registered that this was the response that always, always got him in trouble.

It might have been okay—maybe—if he’d have just jumped up and walked away. But when he tried, Trey took a swing, caught him on the jaw, and Amil gave him one right back, the two men fist fighting until four other guys dragged them apart. One of the refs rushed their way and blew his whistle, and Trey and Amil were both ejected from the game.

Shit.

He’d screwed up again.

Chapter

Twenty-Two

Amil sat on the bench with his head in his hands and listened to the play-by-play rumbling out of the locker room speakers.

A turnover ten minutes into the game. Touchdown 49ers.

Davis Ferguson, the Mountain Lions’ running back, took a hand-off from Dante, used a little fancy footwork to dodge a 49ers blitzing linebacker, but then tried to run through basically a wall of players and was flattened.

The Mountain Lions finally moved the ball down the field to the twelfth yard line, and Dante fake tossed the ball to another player and handed it to Davis again—who was tackled on the fourth yard line.

They couldn’t catch a fucking break.

He didn’t hear much talk about Jalen, which made him wonder if Dante simply wasn’t throwing the ball. And if not, why not?

Damn it, Amil should be out there. He should not have let his temper get the better of him. He always did that, held it in and held it in until whatever it was simply exploded out of him.

Just like last night with Diana. Instead of going with the flow, he’d let his emotions overwhelm him.

Actually, he should have told her that stuff a week ago. At least, some of it. Little by little, over time. Enough to ease the pressure he felt but not so much to scare her off.

He got it; going from never sleeping with a guy twice to basically living with the guy was a difficult transition.

And yet, he’d done exactly what he’d known he should not have done.

And then he’d turned around and let Trey get under his skin. Exactly what he’d been coaching Jalen not to do.

Man, he was a dumb fuck.

The half ended with a 14-3 score—not in the Mountain Lions’ favor.

The team poured into the locker room, and Amil quickly stood, making room so one of the guys who was out there working his ass off could take a seat for a few minutes.

Nobody acknowledged him. He didn’t blame them.

Coach called everybody’s attention, pointed out what they’d done wrong in the first half and then what they’d done right. Suggested that they do more of those right things in the second half.

He said some more inspirational shit and nodded at Amil. “I’m going to let you guys talk it out for a few minutes. Maybe clear the air so we can have a better second half.”

Coach wandered away, and Broderick muttered, “It’d be better if our best linebacker was out there.”

Was he talking about Amil?

“Yeah, well, he’s out for the game, so next brilliant idea?” Royce snapped.

Yep, definitely talking about him.