Page 64 of The Linebacker

Amil shook his head. “Listen, it’s time to focus. I’ll fix my personal problems, but I need you guys to do something for me in exchange.”

“You want me to pass her a note, bro?” Broderick offered, straight-faced.

Amil laughed. It felt good. “Broderick, you’re such a tool.”

“Name-calling hurts, bro,” Broderick said, mock seriously while clutching at the shoulder pad covering his heart.

Jalen gave Broderick a shove and stepped in front of Amil. “What do you need us to do?”

Amil paused for a single heartbeat. And then he yelled:

“Win this fucking game!”

Chapter

Twenty-Three

Diana saw the scuffle. She’d been hovering behind the Mountain Lions’ bench, trying to work up the nerve to talk to Amil. She couldn’t decide whether talking to him before the game would help or if she should wait until it was over.

Even though she still had no idea what she intended to say.

But what if their parting last night affected his game? She needed to say something.

Just in case.

But then he got into that fight with the guy from the 49ers and yep, she definitely needed to talk to him.

Much to her own frustration, it was halfway through the third quarter before she could slip away.

Game or no game, they needed to have a conversation.

She showed her credentials to the security guy stationed outside the visitors’ locker room. He nodded and let her pass.

She found Amil sitting on a bench, staring at the floor, his hands loosely clasped between his knees.

“Hey.”

He glanced up sharply and then leaped to his feet. “Diana. What are you doing in here?”

“Coming to talk to you.”

He opened and closed his mouth several times before saying, “I was going to come find you after the game.”

“No need. I’m here. We should talk.” She fiddled with the all-access pass hanging around her neck. “I should probably tell you that I did not run away last night because of what you said. Well, technically, I guess I did. But really, I didn’t want you to see me cry.”

“Why not?”

She rolled her eyes. “I don’t cry in front of other people.”

“Why not?”

She resisted another eye roll. “We’re getting off track here.”

“Fine. I’m sorry I made you cry. That wasn’t my intent. If I’d known, I wouldn’t have let you leave. I would have tried harder to figure out the right thing to say. I don’t?—”

She lifted a hand, palm facing out. “I think I get it now. But I did not last night.”

“What were you thinking last night when you left my room?”