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Assholes.
“You sure?”
“Don’t worry about it. I can handle these bunch of pussies.”
“That’s what worries me.” He gave me a tight smile. “Forty yards, that’s more like it.”
“Damn right it is.” I high fived him and jogged back into position ready to finish what we’d started.
My risky play put us tied going into the fourth quarter. There wasn’t a single part of me that didn’t hurt. But I refused to quit. We could win this, and when we did, I’d take great pleasure in shoving it in Denby’s face.
“Okay, huddle round.” Coach beckoned us in. “You’ve fought hard, given how dirty they’re playing. There’s only a minute to go and I need you all to keep your heads, you hear me?” His heavy gaze landed on me. “Nix, I know they’ve got you pinned down and they’re expecting you to try and run. Keep your cool and keep pushing and I think we can do it.”
“Damn right, we can,” Hench said.
“Win or lose, I want you to know I’m proud of how you’ve handled yourself tonight. It’s never easy playing here, for any of us.” He ran his eyes over each of us. “Don’t let them push you too far now the end is in sight.”
“Forty-four is gunning for Nix, Coach. The shit he’s saying—”
“You block that shit out and focus on the task at hand. They want a reaction. They want to prove to everyone here that you’re a bunch of lawless degenerates. But that’s not who you are. I know that and you know that, so get the hell out on that field and show them. Hawks on three.”
Our voices rang out over the noise of the crowd. The bleachers were mostly full of DA supporters, but our section had held their own, amped up by the cheer squad and their school spirit.
I jogged over to the scrimmage line and got into position. Forty-four flashed me a feral grin, pointing two fingers at his eyes and then me. I’m watching you.
He could watch me all he wanted. I didn’t plan on losing this game, no matter what the fuck they came at me with.
I didn’t call a play, everyone knew their task, their responsibilities. It was fourth and goal and there was only one way this ended, with the ball in the end zone and six points on the scoreboard.
I found Kye on my left flank and nodded. Ten yards. That’s all that was stopping us from victory. We just had to push through them.
The air crackled around me, skittering over my skin like lightning.
‘I’m coming for you,’ Forty-four mouthed, trying to get under my skin. But I fought my natural instinct to respond, to retaliate. Harleigh was in the crowd. The last thing I wanted was her to witness me and a DA player going at it. Even if the beast inside me roared at his blatant threat.
“Hut,” Gunner called and I caught the ball with ease, my fingers grasping the leather tightly.
Everything happened in slow motion. Kye ran straight for the end zone as I threw the ball into his trajectory. A blur of red and white jerseys dove at him but he leaped into the air, just getting his fingers onto the ball, enough to snatch it into his body and slam it onto the ground.
“Touchdooooown,” the announcer yelled and our section of the bleachers went wild.
“Fuck, yes.” The guys clapped me on the shoulder as they headed to celebrate with Kye. I jogged over, laughing at the state of Kye as he rode cowboy on the back of Gunner’s back.
“That’s how it’s done, baby.” He pointed at me. “That’s how it’s fucking done.”
“Fuck yeah it—”
A Devils player shoulder-checked me as he walked by, and I staggered back. “Watch where you’re going, asshole,” I called, and he spun around.
Forty-four. I hadn’t even noticed, riding the high of the win.
“Or what? What are you going to do, Wilder? You’re nothing but a piece of trailer trash scum.” He stepped up to me until we were toe-to-toe, chest-to-chest. “You might have skill on the field, but do you really think anyone is going to give a guy like you a shot? Joe Wilder’s son. Scum of the fucking Earth. No wonder your girl jumped ship and shacked up with Nate Miller.”
Before I knew what was happening, I’d fisted his jersey and yanked him toward me. “Say that again,” I seethed, my body trembling with rage.
“You heard me, Wilder. You’re nothing but—”
“Walk away, Nix,” Zane jogged over to me and laid his hand on my shoulder. “Walk the fuck away. He isn’t even worth it.”
