Chapter Twenty-Seven
MILLER
Preseason Game 1
Tampa vs. Bellevue
Home Turf
Favored Team: Bellevue Bucks
Jax won the coin toss.
The guy seemed to always win the coin toss. We were kicking first and then receiving first in the second half. Part of the Bucks’ game plan was to use our defense to make their offense skittish when it came to doing any sort of pass plays, and it almost always worked.
And while playing Tampa? Well, they either fumbled within the first two minutes or an interception was thrown. Luthor was a good QB. He’d been in the game for close to a decade, but he had shit receivers and young rookies who loved the game—but loved the fame just a little bit more.
Rumors ran rampant that Luthor’s rookies were known for partying into the season, while the rest of us were focused on winning. They spent all the money they earned faster than most teams.
Then again, it was nothing compared to Miami.
Those guys could take the field drunk off their asses and still somehow find a way to win.
I hated Miami.
Everyone hated Miami.
Thank God we didn’t play them unless they made the playoffs or in a preseason game.
Fourth down and my fingers itched to throw on my helmet.
It was hard as fuck not to continuously look in Kinsey’s direction, but I knew if I did, I’d lose all concentration, so I focused on the game and told myself there would be plenty of time later.
“You ready for this?” Sanchez flanked my left while Jax stood to my right.
“Been waiting all year.”
Fourth down and Taylor, the wide receiver, missed a catch, nearly allowing one of our guys to intercept.
Jax cursed. “The guy needs better receivers.”
“Or actual protection.” I put on my helmet.
Jax sniffed and looked down at the grass. “You feel like a trick play?”
Sanchez rubbed his hands together. “God, I love football.”
I hesitated. “Just what kind of trick play are we talking?”
Jax put on his helmet. “Miller, where the hell is your sense of adventure?”
“Jax got laid!” Sanchez chuckled under his breath. “And we’re going to win the championship again.”
Jax scowled, but even he couldn’t wipe the dopey grin from his face or the fact that both Sanchez and I jumped on him like he’d just said he won a billion dollars and his own private jet.
Close.
He got to see a girl naked.
I smacked his helmet with my gloved hand. “And here I thought you were being an ass because you hadn’t gotten any.”
“Nah, that’s just Jax’s pregame routine. Jackassery and constipation.” Sanchez grinned. “Trick play . . . wait . . .” His eyes narrowed. “You’re not talking about Cherry Coke Me?”
Jax’s face spread out into a grin. “Look, they’re going to take us out after the second quarter anyway, may as well have some fun.”
“Coach!” Sanchez pointed over at Jax. “Your QB just said the F word!”
“Get on the field, you little shits!” Coach yelled back.
“I love it when he gives us compliments.” Sanchez grinned while we all ran into the huddle.
Jax took a knee. “Gentleman, let’s start this season off right. Most of you are fighting for a spot on this team, so show me what you got, I need good blocking, and let’s hope to God Miller actually still knows how to throw a football.”
Everyone chuckled while I flipped him off.
“Cherry Coke Me on three!”
Sanchez looked giddy like he was ready to piss his pants while I was thinking about all the horrible things that could happen to me if the blocking went south.
Then again.
I just had to throw a ball.
We got in position.
Insults were thrown.
“I screwed your sister, Jax,” one of the defensive ends yelled.
While that was meant for Jax, it was actually messing with me more than him.
Jax counted off.
On three, the ball snapped. I blocked then ran wide right. Jax threw me the ball and took off directly down the middle of the field while Sanchez turned and blocked for him.
Once he was at our forty, I threw up a Hail Mary. It sailed directly into his hands as he ran into the end zone.
Touchdown, Bucks.
I saluted him from my spot on the field and took a bow.
He and Sanchez were standing side by side and did the same thing back.
We got a warning not to celebrate.
And the crowd went wild.
Lost their minds.
It was so loud in the stadium, I couldn’t think.
It used to be enough. The fans, the pandemonium, the cheers, but in that moment, all I wanted to do was see the look on Kins’s face.
The camera followed me while I made my way back to the sidelines, pats on the back followed, and then I finally found her, locked eyes with her, and winked.
She blew me a kiss.
And that’s when Jax smacked me on the back with his helmet. “Cut that shit out.”
“Sorry.” But I wasn’t.
It was going to be a good year.
A good season.
I could feel it.
Coach pulled us out in the second quarter since Tampa had yet to score. It was boring as hell sitting on the sidelines when all I wanted to do was play, but they never wanted to risk their top players getting a stupid injury during the preseason.
“This blows.” Sanchez handed me a piece of licorice, I took it and put on my Bucks hat.
“Tell me about it,” I sighed, my fingers itching to touch the ball again.
Jax joined us, his face tense.
“What’s up?” I frowned while he popped his knuckles and shook his head like he was contemplating murder.
He nodded his head at Coach. “Anderson’s blocking well, Coach wants to keep him on, it’s one game, and Coach says he’s seen all he needs to see.”
“That’s bullshit,” Sanchez spat. “Anderson’s—”
Anderson suddenly appeared out of nowhere, helmet off. He grabbed a cup of Gatorade and lifted it up to us like he was celebrating. Meanwhile, I wanted to cut his face off. With a smirk he walked off.
I clenched the bench with my fingers. “He’s lucky I don’t run him over with my car.”
Jax gave me a double take. “You know where to bury a body?”
Sanchez barked out a laugh. “Not sure if this matters but I got a few cousins in New York that claim to be mafia. One’s a florist, so I highly doubt it, but I could make some calls.”
“Nah, guys.” I tried to cool down. “He’s doing it on purpose . . . the last thing we need is to get in a fight with him and look like we’re the ones with the problem. He’s such a cocky little shit. How the hell did you let Kinsey date him?”
“Let her?” Jax wiped his face with his hands. “I warned her, but the more I warned her away, the more she wanted him, so I finally stopped, and then when things got bad, I finally stepped in, and it took more than a few times to convince her that he was the one with the problem, not her.”
Rage built into my system until I couldn’t take it anymore. I jumped to my feet, only to be grabbed by both Jax and Sanchez and hauled back onto the bench.
“Cool off, man.” Sanchez patted my shoulder pads. “She’s got you now, alright? He has nothing. Don’t give him anything just because you’re pissed about something that happened years ago.”
Jax froze next to me.
I licked my lips, that guilty feeling returning with a vengeance. “Yeah, you’re right.”
I didn’t look at Jax.
I knew my expression would be more of a confession than an apology about wanting to kill Anderson.
So instead, of giving us away, I stood and started stretching, then went in search of a protein bar. My guilty ass was going to burn in hell if I didn’t tell him soon.
I eyed Kinsey across the field.
A few more days before all hell broke loose.
And after Jax got a few hits in—he’d be fine.