Chapter Three

Sean

“Where have you been?” Evan scowled at me as I entered the pre-game huddle. The others grumbled as well, and I raised my hands up in surrender.

“Hey, I would’ve been here earlier if it weren’t for some crazy chick with a dog, so give it a rest, man,” I said.

“I don’t need you. Chester is doing just fine,” Parker said, giving me the stink eye through his facemask. I rolled my eyes. Parker Nolan was the captain and quarterback, and we both had a mutual understanding of hating each other’s guts since… I honestly couldn’t remember how long it had been. Since we met, I guess.

“Oh, sure. The kid is a rookie.. I’m sure he’ll do a bang-up job,” I said sarcastically. “No offense,” I added, glancing at Chester.

“None taken,” he immediately said. I nodded my head back toward the bench, and he jogged back without complaint. I turned back toward the team once more.

“Calm your tits, Nolan. The coach sent me here because he knows you need me. I was a little late. So what? Not a big deal. It’s not like the game has already started.”

He glared at me without comment. Yeah, my antics were probably getting old, and I felt a little bad about it. But we both knew that he needed me.

Soon, the game started, and it wasn’t long before the crowd started cheering my name. I did what I said and got every single pass Parker sent sailing toward me. I scored the final touchdown of the night, and the screams from the spectators nearly had me going deaf.

Another win under my belt. Another team conquered by yours truly.

“You’re praising yourself again, aren’t you?” Evan’s voice came from behind, along with a slap to the back of my head. I frowned and followed him to the locker rooms.

Evan Hall was probably the only one I’d let hit me upside the head, because we’d grown up together and been together for as long as I could remember. His mom used to run the orphanage I grew up in called “Our Place,” and they became the family I never had. Our personalities couldn’t have been more different, though.

I was the badass, and he was the good guy; I liked the thrill of the chase, while he liked to take his time. He was patient, whereas I was hot-headed. But it was probably why we got along so well together; we balanced each other out. And it was probably why I ended up pushing for a football career, while he took the quieter route and served as the team’s athletic trainer, a job I had recommended the coach give to him not just because he was my bro, but because he was damn good at it.

“A little self-praise is a good thing,” I reasoned, massaging my head.

“‘A little?” he repeated, and he chuckled when I gave him the finger.

“Next time you want to show off, do it on your own time and not during a game,” Parker called, sending me a quick glare before opening his locker on the other side of the room. Evan and I looked at each other, and I shrugged. Parker could bark all he wanted, but if I hadn’t been there, they would’ve lost the game and we both knew it.

“He’s got a point, Sean. This is the third time you’ve been late for pregame. One more strike and Coach might kick you off the team,” Evan said.

I waved off his worries. “He’s not going to do that. I’m the best–”

“You are, but that doesn’t mean you’re not replaceable, Sean,” Evan interrupted, and I frowned at him.

“What do you mean?” I said.

“It means it doesn’t matter how good you are, West. If your attitude sucks, then we have no problems kicking you to the curb,” Parker said, coming toward us, his phone in his hand. “Where the hell have you been today that made you come late?” he demanded.

“Jesus, Parker. What are you, my nanny? I was driving over here when a crazy lady jumped in front of my truck, and I almost killed her. That’s the reason I’m late,” I replied.

“You what?” Evan cried in shock, but I ignored him.

“And you didn’t do anything else to her?” Parker asked menacingly.

“What the fuck, Nolan? No, I did not do anything to her except tell her it was her fault I almost hit her. I high-tailed it out of there before she did something else,” I told him.

“Bro,” Evan said, shaking his head in disappointment.

Parker shook his head in the same manner and walked off, typing away at his phone.

“What?” I asked.

Evan sighed.

“Just… never mind, Sean,” he said, giving up on explaining it.

“Oh, hey, when was that brand party we need to go to?” I asked him.

“You mean that swanky gathering we’re required to attend because we’re endorsing their clothing line? In two weeks, why?” Evan replied.

“Do we really have to go? I hate wearing suits,” I said, scowling at the prospect of needing to buy a tie.

Evan chuckled. “You hate wearing anything. But to answer your question, yes, we must. We’re getting paid to make appearances,” he replied, and then it was my turn to sigh.

“You know, sometimes I wish I wasn’t such a celebrity,” I grumbled.

Evan and I looked at each other in dead silence before exploding with laughter.

Who was I kidding? As much as I hated wearing a suit, I loved what I was, and I’d go to any appearances or parties I was required to attend.

But they better be serving some good food.