Chapter Twenty-Six
Dev
Mid-season
Damn, I loved the game. And on home turf? Nothing better than the roar of the crowd to get the juices flowing. Once again, we were on top of the division and looking to add another win. The score was14-3 in the fourth quarter and we were on the opposing team’s twenty-yard line. I’d thrown one pass for a touchdown, and we’d run one in. Normally I didn’t keep track of my stats, but I hadn’t thrown any interceptions, and I knew my yards thrown were good.
“How’s the head, Devil?” Terrance Leeks, a defensive end from the San Diego Sharks, called out as we took our positions.
“Hard as ever,” I yelled, and my team and several of the opposing one laughed outright. I crouched to grab the handoff from the center.
“White 80, White 80. Set. Go.”
I put the ball in Marlon’s hands, and he threaded the needle to run the ball and score a touchdown. As I celebrated, from the corner of my eye, I watched Leeks come barreling through, and before I had a chance to step away, he plowed into me as if the ball was still in play. I flew into the air and heard the screams. I rolled and fell hard, the wind knocked out of me, but I wasn’t hurt.
Just fucking pissed off.
The whistle blew, and the ref called a flag on the play for unsportsmanlike conduct. On my feet, I stormed over to Leeks and ripped off my helmet strap. “What the fuck was that?”
He shrugged. “Just doin’ my job.”
“Your job is to play football, not try and injure me. Asshole.”
He shoved me. “Watch it, pretty boy.”
“Fuck you.” I spat and walked away to the cheers of the crowd, while Leeks continued to run his mouth. On the sidelines, I waited for the special teams to make the extra point. Coach Jackson hurried to my side.
“You okay? Fucking bastard. I want him suspended for that.”
“I wouldn’t say no.”
“How’s your head?”
I rolled my eyes, but aware the cameras were on me, I held out a hand to show I was steady. “I’m great. Not a problem.”
“Good. Rest up.” He called Luke. “Fontaine. You’re goin’ in.”
Outraged, I jumped up. “You’re pulling me? Why?”
Those dark eyes narrowed. “Because I said so. You’re done, Dev. Take the win.”
I knew better than to argue, but I wasn’t happy. I wanted to take it to the end. But it was a team effort, and I sat and cheered as Luke drove the team down the field and we scored another touchdown.
“Good run,” I congratulated Luke when he returned to the bench.
“Thanks. Tough call to take you out.”
We watched as we kicked the ball, and to my shock, their receiver fumbled the ball on his thirty-five-yard line. Our guys were on top of it, and the ref signaled a turnover.
“Damn. Can’t believe it.” I jumped to my feet. “Yeah, let’s go.” I was almost at the point of putting my helmet back on when I remembered I was no longer playing. “Go get ’em, Luke.”
He threw me a quick nod and jogged onto the field, where in succession, he threw two passes to Brody and we scored again. The crowd went wild, and we won, 35-3. To my shock, the Sharks quarterback, Patrick Sloane, came over to me.
“Dev. Listen, I’m sorry about Leeks. That was a shit move.”
Trick Sloane was a few years younger than me but a hell of a quarterback, and my respect for him grew even more with his apology for his teammate.
“Not your fault, but I agree. Pissed me off. But I guess I’m a target now.”
