Sloane’s lips thinned. “I’m gonna make sure he doesn’t do that again. Play to win, yeah. But not dirty.”
He stuck out his hand, and I shook it. “No worries. I appreciate it.”
Sloane walked away, and it was nice to know that a player I wasn’t close with understood.
In the locker room, the media was loving up on Luke, and this time, I wasn’t feeling so hospitable about it. Of course at the press meet afterward, I was all smiles and praise, but inside I seethed with annoyance. Yes, we’d won, and that was ultimately the goal, but it pissed me off that I wasn’t allowed to finish the game.
And for the next few games, the pattern repeated. In the fourth quarter, if we were leading, I was taken out, each game earlier and earlier. It began to mess with my head, and I started anticipating when Coach would give me the signal. Then the ultimate fuckery happened—I threw a rare interception and heard boos from the crowd for the first time.
Brody sat by my side while defense was on the field.
“What’s goin’ on, Dev?”
My gaze remained on the field, watching the Flames move the ball, but I shrugged. “I don’t know, but something’s not right. I feel like I’m slowly being squeezed out.”
Brody nudged me. “No way. You’re the backbone of the team. Let’s get back on the field and kick their asses.”
I grinned. One thing Brody always managed to do was drive away my bad mood. “You’re right.” I clapped my hands and whistled. “Let’s do this.”
We blocked their attempt at a field goal, and I was putting my helmet on, but Coach Jackson stopped me. “Take a seat. Luke will play the rest of the game.”
“What? Why? One interception and you’re benching me? C’mon, Coach. What’s really going on?”
“Summers, sit. Fontaine, take his place.”
I didn’t care if it would cost me a fine. I stormed off the field and went to the locker room. Something was going on behind the scenes, and I didn’t like it. For several minutes I paced the room before deciding not to play into their hands and returned to the field. The offensive coach, Tim Downs, wasn’t happy and chewed me out for my bad behavior.
“You don’t like the call? Too fucking bad, Devlin. What happened to the team player you’re supposed to be? I have half a mind to fine you.”
“Go ahead. Maybe if I felt like I wasn’t being pushed aside, it would make sense. Is that what’s happening?”
He didn’t answer, but I saw a flicker of something in his normally stoic expression that sent a chill through me. I bit my tongue and remained silent.
“Don’t throw a temper tantrum. Just do as I say.”
Seething, I followed instructions and sat on the bench. For the rest of the game, I ignored all the shit floating around in my brain and concentrated on the plays going down. We ended up losing, and Coach took a lot of heat from the press at the aftergame conference for removing me. Several questions were tossed my way.
“Devil, how did it feel being taken out? Do you think the Kings would’ve won if you’d stayed in?”
“Dev, do you think you’re playing at a hundred percent?”
“I’ll answer that last question first.” I gathered my thoughts and waited for my anger to pass. “No, I’m not playing a hundred percent. I’m at least at a hundred and fifty percent. I always give my all. Just as important, I’m not here to second-guess my coach. I just follow the rules. Obviously, I would’ve liked to finish the game, but as always, I’m a team player.”
Once we’d gotten changed and took our post-game treatments, I waited until I was home to call Ezra.
“Tough loss,” he sympathized. “Were you having some words with the coaches?”
“Kind of. That’s part of why I called. I don’t like the signals I’m getting.”
“Signals? Like what?”
“That’s what I need you to find out.” I pinched my eyes shut. “Please, Ezra. It’s bugging the hell out of me. If there’s trade talk out there, I want to hear about it before the rumor mill gets it. I know the deadline is next week.” The lock clicked, and Brody walked in, sporting a grim face. “Let me know what they say.”
“Will do. Talk to you soon.”
I tossed the phone aside, and Brody sat next to me. “You okay?”
I shrugged. “I dunno. I’m feeling weird.”
