SILAS
When I’mon the field, I become a different person in the sense that I can shut all the noise in my head out and lock in on one thing. Getting the ball. It’s my job, as a cornerback, to make sure the best receivers on the opposing team don’t score—or even get the ball in the first place. And I need to make the big plays, big tackles, and if I’m lucky, I can grab a few interceptions.
We’re one game away from the national championship game, and with the holidays and anticipation of bowl games, it’s easy to lose focus on what we’re working toward. But not me. This season is important for me. I’ll either stay here one more year or declare for the draft. It’ll really all depend on how I play in the next two games.
Sure, I’ve had a great season, and I’m what is considered to be a lockdown corner, which means I’m an essential player on the team but also the guy quarterbacks want to avoid. Other teams design plays just to move around me. And I might be one of the best, but I also need to consider what teams are looking for a talent like me and if that need is likely to pay off for me now or in a year from now.
Our practice for the day just ended. It’s our last before we head to Houston for our game tomorrow. The defensive coordinator worked us hard today, and I should sleep well tonight. The tight end that I’ll be covering for during this game is fast, and I fully anticipate that he’ll make me work for every move I make. That’s okay though. I’m up for the challenge. Hungry for it even.
When I make it to the locker room, the music is blasting, and most of the team is already undressing and getting ready for showers. I set my helmet on the hook in my cubby and start to pull off the rest of my pads and toss my practice jersey into the laundry bin.
Bo comes into the locker room last, just like he always does. He’s one of the hardest workers I’ve seen on the field. Always the first one on and the last one off.
As he walks by me, he whips me with his towel. “Well, Romeo, have you talked to Brooke since the basketball game?”
Casey’s at the cubby next to Bo’s, and his head whips up at the mention of Brooke. “Yeah, tell me how that all happened. I only saw the clip Bo sent out in the group chat, but haven’t been home yet to get all the details.”
“You gossip like a girl, King. Has anyone ever told you that?” I laugh.
“Fuck off. Brooke is like a sister to me, so I want to know what happened.”
“Well, our boy here laid one on her when her asshole boyfriend left her high and dry with the kiss cam.” Bo laughs.
“Seriously? Gah, I hate that guy.” Casey shakes his head. “I wish she would just break up with him. The whole thing reminds me of Noelle’s ex in a way, minus the cheating part. I don’t think Eli has it in him to cheat on Brooke, but I guess I could be wrong.”
“Yeah, he doesn’t seem all that into her, at least from what I’ve seen anyway, but I agree; I don’t think he’d cheat. If Silas has any say in the matter, she’d be on his arm instead,” Bo says.
“Caught on to that, too, a while ago. But let me ask you, Silas,does Beck know you’re into his sister?” A wicked smile spreads across his face.
“Beck is on the group chat, so I know he saw the video,” Bo chimes in again.
“I’ll have to ask him what he thinks about it.” Casey pulls his phone off his shelf.
“I love that you guys are talking about this in front of me like I’m not here,” I mumble.
But I can’t lie; I’ve watched the video a few hundred times at this point. Okay, maybe not a hundred, but close.
“Speak up then, man. Talk to us.” Bo nudges my shoulder.
Before I can answer, Casey dials up a FaceTime call with Beck.
Great.
“What’s up, brother?” Beck answers after three rings, the sound of a treadmill running in the background.
“Hey, not much. Just wanted to see if you caught that video of Arbuckle kissing Brooke.” Casey looks at me and winks.
I flip him off and shake my head.
“He in there with you?” Beck’s deep chuckle could be a good one or a bad one. “Well, I mean, I don’t love seeing one of my buddies kissing my little sister, but from what Charlie said, Eli was being a dickhead, so I forgive you, Arbuckle!” Beck shouts.
I walk over to Casey so I can fit into the frame. “Sup, Linson? Look, I wish I could say that I’m sorry, but I’m not. That guy is the worst, and if you had seen the way he was talking to her and blatantly ignoring her—even with me, Callaway, and Aston there—he was still an asshole. And I gotta tell ya, she never looks happy when he’s around or when I hear her talking to Charlie about him. I’ll spare you some of the things I’ve heard, but he doesn’t deserve her.”
He’s nodding, and he doesn’t look real happy, but I don’t think he’s mad at me. “Did you say anything to him?”
I look down, but lift my eyes to the phone. “I put the pressureon him a bit in the bathroom before we took off, but didn’t lay a hand on him, like I wish I could have.”
“Is that why you took off after them at the half?” Bo asks me.
