To Tanner's credit, he only stumbled back a foot. But it was enough of an incentive for me. I doubled over into tackle position and barreled hard into Kyler’s chest, shoving him back against the lockers as the metal clanged and echoed.
Coach barged into the locker room, scowling. "What the hell is going on in here? ”he shouted. His ruddy face dripped with sweat. "Tanner, Nathan, Kyler. My office. Everyone else, get the fuck out." Everyone in the crowded locker room rapidly dispersed.
Irritated, I shoved my fingers through my blond hair as the three of us shuffled into the coach's office. He shut the door and I was pretty sure we were about to get our asses handed to us.
"Now, does anyone want to tell me what's going on?'' Coach asked as he narrowed his cold ,gray eyes.
"They started it!" Kyler shouted.
"No, we didn’t!" I got in Kyler's face, practically nose to nose with him.
"All right now, knock it off!" the coach yelled as he shoved us apart and stood between us. "Tanner, what the hell's going on with these two?”
"I think this is about the fight from a party earlier this year," Tanner said as he glanced at me. "Kyler came in here looking for a fight. And well, Nathan was happy to accommodate." Tanner shrugged. Tanner was always honest with coach. I was mad he didn't take my side, but I couldn't fault him for telling the truth.
My fists clenched, ready for an opportunity to collide with Kyler's smug face.
"That's a fucking lie!" Kyler shouted as he took a step toward me. His chest bumped against the coach's shoulder.
"Back down, Evans, or I swear to God I'm going to bench you. I don't care if the NFL scouts are coming or not," he said to Kyler, who clenched his jaw. "You need to get your act together. This team is not going to fall apart over a girl and a few beers. We’ve got scouts coming this week and if you guys tear each other to pieces, we are going to look like idiots.”
Tanner looked anxious for a minute. Of the three of us, he was the one most likely to be drafted and I knew it meant the world to him.
Suddenly, we heard footsteps coming towards us. All four of us turned to face the office door as whoever it was let himself in like he belonged here.
"What's going on?" Alexander Evans, Kyler's father, strolled in, wearing a pristine suit and blond hair slicked back. He was the carbon copy of Kyler, except twenty-five years older.
"Are these boys harassing my son?" Mr. Evans asked as he strode over.
"More like the other way around," I muttered.
Mr. Evans's eyes flashed to mine. "What was that, boy?" he barked.
I squared my shoulders, not caring. Who the hell did he think he was? I was nobody'sboy.
"I got a handle on this, Mr. Evans. Thank you so much for coming today to show support to the team. You know how much we appreciate your donations," Coach said and gave me alookthat told me to shut my mouth before I lost funding for the football team.
"Of course," Mr. Evans said, his voice curt, as he looked me up and down. "Anything to support my son.”
I rolled my eyes. Football dads have been the bane of my existence since elementary school. I was just glad that my dad wasn't that way. Whatever Coach said to Mr. Evans seemed to appease him and he left the office.
"All right, then. Let's have everyone clean up and get back in here,” Coach said as he let out a heavy sigh. I could all but hear his voice in his head.I'm getting too old for this.
I yanked open my locker and pulled out my phone. It was a pisser of a day. God, even the most mundane text from Elizabeth would make a world of difference right now. Despite everything that had just gone down, I smiled when I saw that she’d replied.
"6-4-3-2," I mumbled as I typed in the four-digit passcode. But, then I read the message. TheI don't think we should see each other anymoreone. I stared at the screen as my heart sank to my stomach. How could she?
"What is it?" Tanner asked as he stood behind me and clapped a hand on my shoulder.
"Elizabeth broke up with me," I said, breathless. Tanner yanked it from my hand to read it for himself
"Holy shit, man," Tanner said as he handed it back to me.
I stared down at the screen. How could she do that? All I did was tell her that I loved her. Tanner swallowed hard, and I could tell he was searching for the right words. The locker room grew steadily louder as the guys came back in.
"I have to get out of here," I said and turned on my heel. I was still in my practice gear, sweaty and unshowered.
"Where the hell do you think you're going?" the coach said as he grabbed me by my jersey and whirled me around to face him.
