Page 54 of Lowering His Guard

“Enough, Tanner!” Nolan yells. “Get ready before you’re late. I’m not running circles around the field because of you.”

Tanner salutes him. “Aye, aye, captain.”

I finish changing and make my way out to the field with the rest of the team. Tanner jumps up and down singing until we hit the field. He’s an annoying goofball off the field, but he works hard on the field. There’s a reason he’s one of the best wide receivers in the NFL.

The sun beats down on us, and it feels as if there’s no oxygen in the air. Only heat. Practice is going to suck.

Sucking would have been okay, but practice is brutal. Despite scarfing down two protein bars before we began, I’m starving. And I’m weak from pushing myself yesterday. I’m ready to lay down on the turf and give up when Coach Knox blows the whistle to end the practice.

“About fucking time,” Tanner mutters.

I grunt in agreement as I rip off my helmet. My hair is matted with sweat. It rolls down my face and into my eyes. I can’t wait for a shower.

I follow Nolan and Corbin off the field but pause when I notice Raven hitting the sled in the warm-up area. I watch as he hits it again and again and again. I wander across the field to observe from closer by.

When he pauses, I tell him, “You’re fighting it.”

He frowns. “It’s a blocking sled.”

“Exactly.” I walk over to him. “You’re treating every block like it’s a fistfight.” I move his feet six inches. “Football’s won with six inches.”

He stays still. I nod to the sled. “Do it again.”

He repeats the drill. “Better.”

“Why are you helping me? I’m taking your job.”

My brow wrinkles in confusion. He’s not taking my job. “I’m retiring.”

Now, he appears confused.

“If you’re bad, the team’s bad,” I explain. “I don’t want the team to suck.”

Despite leaving the Seals, this is my team. My legacy. I want them to be champions.

He chuckles. “Thanks, I guess.”

I slap his shoulder. “Keep working. You’ve got potential.”

I watch him repeat the drill a few more times before deciding he doesn’t need me anymore. I pass Coach Knox as I head to the locker room.

“Thanks.”

I shrug. “Simple fix.”

“Which you saw. Sure you want to retire?”

I growl. I don’t want to retire. I have to retire. There’s a difference. But he doesn’t understand. He doesn’t have a son.

“Let it go.”

He sighs. “Hate to lose a good player.”

“Raven’s a good player,” I say and wander off before he can reply.

Nolan joins me as I’m entering the tunnels. “I didn’t know you were mentoring Raven.”

He’s the one who’s good at mentoring players. He’s the one who should be a coach. Not me.