Caitlyn and Rene raise their hands. “All in favor of Bianca being the new cheer captain, raise your hand.” She looks at me. “Izzy, you count too. Given you’re our mascot and all.”
Bianca shoots me a look as she joins them.
Begrudgingly, I raise my hand.
Morgan actually flinches.
That’s one favor cashed in.
Bianca gives Morgan a saccharine smile. “Hope you enjoy today’s game.” Her eyes become tiny slits. “It will be your last.”
“You guys are such assholes.”
Bianca flutters her fingers in a dainty wave. “Buh-bye, Felicia.”
Morgan stomps off. “Wicked bitch.”
Laughing, Caitlyn and Rene follow behind her. “We’re gonna run to the concession stand before the game. Want anything?”
Back to studying her nails, Bianca lifts a shoulder. “A bottle of water would be awesome.”
“You got it, Captain.”
When they’re safely out of earshot, Bianca lifts her gaze to me. “And that, my friend, is how it’s fucking done.” Walking backward down the hall she calls out, “You’re welcome, by the way. What happened to Casey is a little something I like to call karma.”
As wrong as it is, I can’t deny the tiny part of me that’s enjoying it.
Casey has tortured me for years about my weight.
Maybe now she’ll finally understand how much it hurts.
I open my mouth, but then I see them out of the corner of my eye.
My stomach recoils. Not this shit again.
I’m debating making a run for it, but it’s too late.
I’ve been spotted.
The crew of giant football players barrel toward me. “Izzy! Izzy! Izzy!”
Crap. Here we go again.
“Wrong locker room, Iz!” Lennox calls out.
Some guy whistles. “Look at Izzy macking on the cheerleaders.”
“Awe, he’s just picking out a nice slam piece for after we whoop the Viking’s asses!” Cortland exclaims.
They all howl like a pack of wolves.
Dwight pumps his fist in the air. “Izzy! Izzy! Izzy!”
Fuck my life.
I resign myself as they proceed to sit me on their shoulders.
Take it away, boys.
Chapter 55
Cole
My team’s chants bounce off the walls as they rush into the locker room in one giant tidal wave. “Izzy! Izzy! Izzy!”
I swallow a laugh. I knew they’d find the little fucker sooner or later.
The clock on the wall snags my attention. Coach will be coming out of his office any second.
Time to focus.
I eye Dwight and Lennox, who are still enthusiastically bouncing Izzy on their shoulders. “Put Izzy down.”
As if on cue, Coach Stalter yells, “All right. All right. Everybody touch somebody!” He claps his hands. “It’s time for our quarterback to lead us in prayer.”
Damn how I hate this part.
The irony of a non-believer leading the team in prayer before every game isn’t lost on me.
I snort. If only Sawyer was here to witness this.
If only I didn’t fuck up everything and make her hate my fucking guts.
“Something funny, Covington?” Coach barks.
“Yeah,” I shout, covering up my fumble. “How badly we’re going to kick the Viking’s asses today!”
Everyone erupts in cheers and howls.
“Okay, okay, settle down!” he growls after a minute. “Take it away, Covington.”
“Dear, Lord,” I begin.
I may not believe in the almighty, but I believe in my team.
I believe in this sport.
And when I’m out on that field…I believe in myself.
“As we approach the big game, we ask that you be there to guide us through every move and be there to celebrate every touchdown with us.”
I draw in a deep breath. “May our feet be swift, may our muscles never tire…and may we never run out of hope and determination as we crush the Vikings into dust today. We are grateful for you, for the people in the stands who came to see us play, for our coach who never gives up on us…and for every single player on this team that I’ve had the honor of sharing the field with these past four years. Last season was a rough one, but please…help us bring home the championship this time.” Glancing up at the ceiling, I utter, “Lord knows, we’ve fucking earned it.”
I look around at my teammates, even Cortland, the fucker.
Because every quarterback worth a damn knows he’s only as good as the team he has behind him. “Amen.”
The room erupts in cheers. Well, except Izzy, who’s still praying.
Hey, whatever works.
“Damn, Covington,” Dwight drawls. “That was beautiful.”
Coach clears his throat. “Well, shit. I don’t know how the hell we can lose after that.”
“We’re not going to,” I rumble.
“Damn straight,” Lennox shouts.
“Fuck, yeah!!” Dwight yells.
Coach starts motioning to the door. “Well, you can’t beat ‘em if you’re not on the field to play, now can you? Get your asses out there.”
The muscles in my chest draw tight. “Actually, I need another minute.”
This is the last time we’ll all be in the locker room together, so it’s now or never.
It sucks that it’s come down to this, but I told her I would fix this.
And I fucking meant it.
Chapter 56
Sawyer
Cole Covington just prayed to a God he doesn’t even believe exists for the sake of his team.
My breath catches. There’s something so magnanimous about that.
Despite my anger with him, I once again find myself thinking that maybe he isn’t as selfish as I thought.
A few of the guys begin to leave, but Cole halts them. “Actually, I need another minute.”
Confusion clouds his teammates’ expressions as he reaches for something inside his locker.
Evidently, they’re just as lost as I am.
Perhaps he has some kind of team present planned for the big game.
I’m positively dumbfounded when he tosses a set of keys to Cortland. “Enjoy your new car.”
My heart stops cold.
Wait…what?
He didn’t…
He can’t…
Everyone’s mouths hit the floor. Mine included.
Cortland looks utterly baffled. “What about the bet? There’s still over four months left.”
There's a flash of guilt in Cole’s eyes before his features harden. “I never should have taken it to begin with.”
My insides swoop. Oh. My. God.
He did.
“What part of get your asses on the field don’t you shitheads understand?” Coach Stalter booms.
All I can hear is the frantic thud of my heart against my ribs as a hoard of football players rush past me.
I never, ever expected him to do this.
“A little privacy, Izzy?” Cole barks, jolting me out of my thoughts.
That’s when it dawns on me. He has no idea it’s me under here.