Page 15 of For Emery

“You lost a person. Did you do it the right way?” Coach asked.

I nodded. “I started last season. The weight came off gradually at first. Then over the winter break, I amped up my gym routine and it started dropping off.”

“Can you still defend your new QB?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Good.” He paused, and I hated when he did that because I never liked what followed. “Listen,” he started up again. “He’s good, but he’s gonna need some help getting adjusted to how things are done around here.”

“You asking me to take him under my wing?” I asked.

“Not asking, Grady.”

Abbott chuckled as Coach walked out of the weight room.

“Fuck,” I grumbled, hoping like hell Coach didn’t expect me to pick up the leader role. I’d been anything but a leader over the last three years. A screw-up maybe. But never a leader.

“I hear he’s a complete asshole,” Abbott said. “Thinks he’s a big shot now that he’s Alabama’s QB. I think coach wants you to knock him down a few pegs.”

“That’s all I need,” I groaned. “Some new prick coming in here like he owns the place.”

“Dude. Don’t you realize? You were that guy when you showed up freshmen year.”

“Was not.”

Abbott dropped his head back and howled. “Come on. You were loud, obnoxious, and a complete douche.”

I thought back to my earlier days on campus. I was a loud mouth. I fucked around. I pushed people’s buttons because I could, to hell with the repercussions.

“Actually, what am I saying. You’re still loud, obnoxious, and a complete douche,” Abbott said.

“Fuck off.” I whipped my sweaty towel at his face causing him to jump away from it.

“Asshole.”

“What’s this new guy’s name?” I asked.

“Flip Caruso.”

I choked. “You’ve gotta be shittin’ me.”

“Nope.”

“Even his name’s got douchebag written all over it.”

“Yup.”

CHAPTER SIX

Grady

“That’s him” Abbott said, lifting his chin at something behind me.

“Who?” I glanced over my shoulder with my beer bottle to my lips.

A six-foot jacked kid walked through the front door of the crowded bar with a ball cap low and off-centered.

I hated douches who couldn’t wear their hats straight.

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