Page 4 of Against the Clock

I blow out a breath, trying to get my adrenaline and rampaging heart under control. Somewhere on the field, a whistle blows and the vicious play grinds to a halt.

Music blares so loud I wince, and the cheerleaders in front of me shimmy with military precision. I bend over to pick up the cracked iPad, way more gingerly than the sparkly uniformed women dancing their hearts out. A piece of turf hangs from the case. I pluck it off, letting it fall to the ground.

With a little shake, not nearly as sexy as the cheerleaders, I try to clear my head.

I am here to do my job. My job, right now, is to expose the American Football League for the way they treat their cheerleaders. My job, right now, is to get glossy pictures and footage of the cheerleaders, as well as document first-hand the way the women are treated by fans and team management. Sure, the perpetually down-on-their-luck Beavers were the only team that would issue me a press pass and access to their cheerleaders, probably because they have a lot fewer problems than most... but it’s a start.

And if my exposé takes the AFL down a notch? Or at least gets these women dancing their tushies off better working conditions?

Then it’ll be worth it all. Even worth the eventual soreness from being tackled.

My job is not to be breathless, thinking about a certain quarterback. My job is to expose one more facet of how the AFL is a totally messed up meat grinder of a circus.

My phone vibrates in my pocket, and a quick glance at my watch tells me it’s my father. As if I summoned him with the mere thought.

He would hate that I’m doing this because of him. Well, not completely because of him.

But he’s definitely part of it.

A flick of my finger silences the call and I stare at the dancers, resolute. Resolute despite the fact that my gaze keeps dragging over to a certain handsome, tall, blue-eyed quarterback.

I bet he forgets me before the end of the third quarter.

CHAPTER 3

POST-GAME PRESS CONFERENCE WITH QB DANIEL HARRISON: BEAVERS V. CONDORS

Interviewer 1: Daniel, how do you feel about your performance in this game?

Daniel Harrison: You know, we went out there and we did what we get paid to do. We worked hard, we ran the plays, the receivers made sure their routes were open. Defense worked hard, the coaches worked hard—

Interviewer 2: Do you think you worked hard enough?

Daniel: I think I did. I think I did. You know I’ve been doing this for a long time, right?

Daniel: I thought you might. But I’m proud every time I put on my helmet. I’m proud to be a part of this team, and I’m proud of what the guys and I did out there today.

Interviewer 1: You didn’t win. You haven’t won the last three games, none since you were traded. Do you think you have what it takes to lead this team to any wins this season?

Daniel: Of course I do. Otherwise I wouldn’t still be out there working my ass… sorry. Working my butt off every day with these guys that are fresh out of school. Jacob Matthews is out here at twenty-three, trying to kick my—well, you know—every day. His brother Ty is pushing thirty and he’s out here trying to kick it every day too. Every day, we put in the work, I put in the work, and if I thought I was done, I would retire. I’m not going to punish a team of men I respect by doing a half-ass… sorry… by not going out there and doing my best. That wouldn’t be right. That’s not me. It’s early in the season. I think we’re just getting started.

Interviewer 2: But you’re not just getting started.

Daniel: Yeah, yeah, I know, get out the coffin already.

Interviewer 2: Seriously though, Daniel, it looked like you didn’t want to get hit. You ran off the field… and you ran into a reporter. Do you think you can still take the hits, or are you running scared into the Beavers cheer team?

Daniel: If I didn’t want to get hit, I wouldn’t be playing, Tom. That’s what this game is. That’s why we do this. We suit up, we get on the field, and we go to war. This is what we do. This is what I love.

Interviewer 3: And the reporter you hit? Did she suit up to go to war?

Daniel: Of course not. But don’t worry about her. I’m going to do everything in my power to make it up to her. That’s all guys, thanks.

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