Page 51 of When to Call a Blitz

I process the information for a second.

“What does offsides mean?” It’s a question I’ve thought of many times but have been too nervous to ask. I’ve been nervous for all of it, but especially this one for some reason.

Emmett looks around at the ground and for just a second I think that he’s laughing at me. But when he grabs a broom and lays it on the ground, curiosity takes over.

“This is the line of scrimmage,” he explains, pointing to the long broom placed in front of me.

“And that’s?—”

“It’s kind of an imaginary line, if I’m honest,” he says with a shrug. “It runs across the field and basically is aligned with where the ball is placed before the play.”

“Okay, got it.”

“So offsides is basically when a player is on the wrong side of that line of scrimmage.” He thinks for a second. “It’s usually called against defenses, when one of us crosses the line before the ball gets snapped. But once in a while an offensive player will cross into the neutral zone and the foul will be called against them.”

“And what’s the neutral zone?”

“It’s basically where the line is. It’s in front of both the offense and defense, and the area that no one can cross until the ball is snapped.”

There’s no judgement in Emmett’s voice as he explains the terms. No glint in his eye like he’s secretly making fun of me. He’s just explaining it in terms I can understand, and something about that wakes the butterflies in the pit of my stomach.

“And what doyoulike best about the game?”

He thinks for a second.

“I really like blocking. Specifically veer blocks because if done right, turnovers are frequent,” he pauses and smirks. “At least when we do it. Can’t talk for other teams.”

“Very humble.”

“Always.”

“What does your position do?”

Emmett’s head tilts and he looks into the distance, likely thinking about how to explain it. “I’m basically responsible for making sure everyone is lined up correctly, but I’m also responsible for stopping the offenses run and their passing game.”

“That sounds like it can be a lot.”

He shrugs. “It can but it changes every game depending on who the team is and whether they’re passers or runners. Things change for everyone, which is why we practice and study film for every team each week. But it just keeps me on my toes.”

We fall into a peaceful silence and I think about what else I may want to know. “Is there anything you like that you can’t do?”

He smiles, and it lights up the whole damn room.

“I loved chop blocks. They’re illegal for a reason and I won’t lie, I’d hate for it to happen to me, but it’s kinda fun taking someone down at the knees.”

I wince. “That sounds like it could go wrong really fast.”

“Exactly.”

“So that’s just,” I shrug, “taking someone out low?”

Emmett’s eyes drift over my body slowly, and I’m completely unprepared for the fire they leave in their wake. I wasn’t expecting it, but when his lips spread in a smirk, I’m more curious than anything.

“Want me to show you?” His eyes find mine again, glimmering with something that feels a little like chaos.

I nod, my words caught in my throat.

Pushing off of the work bench, Emmett takes a couple steps toward me, closing the distance.

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