Page 66 of The First Play

“Put it on speaker,” Dad whisper-barks, and I give him a sharp side-eye before giving in to his request.

“Hey, Coach Watkins. It’s me, Zander. Sorry to call you on the weekend.”

“Not a problem. I understand this is an anxious time for players like yourself. If you’re wondering about your letter of intent, you are on our list. I’m keen to come and meet with your family to discuss details, and I was going to book a time next week.”

“Thank you for that, sir.” I give my dad a pointed look.

He rolls his eyes and snatches the phone out of my hand. “Coach, it’s Brett here. Before Zander signs anything, I want to clear something up with you…”

There’s a pregnant pause, which I was kinda hoping Coach Watkins would fill. His ominous silence is doing nothing to ease my tattered nerves.

Dad clears his throat. “I’ve heard a rumor that Zander isn’t the only quarterback you’re speaking to. We’re concerned he’s going to be riding the bench all year.”

“I see.” That’s all Coach says, and his following silence is even louder than the first one.

My shoulders slump, and I share a pained frown with my father.

“Coach Watkins, we really need some clarification on this.” Dad’s tone is so strong and assertive… and for once, I’m actually grateful for it.

“Look, I don’t know what to tell you here, Brett. We’re keen to have Zander on the team, but yes, he’s not the only quarterback we’re hoping to sign. It’s good to have backup players. Zander will still be getting all the same training and quality coaching.”

“But no game time.”

“I thought you wanted me?” I can’t help butting in. “You said last year that?—”

“Yeah, and last year you were playing like a pro. This season hasn’t been as strong, and it’s forced us to check out other players. I don’t know what to tell you, kid. You’re slipping, and I do believe you have the potential to get back to where you were, but I can’t risk only signing you.”

The air in my lungs goes cold, my mind blanking out as Dad takes over the rest of the call and I stand there listening to his disappointment, his arguments, and then telling Coach Watkins he can shove it and to not bother setting up a meeting because I won’t be signing with a school that doesn’t appreciate me.

Mom gasps and I blink, snapping out of my stupor in time to see Dad hanging up.

“What did you…?” My words trail off as I gape at my father’s thundering anger.

“If they’re not going to give you any game time, they can’t have you!” he growls.

“But Dad, I… I can prove myself during practices. I can…” I wince, running a hand through my hair. “This can’t be right.”

“Why not, Zander?” Dad’s tone is cutting, and I wish I hadn’t looked up to face him just before he said it. His eyes are burning two holes right through my skull, and I feel ripped apart, exposed. “Why can’t it be right when you’ve been slacking off? You just had your worst season ever!”

“But… they liked me. He said I was good.”

“Last season!Lastseason you were good enough. But not anymore. Someone else has come through the woodwork and shone brighter than you.” His scathing voice slaps me hard, and I lean away from him, still struggling to believe this.

I had it all mapped out, and now… I’m not going to Brighton.

What the fuck am I supposed to do now?

Dad sighs. “We need to call Coach Jones back and at least secure a place at Kelsey U. We haven’t heard back from the other colleges we sent your tapes to, so you’re down to one option.” Shaking his head, Dad gives me a disappointed frown. “I wanted you to have choices, son. And now you’re all out of them.”

“I don’t want to go to Kelsey U. I don’t?—”

“You’re going to Kelsey U.” Dad glares down at me. “You are meeting with Coach Jones, and you are going to assure him that you will work harder for him than you’ve ever worked for anybody. And when they send you a letter of intent, you’re signing it.”

“But they’re miles away!”

“I don’t give a shit. You’re going, Zander. I won’t let you throw your life away over a girl. The school you wanted didn’t work out. You need to get over yourself and start thinking about your future, because I am warning you now… if you think that being with your girlfriend is going to solve all your problems, you’re wrong. A relationship is only one small aspect of your life, and you can’t design your entire world around it, because it will fall apart on you, and then what are you left with?”

I swallow, not wanting to answer that question, but my mother goes ahead.

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