Page 10 of Resist Me

Chapter 4

West

This was everything I’d been waiting for. It wouldn’t necessarily define my future, but if I screwed it up, it wouldn’t look good for me. I could imagine the disappointment on everyone’s faces. Worse, the gloating expressions from the other team.

I hated to lose. Kai had this whole ‘let the losses go’ ritual he did, but it didn’t work for me. Even though I knew that I wasn’t the only one who contributed to our success, I felt the pressure. If someone else messed up, I’d still try to figure out what I could have done better, but if I was the one who screwed up, I’d agonize about it all night. Multiple nights. Weeks. Forever.

As I got into position, time slowed down. I took measured breaths, trying to rid myself of all sound except the other players. Sometimes, I wished there were golf rules during a game. If the clock was counting down, everybody should be required to shut the hell up.

I turned my head, scanning the sideline quickly. Coach looked stressed out. I wondered if he thought I was going to screw it all up. Lincoln was beside him with his arms crossed over his chest. He wasstaring directly at me and when he saw me looking back, he smirked. Why did he smirk?

The ball was barely in my hands for a second when someone slammed into me. I’d taken some hits in my day, but that one hurt like a bitch. Refusing to show any weakness, I bounced back, even though my hip hurt and I felt a little disoriented. It only took a few seconds for my head to clear.

Round two: fight.

This team was ruthless from what I’d heard. Their defense was top notch, apparently. Lincoln emphasized that it was something to be prepared for and our plays were supposed to work, but after we failed to get ten yards, I had to second guess everything we were doing.

“What is going on out there?” coach roared when we convened on the sideline.

“Ask Davis,” I replied, gesturing angrily toward the lineman. “He never has trouble protecting Porter.”

“You need to move faster.”

I blinked when I realized coach was talking to me. “I’m on my shit.”

“Just turn this around. If you can’t even get us ten yards, I wouldn’t call it a very good first year.”

“I can move faster on a sprained ankle,” Lincoln noted. He still had that damn smirk on his face.

My temper flared, turning my ears hot. I glared at the black hoop on the side of his nose, wondering if tearing it out would make him scream. When my fists balled at my sides, someone gently grabbed my wrist. I knew it was Kai trying to calm me down, which was the only reason I didn’t throw an elbow backward.

“Maybe you should give it a shot, then,” I suggested.

Lincoln raised a brow and let his gaze sweep over me, up and down. “You’ve been begging for a chance to run the game all season. All it takes for you to scamper off with your tail between your legs is some criticism?”

“Put Lee in for Davis and I’ll get your ten fucking yards. More.”

Coach considered it, then shook his head. “Lee will play the third quarter if you two can’t work your shit out together. But listen to me, Densmore.” He took a step closer, leveling me with a stern expression. “Davis gets the most field time and that’s not likely tochange next season. If you work with him as poorly as you have with Lincoln, there’ll be more than just criticism.”

I had to bite my tongue to keep from snapping at him. With a curt nod, I stepped back and listened to what he said to the whole team.

“He’s wrong for that,” Kai murmured close to my ear.

“I know.”

“He respects Lincoln. Favors him. Next season, you need to get on coach’s good side so he listens to you.”

“Davis is screwing up,” I muttered.

“You’re not wrong. There’s nothing you can do about it right now, though. Just go out and put everything you have on that field.”

“If my lineman isn’t doing his job…”

“Come on, West.” Kai gave me a mischievous smile. “Pretend it’s me out there, waiting for you to throw it to me. You’ll find a way.”

With a sigh, I nodded. He patted my cheek hard before he dropped onto the bench. I looked up at the stands and found Sen with Brooks and some blonde guy I didn’t know, but he was vaguely familiar. The former was wearing a jersey that matched Kai’s, the number 43 visible even from this distance. Just a few weeks ago, their relationship was private, only the four of us aware of it. Seeing him out there, proudly sporting his boyfriend’s number, made my chest constrict with some heavy emotion.

Sen was exactly what my best friend deserved. Kai could be a dick but with those he loved, he was the kindest, warmest person you’d ever meet. I used to think that about his dad and while that hadn’t changed at all, I saw Kai growing into a man just like him. It was a beautiful evolution to witness.

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