Page 191 of Scoring the Player
“What?”
“That’s your nickname for him?”
I shrug the question off and send the call to voicemail.
“’Cause he looks sad sometimes?”
“Nope.” I tell him my dad’s quote that inspired the nickname.
“Aww.” He grins. “You’re a romantic little asshole.”
I laugh. “Get out.”
REAL TALK SPORTS WITH DARIUS & TODD
“Before we close out, you’ll want to tune in tomorrow. Todd and I will be reporting in after the Lions and Royals face-off. We have front-row seats.”
“Figuratively, ’cause have you seen the prices for tomorrow’s game?” Todd asks.
Darius laughs. “Yeah, but we’re in there. Is it just me, or was Salem Jones extra emo last game?”
“Emo?” Todd squints. “In the game leading up to his return, you said he was the most ferocious defender in the league.”
“It’s hard to take him seriously after that cake stunt. What was that for anyway, if the other one’s sleeping with his coach?”
“The other one?” Todd asks.
“I don’t buy the Royals’ statement.” Darius shrugs. “There’s definitely something there.”
“To me, his performance last game is the kind of defense that got him coined The Silencer.”
“I’m not denying his talent, but I don’t know…There’s something different about him. Does he still have the grit to lead the defense? This league needs men with backbone.”
“Anyway,” Todd says. “Tune in tomorrow for our post-game coverage.”
CHAPTER 46
ARNAZ
“Media”
Print lasts forever, they say.
Well, then, so must hate too.
They pick, prod, and flay.
And reveal the wit of fools.
“Breathe with me,” Sid says while I’m stretching out my neck and bouncing on my heels.
He sucks in air like he’s pulling through an imaginary straw, holds, then releases it. He does it again, nodding on the hold for me to join him.
“Wait, I need in,” Nick says, tossing his phone onto his shelf and then jogging over.
“Me too,” Wes calls out, rolling over in his chair.
For Christ’s sake.
