Page 217 of Vicious Saint
With an unhinged growl I yank the helmet off my head, slamming it onto the turf and spitting out my mouthpiece, cursing myself for how fucking off I’ve been on my game lately.
Not once in the three years I’ve been on the team have I ever been this sloppy. Disconnected. A straight embarrassment for a guy who’s had NFL scouts talking since junior year.
“What the hell is going on in your head, kid?” Coach shoves me the second I reach him. “That was a rookie mistake. You’re QB 1 so fucking act like it.”
“I’ll turn it around, Coach.”
“Yeah, well you better. Because your head hasn’t been in the game since homecoming. You’re distracted…everyone can see it.”
I twist my neck to find the guys standing around awkwardly, looking everywhere but at me.
Except for Levi, who’s watching intently with his helmet resting half on his head, probably waiting to see if I’ll be decking this motherfucker or agreeing with him.
I’m a cocky asshole, yeah. But I’m not blinded enough by it to not see I’m letting down my team. Therefore, the only one of us who deserves my wrath is me.
I face him with a raised chin. “I said I’ll turn it around.”
He holds up a pointer. “One more shot, Lavell…that’s it. Because I don’t care about your nasty temper, or that your ancestors staked a flag in this school, Iwillhave you riding the bench for the rest of the season.”
The muscles in my jaw strain as I nod.
“Good. Now get the hell out of here. Take a cold shower or some shit.”
Kicking the same bucket he did, I storm off to the tunnel, knowing I’ll end up doing something stupid like breaking his nose if I don’t get the fuck out of here.
“Hey, you,” a feminine voice calls out to me the second I enter, and when I stop to look, I find Bex, Crayton’s girlfriend, leaning against the wall with her arms crossed.
“So, she lives,” I joke, making my way over as she pushes off the wall to hug me.
“She does.”
“Been missin’ you around here.”
Throughout the past year of Bex and Cray getting together, she and I have also grown pretty tight. In fact, she’s probably the only girl besides Theory and Hendrix I’d fight till the death for. At first it was out of respect for my boy, but now she’s become like a sister to me.
“I miss you too, and I hope you’re not salty with me for leaving school.”
“C’mon, now. Would I have helped convince Beaumont if I was?”
By help, I mean demand he allow her to finish the year remotely, because this girl’s been through enough drama here to last a fucking lifetime.
“Yeah, I know. Just hadda say it.”
“All good, baby.” I bump my chin, signaling for her to walk with me to the locker room. “How’s our boy doing?”
“Crayton’s good. He’s been asking about you, though.”
Yet another thing I’ve been too distracted to keep up with.
Going to visit my boy at his new stomping grounds.
“Fuck, I know, man. Shit’s just been crazy here.”
Bex sighs. “I can see that.”
“I take it you’re the one salty with me, huh?”
“I love you, Saint. You know that. But I can’t lie and say I’m not disappointed.”
