Page 46 of Perfect Storm
“You’re not sorry,” Aidan retorted. “Don’t tell me you don’t want that spot for yourself.”
“I . . .” Levi huffed out a breath. “Actually, bro, I came here to play right tackle. Icanplay left, but I didn’t come to Toronto to steal Acker’s spot.”
Aidan shot him a look. “But you’re a Banks. I know you all way too well. If you need to step up—”
“It’s not ever gonna get to you asking me. I’ll already be there,” Levi said.
“Of course,” Aidan said.
Silence fell between them—Levi estimated they only had about ten minutes before they reached the practice facility—and Levi couldn’t help himself. He thought about how Aidan had so easily assumed that he wanted a challenge, even craved it, like his brothers. But he couldn’t say that he’d been that way when he’d played in college or even when he’d gone to the NFL. He’d always wanted to do the best he was capable of. That was never the question. But in Seattle, the offensive line coach had talked to him more than once about how he’d thought with some additional work, he could be a starting left tackle. That he’d command more money, more respect, etcetera, if he made the leap.
But he’d never wanted to. Never felt the need.
Yet here he was, already thinking about how he could play that position way better than Ross currently was. Had already decided that if Ross couldn’t,hewould.
Levi didn’t know if it was because he’d grown up and was ready to take a leap into the unknown or if it was because the idea of grass stains on Aidan’s jersey made him want to howl.
Maybe it was both.
As Levi got ready for their first practice of the day, he realized it didn’tfeellike only one thing.
Still, he didn’t know for sure.
Then they got out onto the field, and after warmups, Coach Ned let them know they’d be running some plays. He listed off the formation, and Levi wasn’t surprised to hear he’d be playing right tackle. The coaching staff had to know if Ross could do it.
Aidanneeded to know if Ross could do it.
They set up, Aidan’s expression relaxed beneath his helmet, but Levi could see the tenseness of his shoulders, even under his pads.
Zane, the Thunders’ offensive coordinator, blew his whistle, and Aidan called out the snap count, Griff hiking the ball back a moment later.
Levi braced against the turf, hitting the defensive end who launched himself in Levi’s direction. It was a solid defensive move, even if the guy was slighter bigger than Levi. But Levi was stronger and faster, and he managed to shuck him off.
But it didn’t matter.
He heard a grunt behind him, and the moment Levi had taken care of his assignment, he turned back, and sure enough, Aidan’s ass was on the ground. Ross was looking at his quarterback and Nate, the edge rusher, who’d just taken him out before Aidan could even get rid of the ball.
Sure, Bishop was a killer defensive player. He gave lots andlotsof teams fucking headaches during games. He was never going to be an easy assignment to block.
Except the whole point was to learn how to block guys like Nate Bishop every single week. Guys like Watt and Garrett and Henrickson and Parsons.
Before Ross could do it, Levi extended a hand and helped Aidan up. “You okay, bro?” he asked.
Aidan nodded, but there was a white tenseness around his mouth.
“Yeah, you good?” Nate asked, his casual touch lingering on his shoulder.
“Sure, yeah. It was a good clean hit,” Aidan said, patting Nate back.
Right. Of course Aidan would be sensitive to that, after last year. But when he squinted his eyes and looked around, Nate wasn’t who his eyes locked on to. It was Ross.
Levi half expected Aidan to say something to Ross. He’d be absolutely within his rights to do it, because he’d been the one who’d ended up on the ground.
But he didn’t. Instead he just gave Zane a nod, and they went to run the play again.
This time Aidan didn’t end up with his ass tackled to the turf, but he had to throw the ball away too early, hitting Jaden on the outlet route, instead of Trevor deeper.
“That would’ve been a first down if you could’ve hung on to the ball,” Coach Zane pointed out.
