Page 89 of The Americana Playbook

I chew on the inside of my lip. “Does Coach know about this?”

“I’ll be speaking with him this evening and let him know the League’s ethics committee has reached out.”

A seconds-long stare down happens between the two of us, and I can see the way Heath’s mouth shifts, as if he’s chewing on his words. I have a feeling I know where this is going.

“Can I be honest? I don’tlikethe guy.”

I guess now I can add another to Nick and Parker’s team.

“Butyoudo,” he adds. “And I like you. Itrustyou. Way back in the draft, I wanted you on this team. We just didn’t have a high enough pick to get you before the Bulls did. You’ve got good instincts, Fitz. And I get that you’re loyal to Foller”—he holds a hand up to stop me when I try to interject—“but I’d be doing you a disservice if I didn’t remind you that you should be loyal to the team first. Because here’s the thing. When this investigation was in-house, I could protect you. But now it’s out of my hands, and if the League’s commissioner finds something he doesn’t like and you’re tied to him the way you are and the media runs with it, they’re going to lead with every positive thing you’ve ever said about this guy. And thatwillbe damaging.”

“I’m a loyal Rebel.” Even with the tension, the words make me smile. “But you’ve got to understand Foller coached me up since I was a kid, this guy took me under his wing. I mean, Heath, he was at our table for dinner once a week in high school.”

Heath’s face drops. “It hurts, doesn’t it?”

“What’s that?”

“When we realize the ones we idolize aren’t deserving of it?”

I won’t let this go. “I’d run through a wall for the guy even if I didn’t play for him.”

Heath claps his hands together, signaling we’re done here. “Let’s leave it at that then. The League will do its thing and everything proceeds as normal. But this conversation stays between us.”

The read here isn’t that I shouldn’t just not blab to my teammates. He doesn’t want me talking to Foller about any of it.

When Heath stands, so do I. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Good man,” he says, walking around his desk and giving me a firm pat to my shoulder. “I figured you’ve got other things on your mind these days anyway.” Heath reaches for a folded-up paper, handing it to me.

ALL RHODES LEAD TO A WHITE HOUSE WEDDING.

“Just don’t forget that we need them to lead to another Rebels Super Bowl too.”

“I toldyou this wasn’t going to end well.”

I tip back the rest of my bourbon as Nick paces. “You don’t need to play theI told you socard so many damn times. And for the record, a League investigationstarted. That doesn’t mean it’s the end for him. And for god’s sake, it won’t be the end ofme.”

Nick stands still. “Here’s the thing, Fitzy. I’ve got millions of dollars of endorsement deals lined up for you. When the press realizes Foller’s being investigated bythe League, none of those will move forward. Because you went ahead and went to bat for him. You tied yourself to him.”

“Itiedmyself to the fucking President of the United States as well.”

That obviously was not the right way to segue out of the Foller topic because Nick throws his arms up.

“I didn’t tell you to do that either!” Nick exclaims. “The only thing going for you with that people are googly eyed over watching the two of you play around with some kids. I’m less worried about your personal life at the moment.”

“Because it doesn’t make you any money,” I retort.

“No, Fitzy. Because when you retire in a few years, I want your reputation to be intact and untarnished.”

I hang my head. “What do you want me to do?”

“Divorce Foller.”

I put my now-empty glass on the counter. “Divorce a football coach?”

He nods. “Yeah. You make yourself like every other guy on your team who says jack shit. Practice, training, prep, games, that’s it. If you’re asked about him, it’sno comment. Notno commentandI think he’s a great guy. Because he’s not. Blinders are never higher than when it comes to family, Fitzy.If that’s what Foller is to you, you’ve got to ask yourself if he’d throw himself under the bus for you if the situations were reversed.”

“I don’t know what you want me to say.”

---