Page 48 of Perfect Storm
It’d let Coach know, also, just how serious Levi was.
Coach Ned shoved his hat off, and set it back in place only after he’d finished running a hand through his hair. Levi was pretty sure he was doing it to give himself a minute to think. But Levi also knew there was no way he hadn’t already considered this option.
“Banks.” Coach sighed. “This isn’t a small thing you’re asking.”
“I know.” He knew. It wasn’t as simple as tossing him to the other side and letting Ross take the right tackle spot. MaybeRoss had no experience playing right tackle. Plus, there was the delicate balance of winning football games and your players’ egos. None of the coaching staff wanted to go scorched earth on Ross. Hell,Levididn’t even want to go scorched earth on Ross.
“I’m not quite ready to try it yet. Tomorrow we’re going back to drilling fundamentals. Work on everyone’s basics.”
Levi stifled a groan. What Coach meant was that they wanted to work onRoss’fundamentals and everyone else was going to suffer as a result.
“We’ll see if that makes a difference,” Coach said, sounding like he was trying for optimism. Levi couldn’t dredge up the same. He’d looked Ross up during lunch. The guy was thirty-three now and his speed and reaction time probably weren’t something that could be fixed by drills. Age had come for him, the way it came for all of them, eventually.
“Sure thing.”
“Expect you to help set the tone, Banks,” Coach said, patting him on the shoulder.
“You got it, Coach,” Levi said.
Griff cornered him when he got into the locker room. “So?” he asked.
Levi glanced around. Ross was already gone—probably in the showers.
“No dice,” Levi said. “We’re drilling tomorrow.”
“Fuck,” Griff said earnestly.
“Pretty much my thought.” Levi gave him a supportive slap on the back. “Tomorrow’s gonna suck.”
Chapter 8
"Aretheytryingtokill them out there?” Wes asked Aidan, as the second offensive lineman broke ranks and went to a knee, retching onto the grass.
Aidan shrugged. “Levi said they were drilling basics today. He didn’t sound very excited about it, but they gotta get better.”
Wes shot him a look.
“Okay,” Aidan amended, “the protection’s gotta get better. How can we run the kind of game we want if it doesn’t?”
“That just looks . . .rough.” Wes winced.
Aidan shot the group another glance. Zane had already informed them that they wouldn’t be running plays this morning—that the offensive line coach had said they were running drills instead, which jived with what Levi had told him on their way into practice this morning.
“Good news, we’ve got a day off tomorrow,” Aidan said.
“Hey, speaking of that. And speaking ofthat,” Wes said, gesturing towards the offensive linemen, “we should get a group to go out. Celebrate not dying today, or something.”
“Or something,” Aidan said dryly.
“Seriously, I know a great place. New bar that’s been open for a few months. Friend introduced me to it.”
“You havefriends?” Aidan retorted fondly, smacking Wes on the back of the head.
“Hey, shut up. More friends than you.”
“Here I thought you were too busy sulking over—” Aidan cut himself off. It had been one thing to tease Wes over his ex, but it was another to tease him when he knew how that felt. At least Wes hadhadhis guy. Aidan hadn’t even gotten that far.
Wes shot him a look. “Yeah, sort of am. That’s why the friend took me out. Said I needed to get my head out of my ass.”
