Chapter 36: Daniel

We won our game against Chicago. That's not even accurate. We slaughtered them. Our team was focused and engaged. We were truly on point. Well, except for me.

I couldn't keep my head in the game for anything. No one could really tell except me and probably Christian. Maybe my coaches. But other than that, I'm really good at faking it when I'm having an off-game. Everyone else was really on fire, so I didn't think they noticed anything.

I look around the hotel bar at my teammates and notice how happy they all are. Lots of smiles, lots of booze, lots of Barbie doll women with fake nails and even faker tits. I don't begrudge them a good time. I just don't feel it. It all seems… empty.

"Is this seat taken?" One of the Barbies smiles brightly at me. Her long blond, highlighted hair and cherry red lips might have turned me on six months ago, but now it irritates me. I really want to tell her to get lost, but reality is, there isn't anyone sitting there. Her sitting doesn't mean I have to ta