Chapter 24: Beck

I drop onto the bench after a two-hour practice under the blazing sun. I'm fucking exhausted and want to jump in the shower and wash away all the sweat and turf sticking to me. As I peel off my jersey and throw it in my locker, Colton does the same.

We've been playing football together since we were kids. We know each other's quirks and tells. Half of the time, he knows which play I'm going to run before I do. I never have to seek him out on the field, he's always where I expect him to be. As far as football is concerned, we have some kind of weird mental connection.

Which is exactly why the last couple of practices have been so concerning. No matter what I threw out there today, he wasn't where he was supposed to be. It's not uncommon to have an off day. We all have them. You have to stay focused and work through it. But this has turned into more of a slump and that, we can't have.

Not with the season right around the corner.

I've got plans this year. And they include brin