Straddling the Line

TWENTY-SEVEN

THERE WAS NOTHING BETTER THAN TO BE IN FULL uniform and pads, with the sound of a full stadium cheering you on, to get your adrenaline going.

Trevor had missed playing with the Hawks, but he was glad to be here today. The crowd noise was deafening, and it pumped him up to hear their cheers when he was introduced as he ran out of the tunnel.

Trevor was more than ready to play this game against New Orleans. It was going to be a tough one, but his team had practiced hard, and they were prepared against a tough opponent.

He’d been keeping his eye on JW Zeman, Tampa’s quarterback. JW had been drafted out of Notre Dame two years ago in the first round, a promising athlete with an incredible arm. He’d shown great leadership potential right away, and he’d done well his first year. The team expected great things from him, especially this year now that they’d shored up the offensive line and had added depth in other areas.

JW and Trevor had hooked up right away on offense. The kid threw the ball hard and long, and had a confidence a lot of young quarterbacks didn’t show as rookies. Even better, JW liked throwing to his tight ends, which benefited Trevor.

“You ready for this?” JW asked as they stood on the sidelines, watching Tampa get ready to kick off to New Orleans.

“I’m always ready. How’s the arm?”

“Itching to throw.”

Trevor grinned. “Let’s kick their asses, then.”

Tampa kicked off and defense took the field after the return. He liked the defense this year. With free agency and the rookies they’d drafted, they’d filled some holes. They were tough, and New Orleans made only one first down before they were forced to punt the ball back to Tampa.

Trevor went in on the first series, though the first attempt was a running play that netted them only four yards. On second series, JW threw it to Brady McCall, the wide receiver, for a first down.

Trevor came out after that, and they pulled two running attacks in a row, bringing up a third and short. Trevor came back in and JW threw him a sideline pass that Trevor caught for a first down. Damn, but it felt good to catch the ball, to hear the crowd involvement. He dashed off to the sidelines and waited for his next chance to go in as they continued to move the ball down the field. He went in and out during the plays, catching the ball whenever it was thrown to him. The one thing he’d always prided himself on was his ability to get his hands on the ball. He rarely dropped it. Hell, he didn’t drop it.

He was in at second and goal, the ball on the nine-yard line. He pushed off on his route, wide open in the end zone. JW looked left at the wide receiver, then dropped it into Trevor’s hands.

Touchdown, baby. They all did a quick celebration in the end zone, but it was back to work.

New Orleans managed a field goal late in the first quarter, but Tampa’s running backs tore up the clock and JW sneaked one in just as the half ended, putting them up by eleven points.

Good, so far, and defense was working New Orleans.

Second half they broke it open, scoring three touchdowns. Their defense shut down New Orleans’s passing game. Even the rookies got in a little work, but Trevor could tell that rookie receiver Warrell Timmons wasn’t happy Trevor had scored two touchdowns, while he had only gotten into the game late.

The only thing that mattered was the team had won.

Still, he’d promised the coach he’d work on the kid’s attitude, so after they did interviews, Trevor went up to him.

“You got some play time in today.”

“A little.”

“You looked good out there. And you’ll get more.”

Warrell shrugged. Tension rolled off the kid in waves. Trevor could tell he was pissed.

“Hey, I’m going to have some of the team over for a barbecue at my place this week since it’s a bye week. You interested?”

Warrell looked at him as if he didn’t quite believe he’d been included. “I . . . dunno. Maybe. Where?”

“I have a house on the water. Give me your number and I’ll text you directions.”

“I’m after your job, you know.”

“So you keep telling me. But you still gotta eat, right?”

For the first time, Warrell offered up a hint of a smile. “Yeah.”

“Okay, then.”

They traded numbers, and Trevor told him he’d text him with the information. He hadn’t planned on a barbecue, but it was a good idea, and it would give Haven access to some of the players, which would be good for her job.

Now he just had to round up some of the guys, who he knew would show up on short notice. Coach would take care of inviting the rookies.

This should be fun.