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“I’ve already e “Just et a picture of the woround check before the two of you do anything Oh, and make sure she’s not a New York fan first”

“I haven’t called you about so like that in years, Taylor” I rolled et the hell out of Boston tonight Have Charlie pick me up as soon as possible”

“I’m sorry, what did you just say?”

“I need Charlie to take me to the private airport, so I can clear ”

“You can’t fly out of town days before the first round of the playoffs, Kyle” Her voice wavered “Like, do you kno bad that would look to your fans?”

“Youshattering against the s and rushed over to look again

My neighbors— the fans exactly where to fling bobblehead toys The local police were standing with their ar their side in all of this

“We have a bye-week next week,” I said “I don’t care how it looks to anyone Get me out of here”

“Um ” Taylor sucked in a slow breath “Kyle, iving ency for a reason, and I can’t risk this right now”

“After you have Charlie pickyou a silver platter in life, Taylor Call Charlie Now”

“All you have to do is win, and all of your fans’ anger goes away, practically overnight” The words rushed out of her s even worse Let’s rewind back to last season, back when you were happy, so you can—”

I didn’t need to listen to a single word that she was about to say I’d heard it all before, and she rong

Dead-ass wrong

Froo—the iven these fansI had on the field season after season, Sunday after Sunday, but it was never enough

No matter how many “epic, once in a lifetime performances” that people recalled with utter awe, my efforts didn’t matter

Not without a win in the Super Bowl

Not without fulfilling the pro them a trophy

Over a year and a half ago, I’d coame, but I’d faced a far better team, with a far better leader: My best friend, Grayson Connors