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“Dude, that was ae “How’d you run it so much?” I try to sound like it’s shop talk

He gives me this little sideways smile “I’m a runner,” he says

Motherfucker lets his eyes do this little s coy withheartrate And when I look at Jenna, I can tell she saw it, too

Luckily, it doesn’t see and Jenna says so out at Sunny’s house

“You mean Sunny’s barn?” My ht-me face “I knohat the kids do out there,” she says She looks at Ezra “You two keep each other in line You’ll be twenty-one soon enough, and if you really want to drink that badly, we’ll buy you a six-pack to share on the back porch”

Cara and James walk by at that moment, and Cara beckons Jenna over

“I’ll call you,” Jenna tells oes

“Josh, you don’t have a car,” my mom points out, on schedule

“Ride back with us,” Carl suggests “We’re not so bad”

“He can ride withto Sunny’s?”

I frown like I’uess so For a little while You going right now?”

“Yeah I’ a face “Need another ice bath”

My mom asks Ezra if they really do take ice baths in the locker rooain as I think about hi away It’s just Ezra and me—and the two dozen or so other people around His eyes hold ot this little smile on Almost dreamy

“Dude, you were incredible,” I whisper “Like, I’m shocked I’m in awe Every week, just like Damn”

Ezra looks down, and I knock his shoulder with onna grab you here in front of everybody”

We start walking, and I tell him, “In the second quarter? That sideways sack from their monster linebacker—made me feel sick You okay?”

“Yeah” He s tired and happy

“What about the scouts? Where were they? Did you talk to the here every week—such wasEzra play

“Yeah They were near your dad I talked to theht after”

“What did they say?”

He shrugs “They were cool and stuff Gave their names and cards Said they’ll be back”

“That’s a Which ones showed up this week?”

“Baain Clemson,” he says, like he’s surprised “Also UT, Stanford”

“Stanford Holy shit! What were your stats like from before you came here? I feel like a slacker that I haven’t studied up”