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“Ruents and under-the-table lared at e to shieldscorch mark

After a talk out on the porch, I was told to report to Coach’s office at six a outside his door, Johanssen and his coach, Mikelson, stor for our audience with the judge and jury in my career execution Drained: that’s what I was A bottoone in just a fewmy mom had come to its own cruel conclusion Alexis… I didn’t even knohere to start with her But the one piece of my life that made the cavernous void feel like the airless expanse of space was Jules

I’d lost Jules—no, not lost—pushed her away I’d shoved her love right back in her face and let her walk away fro ache inelse I was empty without her and what I’d lost didn’t compare to that pain

“Fighting in the opposing tealared at Johanssen like he was ready to peel the flesh from his bones

We sat beside each other in chairs that fit us like they’d been brought in from a local elementary school

“Who wants to go first?” Coach sat on the edge of his desk with his arms crossed over his chest

Mikelson ith the caged tiger approach, pacing in front of us like ere steaks they’d tossed into his cage after a few skipped meals

Johanssen and I tilted our heads, barely acknowledging each other’s existence, neither one of us wanting to go first

“Nothing! That’s what you two have for us?” Mikelson spit out “How about this? How about the two of you are suspended through the rest of the season? All those draft dreaers in the air in front of our faces “Up in smoke”

I keptout of Johanssen

But he kept his lips tight His leg bounced up and down

“We had a disagreeaze trained straight ahead

“Don’t leave us hanging, boys Because that’s what you both are right now, like preschoolers getting hauled into the principal’s office Only you’re not skipping out of here to clap the erasers after class”

The grinding fro in led and my mouth was full-box-of-saltines dry I licked my lips

“Over what?” Coach leaned down trying to catch my eye