Page 108 of Fumble Into the End Zone
He grabbed the collar of my practice jersey, and I bit down on my bottom lip.
“I’ma beat your ass,” he said.
“I wouldn’t advise hitting the number one wide receiver. The new teams don’t want troublemakers in the locker room. Now, get your fucking hands off me,” I said.
“Vick, you heard this? He said he was the number one wide receiver.” Stedman turned to Vick and his nostrils flared.
“Why are y’all standing here watching,” Ed said in the background before he stepped between us. “Stedman let him go. Man, what the hell is going on with you?” he asked.
Stedman released his grip, and I pushed it away from my jersey.
“Ed, little man here says he is the number one wide receiver and I’m going to need a new team,” Stedman said.
Several sets of eyes were pointed in my direction.
“Marcus is listed on the depth chart as number one. And I don’t want to confirm any rumors, Stedman, but your contract could be in jeopardy,” Ed said.
“Hell the fuck nawl,” Vick yelled.
I smirked in his direction before bunching my brows into a sad face. “Fellas, in my office. Now!” Coach Owens said.
Keyshawn cackled as we followed Coach Owens’s lead into his office, stopping in front of his desk.
“I’ll make this short. Grow the fuck up; you’re grown men. Stedman and Vick, you lost your positions fair and square. Both of your productions are down – stop trying to intimidate Marcus and blame yourself. And Marcus, let them be the example of how not to act,” he said.
I made it home and saw a pair of my cleats outside on the front doorstep. It did my heart good to turn the doorknob and see my Granny sitting in her chair. I sprinted over and kissed her cheek before taking a seat. She lent me a smile as I sat on the sofa next to her.
“Granny, why are my shoes outside?” I asked, and she broke into a hearty laugh.
I waited for the joke. After several seconds, she finally gave me an answer. “Mia sat them outside. She said the smell turned her stomach. I didn’t smell nothing, but she did.”
“My feet don’t stink,” I countered, and she raised her hand in a surrendering motion.
“A pregnant woman’s sense of smell is stronger than anything else, Marcus,” Granny said.
“It isn’t me, Granny. I think Bryce got his girlfriend pregnant. Puzzle solved,” I said.
Granny leaned forward and shook her head. “Yet, your shoes are outside, and your fiancée has been sleeping all day. After her alarm sounded off, she walked out of y’all bedroom yawning to get Harley from dance class. Hey, what do I know? I’m old,” she said.
I focused on Granny and knew I needed to investigate this situation better.
“You need something from the store?” I asked.
“Nope,” she said as she chuckled.
By the time I made it home, Mia’s SUV was parked in the driveway. I entered the house to find Harley in her glittered dance outfit and tights.
“Daddy,” she ran to me, and I kissed her until she giggled.
Mia was in the kitchen prepping dinner. She turned to me and smiled.
“Harley, it’s time to change, and let’s get started on your homework,” Mia said.
“You heard the boss,” I said, placing our daughter on her feet.
She danced down the hall and left my grandmother laughing. Bag in hand, I motioned for Mia to meet me in the bedroom. She squinted but turned off the stove and followed me.
“Baby, what’s going on?” she asked as I shut the door behind us.
