I blew by everyone, running first through the tunnel, past the locker room and into the medical room. I had a few minutes before Coach Reid would have everyone gathered for our mid-game strategy session.
As Malik came into view, lying on a padded table, my heart lurched. “Hey, how bad is it?” I stopped at his side, seizing his hand.
The head trainer, Randy Nelson, glanced at our entwined hands. “What are you doing back here, Moore?”
“I…just wanted to see his condition. How bad is it?” I focused on his injured ankle, the cleat and sock removed from it. Swelling had set in. “Does it hurt?” My attention drew to Malik.
“Only when I move it a certain way or stand on it.” He scoffed. “You can do this, Grey, but watch out for that big NAU lineman, Hennessy. The guy’s a monster and figured out how to read James. He’ll be coming for you.”
“But that’s not the guy who took you out.” I squeezed his hand. He was certain to take a trip to the ER with how his ankle looked.
“No, but Hennessy is worse. Don’t let him get to you. Focus on your quick starts and shuffles, like we covered at camp. The guy’s big, but he’s not fast. You can outmaneuver him.” Malik winced.
“Okay, you'd better return to the locker room before Coach knows you’re in here.” Randy ticked a brow.
“I’ll see you after the game. If you’re still there, I’ll come to the ER.” I glanced at Randy.
“Oh, he’ll still be there. I’m sure the team doc will want an MRI.” He wrapped an ice pack in a compression bandage around Malik’s ankle.
“I’ll see you there.” I made a move to kiss his hand and stopped. Fuck, I can’t do that here.
He gave my hand a last squeeze. “I’ll watch the game from the hospital. Wouldn’t miss it.” He gave me a thin-lipped grin.
Fuck, this was awful. Leaning down, I whispered in his ear, “Any touchdown I get is for you.”
“I know.” His grin grew genuine. “Keep your eye on Hennessy.”
“I will.” He was so concerned about me. With warmth flowing through my body and patting his shoulder, I sauntered into the locker room, where the guys were gathering. They hadn’t missed me…yet.
Coach Reid’s gaze locked on mine. “Moore, with Thompson out, we’ll need you to keep our lead. How are you feeling?”
“Great, Coach. I won’t let you down.” I scanned the guys, all focused on me.
“I know you won’t, Moore.” Bailey clapped my shoulder. “You’re playing more like Thompson every day.”
It wasthe middle of the fourth quarter, and we’d kept our lead. Malik was right about Hennessy. The guy had been on my ass every play to the point James could barely give me the ball. I had to escape from him.
After the huddle, I lined up on the field with the guys. We needed only two yards to get another first down and twenty-four yards to score. We were within field goal range, but we still needed to close the gap. I peered at Hennessy, crouching across from me.
He sneered. “You’re going nowhere, Moore.”
“Yeah? We’ll see about that.” James planned on giving me the ball, and I needed a big play so Coach wouldn’t lose faith in me. What would Malik do? Hell, he’d fake a wide run and rush the middle. As a smirk swept my lips, I listened for James’s calls.
Our center snapped the ball, and James drew back, keeping his gaze downfield so he wouldn’t give me away.
I jumped toward the sideline, sprinting a few steps, stopped on a dime and ran toward the center, just like I’d practiced in camp with Malik.
With his enormous body barreling toward the sideline, Hennessy faltered and tumbled as he tried to shift gears.
A hole opened between all the guys wrestling with each other, and I twisted around, my gaze locking on James’s.Don’t lift your hands until the last minute. You don’t want anyone to see it.
James threw a short spiral my way, and it landed on my chest.
Damn, the guy could throw with precision. As I eyed the end zone, I ducked my head and darted across the field.
An NAU safety spied me and took off in my direction.
Fuck, I had to move. Pumping my free arm and my legs, my chest burning with quick breaths, I got closer and closer and closer.