Total pages in book: 127
Estimated words: 121095 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 605(@200wpm)___ 484(@250wpm)___ 404(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121095 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 605(@200wpm)___ 484(@250wpm)___ 404(@300wpm)
Wow. This guy they snapped up must be pretty damned good if he’d cause Moriarty a moment’s anxiety about losing his spot. And yet, both Bellamy and Dad have already said they don’t have high hopes for this last-minute addition to the training camp roster. So what gives?
“What’s the scouting report on him?” one of the position coaches asks.
Jesus God. Would it kill someone to name this new player coming to training camp at the last minute? He must be an edge rusher like Moriarty if they’ve tapped him to make Moriarty sweat. But who?
“Raul?” Bellamy says with a gesture toward Coach Martinez, the linebacker coach. “You’re the only one here who believes we’ve got any chance of snuffing the adrenaline junkie out of him and turning him into a player with some actual discipline like his big brother, so I’ll let you tell the group about him.”
Big brother? Instantly, my mind races to Luca Maguire, since he’s an edge rusher with a famous big brother. But that can’t be, no fucking way, given his last name. My father would never in a million years let a Maguire onto his roster, even if it’s only for training camp, and even if it’s only to light a fire under his best player.
As Raul lists off some key information about “the guy,” I’m on pins and needles. Waiting with bated breath for him to name the guy or supply another detail that cements or hopefully negates my hunch. But unfortunately every bit of new information only makes it more and more likely Luca Maguire is the player in question. He’s a fourth-year outside linebacker, Raul tells the group. Age twenty-six. An edge rusher who showed “superstar potential” in college … at Nebraska. But then flailed after an injury and never lived up to his potential.
At this point, I’m on the cusp of hurling with anxiety. My mind races for another fourth-year edge rusher from Nebraska with a famous big brother, but no matter how hard my brain tries to create a long list of potential candidates, there’s only one name that squarely fits the bill on all counts: Luca Maguire.
“His first two years as a Cornhusker,” Bellamy interjects, “he was an unstoppable force. If he hadn’t gotten injured and become a head case after that, he would have gone in the first round of the draft.”
Raul agrees and adds, “The kid was a wrecking ball before his knee injury. Unstoppable. Even better than Moriarty, if you ask me.”
Fuck. It’s definitely Luca. Moriarty was a year ahead of Luca in college, but once Luca entered the scene and started playing immediately as a freshman—a very big deal—the comparisons to Moriarty came fast and furious. And pretty much always, like Coach Martinez said, fans and talking heads alike agreed Luca Maguire was even better than Moriarty.
“It’s true we’ll be his third team in four years,” Raul says. “But I attribute that to his lack of discipline, not his lack of skill and athleticism. Last season, he showed flashes of brilliance that reminded the world he’s a Maguire, through and through.”
And there it is. Confirmation this is going to be my worst nightmare. I already knew the incoming player had to be Luca, but hearing it confirmed out loud makes my stomach revolt and my heart drop precipitously into my toes nonetheless. Shit.
“If we can get Luca to knuckle down and stop clowning around so much,” Raul continues, “I think he could return to the unbelievable form he showed at Nebraska.”
I look down at my shaking hands on my keyboard, practically hyperventilating with stress. After all these years, I’m going to come face-to-face with Luca Maguire again. What if he sees me and blurts something in front of my father like, “Hey, I remember you!” What if he tells his new teammates, “You’re never going to believe this, but the head coach’s daughter once dry humped me like a feral dog on a leg.” My God, there are at least a thousand things Luca could say to embarrass me and torpedo the long path to my big dreams within mere seconds of his arrival here!
“Are we completely sure his prior knee injury is a nonissue?” the defensive coordinator asks.
The team physician nods. “He’s been fully cleared for years now. Whatever issues he’s been having, they’re not physical.”
“I truly believe,” Raul says, “Luca’s problems are all mostly mental. Basically, he’s an adrenaline junkie with low impulse control who lacks focus. True, he was all those things back in college, too. But back then, he used that stuff to his advantage. Frankly, I’m excited to try to return him to his past form.”
“Knock yourself out, Raul,” Dad says dryly. “At least, till Moriarty comes to camp. After that, he’s on his own.”
“Well, let’s not forget about his famous, marketable last name,” Bellamy says. “If by some miracle Raul and his staff can turn this kid around, it might be worth it to put him on the roster as a business decision. I’m sure we’d sell a whole lot of ‘Maguire’ jerseys.”