, turning the synthetic turf slick and cold. The sky hung dark abo

rims of their helmets. Mud from the sidelines tracked onto the blue end zone as

k jacket with the hood pulled up. He held his whistle in h

nd of downpour. "Goal line scrimmage. First team offense against fir

the center of the defensive front. "Let us shut them

e cold, water streaming down his visor. He looked

, his voice sharp and direct. "We drive

arked, stepping up to

. He scanned the defense. Tyler was stacked right over the middl

locked straight onto Julian through the face

t!" Juli

into his running back stomach. The offensive line surged forward, sh

runt. Before the back could slide off the tackle, Eli came downhill like a hammer, expl

tle blew

ut, stepping closer to spo

heir feet, breathing heavy clouds o

es burning. "Same formation. Quarterback ke

his cleats into the wet turf. He looked across the defensive gap. Eli had s

t,

sprinted hard toward the left pylon. The defensive end

back toward the goal line. He saw the whit

appeared

ounded like a thunderclap across the empty stadium. Julian felt the breath leave his lungs as both o

m Julian grip, rolling in

le blew r

voice echoing over the rain. "

r pads and pulling him up with a wil

econds, staring up at the dark grey sky. His ches

ppeared

to help him up. His face showed no arrogance,

pped it away sharply. He pushed himself up off the turf

p," Julian growled, st

ice carrying over the sound of the rain. "You were so b

"I know who you are, Eli. I know why my dad brought you here. You t

his voice dropping into a razor sharp whisp

rrifying clarity. "And I don't want your dad. But if you keep playing like you own thi

oulder pads with both gloved hands. Eli grabbed

voice roared a

hem, grabbing Julian helmet with one h

You two act like senior captains or you can both spend the

step back. He glared at his father, the

oward the locker room building. "Get inside a

r and headed toward the tunnel, whispering among

s blue jersey. He looked toward the parking lot, where Chloe stood under a l

, knowing that the war between him and Eli had finally cros