Playing to Win

to Savannah. “Huh?”
    “Look on the field. The other wide receivers are together and talking. You’re over here.”
    “I was thirsty.”
    “You need to hang out with them.”
    “No. Why should I?”
    She sighed. “Because you’re part of a team. That’s what you do. When practice is over you rehash with the other players in your position.”
    He shrugged. “That’s not how I do it.”
    She took his arm and led him away from the other guys. “Maybe not in the past, but it’s how you need to do it now. Part of your image needs to be that of a team player. We alter your image—the one everyone’s had negative issues with—by showing you’ve changed since coming to the Traders, that you’re more willing to play ball, so to speak.”
    “I’m not going to change who I am, Peaches.”
    “That’s exactly what you’re going to do. That’s why Elizabeth and the Traders brought me in. To change who you are, at least on the outside. Who you are in here”—she laid her hand on his chest—“that doesn’t change.”
    Tension coiled up inside him. “I don’t see any reason why I have to be friendly with those guys. They’re my competition. We’re all after the same thing—the ball. Playing nice with them doesn’t gain me anything.”
    She took a deep breath and let it out. “You need to become friendly with everyone on this team. From the quarterback to the offensive line to every player on the defense and special teams, you’re all after the same thing—that big trophy on the last game of the season and a Super Bowl ring on your finger. The only way to get those is to work as a cohesive unit. The way you’ve gone about it in the past is all wrong. You on one side and everyone else on the other is only going to guarantee two things. One, you don’t get the ball in your hands as much as you want, and two, the potential for your team to lose is greater because of inner turmoil. Is that what you want?”
    “No.”
    “Then at least give it a try. Be nice. Talk them up.”
    He glared down at her. “About what?”
    “Oh. My. God. You have no idea how to go about doing this, do you?”
    “I’m not a moron.”
    “I didn’t say you were. But you’ve never gotten close to anyone on any team you’ve ever played for. Start with the new kid—Kenny Lawton.”
    “What about him?”
    “He needs guidance. He’s the one out in the cold and craves leadership. Who better to offer it than you, a veteran in the game and in his position? Do you really want him bonding with the other two receivers and leaving you the one out in the cold?”
    “You make me sound like an old man.”
    “And you need to quit taking everything so personally. You’re not going to play football forever. No player does. Part of your responsibility to the game is to bring up the younger players—to pass the torch and make sure they’re ready to play as good or better than you did.”
    “Kind of defeats the purpose of me being the best on this team.”
    “You know as well as I do it’ll be years before he’s as good as you are. That doesn’t mean you can’t show him the ropes. Don’t you remember what it was like your first year?”
    She had a point. It sucked being brand-new. His first year in professional football had been awful. He didn’t know anybody and he’d felt left out of everything. He’d barely been able to find his ass with both hands. If not for the guys who’d taken pity on him and showed him the way, he’d have been lost. He still remembered those guys today.
    “Fine.”
    “And while you’re at it, try to be nice to Jamarcus and Lon.You’re all after the same thing and there’s a lot of intel you can share with each other. Like it or not, they’re the veterans on this team. They can help you.”
    Who made her an expert on football all of a sudden?
    He went back out on the field and joined the other receivers.
    “Giving her some instruction?” Lon asked, a teasing glint in his eyes.
    “She’s competent. Knows a lot about football. She’s an asset to have around.”
    “She does have a nice ass, that’s for sure,” Lon said, nudging Jamarcus.
    Cole’s blood boiled. He was two seconds away from shoving his fist in Lon’s face. But he glanced over at Savannah, who frowned and shook her head, so he stopped in his tracks and took a deep breath. But he still wasn’t going to let Lon insult Savannah. He got in Lon’s face. “Look. I like you. I think you’re one of the better wide