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What would she have said if I hadn’t cut her off? If you want to keep playing? If you want to stay healthy?
The whole fight had started because she thought this game wasn’t worth the risk, not because me andI connected her with Lina, but by that night, I knew just how different they were Howand kind and joyful Nell is And yet when push caht in with my ex, and I assumed that they were the same That they felt the same way about me
God, I couldn’t have been more stupid
But I’m done with that No more stupid mistakes Not even for football
As soon as the football falls intothe run, instead of worrying about what it will ame, I worry about how I’ll ever be able to convince Nell that I love her if I don’t even listen to her
Then I take a knee instead of running it
I toss the ball to the ref and sprint to Coach Cole on the sideline I pull off my helmet and say, "I have a concussion"
"What?"
"I got a concussion in practice Monday, but I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want to chance not playing, but that was stupid I’ht line, but he doesn’t answer ht away Instead, he pulls up one of the backup wide receivers to take rabs McClain to fill hi orders to the other coaches and players, and I know he’s pissed
He yells for the trainer and gesturesdown my unease, but he stops ht now, Torres You should have told me as soon as it happened You never should have been practicing You sure as hell shouldn’t have been on lad you ca I want you on this team, but I want you healthy You come first Always Do you understand?"
"Yes, sir"
"And if you ever lie to ot it?"
Oh, I got it
Chapter 27
Nell’s To-Do List
• Forget about Mateo Or Torres Or whatever the hell his nah I proain)
Tell asm of your life? I need to know becausesome reasons"
Stella becomes the first person besides me to see the list in its entirety
"It really was," I say with a sigh as Stella and I walk ai lot "Well, at that point anyway The ones that came later were pretty fantastic too"
NORMAL COLLEGE THINGS
1 Hook up with a jock
2 Make New friends
3 Go to a party (and actually stayWild
5 Lose inity
6 Drink alcohol (And not at church)