It was a close game. I'm usually pretty good at not shit talking in the trenches, but Francesco and I had a rivalry that got the best of me. It was stupid stuff too, but he'd won last year and was really rubbing it in.
"Offensive tackle? They should call you an offensive tickle." He yelled at me as a failed to defend our runner from him. Like I said, stupid stuff. Should be easy to ignore.
I pancaked him with pride the next play. "this tickle got you pancaked under me." I said while on top of him. We locked eyes for a second. I quickly got off of him realizing how weird what I just said sounded coming out of my mouth. I heard the ref yell first down behind me.
The next play was short, but we were both fighting each other hard. I wasn't going to give up the pocket. The ref blew the whistle and we disengaged. I felt him tap the back of my shoulder pads, and he hissed into my helmet "if I got you pancaked, I'd do a lot more than tickle you." I walked back to the huddle without responding. My brain couldn't process whether that was shit talking or flirting. I don't think he could tell either.
We had no exchanges for the next few plays. I blocked him. He pushed back. I can't handle flirting in a bar, let alone whatever the duck this is on a field where my sole goal and purpose is to block everything he throws at me. I opted to communicate with my muscles rather than my words. We scored.
Defense took the field. I had some time to cool off. I kept feeling like he was watching me from the other sideline. We both took turns looking at each other, barely paying attention to our own teammates on the field.
4th quarter, enough time for one final drive rolled around. My team was down by five points. One touchdown wins the game. Francesco and I are locked in combat again. First down. He knocks me to the ground, hard. Luckily, our quarterback launches the ball before he can get close to sacking him. On the way back to his side. He helps me up unexpectedly, and then he broke our silence. "I want to fuck you. You want to fuck me." I licked my lip. He continued, "after the game..." The guard next to me, Zach, pulled me away.
"what was he saying bro?" He asked as we walked to the huddle.
"doesn't matter. He's just messing with me."
"don't let him get to you."
2nd down. 7 to goal. The ball snaps. Francesco tries rushing to my side, but I give him a good lineman punch and force him to stumble. I've found my confidence back. "I get to top when we win."
He grins at me and responds "Deal."
3rd down. 7 to goal. We line up. Francesco taunts by saying "I'm gonna make your tackle my bitch." Loud enough so that Zach and his tackle can hear. Zach and I broke from the play and flattened his cocky ass to the ground. But the distraction cost us the rush.
"I got your back bro." Zach said to me. Coach pulled him from the field in anger and replaced him with the backup guard.
4th down. 7 to goal. A field goal won't cut it. We have to score the touchdown to win. We line up. Francesco taunts again, but a little softer to avoid drawing the wrath of another team member. "Ready to be mine?"
"Ready to be under me again?". I sat into my stance and got ready to flatten him again. The ball snapped. I get a good punch and shove into his chest plate of his shoulder pads hard. I'm definitely the stronger of the two of us. But I'm off by just a little bit. Francesco stumbles from the impact, but successfully pushes past me. My running back is nowhere near us. The quarterback is completely naked, and Francesco violently sacks him to the ground.
Francesco's team and the crowd erupt in celebration from the win. Losing sucks. Losing because you personally let a sack slip through is embarrassing. Francesco threw his hands up in celebration, and he whipped around and locked his eyes on me. I walked to shrink into a corner and vanish.
Once the initial celebration died down, and the players started the post game chatting on the sideline, I approached Francesco and shook his hand. He pulled me in for a hug instead, and whispered in my ear so those surrounding us couldn't hear. "I want to fuck you in you full uniform tonight." It sucked losing, but that sent a shiver down my spine and tingle in my pants.
"yessir" I said back. A deal is a deal.
He hugged me again and said loud enough for the people around us. "You're my favorite rival. I can't wait to play you again"
Later that night, I reported to his hotel room as ordered, in my uniform. A deal is a deal.