“I used to, when I was younger. I really just started picking it up again.” I reach forward, grabbing a chip to dunk in salsa when my phone dings. “I bet they’re almost here,” I say about Fitz and Josh, who are coming to meet us from the Rebels facility.

FITZY

Won’t be home until super late.

“Do they usually work this much during the off-season?” I ask, as I type back.

Lo sighs when I frown. “Usually not late night.”

Everything okay? Can I bring you home a quesadilla?

FITZY

No thanks. Having a bite with Coach now. Got film to watch.

“What’s your take on Coach Foller?” I ask her. She’s silent for a minute, so I expect maybe she doesn’t really have much of an opinion at all, which is fair. But when I look up from my phone, Lo isn’t quiet because she has nothing to say. She’s quiet because she’s chugging her drink and returns an empty glass to the table.

“He’s an asshole.” Lo sighs. “I mean, I guess all football coaches have to be assholes at some point, but Foller? He’s extreme. This is Josh’s fourth year with the Rebels. He comes home from practices and games ready to quit at least three times a week during regular season. The night before the Super Bowl he called and told me he didn’t think he had it in him to suit up.”

I widen my eyes. “Isn’t he the starting center? Why wouldn’t he play?”

Lo looks off to the side. “I mean, at some point enough is enough, you know? Josh is sensitive, I’m not denying that. But coaches should care about their players, especially someone like Josh who has given so much to the Rebels for years. He shouldn’t be, I don’t know what the word is. Scolded? Belittled?”

“Berated?” I offer.

Lo shrugs. “Maybe. This is professional football. These guys live and breathe the game. Trust me. All of them are tough enough on themselves in their own head. They don’t need their coaches to do that too. They’ve got to lift them up a little. Foller, he just keeps them down. And, okay, it’s football. You have to be mean in football. Players, coaches, all of them.” Lo waves her hand back and forth.

I purse my lips together. I’m not sure if you need to be mean to play football more than you need to be tough and brave. And I’m not sure how a coach being mean to players makes them want to be either of those things.