Fantasy League Read Online Free Page B

wasn’t his fault. Ike Barber, a wideout Charlie thought was already in decline only three years after the Bulldogs had drafted him, had been slow making his cut to the outside.
    Before Charlie could say anything, Anna said, “Real barbers run better pass routes than Ike does.”
    â€œTight end was wide open,” Charlie said, “watch on the replay.”
    Anna made a snorting noise.
    â€œMo is open a lot,” Anna said, talking about Mo Bettencourt. “Doesn’t matter if nobody throws him the stupid ball.”
    The Bulldogs at least managed to kick a field goal, making it 24–3 to end the half.
    â€œNot the most encouraging start to the season,” Charlie said.
    â€œSpeaking of seasons,” Anna said, “when does practice officially start for you guys?”
    â€œMonday.
Can’t wait
.”
    Saying it in a way that let her know he meant the opposite.
    â€œC’mon,” she said, “you know it will be fun.”
    â€œFor who?”
    â€œYou like being with the guys.”
    â€œThe other guys can play. I can’t.”
    From downstairs, they heard Anna’s mom calling them for dinner.
    â€œIf you keep thinking that way,” Anna said, “you’re never going to get better.”
    â€œIt doesn’t matter how I think,” he said, “I’m never going to be good enough. I don’t run well enough, I don’t tackle all that well, and I’ve never been able to throw it or catch it well enough.”
    Anna smiled at him. That smile, he knew, made her even prettier. And even though Charlie Gaines would never admit it, when she smiled at him that way it made him as happy as football did.
    Maybe more.
    â€œWell, look at it this way,” Anna said. “If you’re really that bad . . . you might grow up to play for the Bulldogs someday!”
    They ate dinner and managed to laugh about the state of the L.A. Dogs the whole time. When they were finished, Anna’s mom asked if they were going to watch the second half.
    Anna looked at her and said, “I can’t believe you even asked us that.”
    Charlie said, “Seriously Mrs. Bretton? Sometimes I feel like I don’t know you anymore.”
    They watched the second half, knowing that so many of the players they were watching weren’t ever going to make the team. The Bears ended up winning, 38–10. Charlie’s mom showed up about ten minutes after the game ended, perfect timing. Anna said she’d call Charlie tomorrow, maybe they could go to a movie before the Giants-Packers game on Sunday night—just assuming they were going to watch it together.
    â€œYour house or mine?” he said.
    She smiled at him again. “I totally don’t care.”
    Neither did he.
    â€œWe’ll figure it out tomorrow.”
    â€œHey?” she said.
    He turned at the door to her room.
    â€œThe way we’re obsessed with football, you think other people think we’re weird?” Anna said.
    Charlie was the one smiling now. “Probably,” he said. “You care?”
    â€œNot even a little bit.”
    When he got into the car, his mom asked if he and Anna had had fun.
    â€œWe always have fun,” he said.
    â€œI think I might have picked up on that,” she said.
    On the way home, he thought about something one of the announcers had said in the fourth quarter, about how this was going to be another long season for the Los Angeles Bulldogs.
    Charlie understood what the guy meant; he hadn’t seen anything tonight that made him think the team was going to get better anytime soon.
    Or ever.
    Still: As far as he was concerned, the football season was never long enough to suit him. He was already thinking about Giants-Packers. There were a couple of rookie running backs on both teams he wanted to see. And one of the Packers’ best receivers was coming off shoulder surgery, and was expected to be out there for