Completing the Pass Read Online Free PDF Page B

want the media finding out until it’s inevitable. It’s a miracle they haven’t picked up on something already. So start getting familiar with it.”
    With . . .
it
?
    â€œHe means the pressure,” Trey mock whispered. Coach Barnes shot them a narrow look, as if one of the nuns had caught two altar boys whispering during a sermon.
    â€œI mean
all
of it. Start getting used to the media attention, the attention from fans, and the questions you’re going to get. I’ll have Simon start working with you, brief you on how to answer questions if anyone has curiosity about Trey, but mostly you are there to play happy-happy backup. We want the team to see a guy willing to step up and the media to see a guy who is someone to count on. Got it?”
    For the first time since he’d graduated college, Josh realized the weight of a team’s success was once again resting on his shoulders. Even if it was just preseason. “Isn’t this a little much? I mean, it’s just a sprain. He’ll be back soon and—”
    â€œJust a sprain?” The words were quietly whispered, to the point that Josh almost didn’t hear Coach Barnes. “Just a sprain. Right. Well, what’s holding you back, Trey? Get on out there and kick some ass!”
    The last was roared at them. Trey merely smiled. Josh wondered if now was a good time to make a break for it.
    â€œDo the work, be noticed, learn the ropes.” Coach slammed his folder shut and glared. “You’re the backup. Do what backups do.” With that little nugget of wisdom, he left.
    â€œThat was pleasant,” Trey said mildly.
    â€œDo what backups do,”
Josh repeated. “What the hell does that even mean?”
    â€œIt means the understudy is being shoved out onstage because the star is busy puking up his hangover in the wings. Start acting the part.” Trey slapped a hand on Josh’s shoulder as he stood. The man walked, but with a limp. “Welcome to the shit show, my friend.”
    ***
    Carri finished setting the table and pulled the vibrating cell phone out of her pocket at the same time. “Carrington Gray—”
    â€œHas abandoned me to hell on earth, also known as renter drama.”
    â€œJess.” With a sigh, Carri ducked into her father’s home office. It was a total wreck, with stacks of papers leaning precariously against one another, one finger flick away from disaster. “Is something wrong?”
    â€œTenant C is wanting to move out early. I sent you an e-mail stating their claim. Basically, it says they both lost their jobs within three weeks of each other and can’t afford the rent anymore. I guess they’re moving in with a relative or something. They didn’t come right out and say it, but in reading between the lines, I think they were saying they will just have to stop paying rent pretty soon. So, whatever.”
    Carri glanced around the seventies-inspired shag carpet, which was mostly covered with cardboard boxes and a huge desk made out of a thick slab of wood balanced on two miniature filing cabinets. “Yeah, whatever.”
    â€œAnyway, they want to break the lease early because they can’t afford to keep paying, but they can’t pay the termination fee, either.”
    Carri rubbed at her forehead. “Tell them that we will terminate the lease when we find a new renter. They’re under contract, and I’m holding them to it, but if we can get someone in there before their old contract is up, then we’ll terminate without a penalty and won’t come after them for the difference.”
    â€œWhich provides them incentive to leave the place sparkling clean so we have to spend less time between tenants, and also to talk us up among their friends as a good place to live. Nice one.”
    â€œI have my moments.” She swiped a finger over a stack of textbooks and grimaced at the decade or more of dust that