Patton Cooper won three national championships as the starting quarterback for the Los Angeles Marauders, but that didn’t stop them from trading him to Phoenix without so much as a warning. At thirty-two, he finds himself weighed down by old injuries and forced to start over again as a backup quarterback for an untried rookie. Deeply hurt by the betrayal of both his team and his ex-lover, Patton keeps to himself and takes what solace he can in football.<br><br>Cornerback DeShawn Jones has loved two things in his life -- football and Patton Cooper. It seems like his dreams have come true when he’s drafted to play for the Phoenix Wildcats, until he realizes the coach has no intention of letting him start, and his childhood hero is a withdrawn, wary man. But DeShawn refuses to give up on his dreams of playing, or his hope of reaching Patton.<br><br>A tentative connection forms between the two men, but the pressures of the game may be too much for the relationship to withstand. Especially when DeShawn is given the chance of a lifetime while Patton struggles not to relive the mistakes from his past.

Mr. November

Patton didn’t have the chance to put his big plan into motion in the third quarter. The Breakers ate up the rest of the clock by keeping the ball on the ground, eking out yards and just barely managing to get set after set of new downs.


“You know what they’re doing?” Bryce asked while Patton watched yet another run for five yards.


“Besides completely controlling the clock and the rhythm of the game.”


“They’re giving their defense a chance to rest.”


“Fine with me. Just means we’ve had a chance to rest, too.”


“You mean if we ever get on the field again? Rushing plays.”


“Come on, Patton. That’s not your kind of ball.”


“No, but as long as we keep the football on the ground, DeShawn won’t intercept it.”


“You’re really that scared of him?”


“Yeah, I am. He’s been beating you to the post all day. I couldn’t even throw it to you if I wanted to half the time.”


“I’m not talking about me. You’ve got good chemistry with J.J.”


Chapter 54