Two college football teammates, Tate and Knox, both have girlfriends (Tate’s is Kate).

They have an unspoken rule: after a bad loss, whatever happens in the empty locker room stays there.

After the worst loss of the season, Knox locks the door. They cross a line they had only circled before. No talking about it. No labels. Just the understanding that it will happen again.

The story is about what that rule costs them — on the field, at home with their girlfriends, and every time they have to look at each other in daylight.

* * *

The scoreboard still said 42–11 when they came off the field.

Someone...