Page 103 of The Backup Plan

He’s the best one to give you the lecture. Marsh will get nasty, Cam will project his insecurities, Ethan’s at physical therapy, and I’m only here to stir up more drama. So unless someone can page Tom Brady for you, Cory is the lone straight-shooter.

Cameron

The picture isn’t great, and that shirt was a choice, but before you get lectured, is any of what they wrote true? The where and when and who?

Cory

Hayden?

Hayden

It’s somewhat true. Mostly true. She’s not my French tutor, she’s my Spanish tutor. I think the French thing was something they made up to go with the picture.

Dale

You look like you’re trying to eat her face. That’s not French kissing.

Cameron

That’s a French flag on the bottle, though. Vous avez bon goût en matière de cognac, connard.

Hayden

Look, it was 1 a.m. Yes, we were at a club, at a table with bottle service, and yes, I’m underage. And yes, it was the night before a game that we lost.

And NO, the loss was not my fault.

Let me have it.

Marshall

I’m going to bet your tutors are paid by the athletic department, so you probably just got that girl fired. They’ll say she’s a bad influence on their poor boy.

Cory

You want to play professionally, don’t you?

Hayden

Of course I do.

Cory

Do you remember that rockstar kid from Texas who won a Heisman, then got cut because he missed a game while he was partying in Vegas?

Hayden

That’s not even remotely like this.

Cory

It starts like this.

Every guy who’s ever been in this group had to fight like hell to win his job. We had to fight to even get in line to do this. I know you did.

Everybody remembers Johnny. Choices like his will cost you everything you worked for.

This game has a long memory. Don’t make them think of him when they think of you. That’s all.