Page 52 of Full Coverage (Boys of Fall)

“Then yeah, a few.”

Randi sighed. She couldhearJackson’s huge grin. She also felt Nolan’s hold tighten around her lower leg. She and Jackson had never slept together. But yeah, okay, they might have made out a little. Jackson was a really good-looking guy. Who played football and liked to talk to her about it. That meant he met all of her criteria—goodlooking, played football, talked football. But they’d never been serious and she was going to be sure Nolan knew that. As soon as she could speak out loud without getting arrested.

“We didn’t just sit around talking football either,” Carter said.

Had their voices gotten louder? Randi frowned slightly.

“Well, of course not. I mean, Randi’s the best to talk game with but she’s way too gorgeous toonlytalk football,” Jackson said.

Yes, their voices were definitely louder. As if they’d moved closer to the door. Crap, were they coming in here?

“And any guy who wants to sit around for hours and just talk to her is crazy,” Carter said.

“Well, Nolan’s faking most of that,” Jackson said.

Randi sat up a little straighter. Nolan’s hand tightened around her ankle briefly.

“No kidding,” Carter said.

If Randi didn’t know better, she’d think they were standing on either side of the door, leaning against the wall as they talked. She frowned. What was going on?

“Nolan knows a lot about football,” Jackson said. “I think he’s faking the whole thing about needing help with the details so he can hang out with Randi.”

“Makes sense,” Carter said. “He’s a smart guy and it’s just football. It’s not like he couldn’t figure it out himself.”

Randi frowned. It was true. With some study, almost anyone could learn the game. Especially a guy as intelligent as Nolan. But Nolan himself had said that what she’d been giving him was about more than just the technicalities of the game.

“Heisa smart guy,” Jackson agreed. “But if he’s asbrilliantas I think he is, he’ll watch the tape of the game our senior year against Peterson with her.”

Randi grimaced. The game against Peterson had been rough. The Rams had come to town wanting to take the top-rated Titans out. No matter what. And the refs had sucked. A few fans had been thrown out of the game by security. And she’d made history. It was the first time anyone could remember that the head cheerleader—or any cheerleader—was one of the people escorted out.

But the refs hadsucked. Randi didn’t regret a single thing she’d yelled at the guys in stripes. Or at the dickhead group of dads on the other side who didn’t know pass interference from pancakes. She also didn’t really regret that some of the junior varsity guys had needed to step between her and one of those dads who thought he’d come to their side of the field and tell the “little girl” a thing or two about football. Two of the JV players had needed to carry Randi out to the parking lot because she’d been about to go at the guy. And she knew how to throw a punch.

Their high school principal, Mr. Whitacre, her friend Lela’s dad, had agreed with her about the refs. He’d had to give her three days of detention for unsportsmanlike conduct, per school policy, but they’d spent the time in his office rehashing the game and every screwed-up call.

“Randi’s beautiful, but when she gets riled up about football, she’s gorgeous,” Carter agreed.

Randi felt the pleasure of the compliment go through her, right on top of the flush of uneasiness. There were some other stories they could tell. Just as she got riled up over bad officiating and bad play-calling, she could get just as worked up over brilliant plays and victories. Nothing got her blood pumping like a great Hail Mary or a trick play that worked or a well-executed onside kick. Parties after her team won were some of the most fun she ever had. She was funnier and cleverer with post-game adrenaline pumping. She was even a better dancer when her team won.

Jackson gave a small laugh. “I know it. Remember the Super Bowl party at Pitchers last year? She was all riled up over that call in the first half? I swear, half the guys there wanted to—”

Yep, likethatstory.

Randi was off the desk and yanking open the door before Jackson could finish his sentence.

“Okay. Enough,” she interrupted. She’d been riled up about the call, all right. She’d gotten into a huge argument with Kyle Simpson about it and they’d ended up naked together later that night. Football was an aphrodisiac for her. She couldn’t help it.

And she’d been right about Carter and Jackson leaning on the wall beside the door. They both straightened with big grins, not at all shocked to see her. Though they might have been slightly surprised that she was in only her bra.

She narrowed her eyes, realizing what was really going on out here. “You knew we were in there.”

They both laughed. “I saw you break in,” Carter said.

She felt Nolan move in behind her and then her shirt flop over her shoulder.

“Hey, guys,” Nolan said easily.

“Youknew they knew we were here the whole time?” she asked, shrugging into her shirt and buttoning it up.

---