Page 6 of Falling for the Quarterback

“It’s Hendy! Bro, good to see you.”

“Get your ass over here, Hendy! How the fuck you been, man?”

I stride into the student center, a CFU ball cap pulled low over my eyes, hoping to remain unnoticed by the other students congregating in the café.

No such luck.

Even incognito, I’m a recognizable feature on campus and have many fans and acquaintances from my former ball-playing days.Former.As in, no longer their QB One.

The thought is depressing as fuck. I knew this transition would be tough getting through the final year in my graduate program, but it’s proving more difficult than I expected.

In the past when I walked into a room and was recognized as a local legend, it boosted my ego to receive all the attention as the star quarterback for the CFU Bears. I was like a king on campus and treated like one.

But now? Not this year. This year, I’m just a regular Joe Schmoe grad student.

Nothing special about me, aside from my championship titles and an elite position in the school’s football Hall of Fame history.

I shake off the depressing thoughts that infiltrate my brain and plaster on a smile, aiming it at the group of lowerclassman all hanging out in the middle of the student lounge. Each one either slaps me on my back, gives me a fist bump, or high-fives me.

The two girls, one blonde and the other a redhead, smile sweetly and bat their eyelashes at me, giggling coyly and whispering to each other as I approach. In the past, their interest in me boosted my ego and fed my self-importance. Now it feels a little fake and disingenuous because I’m not that guy anymore. Or at least, I want to be. I’m done with football and all the drama.

If this is how my little sister, Journey, chooses to act around athletes on campus this year as an incoming freshman, I’m going to have to lock her away in her dorm for the entire school year. I’m already worried about her fitting in and adjusting to campus life, even though my friends Grace, Lucy, and Kelsie have all assured me they’ll take her under their wings.

“Hey guys, how was your summer?” My question is directed toward the two senior frat guys, Layton and Sean, who I know from previous years’ parties at the Kappa Sigma Pi frat house. They are both total douches and probably haven’t matured much since last year.

The taller of the two, Sean, jumps to his feet from his spot on top of the café table and pulls out his phone. Swiping the screen open, he taps it once and shoves it in front of my face.

“Check this out, bro. We went hiking and waterskiing in Tahoe in July and then partied our asses off in Vegas. It was fucking lit, man!”

I’m not the least bit interested in his photos but smile and nod regardless, making a mental note to keep my sister as far away from these asshats as possible.

Layton joins in, laughing darkly. “Fuck, bro, we got so wasted one night at Club Chic, I think I passed out between some topless chick’s tits.”

“Hmm.” It’s all I can think of to say because it only confirms these two are idiot man-children who only think with their dicks and have no purpose in life other than to party and get laid.

You were the same in the past.

The two start reminiscing with each other and it gives me the opportunity I need to get the hell out of here.

“Good catching up, guys,” I say, looking for my exit just as my name is being called by a feminine voice across the room.

Thank God. Saved by Grace.Literally.

Grace and Lucy are over in line at the coffee bar, waiting for their drinks. I wave in their direction.

“See ya. I gotta meet my friends and get to class.”

I turn to go when the blonde girl grabs hold of my forearm, her delicate grip on my skin foreign and all wrong. I glance down at it and then at her as she smiles up at me with plump lips.

“Mind if I walk with you, Hendy? I’d love to hear what you did all summer.”

As gently as I can so as not to be disrespectful, I pry her pink fingernails from my arm and drop it to her side.

“Sorry, uh…” I’m trying to recall if she gave me her name or not.

She pouts. “You don’t remember me? It’s Maisy.”

Shit. Nope. Don’t remember her at all.

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