Page 64 of The Midseason Fakeout

“You haven’t even played yet.”

I shrug. “I feel it. In my toes.”

Coach must see me because he yells, “For God’s sake, Aidan!”

“You better hurry,” I tell her, laughing. I’m not getting down until I get what I want.

Thankfully, she doesn’t make me wait. She shakes her head, leaning over the wall. Our lips touch, and I swear the crowd’s roar defies sound barriers. Just like Darrin said earlier, a chant ofBaidanrumbles through the spectators.

The kiss is short and perfect, her laughter breaking it up. “I guess we can’t deny our fans.”

“Hey, I was going to say that.”

My coach yells again, and Bailey peers behind me. “He looks mad.”

“He’ll forgive me when I have the best game of my life.”

She tsks. “So full of yourself.”

“You know it.”

I drop down and turn toward the field, tugging my helmet on.

Game time.

18

BAILEY

I can’t stop smiling.

Aidan grins at me from the other side of the room, flanked by dozens of people. Everyone wants to talk to him. Everyone wants to congratulate him.

I don’t know how he did it, but he really did have the best game he’s had all season. He freaking surpassed the record for total passing yards in one game that was previously held by Reid Parker, and Reid Parker went on to play for the NFL.

The reason I know this? Everyone’s also coming to talk to me. Maybe it’s because I’m still wearing his jersey.

Cade walks up to Kenna and me, shaking his head. “He had a hell of a game.”

“You did, too,” I point out. “He wouldn’t have completed so many passes if you weren’t there.”

He smiles, his dark hair tousled. “Remind me to tell Aidan how much I like you.”

Butterflies erupt in my stomach. For the first time ever it’s like I have a built-in friend group. If they’re friends with Aidan, they’re friends with me. The other day, I dropped my books everywhere, and one of the linemen not only helped me pick them all up but walked me to my next class.

“Seriously,” I tell him. “You were great.”

He waves at me to keep going. “I could listen to accolades all day. What else you got?”

“That one touchdown?”

“Which one?” he asks, and the rest of us laugh.

Behind him, Aidan meanders toward us, and my tummy does a flip. His stare catches on mine and keeps it, like a magnetic pull. He leans into Cade, still looking at me. “Trying to steal my thunder?”

“Well, as your girlfriend so eloquently pointed out, you wouldn’t have completed so many passes if it weren’t for me.”

Aidan’s smile grows wider. “Oh, she said that, did she?”

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