Page 45 of Love at Second Down

“Holy shit. You haven’t,” Chris says, looking stunned.

“So maybe I haven’t,” I say with a shrug.

“Wait.” Brandon leans closer, his eyes narrowed to slits. “You mean since she’s been back, right? You haven’t been with a chick since she’s been back.”

I cut him with a look that could kill, then focus back on Coach as I mumble, “Or maybe never. So what?”

“So what?So what?” Chris shoves a hand into his hair, like this revelation changes everything he’s ever thought about me.

“Wait.” Jace chokes as he asks, “You mean, the only chick you’ve ever . . .” He trails off as I nod, my teeth clenched so tight, my jaw aches.

“I think it’s cool,” West chimes in, and I offer him a look of gratitude as he gives me knuckles. “Shows how much you really loved her, man.”

“Yeah, but now what?” Brandon asks, glancing back to Chris like I’m a lost cause.

“This changes things. You don’t need just a random hookup,” Chris says, as if talking to himself. “It all makes sense now. You act all tough and macho, but the truth is you’re notthatguy. You’re a relationship guy in disguise, so you need a chick who’s girlfriend material, someone with real potential.”

“I’mnota relationship guy,” I say as fear roils in my stomach. “And I don’t want someone with potential, because I don’t want anything that can’t go anywhere when football is my only priority. Period.”

Do I?

What does it mean that I haven’t been with anyone since Avery?

Fuck. These guys are getting to my head.

“Sorry, but we’ve known you for two years now, and with this new piece of information in mind, I call bullshit,” Jace chimes in.

I glance over at West in question, because out of all of us, he’s the most observant, the most levelheaded, and the least dramatic. If there’s a kernel of truth to what they’re saying, he’ll sniff it out. Surely, he’ll tell them they’re wrong.

But West just shrugs, his arms crossed over his chest. “Maybe they have a point,” he says.

“You suck,” I retort.

“Told you,” Chris says, his tone smug.

“Now is not the time to be talking about this,” I hiss-whisper as I rake a hand through my hair.

Why can’t I be on the field instead of stuck in this room with these Neanderthals?

“We need to focus on this weekend,” I say, pointing out the obvious.

“Exactly. Now is the perfect time to talk about this before we have a replay of what happened on Sunday,” Jace huffs.

“We won, didn’t we?” I say, hearing the defensiveness in my voice.

“Barely,” Brandon coughs into his hand, and Coach glances our way again. A few seconds pass before he turns back and any of us speak.

“What’s a better way to gain focus than to expel a little sexual energy?” Chris asks, and I have to say, he has a point, but still. What they’re talking about is more than sex. A relationship, if I’m even capable of one, is the last thing I need.

“Even if I was on board with this little plan of yours, which I’m not,” I say, leaning closer, my gaze flickering back and forth between Coach and the guys, “I don’t have time to find a chick worth dating right now.”

“I knew you’d say that,” Chris says with a wide grin, “so I did the honors of setting something up for you.”

“No!” I bark out, a little too loudly. “Say you didn’t . . .”

At the sound of my voice, Coach glances my way, his beady eyes narrowed. “Is there a problem, Huhn?”

I shake my head, clearing my throat. “No, sir. I, uh, it’s just that I should’ve recognized the blitz pre-snap by reading the defensive alignment and adjusted the protection or called a quick hot route.”

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