Page 14 of Calm Before the Score

Ryan

Hartley and I pull up to Downtown Tap after our post-game meeting and showers. Once the team arrives, everyone is well on their way to getting wasted. Hartley asked if I could drive him. He knows I don’t drink in public, and he told me Violet probably wouldn’t come out because it’s not really her scene. Don’t like the way that disappointed me, but it’s perfect timing. I’m looking for a quick hookup tonight, and I don’t need her distracting me any more than she already has.

Game nights are the busiest, but Springs U players don’t have to wait in line. Being an athlete has its perks. Hartley and I walk in and split up. He goes straight for the bar, and I scope out a table I can park at for the night. Football players are royalty at Springs U. Once I find my spot for the night, girls will find me.

I see some of the offense and join them in the back corner of the bar. We talk about the game for a few minutes before beautiful girls in tight dresses with way too much makeup join us and act like they care about football. I’d rather them just say nothing than act like they care about anything besides getting one of the players to dance with them.

A blonde takes a seat on my lap. Her name is Brittany or Bridget. She hangs around the team. I don’t care what her name is, as long as it isn’t Violet. She leans into me and starts kissing up my neck while I mindlessly rub circles up her thigh. This is the distraction I wanted, but why am I picturing the frustrating brunette firecracker kissing me instead of the leggy blonde?

When Mason, our quarterback, joins the table, even more people gravitate to us. He’s a jokester and is the life of the party. He loves to mess with Locke, and I love watching it.

“Locke, your girl is here, and she looks just as edible as usual.” Mason elbows Locke’s ribs. He knows bringing up Liza always stirs up trouble. I don’t know what goes on with those two, but they are always fighting, making up, breaking up, or hooking up.

Wait, if Liza is here, that must mean…

I scan the bar frantically to find the one girl I was set on avoiding and forgetting about tonight. When my eyes catch the wild blonde, I see her newfound partner in crime grinding on the dance floor. Every guy within ten feet has their eyes locked on her waist. Her shorts ride up dangerously high. They both have their football jerseys tied above their waist, showing skin. Everyone in the bar has a clear view of the skin that my hands touched just a few nights ago. Her hair is pulled up out of her face now, and she’s sweating with a drink in her hand.

Hartley said this wasn’t her scene.He’s an idiot. Why did I trust that he would know what she would be doing tonight? More importantly, why do I make it my mission to get close to her anywhere on campus? I don’t date, but this is starting to feel real obsessive, and I can’t control it.

Before I can change my mind, I stand up and move the girl who’s sitting on my lap off of me. She rolls her eyes and moves on to the next best player at the table. I’m bulldozing my way through the flashing lights, the beat of the music thumping through me, toward the girl that drives me crazy. When I getcloser, I get a better view of just how incredibly sexy she is. She is dressed more casually than most of the girls here, but it doesn’t matter what she’s wearing. She could wear a trash bag and still hypnotize every guy in the room. The fact that she still has Locke’s jersey on is really getting to me, and I need to know why she’s wearing it. I squeeze through the tight crowd and reach for Liza. When she sees me, she squeals and gives me a big hug.

“RYAN! You played amazing tonight! Are the rest of the guys here?” she screams above the music. Violet hasn’t turned around to face my way yet.

“Thanks. Let’s find somewhere I can actually hear you,” I explain, hoping to get these girls off the dance floor quickly. Liza nods and whispers into Violet’s ear. Violet looks back at me, rolls her eyes, shakes her head no, and continues to move to the beat of the music. She’s rolling her hips in the most seductive way possible.

You’re kidding me.She’s not going to make this easy. Any other girl would jump at the opportunity for one on one time with a football player, but apparently, Violet is the exception. Makes me like her even more.

“Sorry. We’re having fun! Dance with us!” Liza pulls me in. Now I’m trapped, but I’m not leaving Violet on this dance floor alone. I guess I’m dancing tonight.

13

Violet

Swaying back and forth on the dance floor, my body tells me I’m drunk. This might be the best night of my life. After two shots of tequila and two vodka sodas, within two hours, I’m trashed. Liza and I have been dancing for a while, and I don’t want to stop. Every song is my favorite. The only downside about this bar is how hot it is with so many people crammed into a tiny space. Liza and I throw our hair up and tie our oversized football jerseys above our stomachs to keep cool.

I never knew how much I needed a female friend like Liza before tonight. She makes everything more exciting, and she’s the perfect dance partner. When we’re dancing together, we don’t have to worry about creepy guys approaching us. Liza taught me how to twerk, and she said I’m a natural, so that’s my new go-to move.

Liza leans in and says, “SOS. Your chiseled football hottie is behind us and wants to go somewhere quieter to talk. Let’s go.”

She’s so excited, but I’m not ready to stop dancing, so I glance behind me and shake my head no.Dang, he looks good, but his ego can take a hit.He’s in jeans and a tight gray shirt that frameshis muscles. His hair glistens from the post-game shower. His beard is neatly trimmed, and his caramel eyes shoot daggers through me.

Liza laughs and replies, “Haha. He’ll just have to stay here with us then.”

She drags him closer until we are touching. We don’t have a choice. There isn’t much room to move. He looks uncomfortable on the dance floor with his hands in his pockets, and the way he isn’t moving to the music.Buzzkill.

I lean closer to him so he can hear me, “You know you are allowed to quit brooding and dance, right?” I playfully touch his arm. The heat from his toned muscles ripples through my hand and down my body. His eyes lock with my hand, and carefully take in my body. No one has ever looked at me with this level of intensity. His eyes meet mine, but he isn’t smiling. His jaw is locked, and his muscles tense as he stretches his neck side to side. My hand hasn’t left his arm, and he hasn’t made an attempt to move it off.

He leans in so close that his lips touch my ear. His hot breath sends a shiver down my back, and goosebumps rise all over me. His big hands grip my waist, and unlike the party he kissed me at, he squeezes my hips confidently.

“You know, if you wanted a jersey, all you had to do was ask, baby.”

I remember that I’m wearing Locke’s jersey.Why does he care?He leans back just enough to see my entire face. My body is locked in with his, and I’m panting from his proximity. I can’t think straight. Not when the sexiest man in this bar is standing in front of me with his hands firmly gripping my waist and his lips dangerously close to mine. I need to answer him or kiss him.That’s the vodka talking…

“I’m wearing the jersey I want.” I tilt my head slightly and smirk with my arms crossed over my chest. Ryan is much tallerthan me, and his presence is overwhelming. Even over the strong stench of alcohol, I smell his deep woodsy scent.

“You’re killing me.” He groans and tilts his head back. Before I can answer, he spins me around and guides my waist to him, traveling his hands up and down my body from my waist to my stomach.

Higher, please.

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