Page 54 of Game On
Ash claps me on the back, breaking into my thoughts. “You’re pretty good, Fox. You should leave your team and join us instead.”
I laugh, though it’s hollow. “Yeah, I’ll just throw my scholarship money in the garbage. Sounds good.”
“Ah, that’s why I’ve got student loans. It’s just imaginary money until it isn’t,” he jokes, but his expression changes once Ella’s out of sight. “What’s your play with her, by the way?”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s obvious how much you want Ella,” he says plainly. “And you know she wants you, too. So, what’s the hang-up?”
“You aren’t into her?” I deflect, trying to gauge his intentions.
“Didn’t say that.”
“Youareinto her, then?” I press on, attempting to control a rising irritation.
“Didn’t say that, either.” He tips his chin, a small smile playing on his lips. “You answer my question, I’ll answer yours.”
I sigh. “There are … a lot of external factors standing in our way.”
He scoffs. “What a political bullshit answer.”
“Well, it’s all I have,” I say, my gaze drifting back to Ella, who’s now working on a stunt with Luke while Levi balances Sammy and Gabi on either shoulder.
“Well, then I’m gonna keep my feelings to myself, too,” Ash says. “Do I want something more with Ella? I guess that’s one secret you’ll never know.”
As he saunters away, I mutter the word “asshole” under my breath just loud enough for him to hear.
“Hey!” he calls over his shoulder. “I heard that!”
“Good!” I shout back, rolling my eyes. “I wanted you to!”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Hudson
It’s been two weeks since that conversation with Ash, and here I am, sitting on the team bus as it hums along the highway. The window next to me offers glimpses of the passing landscape, but my thoughts aren’t on the scenery. They never are when a match is looming.
We’re headed to Lexington for an away game. Their campus, three hours from ours, will host us this weekend. The cheer squad is coming along, too. That’s not always the case, but for rival games like this, they make the trip.
It’s important; their presence lifts the spirits of the players and the small section of students who make the journey to support us. But the fact that Ella’s along for the ride this time has my pulse skittering.
My mind’s been busy running through a million different scenarios of what this weekend might look like. A blatant distraction, but for once, it excites instead of unnerves me.
The bus is filled with the usual pre-game energy, chatter, and the occasional burst of laughter, but my thoughts areelsewhere, circling around what Ash threw at me, Levi’s constant jabs, and Ella herself.
Ella, whose presence has become a constant in my life. Ella, who’s only here until the end of the year.
I’ve been to a few more open gyms over at Skyline, and it’s been more of the same. A rush, a thrill, a much-needed escape. A chance for me to butt heads with the girl I’ve been obsessing over.
But everything is still so complicated. There’s a rule that says we’re not meant to mess around. Though it’s not just that—it’s me, too.
I’ve spent years building walls because I need to control everything around me. After what happened with my dad, after the fire, I learned how quickly things can spiral. Letting someone in feels like losing that control, and risking that is scary. But the truth is that I can’t stop thinking about her.
Can’t stopwantingher.
Now, with the weekend ahead, we have a real chance to spend time together away from Skyline and the prying eyes of our peers. The hotel stay, the downtime before and after the game—it feels like an opportunity to tell her I’ve reassessed.
I’ve thought about it, long and hard, and I know we could both benefit from … exploring our connection further. She’s leaving at the end of the year, anyway. If it’s not permanent, it doesn’t have to be so terrifying. Here for a good time not a long time, right?
