Page 16 of Quarterback Crush
I groaned as I lifted my last rep, dropping the dumbbells to the floor with an unwarranted clank. It wasn’t good etiquette to drop weights, but the mention of Savannah had sent my blood boiling. I wanted to erase her from my memory, not be reminded of her every hour.
“She’s saying you cheated on her,” Wendall said. “That you were two timing her.”
“You believe that?” Adam answered for me. “You can’t believe that?”
“She says you kissed Maya Shelton.”
“Yeah, I kissed Maya SheltonafterI broke up with Sav,” I said trying hard to hold back my irritation, “but that’s nobody’s business.”
It was a complete contradiction because I’d kissed Maya right in front of Savannah precisely to announce that I was moving on, essentiallymaking it her business.
“But Maya Shelton? She’s a junior,” Wendall said as if it was a totally unconvincing matchup.
I stood up, shaking out my arms, leaving the seat for Adam to do his set. “Maya’s cute, she’s fun and she sure can kiss,” I said, and though I laughed, deep in my heart I meant every word. “Plus we used to be neighbors,” I added, just to consolidate my new unlikely relationship. “We go way back.” I nonchalantly crossed my arms over my chest and leaned against the rack, hoping Wendall would be bored of the conversation. “How much is that?” I asked of the weight he was about to squat.
And just like that the focus returned to lifting weights and our upcoming game. Priorities, of course.
Though, strangely, thoughts of Maya kept invading my head, memories of that kiss, her bubbliness and her willingness to play the fake dating game for my sake. That was something to appreciate and I was determined to show her that it meant the world to me.
Savannah wasn’t in school for the second day in a row. Her cousin and friend, Reece, made a point of letting me know as I stood at my locker, nervous about my upcoming English class. I wondered if Mrs. Shelton had graded the assignments yet.
“Sav’s sick,” Reece said.
“Sorry to hear that,” I muttered, “but what do you want me to do about it?”
“I just thought you should know,” she said pointedly. “It all started when you broke up with her.”
Now, something about being blamed for Savannah’s illness filled me with fury, and I grabbed Reece’s elbow as she was walking away. “Hey,” I said, anger rising, “she gave her number to Ben Monty, remember?She’sthe one who caused the breakup.”
Reece glared at me with narrowed eyes, like I was the devil incarnate. The slow shake of her head and tight lips were an indicator that this was all on me and Savannah was blameless. That Savannah could do no wrong.
Knowing Reece’s loyalty would be unshakeable, I huffed and stormed down the hallway to class. It would be useless to try to defend myself, Reece and Savannah were close. Reece wasn’t a cheerleader but she played one of those trumpet type instruments in the marching band so was always at the games.
I sat in Mrs. Shelton’s class a bundle of nerves, on edge wondering if she’d read my assignment and was suspecting it wasn’t entirely my own work. As class ended, someone asked if she’d graded our papers yet and Mrs. Shelton said she was halfway through and would give out the grades on Monday. Whew! Immediate relief—well, for one second. As she dismissed the class, her eyes found mine and with a narrowed gaze and subtle nod, she gestured for me to approach her desk.
My heartbeat raged in my chest as I had visions of her knowing exactly what I’d done and telling Coach who’d then sideline me for the quarterfinal. My football career would be over and Dad would go ballistic. I wouldn’t graduate high school and would end up packing groceries for the rest of my life.
I moved at a snail’s pace, making sure everyone had departed the room so that there was no audience to witness Mrs. Shelton destroying my whole life.
“Oliver,” she said, clearing her throat.
I couldn’t look her in the eye, imagining my parents’ disappointment when they found out their youngest son was letting them down. They’d regret having that fourth child.
As I opened my mouth to speak, nothing came out. I was an empty vessel and my stomach churned worse than first game nerves. I did get nervous before a game, but they were good nerves, the pumped-up-adrenaline-inducing nerves. But these were the type that made you puke on your shoes.
“It’s come to my knowledge—”
It was better to confess, right? Admit I used Lance’s assignment as a guide and take the punishment, yeah? On the verge of telling all, I lifted my eyes.
But Mrs. Shelton was still talking and if anything, her tone was amused, “...that you asked my daughter out on a date?”
Relief rushed through me and in the next instant, I was bubbling and babbling. “Yep. Maya. Yep, that’s right. That’s okay, isn’t it? This Saturday. If you’re good with it, of course.”
Mrs. Shelton cocked her head like she was suddenly suspicious of my enthusiasm.
“I promise I’ll bring her home on time. That’s if she has a curfew. Yeah, of course I will.” I was rambling at this stage, barely making sense.
“Uh huh,” Mrs. Shelton said coolly. “And how are you going on your assignment? Are you managing?”
