Page 43 of Everything In Between
With a tortured groan, I put my phone on the bedside table and roll over in bed. Somehow, I manage to fall into a deep sleep, dreaming about brown-eyed pop stars giving me delicious, soul-stopping kisses all night.
The crowd goeswild as the team takes the field, fully decked out in our uniforms and team gear to do our official warm-ups before the coin toss. Beckett and I and practice some passeswhile discussing some of the plays we’ve been working on. On the other side of the field, Quentin works on some footwork with the rest of the offensive line and Xaden runs a few drills with the backup QB. While I’m with Beckett, I focus my head on the game, running drills and working with my coach for a few last-minute tips. I toss the ball back and forth with Beckett for a while, warming up my arm while he works on his footwork.
When the practice clock hits five minutes, my coach calls it good and lets me head off to the sidelines to stretch. Meanwhile, I scan the VIP boxes along the middle level of the stadium, trying my best to spot Jersey and her friends. When I catch sight of her, my heart stutters and kicks into overdrive. She swings around to face the field as if she can sense me watching her, our eyes meet, and she gives me a little wave.
The grin on my face should be an automatic red-flag ejection.
She’s here, and she’s wearing my jersey, just like she said she would.
There’s something about knowing my name is plastered all over her that has my chest swelling with pride. I fear we’re out of crush territory and into the realm of full-on infatuation.
“What are you staring at?” Beckett asks as he saunters up to me. He tilts his head up to where my eyes are still locked. “Holy shit. There she is.”
“There she is,” I confirm, feeling for once the euphoria of having someone show up for you.
Beckett claps me on the shoulder. “Congrats, man. You deserve it.”
“What’s going on?” Xaden asks, walking over to the two of us. Beckett points to the VIP box, and Xaden says, “Whoa.” He gives Jersey a little wave.
“Hate to break up the little love fest that’s going on now, but Coach wants us in the locker room. We can all sayhito Vogt’s girlfriend later,” Quentin teases.
The four of us walk together off the field toward the locker rooms. I make sure to glance up at Jersey once more before ducking into the tunnel, just in time to see her blowing me a kiss. I rub at my chest, unfamiliar with this longing ache.
Coach gathers us in the locker room and reviews some plays we’ve been perfecting this past week and any last-minute changes. He and I have already discussed these changes ad nauseam, so I allow my thoughts to jump to Jersey for another moment.
Jersey Matthews is wearing my name, my number, and my colors. That number eighteen never looked so good. A sense of possessiveness overtakes me and my heart races knowing she’s here for me.
We’re playing an away game at the home of one of the top teams in the league. Even with that in the back of my mind, I’m filled with a sense of extreme competitiveness that I can only attribute to my primal need to impress her.
As soon as Coach hands off the pretend mic to me before we leave the locker room, I level my team with a heavy stare and put my fist in the middle of the room. They waste no time, hurrying to meet me in the huddle.
I count the team down. “Three . . . two . . .”
“Dedicated to domination, we stand proud. Majestics Nation!” All together the team shouts our pregame ritual and then we break. My teammates hoot and cheer, clapping loudly as they fire themselves up for the oncoming battle.
Three of my closest friends from the team flank me as we line up in the tunnel to take the field—Beckett to my right, Xaden to my left, and Quentin, the ultimate powerhouse, right behind me. I swivel from each of my friends and dip my chin. Beckett claps his hands, Quentin pats me on the shoulder, and Xaden gives me a fist bump.
“Let’s bring home the win, boys. I gotta show off for my girl.”
FIFTEEN
jersey
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10
“This isinsane!”I shout, my eyes scanning over the field the players are running across following their first possession in the third quarter. After winning the coin flip at the beginning, the Majestics chose to have the ball first in the second half. Hayes has told me he prefers this scenario, giving him a chance to end the game strong. The Lightning quarterback and offense take the field to match up against the Majestics defense. My focus remains on number eighteen.
On the sidelines, Hayes pulls his helmet off and shakes out his sweaty blond hair and looks straight up to my VIP box and points at me, face breaking into a bright grin.
I wave my fingers back, unable to help the bubbly laugh that escapes me. He gives me one last lingering glance before he drops his helmet on the bench and accepts a tablet from his coach to check his upcoming plays before turning around to watch what’s happening on the field.
“You all right there, sis?” Roman asks me with a hint of amusement.
“What?” When I turn away from the field, both he and Bethany are watching me with knowing looks. “Yeah, fine.” I stumble over my words, my cheeks heating because they caught that quiet moment between me and Hayes. Though the connection between us is now broken, I’m left breathless, excitement brewing.
Bethany glances sideways at Roman and smirks. “Our girl is smitten.”
Roman shakes his head, but the amusement doesn’t leave his face. “Yeah, no kidding.”
