Page 58 of Through the Flames
“Yup, for sure!” My voice sounded hollow even to my own ears. “It’ll be fine.”
As we ended the call, I just sat in silence for a while, replaying every time I’d crossed paths with Hunter.
Remembering how, when his gaze had swung my way, even if it was just for the fraction of a second, my whole fucking body had responded.
How much I enjoyed his presence and being around him.
I was fucking desperate. I knew it, and Hailey knew it, too.
My thumb was absentmindedly tracing the edge of my phone, still clutched in my hand.
I didn’t need to marry the guy; I just needed a place to sleep. A roof over my head.
Iwouldcall him.
What was the worst that could happen?
Fifteen
Hunter
Early January
The stadium lights cut across the field in crisp white lines against the cold Tennessee sky. It was bowl game time.
Everything felt amplified: the pop of the ball being snapped, the rhythm of cleats on turf, and the roar of the crowd echoing through the stands.
Crouched at cornerback, I held my position with my fingers flexed, knees bent, weight forward, every muscle poised like a coiled spring.
On the next snap, the receiver bolted off the line. I mirrored him, silently and mechanically. The world narrowed until it was just him, the ball, and me.
Then, for just a moment, I caught a glimpse of her.
Ella.
Mid-stands, her hands gripping the railing and her eyes following every step.
My chest tightened, but not from fatigue — no, this was from desire. My focus split, and yet it didn’t.
The QB dropped back, and with a quick scan, I read the formation. He looked left, then right.
Before the play was fully executed, I was already in motion. The receiver cut again, attempting a double move.
Muscle memory kicked in as I undercut him, intercepted the ball, tucked it to my chest, and sprinted downfield, taking it all the way to the house.
Glancing up, I found her in the stands again, my gaze drawn to her like she was my beacon.
By the time I reached the sideline, the offense was already jogging onto the field, ready to take possession.
I pressed a hand to my helmet, catching my breath, my gaze still locked on her.
The noise of the stadium, the trash talk and my teammates all dissolved into white noise. Ella’s eyes were on me, and that was enough.
By the time the fourth quarter rolled around, we were up by three with only two minutes left. They lined up in a shotgun formation with motion from the slot.
Snap!The QB rolled right, searching for a deep pass.
My body moved before I could fully register it, taking long, precise, calculated strides. The ball arced high, and I leapt into the air with perfect timing, my fingers stretching to secure it to my chest.
