Page 107 of Pick Six
Harper
Jossand I are sitting at the game, with seats only two rows back from the field, deep in the thick of all the fan action. Everyone around us is dressed up in costumes and paint, waving flags, and yelling at the top of their lungs. The team is struggling today, but you wouldn’t know it by the way the crowd is still cheering them on.
The guys are just not in sync when they play. The normal plays they usually make look effortless, are turning into a complete mess on the field. Defensive holding, offsides, and unnecessary roughness calls have penalty yards mounting against them, and they’re backed up against their own end zone again and again. St. George, Lawton, and Westfield are playing their hearts out on the field, and Prescott and the rest of the line have been managing to hold the other team’s defense. But we’re struggling to keep their offense off the field.
“I don’t know a lot about football, but I don’t think this is good news.” Joss nods to the score.
“Not really, no.” They’ve got time. Hopefully, the coaches have something inspiring to say.
By the timehalftime rolls around the entire defense looks like they might keel over from heat and frustration, and when I spot Alex, I don’t think. I just run down to where they’re entering the tunnel. The group of fans standing there are a mix of cheers and insults. Some people encouraging them for the next half and some people booing them for their performance so far. A few fans shout Xavier’s name, and one waves a sign that says “XXL”.
“Alex!” I yell out his name as loud as I can, and the woman next to me who’s also wearing his jersey gives me a strained look.
“No one calls him that.” She gives me a roll of her eyes.
“Yeah? Well I do.” I look back just as he’s closing in on the tunnel. “Alex!” I yell his name one more time, and he finally looks up. His eyes lock on mine, something flickering in them. I pull the chain off my neck and dangle it out over the edge.
He walks over and looks up at me. “You came.” I can read the words on his lips more than I can hear them because the fans are shouting for his attention now.
“You need to put this back on,” I shout over the cheering.
He reaches a gloved hand up and takes it from me, his eyes meeting mine, frustration from the game still in them before he lifts it over his head, kisses it, and tucks it under his jersey.
I smile at him. “Go kick some ass!”
He gives me half a smile and nods before he walks back with the rest of the team into the tunnel, and I feel the racing of my heart start to steady a little.
“How do you know him?” The woman next to me has changed her tone.
I don’t exactly know how to answer that, so I go for the next best thing.
“He’s mine.” I shrug, and then go back to sitting next to Joss.
“So petty some of these women.” She shakes her head.
“I mean… I get it. Look at him. I’d be jealous over him too if he wasn’t mine. Have you seen how feral they get over your guy?”
Joss had agreed to come to the game with me and sit in the stands. Since she’s not a girlfriend she’s really not allowed up in the girlfriend and wives box, and I enjoy being down in the action anyway. We decided it’d be a good opportunity to bond.
“He’s not my guy. But yes, I know. They were feral over him in college. All that corn they fed him growing up in Nebraska. Dangerous. Someone should really look into it.”
I laugh and smile at her.
“Any progress on getting him to do the photos?”
“We came to an agreement.”
“Oh yeah?” I raise my brows in question.
“Let’s just say it involved personal sacrifice but one I’m willing to make for the cause.”
“Painful?” I ask, smirking.
She shrugs. “I like pain. It’s these games that are going to be the death of me.”
“Let’s get you a beer and a pretzel. That usually helps.”
“Deal.”
