Page 29 of Scoring the Player
“We looked better today. Still a lot of work to do before our first game next month, but better.” He continues detailing every mistake we made over the past two hours.
He isn’t the kind of coach that softens the blow either. If you looked slow or tired, he’s going to tell you. No, he’s going to scream it at you. Some of the younger guys take it to heart, but I let it roll off me. When I screw up, no one is more pissed at me than me.
Today I was on, though. I found a rhythm that’s been missing the past few weeks. I feel great, ready to lead my team to a championship season. I have to be. There’s no other option. Everything I’ve ever wanted depends on it.
Maybe it’s a stretch to think that my performance on the field is because of the deal Dahlia and I made, but something about the situation has settled me.
The more I’ve thought about it, the more I’m convinced it’s a genius idea. She wants more than I can give her. Even if she won’t admit it to herself. But I like hanging out with her and knowing she’ll stop hiding because of that stupid video. And, fingers-crossed, Bethany will finally take a fucking hint and move along. I wasn’t kidding about needing to focus and keep my head straight for football. This season is make-or-break time. I’ll either get drafted at the end of college or this is it. This cannot be it.
There’s only one little problem in our fake dating plan. The more time I spend with her, the more I want to kiss her and do a whole bunch of other things that would probably freak her out. I know it’s selfish to take what I want when it’s not real. She deserves better, which is why I pumped the brakes last night and didn’t do something stupid, like suggest I be her first. I like her, but I’velikedlots of girls. I’m sure it’ll pass, and in the meantime, I can do something good for another person. Been awhile since I thought about anyone but myself.
After practice, I head back to the house to shower and get ready for the night. I’m meeting Dahlia at The White House. The basketball guys are having a big party tonight and their parties never disappoint.
Holly and Stella are hanging out in the living room with Teddy and Lucas when I finish getting ready.
“You look nice,” Stella says, brows raised.
“Thanks.” I drop down on the couch next to her. She’s holding her phone out in front of her, and I lean in to look at the screen. “What’s up, Ricci? Ready to get your ass handed to you this season?”
He scoffs. “As if.”
We both smile as Stella rolls her eyes. My sister and Beau have been dating for almost a year now. He’s a football player at Colorado, a rival college. It was a whole thing when they first started dating, but Stella’s in love, so I guess I’m stuck with him. Still plan to kick his ass on the field, though.
I move out of the camera and look to Holly and Teddy. “Are you two going to The White House tonight?”
“Definitely,” Holly says. “I want to meet your new girlfriend.”
“She isn’t my—” I start and then stop. It’s going to take some time to adjust to my new relationship status. “I’m only introducing you if you promise not to make a big deal out of it. It’s new, so it’s not that serious. I’m still getting to know her.”
All true, but not exactly the story I’m hoping to spin. Yes, I want other people to think that Dahlia and I are together and all about each other, but not my sisters. I know them. They’ll get too attached and then be pissed at me for screwing it up. They don’t know that I already have my exit strategy in place.
Six weeks. That’s enough time for me to introduce Dahlia to everyone I know, take her to a bunch of parties, and get her comfortable with people. That takes us to parents’ weekend. Dahlia didn’t want to involve our families, which makes sense. Also, it’s perfect timing with football. By October, it’s an all-out dogfight, leading up to the conference championships. I won’t have as much time for parties, and she won’t need me anymore.
“What time are you heading over?” Teddy asks me.
“Soon, I guess.” I kick Lucas with the toe of my shoe. “Want to come with me?”
“Yeah, sure. Gavin said some of the guys are doing century club.”
“Oh no.” Teddy groans.
Smiling, I shake my head at Lucas. “Every time you do century club, you do something stupid.”
“Stupider than normal,” Teddy corrects me. He isn’t wrong.
“Like the time you tried to walk home from Phi Kappa Theta.” The fraternity is at least five miles away. Luckily, a couple of guys on the team were taking a sober ride home and spotted him sitting on the road ‘taking a rest.’ He was passed out cold.
“Or the time you pissed yourself.” Teddy lifts one brow and grimaces.
Lucas runs a hand along his jaw. “Okay, okay. That was two years ago. I’ve matured.”
Stella laughs. “Earlier today you were watching cartoons and eating cereal out of one of those bowls with a straw.”
“Teen Titansis awesome. And the bowl was a Christmas present.”
“My bad.” Stella holds up one hand, the other still gripping her phone. “You’re the most mature guy I know.”
“Let’s not get carried away.” Lucas stands and puts his left hand in the right sleeve of his T-shirt and proceeds to make farting noises.
