Page 79 of What are the Risks
As I swung open the door, it was immediately clear this wasn’t a delivery driver – unless this was some kind of‘please-sign-here’role play.
A beautiful blonde dressed in tight leggings and a fleecy coat was waiting.
Her eyes widened upon seeing me. I guess she was expecting one of the guys. I could safely rule out Brady. As for Ryker, Evan, Kyler and Pat, it was a one-in-four chance.
If there was ever a poster girl for hot, this girl was it. She was a head-turning kind of gorgeous. I’ll bet she could turn sexual preferences too. Even though I was very muchteam guy, I couldn’t deny how attractive she was.
“Hey,” I smiled. “Can I help you?”
“Hi. I left something in Ryker’s room last night. Is he home?”
That answered that question.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Fake lashes
Ryker
Thank fuck that was over. I’d barely paid attention in the team meeting – something about end of year athletic awards. My Uber app had gone off just as it started, notifying me it had dropped Ruby at my place. The hour had dragged after that. I’d spent most of it watching the clock above Coach’s head, like it was counting down to summer break.
I was looking forward to seeing Ruby, to talk and hopefully clear the air. Notspecifically aboutit, just in the way we used to, before I put my foot – well in this case, tongue – in it.
As everyone was filing from the room, Coach called out my name. “Have you got a second?”
No.
“Of course. What’s up?”
He stepped to the side, out the way of foot traffic. “I’d like your thoughts on who should be captain next year. I’ve got someone in mind, but you see a side of the guys I don’t get to. I want to make sure we’re on the same page.”
I’d sensed this conversation was coming. I’d been paying close attention the second half of the season in preparation, giving the guys subtle tests to see who stepped up.
“McDonald seems like the obvious choice.”
He’d been my backup QB the past two years, shadowing me closely. With another two years left of college, it gave him plenty of time to make his mark.
“But he can be selfish. He doesn’t always put the team’s needs first,” I added, feeling a tinge of guilt, but not enough to keep me from being honest with Coach. I respected him too much. “Personally? I’d go Johanson.”
A sophomore running back who never lost faith in the game, even when we were trailing by what felt like impossible scores.
Coach nodded his agreement. I’d passed that test.
“I’ll make the announcement next week.” He inched closer, lowering his voice. “Have you been paying attention to the standings?”
The standings at the end of the NFL home and away season were what determined the Draft order. The team with the worst record picked first, and the team with the best picked last, excluding things like trades.
“No,” I admitted, shaking my head faintly. “A lot can change in three months.”
Teams also didn’t always make selections based on the predicted draft order. It depended on what they needed and the gaps in their roster. I could get picked up sooner than expected, or I could get picked up later...or not at alla seed of doubt whispered.
I wasn’t going to shake the feeling of imposter syndrome until I heard my name on Draft day.
“Make the most of life before then, kid,” Coach said, gripping my shoulder. “Once your name is called out, nothing will be the same.”
That thought was equally exhilarating and terrifying. I’d spent my entire life working to reach this moment. While it was so close, it still felt like a lifetime away. I wasn’t in a rush to get to it either.
“Yo, Ryker,” Brady called out from down the hall. “We’ve got to go, man. Tori’s got a schedule and we’re cutting it fine.”
